under force accounts implemented by LGAs in Tanzania with focus to construction of

district hospitals in Mara region.

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction
The study aims to develop approaches to mitigate the schedule and cost overruns in
building construction projects under force accounts in Tanzania. This chapter includes
research design, Area of the study, sample of the study, sample size, sampling techniques,
validity and reliability, data collection technique and data analysis methods and plan.

3.2 Study area

This study will be conducted in local government authorities within Mara region where
three (3) district hospital were constructed under force account mode of delivery. The
researcher chooses this case study because it had extreme schedule and cost overrun as
stipulated on the table below showing the schedule overrun for Musoma district hospital;
Table 1: Project Particulars for Musoma district hospital
S/N Particulars Description
1 Project Name Construction of Musoma district hospital
2 Contract Start date 30th March 2019
3 Contract End date 30th August 2019
4 Contract duration Five (5) months
5 Actual time spent Eighteen (18) months
6 Planned Budget TZS. 1,800,000,000.00
7 Actual cost spent TZS. 2,044,984,117.50
Schedule overrun (%) 260% (Extreme Schedule Overrun)
Cost overrun (%) 13.61%

This study area is believed to bring an understanding of a complex matter that will extend
experience or add strength to what is already known through previous researches.

3.3 Study population

Asiamah et al., (2017) infers population as the all objects or individuals who share common
characteristics which are of interest of the study. The population of this study will be all
key technical and supporting staff the project implementation team from the local

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government authorities (i.e. Musoma district council, Bunda district council, and Rorya
district council), and Project stake holders. Key technical and supporting staff of the project
implementation team shall consist of Engineers, Architects, Quantity Surveyor,
Technicians, Artisans and other workers. The project stakeholders will constitute of the
users or taxpayers or other beneficiaries.

3.4 Research design and approach

3.4.1 Research design

Involve methods and techniques which employed by researcher to undertake the research.
However this study will employ survey research design, the researcher will employ this
design because it will allow collection of data from the participant directly through
administered questionnaires and interviews, moreover this design will enable the researcher
to capture opinions, characteristics and conditions of the study population (Nayak & Singh,
2016).

Also this design will be non-experimental because there will be no manipulation of

variables (Cook & Cook, 2008).

3.4.2 Research approach

The study will use both qualitative approach which enables to capture views, opinions of
the participant of the study through open ended questions found in the questionnaires and
during the interviews which will be administered directly to the participants on what
approaches should be implemented to mitigate the problems of schedule and cost overrun
in building construction projects under force accounts in Tanzania.

On the other hand the study will use quantitative approach which will enable data collection
and do statistical measurement and testing to explore relationship of variables (Nayak &
Singh, 2016).

Both of these qualitative and quantitative approach will help in determining the intended
objectives, samples, and design of study as well as ranking of the causative factors for
schedule and cost overrun with their mitigation approaches.

3.4.3 Data type and source

Both primary and secondary data will be employed in this study whereby the primary data
will involve collection of information from the participants’ directly through administered
questionnaire and interviews thus will make that data to be original.

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The secondary data will be obtained to the authorized personnel and through available
literatures concerning the issues of schedule and cost overrun for building construction
projects under force account in construction industry (Maryland, 2016).

3.5 Sampling

3.5.1 Sampling procedure

Both probability and non-probability sampling will be used in this study whereby non-
probability sampling shall enable the researcher to choose the sample purposively so as to
meet the intended objectives of the study (Asiamah et al., 2017), here the researcher will
purposely choose key staff from the project implementation team (who are; Engineers,
Quantity Surveyors, Architects, Technicians, Artisans and other workers).

On other hand, also the study will use probability sampling which enable every sample
have equal chance to participate in the study (Asiamah et al., 2017). Through the use of
probability sampling the researcher will be able to randomly choose participants (i.e. the
stakeholders / beneficiaries) as per the need of the study for purpose of meeting intended
objectives.

3.5.2 Sample size and population

[42] defines population as the entire mass of observations, which is the parent group from
which a sample is to be formed. Also, [39] affirms that; this is a group of individuals,
objects or items from which the sample is taken for measurement, and it refers to an entire
group of person or elements which have one thing in common. In this research, the sample
population includes Project participants; Engineers, Architect, Quantity Surveyors,
Technicians, artisans, other workers and the beneficiaries/ tax payers.

Additionally, the sample is suggested to determine what is termed [39] as precision rate of
and confidence rate. The size of sample should be optimal to the extent of being neither
large nor small. Three criteria will be employed in determining the appropriate sample size.
These included the level of precision, the level of confidence or risk and the degree of
variability in the attributes being measured. Moreover, a simplified formula by [31,
saunder’s 2011] was used to calculate the Sample Size (n), as shown below;

n= …………………………….[31]
( )

Where;-

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 N = Total Population Size i.e. = 102 district hospitals in Tanzania

n = the Sample Size

e = Level of Precision i.e. = 10%, and a confidence level assumed 90%

n= = 51
( . )

The sample size of this study shall be sixty (60) respondents. This will be drawn from the
all three (3) district council within Mara region with a total sample size of 60 respondents
as indicated on the table below;
Table 2: Sampling within Mara Local Government Authorities
Local Government
S/N Respondent Number
Authority
Engineers 1
Architects 1
Quantity Surveyors 1
1 Musoma District Council Technicians 2
Artisans 2
Other workers 4
Stakeholders 6
Engineers 1
Architects 1
Quantity Surveyors 1
2 Bunda District Council Technicians 2
Artisans 2
Other workers 4
Stakeholders 6
Engineers 1
Architects 1
Quantity Surveyors 1
3 Rorya District Council Technicians 2
Artisans 2
Other workers 4
Stakeholders 6
Total 51
So this research shall involve Fifty One (51) respondents because this size of sample allows
statistical testing of the quantitative data and effective collection of qualitative data which
is more effective in the optimum size of sample.

3.6 Data collection tool

3.6.1 Questionnaire approach

In this research, questionnaires will be prepared in accordance to the objectives of the
research. The questionnaire will be divided into three parts; first part requesting on general

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information about respondent, second part to cover the probable cause of schedule and time
overrun. And third part shall inquire the possible mitigation approaches against schedule
and cost overrun.

The questionnaire will consist open and closed questions which allows to collect both
qualitative and quantitative data (Mwangi & Njoka, 2011). Closed-ended questions shall
be convenient for collecting factual data and will be simpler as the range of potential
answers is limited [4].

3.6.2 Interview approach

In this research, interview method will be used where face to face interview will be done
to ensure efficient collection of information (Phellas et al., 2011). Interview will enable
getting more information on factors for schedule overrun and their mitigation approaches
on buildings projects under force account as there will be more elaboration on the questions.

3.7 Validity and reliability of research instruments

Mwangi & Njoka, (2011) defined validity as ‘a measure of how well a test measures what
it is supposed to measure’. In order to ensure the tools provide right answers in this study,
content validity will be addressed by careful inclusion of key issues identified in the
literature review, with input from experts in the field, while adhering to the needs of
objectives. Pretesting of the tools will be done to check that it is understandable to
participants.

3.8 Data Analysis

The study will use Relative importance Index (5 – point likert scale) to analyze data which
will be obtained from the question are which will incorporate number of factors which
participants will rate the basing on is importance; the form of priority scaling of (1 = very
low, 2 = low, 3 = medium, 4 = high, and 5 = very high) as done by (Frimpong et al.,2003)
of Ghana .

Thematic analysis will be done to analyze qualitative data through identifying, and coding
concepts and group them into themes and sub themes (Maryland, 2016).

3.9 Ethical considerations

Ethical issues shall to be considered while conducting research and especially in collecting
data by considering informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, compensation clearance
(Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011).

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3.9.1 Clearance
This involve adhering to institutional rules and regulation of undertaking research work
which involve approval of proposed research work and approval of collection of data
(Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011). Under this study the researcher will seek approval from the
University of Dar –es- Salaam ethical committee and seek permission to collect data from
respondents of Mara local government authorities.

3.9.2 Informed consent

It involve decision of which participant of the study may choose or may not choose to
participate in the study (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011) Here selected participants will be
willingly to choose to participate in the study without any influence or intimidation.

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