INFLUENCE OF PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

The implementation of construction projects in Nairobi County, Kenya is often marred by various challenges that negatively impact project outcome. Construction projects in Kenya face numerous challenges that lead to project delays, cost overruns, and quality issues. The study found that poor project management practices, including a lack of technical and soft skills among project managers, are major contributors to project failures. The general objective of the research study was to examine the influence of project scope management and performance of construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of technical capacity on performance of construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya and to establish how monitoring and evaluation influence performance of construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study used a descriptive research design. The unit of observation was road contractors, engineers, inspectors, surveyors and supervisors. From information obtained from KURA, there were 42 road contractors, 20 road engineers, 8 road supervisors, 20 road inspectors, and 12 road surveyors. Therefore, the target population for the study was 100 individuals. Due to the small size of target population, the study used census sampling approach. In this research study questionnaires were used for data collection. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques such as frequency, percentages, and means and summary graphs, pie charts, and frequency distribution tables. Pearson R correlation was used to measure the strength and direction of linear relationship between variables. Multiple regression models were fitted to the data in order to determine how the independent variables influence the dependent variable. The findings were presented in tables and figures. Based on the study findings, the study concludes that technical capacity has a positive and significant effect on project scope management and performance of construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Further, the study concludes that monitoring and evaluation has a positive and significant effect on project scope management and performance of construction projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study therefore recommends regular training of project staff to facilitate project scope management and performance. Maintenance of software, hardware and even spare parts should be factored in a project future for sustainable performance