Journal of Entrepreneurship and Project Management

Impact of Mega-Agricultural Projects, Searching the Silver Lining in Cameroon

Ngochembo Gaston Gwemelang — 2024-02-28

Purpose: Large-scale projects have created significant positive impacts in different countries around the world. Such impact is less common in Africa and Cameroon's agricultural sector in particular. This study was designed to investigate such impact due to the renewed interest in such projects, whereas, there is a slow rate of development of the agricultural sector in Cameroon.

Methodology: We examined the experience of actors in the sector and analysed qualitative responses to a survey examining the possible impact of some completed major large-scale projects in Ngoketunjia of the North West Region and the Noun of the Western Region. A total of 45 experts were interviewed and 400 farmers provided answers to survey questions probing ‘silver linings’ they may have experienced from large-scale projects. We analysed these qualitative responses using a thematic analysis approach.

Findings: Respondents identified a silver lining under two themes social and economic. Socially, skills and knowledge improvement were observed to have improved while access to social facilities (electricity, health, water, schools), as well as integration and interactions amongst villagers, were less visible. Therefore the claim that large-scale agricultural projects led to social impact might be a faulty one as the silver lining in this dimension cannot be directly attributed to such projects. Under the economic domain silver lining was observed in access to employable opportunities, market, and finance access as well as value added to raw materials. However, no silver lining was observed in income-generating activities and production volume increments.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: Major impact disruptions were linked to project design and delays that affected the budget, supply shortages, and efficiency. To create the desired impact, we recommend that, large-scale projects should proactively focus on impact-driven project components as well as reschedule activities to minimize delays, penalties, and cost overruns.

Project Team Planning and Performance of Housing Projects in Kenya

Charles Muiruri Wanjau — 2024-01-31

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of project team planning on the performance of housing projects in Kenya.

Methodology: The study applied mixed methods research design. The study target population was 675 strategic registered contractors in the housing projects in Nairobi metropolitan, Kenya. Based on Yamane Formula adopted the sample size for this study was 251 respondents. Purposive sampling was used to select the 251 from the list of 675 contractors. The respondents consisted of the project managers; engineers; architects; contractors; and the site supervisors. The study used both primary and secondary data using semi structured questionnaires and interview guides. The study used SPSS version 25 software to analyze the data where both descriptive and inferential analyses were obtained.

Results: The inferential analysis results revealed that project team planning had a significant and positive influence on the performance of housing projects in Kenya at p<0.05. This indicates that project team skills, project team experience, communication plan and project team efficacy are vital in the performance of housing projects. The study used analysis of variance to determine whether the model is significant and shows the good fit for the data. The Coefficient of determination R² of 0.513 showed that 51.3% of housing project performance is explained by project team planning.

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: While the existing competency theory used in this study was validated, the study recommends that contractors in Kenya should consider project team planning as an important aspect in housing projects as has been observed by majority of the contractors. The study recommends the government to make appropriate policies in housing implementation in the ministry of housing which promote the establishment of comprehensive project teams that include experts in various domains such as architecture, engineering, finance, and project management.

Government and Program Implementation Bodies Policies on Performance of Women Empowerment Projects in Dagoretti Area, Nairobi County, Kenya

Njoki Kibe — 2024-03-28

Purpose: Women’s social, political and economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable development and pro poor growth. Achieving women’s economic empowerment requires sound public policies, a holistic approach and long-term commitment and gender-specific perspectives must be integrated at the design stage of policy and programming. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the influence of government and program implementation bodies’ policies on the performance of women’s empowerment projects in Dagoretti area, Nairobi County, Kenya. To achieve this, the following specific objectives were utilized; to examine distribution of resources policies on the performance of women empowerment projects in Dagoretti area, Nairobi County, Nairobi, to assess decision making policies on the performance of women empowerment projects in Dagoretti area, Nairobi County, Nairobi, to assess monitoring and evaluation policies on the performance of women empowerment projects in Dagoretti area, Nairobi County, to examine leadership and coordination policies on the performance of women empowerment projects in Dagoretti area, Nairobi County.

Methodology: The research design that was adopted was descriptive research design. The study involved interviewing of key actors involved in women’s empowerment programs (particularly in the community based organizations (CBOS). The target population comprised of 33 women groups in Dagoretti Area, 4 county officials and 20 Chair persons of Program Implementing Bodies. The sample drawn from the target population was based on the basis of 30% of 33 that resulted to a selection of 10 women groups that were randomly selected. 3 officials from the county office dealing with Youths and women affairs and 7 officials from implementing bodies were purposively selected. The scope of study was Dagoretti Area, Nairobi County. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire which was administered to the county official. Focus group discussion guides were carried out on women who were selected randomly during their meetings. Data collected was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively through the help of SPSS computer software and presented through themes percentages, frequencies, tables and bar graphs.

Monitoring Planning and Implementation of Donor Funded Agricultural Projects in Kenya

Bernard Kiongera Kamau — 2024-02-13

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between monitoring planning and implementation of donor funded agricultural projects in Kenya. The study also sought to establish the moderating effect of project environment on the relationship between monitoring planning and implementation of donor funded agricultural projects in Kenya. In the realm of donor-funded agricultural projects in Kenya, effective monitoring planning is integral to successful project implementation. Activities such as resource acquisition, organization of materials, and training farm operators depend on a well-structured plan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2014) emphasizes the need for a seamless integration of techniques, procedures, people, and systems rooted in thoughtful planning.

Methodology: This study employed a descriptive research design utilizing questionnaires as the primary data collection method, emphasizing a positivism philosophy grounded in quantifiable observations and statistical analysis. The target population encompassed various roles within donor-funded agricultural projects, totaling 383 individuals, with a sample size of 196 determined through simple random sampling. Reliability was assessed through a pilot test, utilizing Cronbach's Alpha, and statistical techniques were employed for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, and statistical tests such as ANOVA. The study tested hypothesis related to the influence of monitoring planning on project implementation, as well as the moderating effect of the project environment.

Findings: The study's statistical analyses reject the hypothesis (H₀₁) that monitoring planning does not significantly influence the implementation of donor-funded agricultural projects in Kenya (F (1, 155) = 70.985, p < 0.001). Instead, it establishes a positive and substantial relationship between monitoring planning and project implementation, with monitoring planning explaining 31.4% of the variability in project outcomes (R²= 0.314, p < 0.001). Additionally, the second hypothesis (H₀₂) suggesting no significant moderating effect of project environment on the relationship between monitoring planning and project implementation is as well rejected (F(2, 154) = 64.066, p < 0.001), emphasizing the statistically significant influence of project environment dynamics on the effectiveness of monitoring planning strategies

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Give that the study findings establishes a positive and substantial relationship between monitoring planning, project environment and project implementation, it is recommended that project managers and stakeholders actively recognize and account for the influence of project environment dynamics on monitoring planning. This entails conducting comprehensive assessments to tailor monitoring plans to specific project contexts, fostering adaptability and responsiveness to varying conditions. By collectively defining and adhering to best practices, the sector can enhance its ability to navigate diverse project environments effectively, ultimately contributing to the success of donor-funded agricultural projects in Kenya.

Entrepreneurial Orientation Factors of University Graduates in the Cameroonian Context : The Case of the Far North.

GODOM André — 2024-01-06

Purpose : The objective of this study is to determine the entrepreneurial orientation factors of young university graduates in Cameroon, in a context where businesses evolve in an unstable, unpredictable environment.

Methodology : To achieve this objective, an analysis was carried out on exploratory survey data collected from 198 university-educated entrepreneurs in the Far North region of Cameroon, using chi-square independence tests between variables such as gender, education and age to confirm their impact on the orientation of entrepreneurial specialization.

Findings : The results of this study showed that only gender and entrepreneurial education appear as factors in entrepreneurial orientation in the present study. While for men, there seems to be no limit to engaging in a particular activity, women do not have this flexibility, as they find it easier to orientate themselves in activities such as trade, hairdressing and catering, but not in activities such as butchery and banking.

Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy : Given that the study also shows that, thanks to training, young entrepreneurs have the flexibility to operate in all sectors of activity, particularly those requiring specific knowledge such as health services, it is therefore recommended that Cameroonian public authorities step up the promotion of entrepreneurship training to encourage young people to become self-employed.