Role of communication, scope and stakeholders on the success of public sector projects

Abstract

Public sector construction projects have been crucial in facilitating substantial progress for the government of Balochistan, Pakistan. Nonetheless, obstacles are hampering the success of these projects, such as inadequate coordination, an ambiguously defined project scope, and complex stakeholder engagement. The challenges can be ascribed to the dynamic evolution of project management practices in Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by examining the interplay between these factors and project effectiveness in the public-sector construction domain, using responses from 200 practitioners and analysis with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). As such, it was established that effective communication and articulation of a project scope are key to achieving desirable levels of project success; nonetheless, stakeholder management was not predicted to have a significant impact. This highlights the need for better communication and clearer scope definition to improve project performance and, in turn, mitigate challenges such as time and cost overruns and project failure, which are common in the region. By focusing on these areas, policymakers and project managers can improve project delivery, thereby positively impacting Balochistan's development.