Project Management Inclusion and Performance of Medical Research Projects in Kilifi County, Kenya
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Date
2022
Authors
Musumba, Paul W
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Performance of Health Research projects rests in ability to provide systematic learning to find better ways of preventing and treating illnesses for everyone's benefit in the future. It is estimated that nearly 80% projects in Africa fail at the feasibility and business plan stage. Minimal has been done in terms of assessing performance of medical research projects in Kilifi County, Kenya. This study therefore seeks to examine the effect of project management inclusions on performance of medical research projects in Kilifi County, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were to assess the effect of community participation, resources allocation, management competency and project communication on performance of medical research projects in Kilifi County. The study was anchored in Arnestein’s ladder of participation, Resource based view theory, Project Management Competence development framework and Diffusion of innovations theory. The target population comprised all the twenty-two (22) research projects conducted by the KEMRI – Wellcome Research Programme in Kilifi County, Kenya. Four Hundred and two (402) employees of all cadres were targeted. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of sixty-eight (68) respondents. Descriptive research design were used in the study. The study revealed that community participation influences significantly performance of medical research projects (β=0.364; p<0.05). Furthermore, it was notable that resource allocation significantly influence performance of medical research projects (β=0.239;p<0.05). The study noted that management competencies and project communication have a significant effect on performance of medical research projects (β=0.266;p<0.05;VIF=2.417). and β=0.264; p<0.05;VIF=2.739) respectively. The study concludes that the level of awareness, attitudes as well as perceptions towards the project determine the level of participation of community members in these projects. Besides, financial resources is critical component in successful implementation of medical research projects. Furthermore, project managers ought to have core competencies in order to be able to perform successfully and competently. Finally, careful communication planning and the creation of a complete project communication plan is indispensable for achieving high-quality project performance. The study recommends that community sensitization and education needs to be prioritized in order to remove barriers associated with participation in medical research. Secondly, the project managers needs to source adequate financial and human based resources for effective implementation of medical projects within the stipulated budget and timeframe. Furthermore, project management ought to enhance their performance through continuous professional development. Finally, to ensure project performance, managers should pay more attention to appropriate communication strategy to enable flow of information from all departments in the right time for appropriate action
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Project Management) of Kenyatta University.
Keywords
Project Management, Inclusion, Performance, Medical, Research Projects, Kilifi County, Kenya