| dc.description.abstract | Procurement process management has been attracting great attention from practitioners,
academicians and Researchers due to high construction project cost variations resulting from non-adherence
to proper processes and procedures. This study describes the effect of procurement
process management on cost variations on construction projects in Local Governments of Uganda
with Mbarara Municipality being used as a case study. Regardless of the enactment of the PPDA
Act, (2003) and operationalization of various regulations to enhance performance of the
procurement function in Uganda, Local Governments have persistently exhibited high variances
with regard to cost variations and over costing of construction projects for the last five successive
years. A case study research design was employed. A survey instrument was developed and
administered to the public entity with a sample of ninety one (91) respondents out of the
population of 129; selected using purposive and random sampling techniques. Data sets from
questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics (weighted mean and weighted standard
deviation) and regression analysis. Findings revealed that: the extent to which project planning and
development predicts cost variation was moderate (R2 = 0.450). Results further indicate that bidder
selection stage in the procurement process management impacts the variations in the project costs
moderately (R2 = 0.686) the extent to which contract management predicts project cost variation
was high (R2 = 0.755). However, findings revealed that procurement process management
moderately influences the construction cost variations (R2 = 0.403). This implies that where each
of the variables has a moderate or high impact on project cost variation, a combination of variables
result in a moderate impact on project cost variations. Although the procurement process
management practices are quite commendable, project performance remains average and project
cost variations are always present. This is an indicator that there are other factors that cause
variations in construction projects costs in Local Governments in Uganda besides procurement
process management as observed from the framework. This study thus recommends that relevant
staff in Mbarara Municipality, mainly engineers, auditors, procurement unit officials and contracts
committee members should be in charge of contract preparation and approvals. This will
ultimately ensure efficiency, effectiveness and timely accomplishment of contracts. Therefore,
those endowed with skill and experience in the area should spearhead the procurement process
management.
Key words: Procurement process, management, construction project, cost variations. | en_US |
