Migiro, Stephen Oseko.Xaba, Sibonginkosi Bryan.2023-07-072023-07-0720182018https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/21837Master’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The increasing numbers of project failures have become a cause for concern as it indicates some underlying critical factors determining project failure. In view of this, this study was an endeavour to establish the determinants of project success and or failure, using the case of the eThekwini Municipality engineering department. The main objective of the study was to establish the critical factors affecting the success or failure of engineering projects within the eThekwini Municipality. The mixed method approach was adopted to gather data from the employees attached to the engineering department. For the quantitative phase, sixty (60) randomly selected contractors and their respective counterparts from the department were recruited to participate in the study. For the qualitative data, the researcher purposively selected 5 officials from the managers, for semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews. The findings of the study revealed the need to recognise the critical success/failure factors for projects. The participants of the study were able to identify some of the critical factors for project success and these include the time schedule for the completion of the project, the need to deliver projects within the allocated budget, the essence of delivering the project quality requirements, achieving stakeholders’ satisfaction and essentially, the importance of achieving the project purpose. The participants indicated that their unit managers decided on the projects that have to be developed, they actively defined the project’s success criteria and they were frequently informed about the progress of the projects. They also revealed that the project management processes within their organisation were well documented and controlled, they were standardised and subject to improvement, as well as being continuously updated. The participants also pointed to the causes of project success or failure, which included lack of support from top management, project managers’ leadership, competence, authority, experience, as well as their qualifications. Poor planning was also highlighted to be a cause for project failure. In that view, it was recommended that project managers’ abilities and characteristics are developed through continuous workshops and training programs to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field of project management. Project managers should also be encouraged to enrol in courses on leadership and project management, for them to enhance their effectiveness in project management. It was also recommended that the critical success/failure factors described in the preceding chapters be reviewed at each and every phase of the project life cycle.enProject managementeThekwini Municipality.Project failures.Thesis