Influence of communication on project implementation as perceived by staff of the Kenya rural roads authority in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

Abstract

Communication plays a pivotal role in enhancing road project implementation. Consequently, successful project planning and implementation is determined by robust, effective, and efficient project management, leveraging on both physical and human resources. The ability of management to direct work to the goal of a project can be determined through several factors. The general objective of the study was to establish the influence of communication on project implementation as perceived by staff of Kenya Rural Roads Authority in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the influence of communication flows, communication strategies and communication channels on project implementation. The study employed the theory of project management, implementation theory and relational theory. An explanatory research design was adopted. The target population for the study was 122 KeRRA staff selected from various departments. Simple random sampling technique was used to pick a sample size of 94 respondents. A Questionnaire was the main data collection instrument. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive data were analyzed using means, percentages, and standard deviations, while inferential data were analyzed using Pearson’s product- moment correlation (r) and regression analysis (R 2 ). The study findings indicate that communication flows had a positive and significant influence on project implementation (β=0.329; p< 0.01). Communication strategies had a positive and significant influence on project implementation (β =0.182; p<0.01), and lastly communication channels had a positive and significant influence on project implementation (β=0.163; p<0.01). The study concludes that communication flows, communication strategies and communication channels had a significant influence on project implementation. Consequently, this study recommends that Kenya Rural Roads Authority needs to include communication aspects as part of their long-term corporate strategy. Project managers should integrate appropriate communication flows, communication strategies and communication channels in their management responsibilities. The study further, recommends future studies to widen the scope of variables of communication in public and private institutions.