Project Procurement and Performance

The main study areas considered in this research are risk content of projects, effectiveness and efficiency of portfolio management units, procurement principles, factors that impede implementation of project audits and strategies to enhance effective project auditing. The research distributed structured questionnaires to the staffs of Ministry of Local Government and had a response rate of 72%, which was sufficient to make conclusive remarks on the total population. The research was conducted with the voluntary participation of supply officers, heads of PMO, directors, project managers, human resources persons, administrative officers and other officers of the Ministry of Local Government. These groups of respondents represented by 57.8% males and 42.2% females have good education backgrounds from certificate/diploma to doctorates. The significance of the high educational levels depicts the level of knowledge possessed by the respondents in contributing to the research topic. The respondents have diverse experience in handling projects ranging from project management, procurement and logistics, monitoring and supervision, project analysis and stewardship. The general information on the respondents was presented. The first objective of the research was to analyze the risk content of respective projects. To achieve this objective, the researcher sought respondents' understanding of risk and how it is handled in their organization. The definitions given to risks by the respondents include; uncertain events that affects project performance, possibility of loss or project failure, exposure to outcomes of uncertainty, gaps in knowledge that affects project objectives, and threat of damage, injury and loss. The significant factor in the definitions given is the fact that risks affects the objectives and performance of projects. The respondents also highlighted how they identify risks in projects as individuals and as an organization. The research reveals that individuals identify risks by brainstorming and challenging of assumptions, assessing any actions likely to affect project activities, analyzing the sequence of events within business operations, and comparing the projects to other completed and similar projects. The organizations also identify risks by carrying out SWOT analysis and interviews. The SWOT analysis is carried out to determine the organizations' strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, a concept that takes into consideration internal and external factors of the organization. The respondents also ranked risk management processes from literature in order of importance. These include risk identification (1st), monitoring and reviewing of risk (2nd), analyzing the risk (3rd), treatment of the risk (4th) and evaluation or ranking of the risk (5th). The second objective of the research was to ascertain whether the project portfolio management units are suitable in terms of managing project activities in the organization. In order to achieve this objective, responses from the respondents were collated on whether their organizations have project management office and the functions of the units in managing projects. More than 70% of the

The issue of continual poor project performance in the construction industry remains unresolved, and there is the need for improvement. In view of improving project performance, this study aims at investigating the frequent causes of errors in construction contract documents. A mixed method (questionnaire survey and interview) research approach was used for the study. The respondents for the study (selected with two-stage stratified-random sampling technique) consist of 86 consulting and 98 contracting firms that have been engaged in building projects that have more than one floor between 2012 and 2015. Fifty-one (51) interviews were also conducted with contractors, project managers and consultants on the projects they were involved on and that provided further necessary information for the study. The tools that were used for the analysis of this study include descriptive (sums, frequency and percentages) and inferential (t-test) statistics. The study found that the causes of errors in contract documents comprise of frequent design changes by clients, lack of adequate time to prepare documents and design management experience among others. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the causes of errors in contract documents vary from one state to the other. It was also found that there is a difference in the causes of errors in contract documents based on types of building, services rendered by construction organisations and states in South West, Nigeria. However, there is no significant difference in the causes of errors in contract documents based on procurement method except where there is incomplete documentation or contracting organisations have overlapping activities. The study recommended that the errors identified should always be prevented from occurring if cost and time overrun are to be minimized. Also since most of the causes identified are related to consultants, it was recommended that all designs should go through quality assurance process.

This study aimed to survey e-procurement in the Public Sector with a view to investigate the challenges in adoption of e-procurement. Current literature on Public Procurement indicates a shift towards adoption of new technologies in Supply Chain processes that include e-procurement. These technological changes in the external business environment are eliciting various responses from Supply Chain actors in the public sector. The level of public sector response is influenced by various factors posing as challenges to adoption of e-procurement. The existing literature indicates some of the challenges arising while responding to these technological changes include lack of employee competence, inadequate legal framework, inadequate technological infrastructure for integrating e-commerce with other systems and concerns about security of e-procurement business transaction data and information. These perceived challenges in informed the purpose for this study. The study population included state corporations under the Ministry of Finance. Due to time and financial constraints, the researcher carried out a simple random selection of three respondents from the procurement departments of all the 16 corporations giving a sample size of 48. Both primary and secondary data was used for the study. The research study used a questionnaire as a key instrument for primary data collection. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed through the use of frequency distribution, mean scores and standard deviations. In addition, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests was carried out.  From the study, it was revealed that employee competency, inadequate legal framework, inadequate technological infrastructure and security of procurement transaction data was a challenge to e-procurement adoption in the organizations under review. The study recommended that among others, due to continuous turnover of the employees', continuous training for the incoming staff is required on eprocurement. In addition, formal recognition backed by legislation of the electronic procurement transactions should be encouraged. Integration of the Organizations system and those of the suppliers, demonstration of the positive impact of the system, and installation of linkages between all Governments agencies should be encouraged.

Keywords: E-Procurement Adoption, Electronic Procurement, Public Procurement

Without project monitoring and evaluation, it is impossible to meet project objectives and maintain a high level of employee performance. In projects, Monitoring and Evaluation is one of the critical elements of the project management cycle. This study focuses monitoring and evaluation on project performance in NGOs. The specific objectives of this study were: Practices of monitoring and evaluation done by NGOs, tools and techniques use in monitoring and evaluation and to establish the relationship between monitoring and evaluation on project performance of non-Government organizations. The study design was descriptive. Primary data was collected for the analysis, the target population was 33 monitoring evaluation team and 17 project team leaders; the sample of this research was selected using a stratified random sampling method. The study found the monitoring and evaluation plan prepared by the involvement project managers, m & e experts, team leaders and consultants. Most respondents say, there is a separate budget for monitoring and evaluating projects activtes and also said no specific budget allocated monitoring and evaluating activities. The common tools and techniques are used logical frameworks, theory-based evaluations, formal surveys, rapid appraisal, and participatory methods. The factor affected in using the M&E system is the role of management in the operations of the M&E. According relationship between Monitoring & evaluation and performance There is a positive relation, (85%) of respondents are agreed there is a related m&e and project performance. The researcher concluded that contributing to factors necessary for improving project performance in NGOs are project planning and quality, employee skills, identification problems in planning, and environmental scanning. The researcher recommended that all NGOs focus on M&E to improve project performance; this is because monitoring and evaluation assists projects in understand the environment in which they operate and how to proceed.

This study investigated the critical procurement challenges faced by international development (ID) projects in Bangladesh. Initially, a framework of challenges was developed via literature review. We then ranked the importance of these challenges and categorized them based on interview data and analytical hierarchy processing analysis. Interviews were conducted with procurement experts from three major ID project stakeholder groups: donor organizations, host country government policymakers, and project implementation units. The most important categories of challenges were those related to project management capacity/capability, and ethics. More specifically, the challenges deemed most important were those related to improper project planning, undue practices in procurement implementation, government bureaucracy and interference in procurement, and inexperienced procurement staff. This paper contributes to the ID project procurement literature by identifying the critical challenges to procurement, which differ from those of other project-related areas. The findings may assist the multibillion-dollar ID project procurement industry in Bangladesh by highlighting the major issues that require effective management by all stakeholders. Ultimately, this may improve procurement outcomes and overall project performance.

In this paper we will address the topic of project procurement in the EU Enlargement Countries, within the framework of development projects supported and funded by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
At the very beginning of this text, the author will present the notion of multilateral financial institutions and historic facts that led to establishment of Multilateral Development Banks, as well as their respective spheres of activity. Therewith, author will briefly explain MDB’s relationship with developing countries and present pre-conditions for project financing. Also, we will present quick breakdown of project life cycle phases, introducing the notion of project procurement.
Further, we will elaborate phase by phase of project cycle, emphasizing parts relating to project procurement activities. In addition, we will depict notion of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and the role of Project Manager (PM) in execution of project activities, as well as the importance of project master document – Project Implementation Manual (PIM).
In this part of the thesis, author is trying to shed light on the project investment portfolio and procurement framework of major multilateral and regional development banks operating in EU Enlargement Countries, explaining the scope and nature of project operations.
At the end, we will try to summarize main findings of this analysis, and to provide an outlook on the sustainability and future evolvement of the project procurement as the particular type of the procurement, with its role in the achieving of the set of the socio-economic development goals. Additionally, we will provide set of potential policies and measures that need to take place in order to diminish any conflict in applying of national and Multilateral Development Bank’s procurement procedures, as well as to provide downsides of project procurement in development projects.

The study sought to investigate E-Business Mechanisms and Procurement Performance: A case study of Rwanda Development Board. The study answered Three (03) research questions; What are the common e-procurement solutions and types the organizations use and how are they implemented? How does information flow with in eprocurement systems? and, What are the benefits attained, challenges and risks involved in the implementation of e-procurement systems? The study used a cross sectional design with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to collect and analyze data from 60 respondents including board staff and customers. A set of questionnaire and interview guide were used to gather data as well as observation and document analysis techniques. The data collected underwent content analysis through Excel computer programme in order to quantify responses in terms frequencies and percentages where applicable as well as in analyzing and interpreting data which was later presented, using qualitative and quantitative methods. The study found out that there is a direct positive relationship between e-procurement and procurement and Procurement Performance and Rwanda Development Board. The study concluded that e-procurement has offered various benefits to Rwanda Development Board, among which include; timely provision of services to customers, elimination of fraud, improved their business competitiveness and maintenance of quality service to its customers. This has enabled the Board to realize their business goals, value for money procurement with high Procurement Performance. The study recommended that management at Rwanda Development Board should adopt e-procurement in all its purchasing engagements in order to minimize fraud during local procurement processes. This could be done through carrying out extensive online procurement to attract the best bidders who can supply the best products, at the most cost-effective rates.

The issue of continual poor project performance in the construction industry remains unresolved and there is need for improvement. In view of improving project performance, the study aims at investigating the frequent causes of errors in construction contract documents. The survey research design and mixed research methods were used for the study. The respondents for the study consist of 86 consulting and 98 contracting firms that have been engaged on building projects that is above one floor between 2012 and 2015. Fifty one (51) interviews were also conducted on contractors, project managers and consultants on the projects they were involved and can equally provide necessary information for the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 20) was used for the analysis of the study. The study found that the frequent causes of the errors in contract documents are frequent design changes by clients, lack of adequate time to prepare documents and design management experience am...