Project Planning Practices and Performance of Building Construction Projects in International Schools in Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2024-05
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Numerous construction projects within international schools in Nairobi City County,
Kenya, are experiencing delays beyond their initial schedules, prompting some companies
to strive for timely completion while ensuring the delivery of quality work as stipulated.
Stakeholders are actively scrutinizing the efficiency of these building endeavors,
particularly focusing on the delivered quality and quantity within predetermined
timeframes. Projects at Kenton College Preparatory School, Light Academy Schools, and
Premier Academy originally estimated at Kshs. 50M, Kshs. 12M, and Kshs. 30M
respectively, underwent cost reviews resulting in revised figures of 70M, 18M, and 42M
correspondingly. The escalation in costs, delays in delivery, and subpar quality have been
attributed to deficient project planning practices, corruption, government regulations, and
stakeholders' involvement. Despite efforts, several projects remain incomplete or fail to
meet prescribed standards. Effective project planning techniques are paramount to ensure
projects are completed within designated timeframes and meet necessary standards. This
study aimed to assess the impact of the project planning practices including human resource
planning, financial resource planning, material usage planning, and time management and
their impact on the performance of building construction projects in International Schools
in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The research was framed within the Resource Based View
Theory, Constraint Theory, Stewardship Theory, and Project Management Competency
Theory. Thirty-three projects within International Schools in Nairobi City County were
sampled, involving 231 participants including project managers, executive committee
members, and principals, selected through stratified sampling, following the Yamane
formula which yielded 146 respondents. Data collection utilized semi-structured
questionnaires, piloted in Kitengela International School with six respondents, ensuring
construct and content validity. Reliability validity was confirmed via Cronbach Alpha
score exceeding 0.7. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were employed for
data analysis, presented through tables and figures. The study's findings underscored
several critical points highlighting the pivotal role of human resource management within
construction firms operating in international schools in Nairobi City County. Most of these
firms were found to prioritize training programs for their project team members, indicating
a proactive approach to skill development and capacity building. The research indicated
that project completion generally proceeded without significant obstacles, and the
budgeted funds were deemed sufficient for completing the projects hence the need for
effective financial planning and resource allocation within the surveyed projects. Further,
there is need for proper allocation of material resources which should be effectively utilized
an indication of high level of efficiency. The findings also indicated effectiveness of quality
and project planning practices including accurate estimation of activity durations, welldeveloped time schedules, and clear project scopes. Human resource planning, time
management, material resource planning, and financial resource planning were identified
as significant contributors to project performance. Recommendations included
implementing comprehensive and continuous training programs for industry human
resources, aligning cost estimation with project scope, and establishing time plans
consistent with the work breakdown structure.
Description
A Research Project Submitted to the School of Business, Economics and Tourism in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Project Management Option) of Kenyatta University. May 2024
Supervisor
Jushua Tumuti