Demand Side Perception on Success Factors for Implementing Public Road Construction Projects

Abstract

Cost and schedule overruns, as well as substandard works, are common factors that fail organisations’ objectives within the construction industry. Particularly, these factors affect public road construction projects and cost taxpayers. Researchers continue scanning the environment to establish why construction projects are ever behind schedule and over budget with substandard works and contract variations to identify significant factors for successful project implementation. This study expands the debate by looking at demand side perception in establishing success factors for implementing public road construction projects motivated by governments’ high expenditure on construction projects without meeting objectives. A cross-sectional research design with a structured self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain views from three public entities representing the demand side. Results were analysed following partial least square structural modelling (PLS-SEM) in Smart-PLS3. The research design enabled statistical tests to be conducted on validity, reliability, normality, multicollinearity, correlations and regression. The PLS algorithm and bootstrapping resampling approach were employed to determine the relationship between variables by estimating path coefficients and significance. Path coefficients helped to determine strength, direction and significance, and examine the variance of dependent variables explained by combined independent variables. Results revealed that the professionalism of the staff, compliance with the public procurement regulatory framework, monitoring activities and contractors’ resistance to non-compliance are significant success factors in enhancing public road implementation. Hence, adopting these factors would be a game changer in implementing complex road construction projects. In addition, complex construction projects in a dynamic construction industry require continuous scanning to establish more factors and cope with industry dynamics.