Mwelu, N; Davis, P R; Ke, Y; Watundu, S and Jefferies, M (2021) Success factors for implementing Uganda's public road construction projects. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(6), pp. 598-614. ISSN 1562-3599
Abstract
The construction industry is known for its underperformance. Globally, construction projects are often delayed and completed above-estimated budgets because of inferior works and contract variations. These in turn negatively affect the goals set by public sector client. Many studies aim to establish factors for successful construction projects that include public road construction projects. However, challenges remain. Using institutional theory, this research focusses on success factors for implementing public road construction projects in Uganda. Loss of funds in such projects significantly affects and stalls the implementation process. This study is cross-sectional and structured self-administered questionnaires are used with Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) data analysis by Smart-PLS3 subsequently conducted. The findings reveal that professionalism, monitoring activities, familiarity with regulatory framework; perceived inefficiency of regulatory framework and compliance with these frameworks significantly enhances successful implementation of public road construction projects. However, sanctions on staff and contractors' resistance to non-compliance are insignificant predictors. Governments should emphasize and embark on improving monitoring mechanisms and staff familiarity with public procurement regulatory frameworks to avoid manipulations by unethical project stakeholders especially on contract cost variation during implementation. These regulatory frameworks should be written in a less technical language that is easily interpreted by stakeholders. Recruitment of qualified staff is paramount.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | compliance; project success; public road construction; regulatory framework |
| Index terms: | implementation, construction industry, Uganda, recruitment, monitoring, road construction, institutional theory, project success, partial least square, professionalism, variation, construction project, project stakeholder, questionnaire, public-sector client, structural equation modelling, success factor, compliance, data analysis |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, control systems, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data analysis and analytics, contractual arrangements, civil engineering, management, project management theory and practice, professional development, Geography, contractual condition, health safety and environment, production management, sociology, statistical analysis, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Stakeholder Management, Procurement, Human Resources, Contract Administration, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here