Impact of Construction Committees Selection Process on Project Delivery under Force Account: Evidence from Kalambo District, Tanzania

Abstract

This paper examines the selection process of construction committees and the reasons for their failure to fulfil their roles in project performance under force account implementation in Kalambo District, Tanzania. The study employs Durkheim's concept of Structural Functionalism to provide a theoretical foundation for understanding force account as a managerial method for executing project tasks. A mixed-methods research approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used to enrich the information obtained. A cross-sectional research design guided the study. Purposive sampling was used to obtain 46 key informants from construction committees and ward development committees based on their positions and experience, with the sample size determined upon reaching data saturation. Simple random sampling was used to select 99 community members aged 18 years and above. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using NVivo 8 software through pattern matching, explanation building, and comparison of data obtained from interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data obtained through questionnaire surveys were analysed using descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) Version 26.0, based on sub-objectives measured using Likert scales. The study found that the construction committee selection process affects project performance due to the limited experience, expertise, and competence of selected committee members; inadequate community involvement in the selection process; extended tenure; and political affiliations of selected construction committees. The study recommends that village councils and ward development committees responsible for selecting construction committee members should clearly understand the criteria and appropriate composition required for effective committees. Community involvement should be strengthened, and construction committees should be rotated upon completion of projects to promote accountability, transparency, and innovativeness.