Impact of Organizational Structure and leadership on Project Performance in Case of Nigerian project oriented organizations (GC01462)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction.

1.0 Introduction.

1.1 Research background.

1.2 Research problems.

1.3 Research rationales.

1.4 Research aims and objectives.

1.5 Research questions.

1.6 Significance of the Study.

1.7 Scope of Study.

1.8 Conclusion of the chapter

Chapter 2: Literature Review.

2.0 Introduction.

2.1 Organizational Structure.

2.2 Leadership concept

2.3 Project Performance.

2.4 Impact of organizational structure and leadership on project performance.

2.5 Theoretical framework.

2.6 Gaps in literature reviews.

Chapter 3: Research Methodologies.

3.0 Introduction.

3.1 Research Philosophy.

3.2 Research Design.

3.3 Research approach.

3.4 Research method.

3.5 Data sources.

3.6 Research instruments.

3.7 Questionnaire design.

3.8 Sampling techniques.

3.9 Pilot test

3.10 Data analysis techniques.

3.11 Research reliability and validity.

3.12 Ethical consideration.

3.13 Limitation and scope for further researcher

Chapter 4: Research structure, timetables and budgets

4.1 Research Timetable.

4.2 Research structure.

4.3 Estimated research budget

5.0 Conclusion.

References.

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.0 Introduction

Organizational structure and leadership have been significant factors in a global project management environment, most importantly in developing countries like Nigeria, to gain expected organizational performance (Hermsen, 2016). This proposed study will evaluate the impact of organizational structure and leadership on project performance in the context of the Nigerian project management environment. This chapter provides a research background and defines the research problems. Then, this chapter outlines the aims and objectives with research questions for the proposed study.

1.1 Research background

The frequent changes in the organizational environment mainly due to the rapid development of technologies and their advanced usages in the project management environment give hard time to make effective decisions and strategies and gain expected organizational performance (Hermsen, 2016). Organizational structure and leadership play significant roles in the way of performing better in a project management environment. According to Mullins (2014), effective organizational structure and leadership contributions to making effective business decisions. Thus, organizations need to think of developing effective organizational structure and leadership. Torrington et al. (2015) said organizational structure and leadership are mainly essential for communication. Mullins (2014) said, organizational structure defines the authority levels and the leadership develops communication between the team members and leaders. Briton and Gold (2013) stated that both organizational structure and leadership play a significant role to evaluate and improve employee performance that ultimately improves organizational performance.

Thomson (2016) claimed that effective organizational structure and leadership practices contribute a lot to achieving organizational goals and objectives. Horner (2016) said organizational structure develops the chain of command and leadership practices motivate the people towards organizational goals that support to gain expected business performance. Fatehi (2016) organizational structure and leadership enable project management organizations to better manage changes including new technologies, clients changing needs and expectations, and government regulations. Bloisi, Cook and Hunsaker (2017) stated that organizational structure and leadership help the project team to gain high performance. Thamhain (2015) said meeting the stakeholder needs and maximizing profit in project management organizations depend on the leadership practices and the structure used by the organizations. Poor leadership and organizational structure may cause project delays, affecting project budgets, poor quality of project teams, and even project failure (Turner, 2014). In a word, leadership and organizational structure practice in a project management environment have a significant impact on the project performance.

1.2 Research problems

The key problem of project management organizations, mainly in developing countries including Nigeria, is to evaluate the impact of organizational structure and leadership on project performance. Therefore, many project management organizations in developing countries are facing challenges in gaining project goals and expected performance. According to Senior and Swailes (2010), every organization is considered an enclosed system of processes and people that work together to achieve a set of goals. Mullins (2014) said an organization consists of a number of formal (including organizational structure) and informal subsystems (including leadership and culture). Torrington et al. (2015) said the effective management of these subsystems movie the project management organization towards achieving organizational goals and objectives. However, many project management organizations, mainly in developing countries including Nigeria fail to gain their organizational goals because of poor organizational structure and leadership practices.

Osunde (2016) said the key project management problems in Nigeria include organizational structure and management knowledge that affect the project planning, execution and controlling, and project closure. Okwandu (2015) said major Nigerian construction projects fail because of poor management and leadership, poor motivation among the project teams, and inaccurate authority distribution in the workplace. Okoy, Ngwu and Ugochukwu (2015) disclosed that most Nigerian organizations fail to manage their skills, capabilities and human resources that are the main cause of poor performance and project failure. Osunde et al. (2015) said projects in India and Nigeria mainly face problems related to the workplace environment, employee attitudes and traits, and management skills. Articlesng (2013) revealed that major challenges faced by Nigerian organizations come from management and leadership practices and organizational culture and structure. Ekundayo, Jewell and Awodele (2013) stated that poor management and organizational structure are the main cause of poor project performance and failure in Nigeria. Therefore,

1.3 Research rationales

Many of the project management organizations, mainly in developing countries including Nigeria are facing challenges to gain organizational goals and objectives (Osunde, 2016). Most of the challenges are coming from management and leadership issues, and organizational structure practiced by the project management organizations (Okoy, Ngwu and Ugochukwu, 2015). Both organizational structure and leadership have a significant effect on the performance of employees, employee motivation, and in achieving the project goals (Osunde et al., 2015). Mullins (2014) said the effective leadership practices and organization structure can reduce the gap between employees and management, and can improve communication, employee motivation, productivity, and ultimately organizational performance. Torrington et al. (2015) stated that suitable leadership and organizational practices can lead the project team towards organizational goals and engage them within the organizations in making effective decisions and developing effective strategies.

Briton and Gold (2013) said organizational structure and leadership enhance organizational effectiveness and give sustainable competitive advantages to organizations. Santra and Giri (2014) revealed that organizational structure and leadership are not only essential for gaining organizational performance but also support organizational efficiency by inspiring the people towards the organizational goals and objectives. Senior and Swailes (2015) disclosed that poor practice effective organizational structure and leadership cause major project problems including project delay, and even failure to deliver with project requirements. However, many organizations in the project management environments of developing countries, mainly in Nigeria, fail to recognize the importance of organizational structure and leadership practices in gaining organizational goals and objectives (Okwandu, 2015). Therefore, the proposed study would focus on the effectiveness and impact of organizational structure and leadership practices on project performance in the context of Nigerian project management organizations.

1.4 Research aims and objectives

Aim

The key aim of the proposed study to evaluate the perception of project management people and team members towards the organizational structure and leadership practices to improve project performance and to provide recommendations for the project management organization, mainly in Nigeria.

Objectives

To explore the literature of organizational structure and leadership practices to understand their importance and effectiveness in a project management environment
To explore the literature of organizational performance to understand its significance in the achievement of organizational goals in project management organizations.
To analyze the impact of organizational structure and leadership practices on project performance in the context of Nigerian project management organizations.
To provide recommendations for project management organizations, mainly Nigerian organizations.

1.5 Research questions

Main question

How can project management organizations improve their organizational structure and leadership practice to improve project performance and gain project goals?

Sub questions

How is organizational structure significant in the success of project management organizations?
How is organizational leadership significant in the success of project management organizations?
How is organizational performance essential to gain goals of project management organizations?
How do organizational structure and leadership affect the performance of project management organizations?

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Proposal for Undergraduate