Public Sector Projects Research Articles

Investigating the Impact of Task-Oriented, Relationship-Oriented, and Innovation-Oriented Leadership Competencies on Project Success in Pakistan: A Moderated Model of Multi-Dimensional Senior Management Support

This study investigates the impact of multi-dimensional senior management support on the relationship between clusters of leadership competencies and the success of public sector projects. Survey data were collected from 197 project managers/directors of public sector projects in Pakistan. The findings reveal a positive relationship between task-oriented, relationship-oriented, and innovation-oriented competencies, project success, and all five dimensions of senior management support. Furthermore, the relationships between clusters of leadership competencies and project success are not strengthened in the presence of providing resources, communication, expertise, and power, whereas structural arrangements strengthen the relationship between innovation-oriented leadership competencies and project success.

Use and non-use of accounting information: The case of controversial projects in public and non-profit settings

This paper investigates whether and how accounting information is used in debates and decision-making processes about controversial projects in public sector and non-profit settings in the Netherlands and Italy. The research is based on two case studies and relies on multiple methods of qualitative data collection, including documents, interviews with key actors and media reports. The research finds a more limited extent of accounting information use than expected given the controversiality of the projects. It raises various types of explanations for this limited accounting information use, especially that ruling groups of actors supporting the project do not give room to the opposing minority for putting forward their concerns and preferences. The power position of the ruling majority thus matters in mitigating opportunities for a dialogic use of accounting information leading to the decision-making about the projects. So, controversiality is a determining factor, but insufficient as an explanation for the extent to which accounting information is used. In addition, the type of accounting information use is depending on the actors’ appreciation of the project. Advocates and opponents concerning both projects were in general inclined to an ammunition type of accounting information use, whereas actors holding a neutral position used available accounting information in a more rational way.

Variations in Building Construction Projects in Ghana: A Public Organisational Perspective

Abstract The occurrence of variations in building construction contracts is a subject that needs some attention in public sector projects. They are, almost all the time, detrimental rather than beneficial variations. The paper aimed to identify the nature of variations in government-initiated building projects over fourteen years, from 2000 to 2014, in the Central Region and their impacts. Preliminary counts of documents revealed that a total of 348 projects were executed over the period. The data collection process started by first sorting out files, contract documents, and payment certificates for the period under consideration. These documents were scrutinised one after the other to detect possible variations. The inclusion criterion for selecting a project was if a project had any form of variation(s) recorded. After thoroughly examining these 348 project documents, 84 were found to have variations. The study identified additional works and substitutions as the most inherent variations in public building projects in the Central Region. About 85 % of the variations found in the 84 projects with various forms of variations were additional works and substitutions. It was revealed that the cost of multiple variations was higher than single variations. Projects with multiple variations had high percentage variation and durations than others. Percentage variation in some instances was 400 %. The study identified that multiple variations were more costly than single variations. The highest variation cost identified was (USD 211 864.41 or EUR 183 150.18) for one project. The study identified the nature of variations that usually occurred in government building projects and their association with both cost and time. The study asserts that the presence of multiple change orders has substantial financial significance and should be diligently avoided through efficient project initiation and planning.

Modelling the Implications of Delayed Payments on Contractors’ Cashflows on Infrastructure Projects

The consideration of payments to contractors is not only a legal obligation but a necessity for assuring the continuity and completion of a construction project. However, consistent payments to facilitate project cash flows are uncommon in the construction industry. Within the context of a small island developing state, this paper aims to uncover leading risks factors the contributing to implications of delayed payments, on contractors’ cash flows and uncover any causalities and effects on relationships among these factors. A two-tiered quantitative approach was adopted. Firstly, a compiled list of delay factors was collated from the literature review. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experienced construction professionals to determine the factors’ relevance and applicability in Trinidad and Tobago. A closed-ended survey questionnaire was subsequently developed and administered to primary construction stakeholders. Secondly, the responses obtained were collated, validated, and ranked using the relative importance index. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out using SPSS, and thereafter, SPSS Amos was used to determine the best-fit Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results strongly indicate that the issue of delayed payments is very prevalent within public sector projects. Unstable political climates and the delay in employers’ issuance of variation orders were found to be the main causes of delayed payments within the industry. Delays in sub-contractor and supplier payments as well as an increase in the contractor’s debt are the leading effects of delayed payments on the contractor’s cash flows. Based on these findings, a risk response framework was outlined to assist small to medium-contracting enterprises cope with payment delays, both locally and internationally. This research contributes to the advancement of construction management knowledge by informing construction professionals and policy makers of the implications of delaying approved payments, the consequential causes and effects, and a risk response technique to mitigate the negative effects on contractors’ cash flows. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-01-05 Full Text: PDF

A STUDY OF ASIA’S WORLD-CLASS INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS AND BEST PRACTICES IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Asian continent is currently undergoing a phase of project and technology implementation as various investments are made in various engineering sectors to support the continent's rapid development. Management of a business through technology projects is similar to management of a business through the use of technology. To facilitate the rapid development of Asia, project and technology management is emerging as one of the most important disciplines for making sense of the large amounts of funding that are committed to numerous projects of this type. Engineering projects in Asia have not performed particularly well in the past. The majority of major public sector projects in Asia result in substantial cost and time overruns, draining national resources and delaying the benefits to the continent as a whole. Consequently, the project's benefits will be delayed. There have been reports that some engineering infrastructure projects have taken three times longer to complete than originally intended and approved, which has led the state, in conjunction with the nodal agencies responsible for overseeing public projects, to seriously consider ways to significantly improve the situation. The Asian economies are among the fastest growing economies in the world, and they are among the fastest growing economies in the world. A growing number of countries in the west are closely watching the fastgrowing Asian economies and strive to become part of this growth process in their own right as well, in order to become a part of this growth process in their own right.

Procurement challenges in public-sector agricultural development projects in Bangladesh

The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the key challenges to project procurement in public-sector agricultural development projects in Bangladesh. Being exploratory in nature, the study applied the modified Delphi method, the best worst method (BWM), and the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) approach sequentially for the investigation. Ten key procurement challenges were identified and validated through the use of a literature review and two rounds of modified Delphi with the input of 15 experts in the field. Then the BWM was applied to assess the responses of eight industry experts to estimate the relative importance of the challenges. After that, a second panel of ten experts was interviewed using ISM to look at the contextual relationships between the challenges. This led to a four-layer interpretive structural model and MICMAC (cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification) analysis of the challenges. Among the 10 key challenges, ‘lack of competent procurement staff’ is found to be the most significant challenge; whereas, based on the inter-relationships among the challenges, ‘political influence’ is identified as the most influential challenge. As a result, it is recommended that relevant professionals and policymakers address these challenges in terms of their relevance, relative dependencies, and influences in a holistic manner. This study addresses a knowledge gap by offering a thorough investigation of the challenges associated with public-sector agricultural project procurement in a developing country’s context. This makes it useful for professionals in the field, academics, policymakers, and future researchers.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Job Performance: An Empirical Analysis in Public Sector Project Management

The construction sector often faces various problems especially related to time, rising costs, project delays, waste and errors that can hinder the economic development. In order to overcome the problems, application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in construction project is actively implemented in improving work efficiency and performance among industry practitioners especially in developed countries. Nonetheless, the ability of BIM towards highlighting its productivity and performance cannot be seen in the construction industry in Malaysia and faces several challenges that affected the job performance. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between various critical success factors and job performance among professionals who have used BIM applications in construction of project management. The stratified sampling method with the population of 345 professionals who practice the use of BIM applications in construction project management are applied in the study. The total population was collected from a preliminary study of the number of pre-contract stages in PWDs that had implemented BIM. Two models were constructed to be analyzed for multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that four factors (collaborative synergy, ICT utilization, commitment and knowledge, culture orientation) have a significant positive relationship with job performance. While, external factor (collaborative synergy) has the most significant influence on job performance among those involved with the use of BIM applications. The findings of the study also have highlighted two major weaknesses that limit the effectiveness of the use of BIM applications are related to digital skills among staff and lack of support from management. These elements of weaknesses are seen to have affected the work performance in Malaysian construction sector. In the future research, to get more comprehensive view it is suggested several other factors especially external factors such as government policy and legislation, BIM guidelines and standards are to be considered in the study.

Postaward Construction and Contract Management of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Hydropower Projects: Two Case Studies from Uganda

The current economic and infrastructural growth in developing countries has triggered the use of multiple forms of alternative contracting methods (ACMs)—including engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC)—in various public sector projects. However, the relative lack of in-depth experience in using EPC contracting methods among public agencies has presented numerous problems. To this end, the goal of this research is to identify the broad postaward construction and contract management (PA-CCM) challenges associated with EPC projects in developing countries using two major infrastructure hydropower projects in Uganda as case studies. A systematic literature review was first conducted to establish a preliminary list of challenges. Afterward, case study data were collected by examining project documentation, conducting site visits, and holding semistructured interviews. The results of this study offered a total of 73 PA-CCM challenges that were categorized into seven different themes. Also, 14 critical lessons learned were identified to better enable stakeholders to mitigate potential problems and promote improved performance for their EPC projects. The outcomes of this paper serve as a pivotal foundation for construction practitioners and future scholars to develop effective mitigation strategies for the challenges associated with EPC contracting methods in developing countries.

What Can the Public Sector Teach Us About Deploying Artificial Intelligence Technologies?

Most managers lack guidance on how to address uncertainties associated with deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Drawing on our experiences with public sector projects, we describe patterns related to what AI deployment uncertainties are and strategies to tackle them.

A Systematic Review of the Delphi–AHP Method in Analyzing Challenges to Public-Sector Project Procurement and the Supply Chain: A Developing Country’s Perspective

The effectiveness of public-sector agricultural development projects in developing countries lies not only in their contributions to agricultural sector growth but also in their contributions to environmental and socioeconomic system growth. As a result, the challenges associated with project procurement and supply chain management need to be carefully analyzed and evaluated. Although there has been reasonable literature on procurement and supply chain management, the limitations include the following: The literature, especially focusing on the analytical methodology, is scarce, as is the case with the developing country public-sector project context. This study, in its own modest way, contributes to this gap. Thus, the goal of this paper is to critically examine the Delphi and/or analytical hierarchy process (AHP), as well as their application and appropriateness in analyzing the challenges in the Bangladesh context, from relevant literature published between 2000 and 2019. A systematic review was carried out using the ABI/Inform, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases for the study. The review of 2071 articles yielded 37 articles for the study. The Delphi and/or AHP were the most applied tools found in the review. Finally, the study examined 18 articles that applied Delphi and/or AHP methods. The review findings contribute to the literature by providing academics and practitioners with an understanding of the appropriateness of the Delphi-based AHP research framework for analyzing challenges to procurement and supply chain management in public-sector agriculture projects. Following that, a novel best-practice research framework based on the Delphi–AHP method is presented.

Why Public Sector projects fail or succeed in Pakistan- A model for evaluating impact of HR management practices on Project Success

Employees are the most important assets of an organization. As quality human resources become scarce, companies need to pay more heed to the satisfaction and motivation of their employees. If employees are motivated towards work, then it is likely to yield better results. This study will examine the role of Human resource management (HRM) practices upon New product development (NPD). NPD involves technical, marketing, and financial risks organizations undertake for developing new products and services. Effective project planning and control are valuable for decision-making. The analysis of the impact of HRM practices on NPD, project success, and organizational benefit is based on data collected using a cross-sectional design via a survey questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of items related to HR practices, New product development, Project Success, and Organizational benefits adapted from previous studies. Respondents working in 10 large-scale public sector projects executed by National Database & Registration Authority, Pakistan were selected for the study. Therefore, the results of the study can be generalized to similar projects executed by the public sector in Pakistan. From the findings of data analysis, it has been concluded that there is a significant association between HR practices and project success, but no significant relationship has been established between new product development and organizational benefit. Therefore, it can be concluded that HR management practices have a significant impact on public sector project success in the case of Pakistan.

‘Let’s Collaborate’: Malaysian TVET-Engineering Institution and Industry Partnership

Strategic partnershipsarethe most important element in the automotive industry. Theinteraction between two or more parties is important in pursuing the successful planning and implementation of an education and training system in producing a competent workforce. Malaysia is one country that has adopted Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a procurement technique for delivering public sector projects. PPP, taken in its broadest meaning, refers to any arrangement between the public and private sectors for the delivery of public services. However, previous studiesindicated that the collaboration between training institutions and industry is still at a weak level. The majorconstraints were including the failure to understand the work culture of the organization, inconsistency of mission and vision of the organization, weaknesses of the governance system. Therefore, this study aims to propose a model of TVET-Engineering Governance Structure in Collaboration of Malaysian TVET-Engineering Institution and industry partnership. In this case, data were collected from 115 technologists in three different fields involvedmechanical, electric and electronic and civil in Malaysia. Then, the data were analysed using the PLS-SEM 3.3.9 software via the algorithm, bootstrapping and blindfolding method. Through the PLS-SEM approach, this study focuses on the analysis of (a) convergent validity and (b) discriminant validity in which these two validities have six analyses; (i) external loading, (ii) composite reliability, (iii) average variance extracted (AVE), (iv) Fornell-Larcker, (v) cross-loading, and (vi) Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio (HTMT). Meanwhile, the structural model testing involves the analysis of (i) Multicollinearity (Inner VIF), (ii) Path Coefficient, (iii) R square (R2), (iv) size effect (f2), and (v) Predictive Relevance (Q2). At the end of the analysis, the model that has been developed is relevant to use because each phase meets the conditions that have been set in the PLS-SEM analysis. The result, the governance structure for TVET-Engineering for TVET-Engineering is important since it can contribute to intensifying the Malaysian TVET- Engineering Institution and industry partnership. TVET Institutions must play an important role in fulfillingthe demands from the industry and developing innovative skills for students. Future research is suggested to test the model on a wider range of TVET respondents to see its appropriateness.

Managing sensitive contractual disputes in construction: the Orange Line Metro Train Lahore project

Learning outcomes The key teaching objectives of the case are the following:▪ to develop an awareness of a megaproject’s external environment (through PESTLE) in terms of challenges from each source;▪ to introduce theory that allows students to identify, characterise and describe factors that can lead to inter-organisational conflict during construction projects;▪ to develop the ability to apply the typology of causal factors (identified in Objective 2) to a given context, answering why each factor may have contributed to the given contractual dispute;▪ to develop an understanding of the procurement and contract management process wherein contracts are not only the logical outcome of the procurement process but also the primary vehicles for clarifying responsibilities (for task completion) and risk transfer; and▪ to understand specific dynamics of construction projects that make disputes inevitable and ways to overcome these. Case overview/synopsis Priced at US$1.63bn (in 2015), the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) project in Lahore was one of Pakistan’s earliest (and costliest!) transport infrastructure megaprojects ever undertaken. Devised to ease congestion in Lahore, promote ecofriendly, efficient, modern and affordable transport systems and lead to improved mobility across Lahore, the OLMT was a socially, politically and economically important project.The case is seen through the eyes of the protagonist, Uzair Shah, a seasoned public servant and an experienced Transport Engineer. At the time of the decision, Shah was General Manager – Operations at the newly established Punjab Metrobus Authority (PMA – the project sponsor) and was also the project lead of OLMT’s Project Management Unit (PMU). Through Shah’s eyes, students approach the project at a juncture when the most serious contractual dispute in the project’s history has erupted. The parties at the interface were Lahore Development Authority (LDA), PMU’s technical interface with contractors and consultants and Maqbool-Colson Joint Venture (MCJV), one of the two civil work contractors hired for OLMT’s civil works.While quality issues had been emerging with MCJV for a few months, LDA had maintained unilateral communications and remained considerably adversarial in their dealings with MCJV. Eventually, in October 2016, this relationship had soured to such an extent that it appeared irreconcilable. It was only then that LDA had recommended Shah to take the contractor to court for non-performance.The decision that Uzair faced was whether to take LDA’s advice and take the contractor to court (terminate the contract, claim performance guarantee and appoint a new contractor) or negotiate and continue with the current contract. The decision had huge financial, legal, reputational, political and schedule-related implications. The decision needed to be taken by the protagonist in the context of all these factors. Complexity academic level The case was initially developed for use within a Procurement and Contracts Management course for a (business) executive audience. The case is intended for the business school audience or students enrolled in courses related to the construction management discipline.Courses where the case can be used include Construction Project Management, Public Sector Projects, Contracts and Procurement and Strategic Projects and Practice (or similar). The case can also be used within an MBA setting. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS: 9: Operations and Logistics.

The Mediating Role of Benefit Management for Sustaining the Performance of Infrastructure Projects

Benefit management is a valuable approach, promoted and supported by strategic management for maximizing organizational benefits. It has also been recognized as a means of improving project performance, though more research is needed to understand how it works. This research adds to the contemporary literature on public sector project management by studying the links between project governance, benefit management, and project performance from a developing country perspective. This study provides insights for project professionals who are working in government organizations for optimizing the benefits of investment. The study provides a reference to formulate strategies for managing and governing the performance of government-funded projects in developing countries like Pakistan. The research uses a positivist approach and quantitative design. The quantitative technique is employed to address all the aspects of the study. The structural equation modeling revealed that benefit management acted as a mediating factor in the relationship between project governance dimensions and public sector project performance. This study highlights the importance of incorporating a comprehensive benefit management approach to streamline the benefit management process by aligning projects with the organizational strategy for sustaining project performance. These findings stress the need for a comprehensive benefit management approach in improving the project performance of government-sponsored projects. The study attempts to improve the understanding of project professionals about the role and significance of benefit management, which will be helpful to get organizational support for the employees who are striving to improve the project performance in Pakistan.

Blockchain Technology: Potential Applications for Public Sector E-Procurement and Project Management

Project implementations normally fail due to sustainable development problems that inhibit the usage levels required to facilitate successful implementations. This paper explores the successful implementation from a Bangladesh perspective. In particular, it identifies the possible applications of Blockchain in project procurement and management, and it develops a guideline for incorporating Blockchain into project management to improve the existing project and the procurement management practices in developing countries. This is a qualitative study with an interpretivist research methodology. By adopting an interpretive approach, this study construes knowledge as that only gained through social constructions, such as language, shared meanings, documents, industry reports, reviews of academic papers, and tools; it is a changing and relative phenomenon. This study reveals that developing countries are suffering in terms of the development of projects, including poor project management, a lack of transparency, poor procurement management, etc. A total of 38 issues were identified through this study, which are the main barriers to the successful implementation of public sector projects. One of the main reasons is due to the practice of awarding the lowest bidder during the procurement process due to the current regulatory requirements. This paper found that the Oracle platform, built on Blockchain technology as a cloud-computing platform, is one of the prominent E-procurement platforms that provides both the Blockchain platform and the cloud-based applications. Therefore, after observing and analysing the platform, it is found that Blockchain technology has the capability to resolve 25 issues out of 38 identified issues.

A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT

Urban population growth, particularly in developing countries, places immense pressure on water and land resources; it also results in the huge water usage most of it not potable at all. So, water treatment is increasingly necessary due to potable water shortages and growing needs of global population. Today, it is not at all safe to use water directly from rivers, reservoirs, and lakes as it contains various micro-organisms, pathogens, and other contaminants that have an adverse effect on the health of humans, plants, and animals. This situation of unhealthy and unsafe surface water has generated the need for the Water Treatment Plant. This study aimed at assessing Construction Project Management practice of Water Treatment Plant of capacity 5.5 MLD for the supply of potable water to 30 villages in Shegaon, Maharashtra. Therefore, the function of construction project management which includes defining the requirement of work, establishing the extent of work, monitoring the progress and adjusting deviations of work. This aims to achieve goals of project leading to completed construction by virtue of planning, executing and controlling time, funds with human and technical resources for the construction of water treatment plant. Data for the study was obtained through well-structured questionnaire administered to executive engineer, contractor, client and site engineer working on the project. This study is carried out for the knowledge of implementing, assessing and adapting the construction project management of water treatment plant. Keywords: Water Treatment Plant, Construction Project Management, Potable Water, Construction Industry, Public Sector Projects, Labour Intensive Culture.

Private versus Public Sector Projects Management: The Thin Line Between

Projects have been in existence since time immemorial. The simplest definition of a project, as an engagement with time constraints, usage of resources in order to achieve a specified goal and a scope of work to be performed qualifies the building of the pyramids as projects. Research has endeavoured to put the project concept in a clear perspective as well as to identify the various theories upon which the concept rides. Across organizations also projects exist, mostly structured according to the specifications of the implementing organizations or companies. Since organizations differ, especially in regards to culture, it is likely that their project structures will differ too. But, how much difference or similarity exists between projects of different institutions? This article aimed at exploring available literature in order to establish the answer to this question. An empirical literature review was used, in an attempt, to identify the difference or similarity that is there between projects in private and public sectors.

Decision-making Process in Infrastructure Projects and Losses due to Delayed Decision-making in Public Sector Projects of Pakistan

In recent years, the subject of decision-making in public infrastructure projects has become an important topic not only in project management but also in programme and portfolio management literature. Today, interdisciplinary projects are becoming a key focus in the collection, design and execution of government-sponsored programmes. With the various underlying risks and uncertainties, developed countries greatly depend on strategic planning regarding decision-making in infrastructure projects, whereas, in developing countries, the public sector programmes and projects are greatly affected by the lack of standardised and robust decision-making. This is primarily due to the lack of expertise to deal with the increasing complexity of the projects. This article aims at analysing the decision-making process in infrastructure development programmes/projects and discusses the factors affecting the decision-making process and thereby statistically chalking out the key losses caused by the delay in decision-making process in the public sector infrastructure projects of Pakistan. The findings will contribute towards understanding the criticality of decision-making process and mitigating the delay factors by encouraging to introduce standardisation in decision-making processes in the public sector. JEL Classification: C51, D7, D91, L74, O18

Inflation and Cost Overrun in Public Sector Construction Projects in Nigeria

There are problems of project abandonment, delays, disputes among the participants in the construction projects, difference between the tender cost, and initial cost and construction cost in most public building projects as a result of inflation and cost overrun in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of inflation and cost overrun on public sector projects in Nigeria and proffer solution on ways to minimize the problems associated with these two variables impacting public sector construction projects. This research work adopted a quantitative research method. This involved design of questionnaires and also collection of secondary data. Fifty questionnaires were administered to public sector professionals and data on ten public buildings projects were collected in Lagos State. The major finding from this study is that inflation and cost overrun affect most public building projects in Lagos State.

Cooperação internacional para o desenvolvimento e financiamento externo para o Brasil: uma macroanálise do período entre 2000 e 2020

Abstract This article analyzes public sector projects and programs in Brazil that received external financing from multilateral and bilateral agencies at the federal, state, and municipal levels between 2000 and 2020. The analyzed data were collected in the COFIEX Panel of the Brazilian Ministry of Economy, categorized, and presented in this article in a contextual way, aiming to represent the first overview of this object for studies on Public Administration in the country. An important instrument of the International Development Cooperation System, International Financing for Development follows international organizations” agendas and guidelines that have changed throughout history. Thus, in addition to exploring the main creditor sources, sectors, and federal units of destination of International Development Financing to Brazil, the article verified how the characteristics of international financing received between 2000-2015 and post-2015 reflect the agendas and guidelines of International Development Cooperation of the respective periods, namely, the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030). As a result, in addition to presenting a pioneering exploratory analysis of the data, it was possible to verify an inflection of external financing received by Brazil after 2015 in the direction of the current agenda and guidelines of International Development Cooperation. Finally, the paper presents directions for future research agendas.