The Impact of Project Planning and Project Manager Competencies on Private Sector Project Success in Pakistan’s Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

The private sector manufacturing industry achieves its project success by maintaining operational efficiency and achieving capital gains while sustaining market competitiveness. Research on public sector projects dominates the literature while there remain insufficient studies about specific challenges and success elements which influence private sector industries. This study investigates the impact of project planning and managerial competencies on project success in Pakistan’s private sector manufacturing industry. Research data was collected from manufacturing firms across Pakistan through survey methodology and analysed using the PLS-SEM approach. The study investigated how project planning relates to three categories of managerial competencies (technical, behavioural, and contextual), which produce positive outcomes for project success. This study expands project management knowledge through research into private-sector industries and proves the essential role of planning and leadership for successful private-sector projects. Research results demonstrate the critical necessity for organizations to implement organized planning systems together with leadership development programs focused on competencies in their operations. The research’s findings help practitioners bridge the divide between academic research and sector practice by providing vital information for industrial experts and academic researchers who want to boost manufacturing project achievements in Pakistan.