PROJECT PLANNING PROCESS AND PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN RWANDA: A CASE OF SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE PROJECT

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to examine the influence of project planning process to the project performance in Rwanda using a case of food sustainable food initiative project. The specific objective was to assess influence of project schedule, execution as well as budget on project performance. The research findings are helpful future scholars, students, project managers as well as public sector. The theories used were the theory of complexity, program theory and theory of constraints. The researcher used both descriptive and correlation study design with a mixed approach. The researcher targeted 80 project beneficiaries and 6 key informants using a census approach. Simple random stratified sampling technique were applied. The researcher gathered data using questionnaire, interview guide and desk review. Furthermore, responses were analyzed using both descriptive (frequencies, mean, percentage, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression) statistics which were generated using a computer based software known as statistical product and service solutions version 26.0. Results from findings indicated that there was an agreement on how schedule influences Performance of the project as 45% strongly agreed and 38% agreed that the schedule change affects the project to reach it completion with a mean 3.9767 and standard deviation of 0.34220. Besides, the results also revealed that the project execution influences the Performance of the project where 81% of the respondents agreed and 9% strongly agreed with a mean of 3.4884 and standard deviation of 0.68159. Further, the study also indicated that the project budget influences the Performance of the project as 84% agreed with a mean of 4.0000 and standard deviation of 3.7573. Besides, the study found that there is insignificant negative correlation of r=-0.681 and p value=0.000 between variables statistically correlated given the p value is <0.005. Finally, the study recommended that to ensure effective Planning of all project activities, emphasis should be put on work break structure in order to develop a project schedule, as it defines all the work that needs to be completed to achieve the goals and objectives of the project.