EFFECTS OF SCOPE MANAGEMENT ON ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT DELIVERY IN NIGERIA
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Background of the Study
Road construction is a critical aspect of infrastructural development, serving as the backbone for transportation, economic growth, and social connectivity in Nigeria. However, the delivery of road construction projects often faces significant challenges, many of which are linked to inadequate scope management. Scope management, a subset of project management, involves the processes necessary to ensure that a construction project includes all the work required to complete the project successfully, while avoiding unnecessary work, which can lead to delays and cost overruns (Project Management Institute [PMI], 2017).
In road construction, the scope defines the specific objectives, deliverables, milestones, and tasks that need to be accomplished. Effective scope management ensures that all stakeholders, including contractors, government agencies, and the community, have a clear understanding of the project requirements. This understanding is essential in delivering road projects on time, within budget, and at the expected quality level (Afolabi et al., 2018). According to Olatunji et al. (2020), inadequate scope management in Nigeria’s road construction projects has led to project delays, cost escalations, and poor-quality roads that require frequent maintenance or total reconstruction soon after completion.
Nigeria’s road network, which is essential for its development and economic growth, has long been plagued by challenges such as potholes, eroded surfaces, and unfinished roads. The failure of many road construction projects can be attributed to poor project scope management. Notably, the World Bank (2022) identified scope creep, lack of stakeholder engagement, and inadequate project planning as major factors that contribute to the inefficiency of road construction in Nigeria. These issues often lead to disputes between project stakeholders, contractor inefficiency, and even project abandonment.
Effective scope management involves defining project objectives clearly from the outset, continuously managing and controlling the scope, and ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned with the project goals. As noted by Yakubu et al. (2019), scope management becomes particularly important in large infrastructure projects like road construction, where multiple stakeholders are involved, including government agencies, contractors, engineers, and local communities. In such contexts, managing expectations and ensuring that the scope of work is well-defined from the planning phase are critical to project success.
In Nigeria, road infrastructure development is critical for improving connectivity, access to markets, and socioeconomic development. However, according to a study by Dada and Oladokun (2021), road construction projects in Nigeria have historically suffered from poor planning, leading to cost overruns, delays, and scope changes that undermine their effectiveness. The challenges are often exacerbated by the complex nature of the Nigerian environment, characterized by weak institutional frameworks, corruption, inadequate funding, and poorly defined project scopes.
A study by Olowookere and Oyewobi (2020) highlighted the need for more robust scope management practices in Nigeria’s construction industry to improve project outcomes. The researchers noted that scope definition is often vague, and scope creep—a situation where additional tasks are added to a project without corresponding adjustments in time, cost, and resources—frequently occurs in road construction projects. This issue often leads to project delays and inefficiencies. As the Nigerian government continues to invest heavily in infrastructure development, ensuring effective scope management becomes increasingly important to achieve sustainable road networks.
Global trends in project management highlight the importance of scope management in the successful delivery of construction projects. The Project Management Institute (PMI, 2017) outlines scope management as one of the key knowledge areas in project management, emphasizing its importance in ensuring that the project is completed successfully. In the construction industry, especially in road construction, scope management is critical because of the high level of complexity, the involvement of multiple stakeholders, and the substantial financial investment required. According to Akinwale (2022), a failure to adequately define and manage scope can lead to project failures, resulting in roads that are not fit for purpose or that deteriorate rapidly.
The challenges associated with scope management in road construction in Nigeria have been documented in several studies. For instance, a study by Adaku et al. (2019) found that scope management practices in Nigeria’s construction sector are often inadequate, leading to inefficiencies. The authors noted that contractors and project managers often fail to align the project scope with the needs and expectations of stakeholders, which leads to disputes, delays, and cost overruns.
Road construction in Nigeria is fraught with challenges, including corruption, lack of transparency, and poor project management practices. These factors contribute to the frequent failure of road projects, as seen in the many abandoned or poorly executed road projects across the country. Effective scope management, when properly implemented, can mitigate these challenges by ensuring that the project is clearly defined, all stakeholders are on the same page, and changes to the scope are managed effectively (Ahmed & Ugochukwu, 2019).
Scope management plays a vital role in road construction project delivery, especially in a country like Nigeria, where infrastructure development is critical to economic growth. The failure to effectively manage scope in road construction projects often leads to delays, cost overruns, and project failures. This study seeks to explore the effects of scope management on road construction project delivery in Nigeria, with a view to identifying the key challenges and proposing strategies for improving scope management practices in the sector.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The failure to deliver road construction projects within the scheduled time, cost, and scope remains a critical issue in Nigeria’s construction industry. Despite the allocation of substantial financial resources to road infrastructure, many projects fail to meet their objectives due to poor scope management practices. According to a report by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC, 2020), over 60% of road construction projects in Nigeria experience significant delays, cost overruns, and scope creep. These inefficiencies result in increased project costs, extended completion timelines, and in some cases, total project abandonment.
Scope creep, defined as the uncontrolled expansion of project scope without corresponding adjustments in resources, schedule, and costs, is one of the major problems affecting road construction in Nigeria. As noted by Dada and Oladokun (2021), many road construction projects in Nigeria suffer from poor scope definition, leading to disputes between contractors, government agencies, and other stakeholders. This issue often results in contract variations, increased project costs, and delayed project delivery.
Additionally, the lack of stakeholder engagement and ineffective communication among project team members exacerbates the problem. According to Oyedele et al. (2019), the absence of clear and well-defined project scopes at the outset of construction projects leads to ambiguity and confusion during project execution. Contractors, in particular, often face challenges in aligning their work with the expectations of clients and other stakeholders, resulting in scope-related disputes.
The problem of ineffective scope management in road construction is further complicated by the political and economic environment in Nigeria. Corruption, inadequate funding, and weak institutional frameworks often hinder the successful implementation of road projects. As observed by Afolabi et al. (2018), these issues lead to delays, increased costs, and poor-quality road infrastructure.
Given the critical importance of road infrastructure to Nigeria’s development, the recurring challenges associated with scope management must be addressed to ensure the successful delivery of road construction projects. This study seeks to explore the effects of scope management on road construction project delivery in Nigeria and propose strategies for improving scope management practices in the sector.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the effects of scope management on road construction project delivery in Nigeria. The specific objectives are as follows:
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To assess the role of scope management in ensuring timely completion of road construction projects in Nigeria.
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To examine the impact of scope management on the cost efficiency of road construction projects.
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To evaluate the challenges associated with scope management in road construction projects.
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To investigate the role of stakeholder engagement in scope management for road construction projects.
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To propose strategies for improving scope management practices in road construction projects in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
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How does scope management influence the timely completion of road construction projects in Nigeria?
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What is the impact of scope management on the cost efficiency of road construction projects in Nigeria?
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What are the challenges associated with scope management in road construction projects in Nigeria?
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How does stakeholder engagement affect scope management in road construction projects?
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What strategies can be implemented to improve scope management practices in road construction projects in Nigeria?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses will guide the study:
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H₁: Scope management has a significant influence on the timely completion of road construction projects in Nigeria.
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H₂: Effective scope management improves the cost efficiency of road construction projects.
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H₃: Scope management challenges negatively affect the delivery of road construction projects in Nigeria.
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H₄: Stakeholder engagement plays a crucial role in effective scope management for road construction projects.
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H₅: Implementing better scope management practices will significantly improve the delivery of road construction projects in Nigeria.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study is significant from both practical and theoretical perspectives. On the practical side, it provides valuable insights into the current scope management practices in Nigeria’s road construction sector. It highlights the key challenges faced by project managers, contractors, and government agencies in managing the scope of road construction projects and offers practical solutions to address these challenges.
From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on project management, particularly in the context of scope management in the construction industry. While scope management is a well-researched area globally, there is limited academic literature focusing on its application in Nigeria’s road construction sector. By filling this gap, this study provides a foundation for future research on scope management and its impact on infrastructure development in Nigeria.
Moreover, the study will be useful to policymakers and government agencies responsible for road construction projects. It provides a framework for improving project planning and execution by ensuring that project scopes are clearly defined, managed, and controlled. This will contribute to the successful delivery of road construction projects, thereby improving Nigeria’s road infrastructure and promoting economic development.
The findings of this study will also benefit contractors and project managers in the construction industry. By adopting the strategies proposed in this study, contractors can improve their project management practices, reduce project delays, and enhance cost efficiency. This, in turn, will lead to the successful delivery of road construction projects that meet the needs and expectations of stakeholders.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on road construction projects in Nigeria, with an emphasis on the effects of scope management on project delivery. It will examine various aspects of scope management, including scope definition, scope creep, and stakeholder engagement, and how these factors influence the timely completion, cost efficiency, and overall success of road construction projects. The study will use data from selected road construction projects across Nigeria, with a focus on projects executed by government agencies and private contractors. The time frame for the projects considered in the study will be between 2015 and 2024.
1.8 Definition of Terms
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Scope Management: The process of defining, controlling, and managing all the work required to complete a project, ensuring that no unnecessary tasks are included.
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Road Construction Project: The process of designing, planning, and executing construction activities aimed at building or maintaining road infrastructure.
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Scope Creep: The uncontrolled expansion of a project’s scope without corresponding adjustments in resources, time, or budget.
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Stakeholder Engagement: The process of involving all project stakeholders, including government agencies, contractors, and the community, in the planning and execution of a project.
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Project Delivery: The successful completion of a project within the agreed-upon scope, time, cost, and quality specifications.
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