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Challenges in the Era of Globalization - iaabd

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Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 12th Annual Conference © 2011 IAABD<br />

Abstract<br />

Project Management Trilogy <strong>Challenges</strong> <strong>in</strong> Africa – where to from here?<br />

P D Rwelamila, rwelapmd@unisa.ac.za<br />

N Purushottam, purusn@unisa,ac.za<br />

University <strong>of</strong> South Africa (UNISA), South Africa<br />

In Africa like <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r cont<strong>in</strong>ents, projects are becom<strong>in</strong>g a way <strong>in</strong> which organizations (public and private) fulfill<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir bus<strong>in</strong>ess plans. Project management still rema<strong>in</strong>s a C<strong>in</strong>derella field across <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>ent. On average 8 out 10<br />

projects managers are accidental or have <strong>in</strong>adequate PM knowledge base; PM tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g is characterized by<br />

curricula fall<strong>in</strong>g short <strong>of</strong> some fundamental knowledge areas <strong>of</strong> PM; and organizations (with<strong>in</strong> public and private<br />

sectors) which are fundamentally supposed to be centered on programs and portfolios are <strong>in</strong> practice project<br />

oriented organizations (POO) by default characterized by archaic and fragmented systems. These challenges,<br />

which are referred to <strong>in</strong> this paper as ‘PM trilogy challenges’ have significantly contributed to a confus<strong>in</strong>g<br />

environment if not corrected could take away <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>of</strong> PM <strong>in</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess success and public sector<br />

development. Results <strong>of</strong> five research projects are used <strong>in</strong> this paper to identify <strong>the</strong> issues which have led to ‘PM<br />

trilogy challenges’. F<strong>in</strong>ally recommendations are advanced towards address<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>se challenges.<br />

Introduction<br />

There is sufficient evidence to strongly suggest that most future growth and successes <strong>of</strong> public and<br />

private sector organizations will result from successful development <strong>of</strong> projects: that generate new and<br />

state <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> art <strong>in</strong>frastructure facilities, excellent public doma<strong>in</strong> services to citizens and susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />

policies which will create a conducive environment for appropriate <strong>in</strong>vestments; and new products,<br />

services, or procedures respectively. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Graham and Englund (2004), such projects will also be<br />

a pr<strong>in</strong>cipal way <strong>of</strong> creat<strong>in</strong>g organizational change; implement<strong>in</strong>g change and growth strategies will<br />

usually also be entrusted to project managers. However, <strong>the</strong>y argue, project success is <strong>of</strong>ten as much as<br />

results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> organizational environment (with public and private sectors) as <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> knowledge (authors<br />

emphasis) and skills <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project manager. Current assessments <strong>of</strong> various projects across <strong>the</strong> African<br />

cont<strong>in</strong>ent based on various studies (Rwelamila 2010a; Rwelamila 2000; Ssegawa and Ngowi 2009;<br />

Rwelamila and Phungula 2009) pa<strong>in</strong>t a picture <strong>of</strong> project failures across public and private sectors<br />

support<strong>in</strong>g Graham and Englund’s (2004) argument. The majority <strong>of</strong> failed projects depict <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

umbrella dimensions:<br />

Inefficient projects – projects fail<strong>in</strong>g to meet budget and schedule expectations; Weak impact on<br />

customers/stakeholders – projects unable to meet technical specifications, unable to address<br />

customer/stakeholders needs, and unable to create projects that satisfy clients/stakeholders needs;<br />

Unsuccessful bus<strong>in</strong>ess/or unsuccessful development strategy – projects not achiev<strong>in</strong>g significant<br />

commercial success (private sector) or development programmes/projects unable to achieve<br />

developmental goals (public sector); and Unsusta<strong>in</strong>able potential – projects unable to add value.<br />

For most projects, <strong>the</strong> above failed projects umbrella dimensions have resulted <strong>in</strong>to specific issues, which<br />

are <strong>the</strong> opposite <strong>of</strong> what P<strong>in</strong>to and Slev<strong>in</strong> (1988) referred to as project critical factors. It is thus important<br />

to refer to <strong>the</strong>se issues as African project failure symptoms cutt<strong>in</strong>g across all sectors. These symptoms<br />

<strong>in</strong>clude:<br />

(i)Clients/Stakeholders dissatisfaction with f<strong>in</strong>al products or services – ultimate <strong>in</strong>tended users or<br />

beneficiaries have not accepted what projects have f<strong>in</strong>ally delivered; (ii) Most <strong>of</strong> project missions have<br />

724

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