Factors influencing project engineers’ performance in construction projects in Tanzania: the case of building works in Kigoma

Building construction activities are creative activities involved in transforming physical resources into useful infrastructures. Therefore they play a very significant role in the nation's socio-economic development. The sector has a high capacity to sustain and / or generate employment. Building construction activities include designing, construction and maintenance works of various infrastructures as well as manufacture and distribution of building materials, equipment’s including tools / products. Therefore, it is a major instrument. Which our government should use in order to accomplish our goals. Therefore, the need to harmonize procedures in executing these activities. Therefore, concern of this research was on factors influencing project engineers' performance in construction projects in Tanzania, in particular, building works. To achieve the objectives of this 1101, study, 60 questionnaires were distributed to building projects, consultants, clients as well as other participants in building sector. Views based on 45 respondents were collected including open discussions with several people participating in building activities in Kigoma and Kasulu district, respectively. Findings revealed that project engineers were faced with several obstacles to their performance. It was noted that poor qualifications for the so called project engineers has direct indication to their performance in the sector. Basing on sample taken, the average qualified project engineers found to be 22%. This is very low with regard to the sector's importance in socio-economic and social welfare. Other factors, found to influence project engineer's performance are hiked prices of materials, poor quality of materials, poor planning, poor control and lack of construction policy. The government as major client organization and policy maker, together with other parties (such as contractors, consultants and so on) have contributed to poor performance of project engineers in building projects and they all have to play to reverse the unfavorable trend. Therefore, a number of suggestions have been presented so as to assist project engineers in construction projects in Tanzania. They include empowerment of professional boards, improve working conditions, and institute further training to advance planning techniques and so no. If these suggestions are considered, project engineers will never be blamed and their performance will be improved. Their benefits may be reflected in a healthier national economy as well as socio- economy in future.