Abstract
Abstract : Since the conversion of the polytechnics in Ghana to technical universities, there have been demands for more building projects in the form of lecture halls, halls of residence, workshops, bungalows, offices, auditoriums, and libraries. Most of these building projects are expected to be undertaken and completed successfully while others may be dogged by challenges including cost overruns, time overrun, and poor quality of work. The nature of the construction activities of tertiary institutions makes it unique, and thus it is expected that specific, peculiar factors might affect the success of these projects. Consequently, to avoid future challenges, this study identifies the critical success factors for building projects in technical universities in Ghana and how these critical success factors affect the performance of these projects. The study adopted a survey study design within the framework of a descriptive methodology. Five out of eight technical universities in Ghana were randomly selected for the study. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. A descriptive data and factor analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The analysis revealed that the critical success factors for building projects in technical universities in Ghana can be grouped into four. These include project-related critical success factors, client-related critical success factors, contractor-related critical success factors, and project managerrelated critical success factors. The primary critical success factors identified were project monitoring; a communication system among stakeholders; decision-making effectiveness among stakeholders; timely decisions on project variations; clear and precise definitions of project scope; and the confidence of the client. The major contractor-related critical success factors identified were the contractor‟s cash flow; the effectiveness of project supervision by the contractor and the experience of the contractor. Additionally, the study found that the procurement methods widely used were construction management method, the traditional method (design, bid and build), design and build (DB), management contract, project finance and partnering, and build-operate-transfer (BOT). The general conclusion for the study is that project critical success factors for building projects in technical universities in Ghana had effects on the performance of the building projects. It is recommended that the Government of Ghana must identify a reliable source of funding
M.Tech. (Construction Management)