PROJECT MANAGERS’ SOFT SKILLS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DONOR-FUNDED ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Bredah Wanjiku Kamau, Dr. Samson Paul Nyang’au

Abstract


Project management in its entirety has branched out in many fields and taken on new meanings in the 21st century. A project manager is mandated to coordinate and oversee all phases of the project including managing team members, communicating with stakeholders, motivating staff, prioritizing tasks, facilitating communication, etc. As such, project managers must have a wide range of skills under their belt.  The general objective of this study was to investigate the influence of project management soft skills on the implementation of donor-funded infrastructure projects in Nairobi County, Kenya. The specific objectives include: to assess the influence of leadership skills on the implementation of donor-funded infrastructure projects; and to investigate the influence of conflict management skills on the implementation of donor-funded infrastructure projects in Nairobi County, Kenya. This study used purposive sampling to sample 99 road supervisors, road engineers, and road inspectors of completed donor-funded road construction projects in Nairobi County overseen by KenHA. The study collected data using structured questionnaires and interview guides. The collected data was fed in SPSS program and Microsoft Excel for analysis. Descriptive statistics including mean, percentages, and frequencies were used to summarise the findings. Inferential statistics including multiple regression and correlation was used to test the association between the variables. The findings were presented using tables and bar graphs. The study revealed that Leadership Skills, and Conflict Management Skills influence the Implementation of Donor-funded Infrastructure Projects. There was a strongly positive correlation between. Leadership Skills, and Implementation of Donor-funded Infrastructure Projects. There was also a moderately positive correlation between Conflict Management Skills and Implementation of Donor-funded Infrastructure Projects. It was concluded that leadership attributes enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of project execution and foster a work environment conducive to meeting project goals within stipulated timelines and budgets and effective conflict resolution reduces the potential for disputes to disrupt project workflows, fosters collaboration among stakeholders, and contributes to the smooth progression of project activities. It was recommended that organizations involved in donor-funded projects should invest in leadership development programs for project managers focused on enhancing soft skills.

Key Words: Project Management Soft Skills, Leadership Skills, Donor-Funded Infrastructure Projects, Conflict Management Skills


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References


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