Human Resource Plan Implementation and Project Performance at Konza Technopolis Development Authority

Abstract

Implementation of the human resource plan ensures development of the project team which can make the differences between the project success and failure. Lack of the implementation of the human resource plan in the organization or ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the human resource plan have become a major problem in most project‟s performance in Kenya, thus the motivation of the study. The study intended to establish the effect of human resource plan implementation on project performance at Konza Technopolis Development Authority. The study was guided by the resource-based view, the human capital theory and the dynamic capability theory. The study adopted a case study in this case, KoTDA was the case of the study. The study used primary data with the use of an interview guide as a data collection and other document review. The researcher collected data from 15 heads of departments/ divisions representing 15 respondents. The collected data were edited, organized to meaningful way and were analyzed and presented in by using qualitative research procedures. Qualitative method constituted of content analysis which was used to extract key themes, concepts and augments. The major findings show that the human resource plan is partially implemented at KoTDA due to the challenges of the inadequate budget and resources at the disposal of the authority. It was established that succession plan, recruitment and retention, sufficient number of employees, employees‟ skills and capabilities and appraisal tool are some of the elements that have been incorporated in the human resource plan at KoTDA that are greatly influencing the project performance. The finding revealed elements that need to be included in the human resource plan that will influence project performance are reward scheme and bonus plan, compensation plan, excellence awards plans and transfer of skills plans especially for projects that are implemented through foreigners and Exchange programmes both locally and internationally. KoTDA has also been able attract and retain highly skilled work force due to the implementation of the human resource plan, promoted employee productivity and attracted and retained employees, training and capacity building and the succession element has led to knowledge transfers hence leading attraction of over 300 foreign and local investors to the KoTDA. The study concluded that human resource plan implementation has a strong relationship with project performance. Thus, effective human resource plan implementation supported with adequate budget and resources will lead to successful project performance and ineffective human resource plan implementation will lead to poor project performance. The study recommended that effective human plan implementation requires adequate budget and resources, and inclusion of key human resource needs and review of the performance of the project with the implemented elements of the human resource plan for an improved project performance