Evaluation of project management tools towards effective events delivery in Onitsha, Anambra State

Abstract

This study was carried out with the aim to evaluate project management tools towards effective events delivery in Onitsha, Anambra State. In order to achieve the aim of the research, the following objectives were used which are to examine if events qualify as projects considering the time frames, to analyze managing events as projects considering the cost implication of organizing and executing the events and to compare the outputs of managing events as projects against the unprofessional management of events in developing and under-developed countries. This study is anchored on “The Theory of Path dependence”, which is a concept in economics and the social sciences, referring to processes where past events or decisions constrain later events or decisions. The google forms research tool was used as a tool for sampling, data collection and analysis. Findings indicate that the respondents agree that their knowledge of event management is mostly moderate for 57% of the respondent, high for 26% and very high for 13%. The responses to whether event management is restricted to bridals and catering services indicated no huge variation as only 9.8% indicated very highly restricted, 32.8% indicated highly restricted, 37.9% indicated moderately restricted. 14.5% indicated lowly restricted and 5.1% indicated very lowly restricted. This result reveals the thoughts pattern of an average person in Onitsha regarding event management. However, the respondents claim moderate knowledge of project management with 47% of indicating moderate understanding of the field. In conclusion from the research conducted, most of the respondents believe that events management and project management are related. Also, the result of analysis of data showed that events can be managed more successfully with project management tools and techniques. Based on the findings, the work therefore recommends that the event management industry in Nigeria should inaugurate a body with value driven leaders to chart the course for the growth of the industry in Nigeria by organizing seminars, workshops and conferences to impact project management knowledge.