Project Management Practices in Saudi Arabia: Construction Projects for the Ministry of Education: a Case Study

By Hassan Jaber M Alfaifi

In recent times, the number of school building projects in Saudi Arabia has increased to a large extent, particularly projects undertaken by the School Building Agency (SBA). As this number has risen, the inefficiency in projects handled by the SBA has raised concerns. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the reasons behind the inefficiency in terms of time, quality, and cost. Further, to mitigate the inefficiency, the use of project management practices by the SBA has been investigated. The beneficial aspects of project management practices have been adopted in many Western countries, and these can be implemented in developing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, to maximize the potential of these practices. Therefore, the extent of the use of project management practices by the SBA has been monitored using solutions provided by the respondents.

To achieve this purpose, a detailed literature review was undertaken, followed by a structured questionnaire that was posted online for targeted respondents in order to clearly understand the present situation at the SBA and find practical solutions. In addition, a number of interviews were conducted with people working with the SBA.
The goal of the research was accomplished with the identification of ten significant issues causing inefficiency in the projects undertaken by the SBA, which relate to the SBA itself, as well as contractors, suppliers, consultants, rules and regulations, and other issues. Moreover, the five lowest uses of project management practices on projects undertaken by the SBA were identified. Lastly, the ten most effective methods to enhance the performance of SBA projects were studied.

Finally, this study culminated in specific recommendations to SBA top management to enhance the efficiency of its projects and optimize the use of project management practices within the organization.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: May 14, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504941761

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© 2015 Hassan Jaber M Alfaifi. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse  05/13/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-4175-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-4176-1 (e)

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Contents

Executive Summary

Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1 SBA contractors

1.1.2 SBA suppliers

1.1.3 SBA consultants

1.2 Aim, Objectives, Significance and Expected Outcomes

1.2.1 Aim

1.2.2 Study objectives

1.2.3 Significance

1.2.4 Expected outcomes

1.3 Problem Statement and Research Questions

1.3.1 Problem statement

1.3.2 Research questions

1.4 Study Scope and Limitations

1.5 Organisation of the Report

2. Literature Review

2.1 Introduction:

2.2 Overview of Project Management Practice

2.3 Using project management practices in construction industry in KSA and other countries

2.4 Issues that cause inefficiency of construction projects

2.5 Benefit of applying and using project management practices in the construction industry

2.6 Case Scenarios

2.7 Possible solution to minimize construction projects inefficiency

3. Research Methodology

3.1 Project Plan

3.2 Methods and Techniques

3.2.1 Organisation sample

3.2.2 Interviews

3.2.3 Collecting data/questionnaire

3.2.4 Data analysis

3.2.5 Brainstorming and personal experience

4. Data Analysis and Discussion

4.1 Response Rate and Questionnaire Sample Size

4.2 Section A: Participants’ Demographics

4.2.1 Participants’ roles in the SBA and organisation type

4.2.2 Participants’ seniority level

4.2.3 Participants’ working experience at SBA

4.2.4 Number of projects experienced at SBA

4.3 Section B: Causes of inefficiency in SBA projects

4.3.1 SBA issues

4.3.2 Contractor issues

4.3.3 Supplier issues

4.3.4 Consultant issues

4.3.5 Rules and regulations issues

4.3.6 Other issues

4.3.7 Summary of the top ten issues causing SBA projects’ inefficiency

4.4. Responsibility for SBA Project Inefficiency

4.4.1 The main issues causing SBA projects’ inefficiency from every category

4.5. Section C: Degree of use of project management practices in SBA projects

4.5.1 The five lowest uses of project management practices in the SBA

4.6. Section D: Ways to Enhance the Performance of SBA Projects

4.6.1 Top ten factors effective in enhancing the performance of SBA projects

4.7. Summary of Interview Results

4.8 Previous similar research on projects undertaken in Saudi Arabia.

4.9 Comparison of similar research in Saudi Arabia Projects

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Part 1: Respondents’ Demographics Characteristics

5.2 Part 2: The Most Significant Issues Causing Inefficiency in SBA Projects

5.3 Part 3: Extent of Project Management Practices Followed by the SBA

5.4 Part 4: Ways to Enhance the Performance of SBA Projects

5.5 Recommendations

6. References

7. Appendices

7.1 Appendix A: Interview Questions

7.2 Appendix B: Questionnaire

7.3 Appendix C: 41 issues contributing to inefficiency of SBA projects.

7.4 Appendix D: Extent of Project Management practices followed in SBA.

7.5 Appendix E: Ways to enhance the performance of SBA projects.

List of Tables

Table 1: The process involved in data collection

Table 2: Issues related to SBA

Table 3: Issues related to contractors

Table 4: Issues related to suppliers

Table 5: Issues related to consultants

Table 6: Issues related to rules and regulations

Table 7: Other issues

Table 8: Top ten issues causing SBA projects’ inefficiency

Table 9: The most significant issues causing SBA projects’

inefficiency related to every category

Table 10: Degree of use of project management practices

on SBA projects

Table 11: Degree of use of project management practices

on SBA projects

Table 12: Recommendations to enhance the performance of

SBA projects

Table 13: Top 10 ways to enhance the performance of

SBA projects

List of Figures

Figure 1:   Participants’ organisation type

Figure 3:   Participant’s working experience

Figure 4:   Number of projects experienced

Figure 5:   Issues related to SBA

Figure 6:   Issues related to contractors

Figure 7:   Issues related to suppliers

Figure 8:   Issues related to consultants

Figure 9:   Issues related rules and regulations

Figure 10:   Other issues

Figure 11:   Top ten issues causing SBA projects’ inefficiency

Figure 12: