ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT LEADERSHIP ON THE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF WATER PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study assesses project leadership on the operational performance of water projects in Nigeria. The study examines challenges of identified project leadership style in the execution of water project, identifies the leadership styles that improves the performance of water project in Nigeria and the relationship between project leadership, challenges of identified project leadership style and performance of water projects in Nigeria. The study sample were chosen randomly among private, NGO and government water project professionals within selected North-central states of Nigeria. Structured questionnaire was used as primary means of data collection. 180 retrieved questionnaire from 200 distributed questionnaire was analyzed using structural equation model (STEM)-partial least square (PLS). The study shows positive relationship between project leadership and laissez-faire leadership style (r=0.417, p > 0.15); project leadership and transactional leadership style (r=0.157, p > 0.15). The study further revealed existence of negative relationship between project leadership and authoritarian leadership style (r=0.002, p < 0.15); project leadership and democratic leadership style (r=0.030, p < 0.15); project leadership and transformational leadership style (r=0.016, p < 0.15) in the operational performance of water projects in Nigeria. Also, challenges of identified project leadership style in association with operational performance of water projects includes; experience of team members, risk minimization, inadequate communication, managing stakeholder's expectations, managing project changes and teamwork, lack of accountability, managing estimated expenses, lack of trust and presence of conflict and tension. Furthermore, the study shows a significant relationship between project leadership, challenges of identified project leadership style and performance of water projects in Nigeria. The study concludes that Laissez-faire leadership style with 18.851 T-Statistics and Transactional leadership style with 7.458 T-Statistics are the project leadership style that improves the operational performance of water projects in Nigeria. The study recommends that proper project leadership structure should be put in place at water project initiation stage to drive project operational performance during and after project execution. Hence, the critical findings of the research contributed to knowledge.