Adequacy of project based financial management systems of small and medium construction enterprises in Botswana

The thesis documents findings of a study conducted to develop a project based financialmanagement system (PBFMS) whose role was viewed as a contributor to the successfuldelivery of projects leading to improved financial performance of small and mediumconstruction enterprise (SMCEs). In particular, the PBFMS was viewed as a facilitator(function) for the efficient and effective conduction of the strategic management, projectplanning and control processes. Thus an adequate PBFMS was seen as one which, facilitatesthe efficient and effective delivery of projects with a view to provide enhanced enterpriseperformance. In pursuit of this aim, theory and practices relating to the development, operationand use of a PBFMS were investigated and analysed from both literature and field workleading to findings being reported in the thesis. In addition, the actual financial managementsystems of SMCEs were investigated to determine the extent to which their attributes matchthose of the proposed PBFMS model.The motivation for embarking on the study was brought about by three aspects observed inBotswana. Firstly, was the frequently documented poor delivery of projects, that is, for asustained period of time, projects were being delivered beyond stipulated times, above agreedcost, and below specified quality. In some worst scenarios, projects were being abandoned atvarious stages execution but before completion. Secondly, the investigation was also promptedby the frequent financial failures of enterprises that were being recorded in the constructionindustry. Thirdly, the conduct of the proprietors of the construction enterprises was alsofrequently circumspect, particularly in matters relating to financial management.