EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE of PUBLIC BUILDING CONSTRUCTION in JIMMA TOWN: ANALYSIS of SCHEDULES, SCOPE, QUALITY, AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Abstract

The outcomes of Public construction projects are substantially influenced by various attributes, including organizational structures, financial complexities, duration, unpredictability, and deadlines. Therefore, a complete examination of public building construction projects is needed to solve the challenges that affect project success. This study aims to evaluate the performance of public building construction projects in Jimma Town by examining key factors such as schedule adherence, scope achievement, execution quality, and regulatory compliance. A mixed-methods research design combined quantitative and qualitative methodologies was used to attain this goal. Regulatory agencies, contractors, clients, and consultants were among the stakeholders studied in Jimma Town's public construction projects. A total of 50 stakeholders were purposefully chosen, with 48 responses received, giving a 96% response rate. On-site examinations, structured surveys, and interviews gathered data. The acquired data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Relative Importance Index (RII). The findings found that most public building construction projects in Jimma Town experienced severe delays, failure to achieve project scope, and difficulties sustaining needed quality standards. Specifically, 50% of respondents said that projects did not meet deadlines, 62.5% cited scope achievement failures, and 39.6% expressed worries about quality. Clients, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and external aspects were the most often cited causes of delays. Furthermore, 41.7% of respondents cited noncompliance with construction rules and regulations, while 39.58% stated that health and safety regulations were improperly followed. Finally, the study recommends the need for better coordination among project stakeholders—clients, contractors, consultants, and regulatory bodies—to improve the performance of public construction projects in Jimma Town. Increasing regulatory monitoring, establishing strong quality control, and encouraging greater communication among stakeholders are crucial for addressing the issues raised in this study. Moreover, Fostering stakeholder engagement, promotion of sustainability practices, strengthening health and safety measures with regular inspections, stricter regulation enforcement, and penalties for non-compliance could help to address the challenges of poor performance.