INFLUENCE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PERFORMANCE OF MOBILE MONEY TRANSFER SERVICES IN NAKURU COUNTY, KENYA
Erick Ogao Okinyi - Master of Arts in Project Planning and Management, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Prof. Peter Keiyoro (PhD) - School of Open and Distance Learning, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Mobile money transfer has grown rapidly in Kenya over the last one decade. Through mobile money services, Kenya is meeting a long-standing challenge in providing financial services to the large population that does not have traditional bank accounts, the “unbanked. “The overall objective of this study was to establish the influence of project management practices on the performance of mobile money transfer in Nakuru County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the influence of monitoring on the performance of MPESA in Nakuru County, to examine the influence of risk management on the performance of MPESA in Nakuru County, to assess the influence of project leadership skills on the performance of MPESA in Nakuru County and to establish the influence of stakeholder participation on the performance of MPESA in Nakuru county. A survey design was used in the study. This research design was used because the study mostly involved the use of non-numerical data of descriptive nature collected through a questionnaire. The study used both probability and non- probability sampling techniques to create a sampling frame for Safaricom employees. Stratified sampling was one of the probability techniques that was used in order to avail equal chances of selection to M-PESA employees in different categories of large, medium and small cluster group. The researcher used a sample size of 63 respondents out of the accessible target population of 420 employees. The study findings indicated that there is a positive and significant correlation between monitoring and evaluation, risk management, project leadership skills, stakeholders’ participation and performance of MPESA mobile money. A regression analysis established that monitoring has the most influence on performance of MPESA followed by project leadership skills, then stakeholders’ participation and the least is risk management. The study concluded that, though monitoring and evaluation are important in influencing performance of MPESA Money, awareness of the existing processes needs to be done to employees. Management of MPESA Money requires specific sets of skills and competencies. Regular training should be done to equip the team with the relevant skills. The study therefore recommends awareness programs on the existing plans and processes of monitoring and evaluation. The management should also conduct regular training for its employees in order for them to acquire the necessary skills to deliver as required.
