INFLUENCE OF PROJECT LIFECYCLE ON PERFORMANCE OF ICT PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: A CASE OF THE MINISTRY OF ICT KENYA

Abstract

While the benefits of ICT in government cannot be disputed, there are several concerns about its success as well as the strategies to be adopted in implementation of the ICT projects in various countries. Though developing countries commit a sizable amount of economic resources to ICT, for them to reap maximum benefits, ICT needs careful planning and coordination prior to implementation and use otherwise trial and error methods of implementation that characterize most government ICT projects development will only succeed in the wastage of scarce resources. Literature shows that performance of ICT projects has a very poor record in developing countries since 35% are total failures, 50% are partial failures and only 15% are successful. Although project success is never guaranteed, a project is more likely to be successful when conventional project management processes are practiced. Given the complexity of ICT projects and the high failure rate of the same projects, this study sought to establish the influence of project lifecycle  on performance of ICT projects at the Ministry of ICT in Kenya focusing on project initiation, project planning, project implementation and project monitoring and evaluation. The study is hinged on the Novelty, complexity, Technology and Pace (NTCP) model, rational theory of planning, programme theory and the theory of execution. This study employed descriptive research design. The target study population included all the 78 project managers of the 78 ICT projects at the Ministry. The study findings indicated that project initiation, project planning, project implementation and project monitoring are positively and significantly related to performance of ICT projects at the Ministry of ICT.