Influence of project management skills on performance of road construction projects in Machakos County, Kenya

Abstract

Construction sector covers a range of activities which include the construction of buildings, infrastructure and specialty trades. The sector activities can be a solution to the challenges of development in the global world of today. Road construction projects have been on the rise in Machakos County recently. However, many projects have failed to achieve success. Since the advent of devolution, Machakos County initiated many road developments projects. Some of them are still on-going; others failed to achieve the intended objective. This is despite there being talk of project risk management integration in project management. The study3sought toestablish how project management skills influence performance of road3construction projects in3Machakos County. This research specifically sought to establish how contract management skills influence the performance of road3construction projects; how the procurement management skills influence the performance of road3construction projects and how financial management skills influence the performance of road3construction projects based in Machakos County.The study3targeted contractors who have previously overseen Kenya Urban Roads Authority projects and who have a valid registration by the national Construction Authority within categories NCA4, NCA5, NCA6, and NCA 7 located in Machakos County. A population of 135 of contractors involved in site labour contracts or sites within Machakos County participated in the survey. The technical personnel of the contractors who participated in the survey on the site included; general foremen, construction managers, cost estimators, operatives and subcontractors.The data analysis was performed utilizing a blended techniques approach: Secondary data was subjected to descriptive, correlation as well as regression analysis.The study findings if adopted is to benefit project managers by giving understanding into the connections between the project manager capabilities and the achievement/disappointment of road3construction projects particularly in the Machakos County. Findings was to also add to the advancement of the Machakos area construction firms which lead to the maintenance of road projects3work effectively that help on achieving3the customer expectation aligning with the3PMO requirement. Regarding contract management skills, the study confirms that contract management skills affect performance of road construction projects in Machakos County. The study further established that procurement management skills had a significant and positive effect on the performance of road construction projects in Machakos County. The study also established that financial management skills had significant and a positive effect on the performance of road construction projects in Machakos County. The study recommends that project managers need to establish a highly co-operative project team in which competent specialist contractors and skilled laborers are staffed. Procurement management skills was found in this study to be one of driving force of the performance of road construction3projects in Machakos3County. This study recommends that financial managers hired should have a high level of competence to ensure that the right project3leadership team.