Abstract:
The main objective of this research was to assess the application of project management
practices based on PMBOK in Repi Waste to energy plant construction project. The study used
both primary and secondary data. A self-administered close-ended questionnaire was used to
gather data from 40 respondents. Purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting the
samples. Furthermore, published and unpublished progress reports, contract documents, letters
exchanged between parties involved in the project, financial reports, minutes of meetings have
been used as secondary data. A descriptive research method with a combination of quantitative
and qualitative designs approach was used to assess project management practices. The results
of the study indicated lack of effective application of project management knowledge areas.
Further, the project had faced both internal and external challenges. The extended delay in time,
defects in quality, failure in power generate capacity, and over budget were results of poor
project management practices that cause the increase of project cost by more than 27 million
dollars despite in decrease of 50 percent power generating capacity to 25 MW and delay for
more than two years. The project management team was inattentive to overcome the internal and
external challenges of the project by setting specific direction in order to clarify the scope of the
project and making plans to take into account what is likely to happen in advance related to
time, cost, and quality management. Because it does not meet the performance requirement, cost,
time, or scope targets, Repi Waste to Energy plant project is an example of a failure due to poor
project management practices. The study asserts that lack of effective application of project
management knowledge areas proved to be the cause of failure to the project. The findings show
that the performance of project management practices in similar projects can improve by
utilizing modern project management technologies and by providing sustainable training for
project team to develop knowledge driven decision skills. Conducting further study in similar
government projects would be recommended to propose a modified and transformative approach
in project implementation mechanisms and practicalities of knowledge areas based on results or
effects to satisfy the needs of the nation.
