QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND THE PERFORMANCE OF RURAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN KISII COUNTY, KENYA

Amos Ogechi King’oina, Dr. Dennis Juma

Abstract


Rural road construction projects in Kisii County face numerous challenges, resulting in significant delays and substandard infrastructure. In Kisii County, road construction projects would entail efficient planning, timely execution, and adherence to stringent quality management practices. This ensures that road projects are completed within the stipulated timelines, ensuring the timely delivery of essential infrastructure to the local communities. Such projects would not only enhance connectivity within the county but also facilitate economic growth, social development, and improved access to basic services for residents. The general objective of the study was to establish the influence of quality management practices on the performance of rural road construction projects in Kisii County, Kenya. The study was guided by the following specific objectives;-to determine the influence of quality planning practices on the performance of rural road construction projects in Kisii County and to establish the influence of quality continuous improvement practices on the performance of rural road construction projects in Kisii County, Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. The total population of this study was 75 employees from Kisii County. The target population of this study was 75 employees comprising constituency board committee members, KERRA staff, consultants, contractors, County Contractor Association members. The study adopted purposive and stratified sampling methods to get 63 respondents. Primary data was collected through a questionnaire. The study concludes that quality planning practices have a significant effect on performance of rural road construction projects in Kisii County, Kenya. The study also concludes that quality continuous improvement practices have a significant effect on performance of rural road construction projects in Kisii County, Kenya. The study recommends that quality planning process should culminate in the development of a quality plan, which is a document that describes how quality was achieved during the rural road construction projects. The study recommends that continuous improvement management consultants should always be available in the execution of road projects with information on how to enhance construction projects by implementing continuous improvement principles. The research also recommends that continuous improvement should contain expenditure tactics, timetables and delivery procedures, quality standards procedures, and more throughout plan implementation of rural road construction projects.

Key Words: Quality Management Practices, Quality Planning Practices, Quality Continuous Improvement Practices, Performance of Rural Road Construction Projects


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