Thesis:

Influence of project management skills on performance of government funded projects in Burundi: a case of Burundi road agency

The survey aimed to interrogate the reverberations of program administration competencies or dexterity on execution as well as exertion of government funded programs specifically concentrating on Burundi Road Agency. It has been guided by a general objective, which was to explore influence of program administration skills on fulfilment of government-funded programs in Burundi Road Agency. The survey has been counseled by the subsequent particular intents: to discover to what extent does communication competencies, cost management competencies as well as Risk Management dexterity effect execution of government funded projects in Burundi Road Agency. To deeply gain deeper knowledge about the research topic, various theories have been studied. Descriptive research design was used in this research. The collection of data was done using questionnaires which were issued to 229 permanent staff of Burundi Road Agency and then sampled to represent the larger population. The sample of 146 respondents has been derived from the target population using Slovin formula. In order to gather sufficient data, the researcher gathered information from both secondary as well as primary sources of data. Questionnaire has been the main investigating tool applied in gathering data from primary sources. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze quantitative data using SPSS. This survey assumed a linear regression analysis at 5% significance level to explore and establish the nexus or association of its variables. To ensure that research instruments were consistently giving the same results, reliability test has been carried out on the investigating tool. Lastly, analysis of information from the respondents has been carried out and the meaning of that information has been provided. A response rate of 82% was attained with 120 respondents duly completed and returned the questionnaires, out of the sample size of 146 employees. The Cronbach Alpha test was used to evaluate the reliability of the variables in the research with all of them scoring above 0.90, indicating that the items on the scale all measured the same underlying construct and that the scale that was used for the study was reliable. Results indicated that majority of respondents affirmed that project management skills are crucial in successful project execution, with 78.8% concurring with this statement. Communication was found to a key ingredient in successful implementation of projects with 83% of the respondents supporting this view and therefore a clear and defined process for disseminating information between team members is required. Additionally, risk management skills should be enhanced to improve execution of the projects as this was confirmed by 67% who agreed that adequate risk management processes should be put in place. Team management skills was found to important with 71% of the respondents agree that project managers should have perquisite interpersonal skills that are necessary for proper management of the project. The regression analysis showed that the communication skills, cost management skills team, management and risk management that were addressed in this research explained 79.9 % of the project implementation in Burundi Road Agency. Complete and comprehensive cost schedule should always be in place together with a comprehensive plan of the project. Also sufficient planned risk responses plan to ensure that risks and threats are minimized to reduce negative effects when they occur. Project managers to necessary skills, experience and qualification in project execution and those who are already employed at the Agency should be trained to make them efficient and effectives. Lastly, communication channels should be enhanced to ensure constant communication among the team members and updates them on project information.