David Ackah (PhD) | Ebenezer Essilfie-Baiden (PhD)
African University College of Communication | Business University Costa Rica (UNEM)
Email: drackah@ipmp.edu.gh | essilfiebaiden@gmail.com
Abstract
The research study was to understand and analysis the impact of project management methodologies on project success rates in the Government of Ghana social interventions Programmes in the Greater Accra sub-region of Ghana. The researchers specifically sought to identify the elements of project management methodologies, ascertain the level of implementation of project management methodologies in relation to government’s social intervention programmes. The research further explored the nature of social intervention programmes in the country as well as the relationship between project management methodologies and the success of social intervention programmes. The researchers used questionnaires and structured interviews in collecting data from stakeholders in the public sector ministries. Data was collected from 110 project stakeholders including project coordinators, project officers, research officers etc. In addition, the researchers conducted 20 different interviews with other stakeholders who have comprehensive understanding of project management methodologies and social interventions in the country. The researchers encouraged voluntary participation of respondents and ensured anonymity and confidentiality with during and after the data collection. The research was centered on ministries in the public sector noted to have extensive record in handling social intervention programmes. The major ministries include; Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Authority, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Protection. The major social interventions considered in the research include; Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Free SHS, National Health Insurance Scheme, among others. The findings of the research revealed that the level of implementation of project management methodologies in the public sector is low. The researchers therefore recommends that the ministries in charge of handling social intervention programmes should organize technical training to project stakeholders in order to help them incorporate PMMs in their projects. The researchers recommends that government formulates policies to ensure that all ministries in charge of social interventions applies the elements of project management methodologies in every given project in order to increase success rates of those interventions. The research revealed that the level of implementation of project management methodologies in the majority of public sector ministries is low. However, the results show that very few of the ministries have adopted various project management methodologies in handling social intervention programmes. The major elements of project management methodologies identified by the respondents are processes, tools, techniques, knowledge areas and capability profiles. The findings revealed that the public sector ministries have comprehensive set of processes, tools and knowledge areas in their project management methodologies. Moreover, the findings indicate that the public sector ministries apply relevant capability profiles and techniques during various stages of the project cycle. The increased success rates of social intervention programmes in the country may be attributed to these elements applied in organizations’ project management methodologies. The research further identified the characteristics of project success in the public sector. The characteristics of project success identified include projects achieving high national profile, projects meeting organizational objectives, projects achieving its purpose, when the impact of the project on beneficiaries are visible, and also when the project is finished within budget. The findings of the research reveals that the social intervention programmes enrolled by government forms part of Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. As a result, the majority of the projects are international funded by organizations such as The World Bank, UNICEF, World Food Programme, USAID, etc. The research further revealed that of all the social interventions, Free SHS and NABCO are the likely projects to make significant contribution to the social and economic development of the beneficiaries. This could be attributed with the level of importance placed on these projects by the current government.
Keywords: Project Management Methodologies, Public Sector Project Management, Social Interventions Programmes, Project Management for Development, Government of Ghana Project.
