1

CHALLENGING THE PEOPLE CHALLENGE WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION: WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION PERSPECTIVE

Nishan Weerarathna

Engineer, National Water Supply & Drainage Board asknishan@gmail.com

L. D. Indunil P. Seneviratne

Senior Lecturer, University of Moratuwa isenevi@gmail.com

Keywords: Project Management, Community Participation, Human Resources, People Challenge.

ABSTRACT

National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) is the principal authority providing safe

drinking water and facilitating the provision of sanitation to the nation. Therefore, it is the

responsibility of the NWSDB to ensure that the projects undertaken be completed within the

prescribed period of time and budget to the prescribed quality in order to assure a quality and

an uninterrupted availability of water and sanitation facilities.

Most water supply and sanitation contracts do not meet set cost or time targets as a result of

improper assessment of Project Management Challenges (PMC). The majority of time and cost

overruns are attributable to either unforeseen or foreseen PMCs for which uncertainties were

not properly accommodated.

Initial objectives of the research addressed, identifying PMCs in implementing water supply

and sanitation projects in Sri Lanka, rank them according to the frequency of occurrence and

severity of the effect, propose best practices to the industry.

The key PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation projects were related to human

resources. National policies shall be introduced, modified, altered and diversified towards

building skilled human resources, which is the demand of the future world. In that context, the

research continued as a literature survey towards addressing the human resource related

challenge (people challenge) with the Community Participation (CP).

INTRODUCTION

Based on the present estimates, one sixth of human population lack access to any form of safe

water supply within one kilometre from their homes (Davison, et al., 2005). Women and their

children are the ones who travel for miles every day to collect drinking water for their families.

This task takes hours to complete which could be time they spend learning in schools or starting

small businesses to help support their families.

Economically, a water supply project in a community provides safe drinking water to women

and children; giving them more time, freedom and incentive to help their families grow healthier

and produce a productive members to the community. Socially, it is an indication of social status

2

development of the particular community. Political interest in water supply is also not negligible.

Finally the commodity that is being sold by the NWSDB is water. The socio-economic and

political value of the sanitation is also at the same position as water supply.

NWSDB being the principal water and sanitation facility supplying authority in Sri Lanka has a

responsibility to supply water and sanitation facilities to meet the social aspiration of the people

in terms of safety, reliability and effectively. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the NWSDB to

ensure that the rehabilitation and new projects undertaken should be completed within the

prescribed period of time and budget to the expected quality in order to assure quality water

and an uninterrupted availability of water supply and sanitation facilities.

Most water supply and sanitation contracts do not meet set cost or time targets as a result of

improper assessment of PMCs. The majority of time and cost overruns are attributable to either

unforeseen or foreseen PMCs for which uncertainties were not properly accommodated.

The purpose of the study was to identify the PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation

projects in Sri Lanka. It was worth to study, analyse and understand the PMCs and thereby

identify the probable modification to the existing practice to successfully implement water

supply and sanitation projects in Sri Lanka.

The key PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation projects were related to human

resource. The scope of the study extended through a literature survey, towards assessing the

possibility of challenging the human resource challenge (people challenge) with CP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In attempting to analyse the PMCs in water supply and sanitation projects in Sri Lanka, this

research employed an inductive quantitative research methodology through a combination of

critical literature review and a process of questionnaire surveys. The questionnaire was

developed to assess both the importance of these PMCs and their effects to the projects, from

the view point of clients and contractors. Further a literature survey was carried out to assess

the possibility of CP get into practice to overcome the people challenge.

Literature Review

Most of the available past studies are those that deal with PMCs in the context of developed

economies, principally from the US. There are only a very few studies dealing with PMCs in the

developing economies. This important research area has largely been neglected in the past.

According to the previous researchers there are various adversarial relationships among the

parties involved in the construction projects at the construction stage, where there are lot of

uncertainties come into effect. Further as per their view there exist certain facts that may affect

the cost, quality or duration of the projects. Those causes can be identified as the PMCs that

should be addressed by an effective project manager.

So far, no studies have been carried out on PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation

projects in Sri Lanka. The present study attempts to fill this gap by systematically analysing the

PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation projects in Sri Lanka.

3

Project Management Challenges

The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals and

objectives while honouring the preconceived constraints. The primary constraints are scope,

time, quality and budget. The secondary and more ambitious challenge is to optimize the

allocation of necessary inputs and integrate them to meet pre-defined objectives.

Ford (2004) identified unrealistic deadline, communication deficit, scope changes, resource

competition, uncertain dependencies, failure to manage risk, insufficient team skills, lack of

accountability, lack of engagement of customers and end-users during the project and unclear

definition vision and goals as top ten PMCs in construction projects.

Bee & Bee (2000) highlighted that the people challenge plays a vital role in PMCs. The effect

of people challenge in the industry also confirmed by Bittner and Gregorc (2010). Wirick (2009)

further extended the study by focusing on the state sector PMCs. Smith (2002) discussed the

PMCs in developing countries. The challenge in international project settings are highlighted

by Dinsmore & Benitez (2010).

The identified PMCs were categorised into eight categories as;

Design related project management challenges

Administrative related project management challenges

Organizational and organizational culture related project management challenges

Resource related project management challenges

Geological related project management challenges

Communication related project management challenges

Financial related project management challenges

Other project management challenges (as safety, health, disputes, etc.)

Methodology

The aim of the research was to analyse the PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation

projects in Sri Lanka. As the nature of the profession the Project Managers in the construction

industry are really engaged with the tight schedules. Therefore it was decided to use a well-

structured, self-administrated type questionnaire and deliver by hand, by e-mails and by fax.

The questionnaire was developed to assess both the importance of these PMCs and their

effects to the projects, from the view point of clients and contractors.

Sample Selection

Stratified sampling technique was used as the data analysed based on the designation of the

company (client, contractor) of the respondents (Project Managers).

Data Analysis Methodology

The ranking of the PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation projects in Sri Lanka from

the viewpoint of the client/consultant and contractor was done using the three indices frequency

index, severity index and the relative importance index.

4

Data Analysis

The responses to the questionnaire were analysed for frequency of occurrence, the severity of

the effect to the project and the importance of each PMC. Based on the three indices calculated,

the PMCs were ranked as clients’, contractors’ and overall perspective.

Table 1: Most Important Project Management Challenges

Client Perspective Contractor Perspective Overall Perspective

Inefficient and improper

planning and scheduling

Shortage of skilled resources Shortage of skilled

resources

Political influence Shortage of staff with

required qualification

Shortage of labour power

Shortage of skilled resources Shortage of staff with

required experience

Employee turnover

Shortage of labour power Shortage of labour power Shortage of staff with

required experience

Employee turnover Employee turnover Shortage of staff with

required qualification

Financial difficulties of the

contractor

Equipment breakdown Inefficient and improper

planning and scheduling

Poor communication and

coordination among parties

Lack of motivation for human

resources

Political influence

Equipment breakdown Financial difficulties of the

contractor

Equipment breakdown

Lack of motivation for human

resources

Organization’s rules which

delays decision/control

Financial difficulties of the

contractor

Delays in commissioning

other related projects

Cash flow problems Lack of motivation for

human resources

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The key PMCs in implementing water supply and sanitation projects are related to human

resource. Shortage of skilled and unskilled labour force, shortage of technical staff with required

experience and qualification, employee turnover and lack of motivation for human resource are

among them. People challenge will be more and more challenging with the aging workforce, in

whose skills, knowledge and experience that we are depend on. Training of skilled human

resources will be the gateway to the success of the nation considering the in-house demand

and the global trend.

This paper will provide an opportunity not only to NWSDB, but also its contractors to forecast

possible scenarios of critical project management and thereby will be a help to identify common

pitfalls so as to eliminate the avoidable and highlight them to management to avoid a recurrence

of such phenomena. Further, the management and staff allocated to settling and dealing with

5

such situations will be reduced. Moreover, it will facilitate the NWSDB and/or its contractor to

overview the PMCs in other party’s perspective and help each other with their strengths to

overcome the other’s weakness, since project management, at the end of the day, is a team

work.

As an extension to this paper it was discussed the possibility of addressing human resource

problem with the help of CP through a comprehensive literature survey.

Scarcity of Human Resource

Skilled construction workers have left the industry or retired, and because of the economic

downturn the new generation hasn't entered the sector. Although the huge demand and supply

gap is affecting contractors. Basically, there are limited options available at present to deal with

the problem of manpower shortage which if not handled properly and in time could aggravate

the situation further to precipitate crisis in future (Stoll, O’Reilly, & Bell, 2007).

The authors explored the concept of CP in water supply and sanitation projects, and then looked

at selected past experiences in relation to CP in the sector. Furthermore, the authors outlined

some modifications to the existing practice of CP in water supply and sanitation projects. Finally,

the authors closed the paper with their recommendations.

Many development thinkers and practitioners have been pondering over CP for the last two to

three decades – some even called the 1980s the decade of participation (Botes & Rensburg,

2000). Hence, it is a developing trend in the world to extract CP into the development projects

such as water supply and sanitation.

The main advantage of the use of CP in construction and maintenance focus on higher-level

productive human resource with sustainable growth to match an increase in working-age

population, spurring economic growth and alleviating poverty.

Modifications to the CP Approach

The existing practice is to gather community attention to a particular project at a particular

location and achieve the project goal. This paper propose to keep the gathered attention steady

even after the completion of the particular project. The admired participants from the community

should be trained continuously and develop them as the next generation of skilled and unskilled

human resources for the construction industry. There should be more training schemes and

opportunities for people to enter the industry and develop worthwhile careers.

It is needed to make construction a first choice for those young people selected from the

community and inspire those who have left the industry to return. Confidence alone will reduce

nervousness about the industry and keep the 'pipeline' of talent coming through. Higher wages,

introducing monthly salary system instead of daily wages, building a reputation of their work,

improving working environment and working condition, changing in education system are

among other recommendations to keep the selected participants in the industry. It is, however,

important to note that it is not just the mere manpower shortage that is responsible for

6

inadequate output or inefficient service delivery process but the quality of personnel as well as

the working environment to improve the output.

REFERENCES

Bee, R., & Bee, F. (2000). Project Management : The People Challenge (3 ed.). Wiltshire, Great Britain : Cromwell Press. Bittner, E., & Gregorc, W. (2010). Experience Project Management - Projects, Changes & Lessons Learned. Germany: Publicis Publishing. Botes, L., & Rensburg, D. v. (2000). Community participation in development: nine plagues and twelve commandments. Community Development Journal, 35(1), 41-58. Davison, A., Howard, G., Stevens, M., Callan, P., Fewtrell, L., Deere, D., & Bartram, J. (2005). Water Safety Plan. Geneva: World Health Organization. Dinsmore, P. C., & Benitez, M. M. (2010). Cultural Challenges in Managing International Projects. In A. M. Association, The AMA Handbook of Project Management (2 ed., pp. 399-411). New York: AMACOM. Ford, P. W. (2004). Top 10 project management challenges. Retrieved 04 22, 2013, from http://www.projectmanagementcourse.com/project-challenges.html Hanim, A. (2010, February 09). Labour shortage affecting oil palm plantations. The Star. Retrieved from http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/9/business/5637194&sec=business Smith, N. J. (2002). Engineering Project Management (2 ed.). Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd. Wirick, D. K. (2009). Public-Sector Project Management: Meeting the Challenges and Achieving Results. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.