EFFECT OF PROJECT PLANNING ON PROJECT PERFORMANCE: A CASE OF COOKSTOVE PROJECT IN RULINDO DISTRICT, RWANDA

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to find out the effect of project planning on the performance of the Cookstove Project in Rulindo District. For this study, the researcher employed both descriptive and correlational research designs. Descriptive survey research was utilized to gather information on various issues, while the correlational research design focused on exploring the relationships between the variables under study. The researcher relied on document analysis, questionnaires, and interviews in collecting data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. The findings show an R value of 0.823, indicating a strong positive correlation between predictors (Monitoring and evaluation planning, resource planning, risk planning, and financial planning) and project performance in the Cookstove Project in Rulindo District. The R² value of 0.677 means that approximately 67.7% of the variance in project performance can be explained by financial planning, resource planning, risk planning, and monitoring and evaluation planning. The unstandardized coefficient for financial planning is 0.246, indicating that a one-unit increase in financial planning results in a 0.246-unit increase in project performance (β = 0.246, t = 2.558, p = 0.012). The unstandardized coefficient for resource planning is 0.248, indicating that a one-unit increase in resource planning leads to a 0.248-unit increase in project performance (β = 0.248, t = 2.982, p = 0.003). The unstandardized coefficient for risk planning is 0.151, revealing that a one-unit increase in risk planning results in a 0.151-unit increase in project performance (β = 0.151, t = 2.172, p = 0.032). Lastly, the unstandardized coefficient for M&E planning is 0.264, indicating that a one-unit increase in M&E planning correlates with a 0.264-unit increase in project performance (β = 0.264, t = 4.467, p = 0.000). The study recommended that project managers, coordinators, and field staff prioritize effective financial, resource, risk, and monitoring planning to ensure the successful implementation of the cookstove project in Rulindo District.