Influence of Planning Phase Principles on Project Performance within the Building Industry in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

The building industry continues to occupy an important position in the nation’s economy even though it contributes less than the manufacturing industries. It has continued to be a major player in the socio-economic development of many countries globally. However, recently, issues of quality, costs, reliability and human and environmental safety have emerged posing a challenge to the growth of industry. This is as a result of poor planning phase principles in the building industry. However, poor planning in the Nigerian Building Industry (NBI) was linked to its inability to deliver service effectively and efficiently; and these are impediment on the Nigerian economy. This study therefore sought to examine how planning phase principles influence project performance within the building industry in Abuja, Nigeria. Explanatory and descriptive approaches were used to obtain data from completed projects files (three from both public and private sectors respectively) and professionals from the building industry. Stratified and purposive random samplings were used to select completed projects and qualitative data for the purpose of analysis. The results reveal that planning phase principles was not adopted due to poor management of projects, unnecessary rush in project implementation, inadequate planning and budgetary provisions, costly project execution. In spite of the efforts of the industry to improve project performance, yet it is still faced with challenges of project management, but if planning phase principle is employed, it could improve project performance and will reduce cost and time overruns.