An evaluation of the determinants of project success in Public Works Department (PWD)

Abstract

Public construction sector is highly responsible for the infrastructural development of a nation which is the prerequisite to overall wellbeing of the people. Modern public construction projects involve multiple stakeholders with multidimensional expectations which present high risk and uncertainty in these projects. In this complex project environment identification of the success factors is considered the key for achieving success. In this study the significant factors for success in public construction project in Bangladesh is analyzed. At the same time reasons for the underperformance of projects are also examined. A questionnaire-based survey was undertaken among the stakeholders (Public Works Department, contractor’s organization, Department of Architecture) to elicit views of construction and project management professionals on the criticality of these factors for the success of public construction projects specially in PWD. This study aimed at finding the significance of various factors in project performance in PWD. The respondents of the survey have given their views regarding each of the 21 factors responsible for project performance using a three point scale. Relative Importance Index (RII) is used here for making the ranking. It is found that top management supports, competence of project manager, activities of technical support team at head office are the prime factors for success. On the other hand, contractors’ incompetence, lack of support from department of architecture, faulty project conceptualization has came out as the main drivers of project failure in PWD. Interestingly it is found in this study that, political commitment has least effect in both success and failure in projects of PWD. In this study it is established that, for the success of public construction project, human factors especially top management contributes significantly in Bangladesh.