PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS SCHEDULING TOOLS AND PROJECT TIMELINESS IN PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN HOMA BAY COUNTY, KENYA
Auma Michael Onduru - Master of Science in Project Management of Mount Kenya University, Kenya
Dr. Stephen Mwangangi Nathan - Lecturer, Mount Kenya University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Timely completion remains an important dimension of construction project success because delays can affect project costs, resource utilisation, stakeholder satisfaction and the delivery of intended public benefits. Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) have increasingly been incorporated into construction management to support planning, scheduling, monitoring, reporting and coordination. However, empirical evidence on the specific relationship between PMIS scheduling tools and project timeliness remains limited in public housing projects in Kenya. This study examined the relationship between PMIS scheduling tools and project timeliness in Public Housing Projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model. A descriptive correlational cross-sectional research design and quantitative approach were adopted. The target population comprised 110 stakeholders involved in public housing projects, from which a sample of 86 was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The findings showed that PMIS scheduling tools were highly utilised, with a composite mean of 4.05 (SD = 0.80). Pearson correlation analysis established a moderate, positive and statistically significant relationship between PMIS scheduling tools and project timeliness (r = .596, p < .001, n = 80). Simple linear regression further showed that PMIS scheduling tools explained 35.5% of the observed variance in project timeliness (R² = .355, adjusted R² = .346). The study concludes that PMIS scheduling tools are positively and significantly associated with project timeliness in Public Housing Projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The study therefore recommends that Public housing project managers should strengthen the systematic use of PMIS scheduling functions throughout the project life cycle, particularly for timeline development, milestone monitoring, real-time progress tracking, critical-task identification and task-dependency management.