Effect of project planning on water supply projects performance in Rwanda. A case study of Kirehe water supply project

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to investigate the effect of project planning on the water supply project performance, a case study of the Kirehe Water Supply project. The study was guided by the following Specific objectives: to examine the effect of project schedule planning on water supply project performance in Rwanda, to determine the effect of budget planning on water supply project performance in Rwanda, to analyze the effect of communication planning on water supply projects performance in Rwanda and to assess the effect of resource planning on water supply projects performance in Rwanda. The study adopted a descriptive survey design employing both quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. Quantitative data was gathered through a questionnaire administered to various stakeholders, while qualitative insights were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Documentary analysis supplements the primary data. The target population included 112 professionals involved in the Kirehe Water Project. A sample size of 88 was determined using Slovin’s formula. The study used a stratified random sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data was collected. Data collection instruments were by use of questionnaire and document analysis, maintaining rigor to ensure validity and reliability. Data analysis involves descriptive statistics, inferential tests like regression analysis, and thematic analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of the study. The regression model results for the Kirehe Water Supply project performance reveal significant predictors. The constant term shows an intercept of 1.562 (t = 3.610, p = .001), indicating a baseline performance level. Among the predictors, resource planning demonstrates the strongest positive impact with a coefficient of 0.866 (t = 12.910, p < .001), suggesting that effective management and allocation of resources significantly enhance project performance. Communication planning also shows a notable negative impact with a coefficient of -0.315 (t = -4.863, p < .001), indicating that improvements in communication strategies could lead to better project outcomes. In contrast, project schedule planning (β = 0.124, t = 1.993, p = .050) and budget planning (β = -0.043, t = -0.682, p = .497) show relatively weaker impacts, suggesting these areas may require further attention or refinement to more significantly influence project performance. In conclusion, the regression analysis highlights that resource planning and communication strategies significantly influence the performance of the Kirehe Water Supply project in Rwanda. Effective management of resources enhances project outcomes, while improvements in communication planning could further optimize project success. Based on the regression model findings, it is recommended to prioritize improvements in resource planning to maximize the positive impact on water supply project performance. Enhancing communication strategies should also be a focus to mitigate 7 the observed negative influence and further optimize project outcomes in the Kirehe Water Supply project and similar initiatives.