EVALUATION OF NETWORK ANALYSIS APPLICATION IN PROJECTS EXECUTION IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study evaluated the network analysis application in project execution in Delta State, Nigeria. The study identified the tools and techniques used in project planning and control, assess the level of application of network analysis in project planning and control and assess the level of project performance of network analysis system. This was with a view to determining the effect of the network analysis application on the construction projects execution. The study covered two senatorial districts within the state which are Delta Central and Delta South, three local government areas were selected from each senatorial district: Ughelli South, Ughelli North and Ethiope East Local Government and Warri South, Warri Southwest and Warri North respectively and it covered all projects executed by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Delta State. In making the findings of this research possible, ninety-two (92) copies of questionnaire were administered while the total number of usable responses received for the analysis was seventy-five (81.5%). The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that network analysis application in construction project execution are Gantt chart (1.87), monthly progress technical report (1.58), work breakdown structure (1.53) programme evaluation review technique (1.50) and project management software (1.47). Also revealed are the factors of project performance using network analysis, these are network analysis was used to identify activities (4.99), project well planned and executed using work breakdown structure (4.58), the deliverables meet objectives and goals of project plan (4.23) and project schedule was used to manage tasks (3.72). Moreover, the most highly ranked project performance using network analysis is network analysis was used to identify activities (4.99). The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results of all the tested hypothesis were all significant at (P ≤ 0.05), all the null hypotheses were rejected and alternate hypotheses were accepted. The study concludes that network analysis application improve efficient management of project planning, scheduling and project cost. Thus, the project network analysis system proved to be a useful technique in project planning and management, however its application in project execution in Delta State is quilt low. It is therefore recommended that more firms should adopt the use of Network Analysis system and the existing project management activities be revised to further improve the management of construction projects in Delta State.