Agile Project Planning Methodology and Performance of Turnkey Electrical Projects in Kenya

The objective of the study is to establish the influence agile planning approach on the performance of turnkey electrical projects in Kenya. The hypothesis of the study was that there is no significant relationship between agile project planning approach and the performance of turnkey electrical projects. The study utilised correlational design to establish the relationship between the planning approach and project performance indicators without manipulating variables. The unit of analysis is the 15 major turnkey projects executed in the electric transmission and distribution power network in Kenya in the last 18 years. The unit of observation being the 55 project management team members that include project managers, project engineers, project management and finance specialists drawn from the turnkey projects making 55 respondents. The study utilised the census method by targeting the identified respondents and collecting data using a structured questionnaire and conducting key informant interviews for quantitative and qualitative data collection respectively. The study examined the correlation between agile project planning approach and performance of turnkey electrical projects in Kenya. The outcomes showed that the Agile way of project planning had a strong association with project performance, with a correlation coefficient of 0.728 (p < 0.01). Its flexible and iterative nature were popular, with real-time change feedback and client feedback loops both rating a mean of 4.64 (Standard Deviation (SD) = 0.712). The regression model showed that Agile explained 53.0% of the variation in performance (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.530, Adjusted R<sup>2</sup> = 0.519) with an unstandardized coefficient of 0.820 (p < 0.001), showing that a one-unit increase in Agile adoption enhanced performance by 0.820 units. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results supported the significance of the model (F = 48.531, p = 0.000). This aligns with project management literature suggesting the use of Agile in projects requiring flexibility and stakeholder engagement, particularly in infrastructure projects with evolving specifications. The study’s findings and recommendations for policy, practice and future research are provided.