Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of project risk management practices: risk
identification, risk assessment and analysis, risk prioritization and ranking, and risk response
and monitoring on the success of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahid church projects in Jimma
diocese. To do so explanatory research design was applied. This study adopted the case study of
the EOC diocese which has implemented at 8 projects which constituted 253 workers targeted
population. From this, 155 sample respondents were selected through stratified simple random
sampling techniques. Both qualitative and quantitative (mixed) research approach was followed
to develop data collecting instruments (self-administered structured questionnaires). Both
primary and secondary data sources were used for the purpose of this study. The primary data
was collected through survey method while secondary data from online sources. Both descriptive
(percentages, means, standard deviation) and inferential(correlation and multiple linear
regression) statistical analysis tools were applied to describe the effect of explanatory variables
(risk identification, risk analysis, risk prioritization, risk response and monitoring) on the
dependent variable (project success) and to explore the variation of it due to these explanatory
variables. The finding of the study revealed that: risk identification, risk analysis, risk
prioritization, and risk response and monitoring significantly affect project success; and hence,
91.5% variation of project success was found to be explained by these explanatory variables
while the rest 8.5% of it can be explained by other factors (residual variables) not included in
this study. Based on these findings, conclusions were made and possible ideas were
recommended. Finally, directions were forwarded for future research probably conducted in the
filed on problems related with skills to use the tools of risk management, and impact of
awareness creation in risk management on project success.
