FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE CASE OF BUTAJIRA TOWN ADMINISTRATION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study aimed to identify factors affecting the performance of road construction projects in Butajira town in terms of the three basic performance dimensions; quality, time and cost. Primary data was collected via questionnaire from the total of 63 respondents. For the purpose of data analysis, a relative importance index was used to identify critical factors contributing to the performance problem. The finding of the study indicated that 68.3%, 38.3% and 35% of the respondents agree that there is a problem of quality, cost overrun and project delay in Butajira town road construction projects respectively. Based on the relative importance index result, among the factors that contribute for the construction projects performance problems; project managers unable to build efficient and effective project team, price escalation of construction material in the market, absence of regular meetings between authorities and other relevant stakeholders in solving the problems, and poor opportunities for managers and employees who have a good idea were not encouraged to “run with it.” were identified and ranked at first position from project managers’ competency related factors, construction resources management related factors, stakeholder management related
factors, organizational culture related factors respectively. The researcher recommends continuous coordination and relationship between project participants’ through-out project life cycle in order to solve the up-coming project cost and time affecting problems, and develop project quality performance.