INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES ON PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL HOUSING PROJECTS IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of the study was to establish the effect of internal management competencies on performance of commercial housing projects in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Methodology: The study employed descriptive research design. There are a total of 100 commercial housing developers operating in Kiambu County. This study targeted owners and operation managers in all the companies.  Therefore, the study population was 200 respondents. This study adopted a census approach since the target population is not large. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire. Quantitative data gathered from correctly filled questionnaires was coded; tabulated and analyzed using SPSS version 20 by both descriptive statistics which included mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics which includes Pearson correlation and regression coefficient which was used. The data was presented using frequency tables and graphs.

Results: The study revealed that there was a positive association between the variables of the study, that is, leadership competency, financial competency, project consultant competency and information technology competency with coefficients 0.636, 0.645, 0.676 and 0.622 respectively in relation to performance of commercial housing projects in Kiambu County. The p-values of leadership competency, financial competency, project consultant competency and information technology competency were 0.001, 0.011, 0.000 and 0.014 respectively. This implied that there was a significant and positive relation between internal management competencies and performance of commercial housing projects in Kiambu County.

Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The commercial housing firms should adopt the various strategic competencies that are useful to an organization to boost the performance of projects in commercial housing. The competencies include leadership and top management skills and financial management. The modern technology in the IT field is useful and should be adopted in the various project firms. Commercial housing firms' excellence in internal management and acquisition of necessary physical and human resources should be an aim for all the registered firms. This is necessary to ensure quality of the projects.