Community project implementation issues in the Kingdom of Eswatini: a business management perspective

Abstract

This study was a qualitative research based on twenty-two community projects implemented in the Kingdom of Eswatini's four regions of Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini and Shiselweni. The researcher triangulated semi-structured interviews and observation methods to solicit information from eleven respondents who were project team members in their respective communities. Interviews were conducted with the eleven project committee members who were purposively selected, based on their leadership roles in implementing projects; the data collectors (research assistants) also made observations while visiting the participating projects. The findings revealed a number of challenges in four key areas: project budget cuts, cost over-runs as a result of scope creep, poor quality of a product and projects that took long to complete or were never been completed. It was concluded that in the Kingdom of Eswatini, community-based projects are failing to meet primary project objectives owing to different challenges. The need for intervention is recommended, in the form of self-help techniques to capacitate community members to address their local challenges, thus empowering them to participate in resolving future problems.

To cite: Bimha, H. (2019). Community project implementation issues in the Kingdom of Eswatini: a business management perspective. Journal of Management & Administration (2019/1), 45–68. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1646b47284