Influence of project management practices on project performance of oil firms in South Sudan: a case of Nile Petroleum Corporation

Abstract

Project and project management have been around for a very long time. Moreover, project management constitute primarily about organizing and controlling the introduction of the desired change with the aim of achieving higher performance. The main objective of this study was to establish the influence of project management practices on the performance of oil firms’ in South Sudan; a case of Nile Petroleum Corporation. The specific objectives of the study were guided by three variables namely; project integration, project monitoring and project execution. Pinto’s Model of Project Management theory and the General System Theory were used to underpin the study. The target population for the study was 108 employees of Nile Petroleum Corporation. A sample size of 85 employees was obtained using Coolican Formula. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Reliability of the tool was determined by testing the coefficient Cronbach’s by use of SPSS Software version 24. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in percentages, mean, standard deviation. The study used inferential statistics to test the hypotheses. The study revealed project integration with p=0.509 did not have a statistically significant influence on project performance of oil firms in South Sudan. Secondly, project execution with p=0.011 showed significantly influence on project performance of oil firms in South Sudan. Finally, project monitoring with p=0.000 showed significantly influence on project performance of oil firms in South. The study recommended oil firms in South Sudan deploy project execution and project monitoring practices as they have a significant influence on project performance of oil firms in South Sudan.