Factors affecting successful completion of infrastructure projects
1.2 Statement of the problem
Maintaining steady completion of construction projects, has until recently, been an issue of serious concern both to the client and contractors. Standish Group Report (2007) noted that mega projects fail at a higher rate than small/medium sized projects. According to Khatak(2009), the main reasons and causes of project/task failure are embodied in four key dimensions of the task, namely –time, cost, quality and content. The end users and stakeholders of a project also play a fundamentally important role towards success or failure.
Lock (2007), asserts that consequences of failure of projects can be multi-dimensional, having far reaching effects on individuals, communities and organizations. In more visible terms time and cost overruns are common features of failure of projects, resulting in delay of service or product delivery. Kappelman et al., (2006) says that the high rate of failed/incomplete or abandoned projects negatively impacts government/organizational performance, costing tax payer billions of money in losses. In quantifiable terms the cost of delays and partial or inadequate accrual of the envisaged benefits in the shape of increase in revenues, improvements in service, quality or technology would vary according to the nature and scope of project.
In developing countries like Kenya, projects are the life line of construction plan or programs. Failure of projects irrespective of the sector, whether public or private contribute to irreparable loss to society and to the economy as whole. Delays and non-completion of projects from initial cost plan has been prevalent on construction sites. However, little or no efforts