Ethiopian Construction Project Management Maturity Model Determination and Correlational Prediction of Project Success

Abstract

In Ethiopia, although the construction industry is booming, the practice of effective project delivery in time, cost, and quality remains a challenge. Construction project success comes through the application of knowledge-based, critically essential factors. The industry's effectiveness is dictated by the level of project management knowledge built in each company. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to evaluate project management maturity level of construction industry and the predictability of project success from project management knowledge maturity of 193 project managers working in contractors, consultants, and clients. The study, which was informed by the project management body of knowledge and stakeholder theory, used 2 existing valid and reliable survey instruments, the Construction Project Success Factors, and Kerzner Project Management Maturity Measurement questionnaire, to collect the data. The correlation between project success rate and maturity level of group sample was checked by Pearson correlation. Statistically significant (p < .001) and strong positive correlation (Pearson's ranging from .502 to .677) were found for all measures of project success and project management maturity score of Level-1 and Level-2. The study provides strong evidence that construction project management maturity level is correlated and predicts the project success rate. These findings may help improve the project management knowledge, organization, and delivery system for a positive social change. The results may help policymakers and professionals encounter successful projects derived from the improvement of construction project management knowledge.