Critical Success Factors of Agricultural Growth Project in Jimma Zone

Abstract

The Agricultural growth projects in Jimma Zone have been efficient and effective in projects delivery. Considerable percentages of projects are completed within schedule. This informed the purpose of the proposed study, which is to examine project critical success, factors and success of Agricultural Growth Projects in Jimma Zone. The study employed a mixed method approach, which embraced both qualitative and quantitative approaches including hypothesis testing. The target populations for the study comprised of 500 households which are drawn from seven woredas of Jimma Zone, which benefited from the Agricultural Growth Program. Goma, and Gera woredas that sample 260-sample representative of total population is drawn. The study will use a questionnaire and an interview schedule as the main instruments of data collection. Quantitative data are analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in frequency tables while qualitative data are presented in narrative form. Hypotheses are tested using linear regression at 0.05 levels of significance to determine the degree and direction of relationships among variables. Hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regressions at 0.05 levels of significance to determine the degree and direction of relationships among variables. The study attained Cranach Alpha of coefficient of 0.96 for all items implying that the instrument was reliable. The results showed that statically significant influence of combined critical success factors on project success. The multiple correlation coefficient was .98, indicating approximately 97% of the variance of the project success could be accounted for by Human, Project, Stakeholder collaboration, Organization, Project phase and External environment related factors. Based on ranking Human related factors at beta value .49, Stakeholder collaboration related factors at beta value .46, Project related factors at beta value .44, Organization related factors at beta value .42, Project phase related factors at beta value .22 and External environment related factors at beta .06 are critical success factors, which are success agricultural growth project performance in Jimma Zone. This calls for develop project manager’s technical expertise, commitment, timely communication and consistence to project work. In order to carried out project within schedule in adherence to budget, in the required quality and satisfy customers timely availability of funds, materials and equipment are a prerequisite. Policy guideline integrating critical aspects that, influence agricultural growth projects completion / success performance are the suggested strategies. To guarantee success in performance of agricultural growth projects, critical success factors in this study