Contractor commitment and the delivery of road infrastructure projects in Uganda: A practitioner perspective

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the relationship between commitment (specifically the affective, continuance and normative aspects of commitment) and the delivery of road infrastructure in Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 266 that was purposively selected from road project engineers related to the Uganda National Roads Authority, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that all three indicators of commitment (affective, continuance, and normative) significantly affect the delivery of road infrastructure projects, though in varying degrees. The researchers recommend the implementation of mechanisms to enhance the three forms of commitment in the delivery of road infrastructure projects in Uganda. Notwithstanding other factors, the paper makes a contribution to the area of road construction in the developing country context by extending previous qualitative findings which focused solely on a case-based approach. This will enable policymakers and practitioners to gain an appreciation of the key dimensions of contractor commitment that may influence the delivery of road infrastructure projects in developing countries.