Effective project management controls for capital projects in the public sector of Namibia (2012 – 2013)

Abstract

Capital projects implementation in the public sector of the Republic of Namibia has become a topic of concern. Twenty-four years after gaining independence, capital project success rates are still below 60%. This, unfortunately, is not in line with the Ministry of Works and Transport’s 2012 – 2017 strategic plan which aims to achieve 100% customer satisfaction by year three of the plan’s implementation. The need for appropriate and effective project management control tools to deliver capital projects successfully, that is on time, within budget, and to the correct quality, has become fundamental in order to perform to the 2012 – 2017 Ministry of Works and Transport Strategic Plan.

This research sought to ascertain the current project success status, diagnose the problems with the existing project management approach in use, identify causes of problems diagnosed, and by elimination of the said causes recommend a system of project controls that will be effective in the delivery of public capital construction projects in Namibia. These objectives were realised using both survey and non-survey methods, namely questionnaires and interviews for survey methods, and observation and collection of primary documents such as project minutes in the non-survey methods.

The research found that poor planning and organising, lack of skill and limitations pertaining to consultants’ supervision were the main challenges leading to project delivery out of the agreed schedule, cost, and quality parameters. The research recommended a project control system largely focused on management planning and organising within the Ministry of Works and Transport, that is expected to increase project delivery success rates to meet the Ministry of Work and Transport’s 2012 – 2017 strategic plan for infrastructure development and maintenance.