Abstract:
A project is a temporary effort undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result and a unique
venture with a beginning and an end, conducted by people to meet established goals within parameters of
cost, schedule, and scope. Projects are needed to be completed within the time frame, budgeted cost, and
required quality. However, unfortunately, many projects take longer to complete, cost more than
necessary, and some projects are cancelled because of inefficient planning, execution, control, and
related challenges directly and/or indirectly related to them. The general objective of this study is to
assess the practices and challenges of project management in municipalities, as in the case of Ambo
Town. This study has made use of a descriptive research design. The total sample size of the people
involved in the study was 99, sampled from the selected sectors. To select a representative sample from
the total population, the non-probability sampling technique was used. The data collected from the survey
questionnaire, interview, and document analysis were analyzed by descriptive statistics. SPSS version 23
was used for the analysis. Then the data was presented quantitatively using descriptive statistics with the
help of tables, frequencies, and percentages. There are diverse perspectives among respondents on
human resource-related challenges in project management. A substantial portion, 28.0%, disagreed with
the notion of poor planning and the absence of credible feasibility studies, while 38.7% remained
undecided, indicating a lack of consensus on this issue. The study on Ambo town projects reveals
significant challenges in project completion timelines, quality standards, and adherence to budgeted
costs. A predominant consensus, with 58.1% strongly agreeing and 21.5% agreeing, suggests that
projects are not completed within the scheduled time, impacting the overall effectiveness of project
management as reflected in the mean of 3.97 and standard deviation of 1.564. The general perception
regarding the meeting of desired quality standards is unfavorable, with 39.8% agreeing, 28.0%
undecided, and a mean of 2.95, indicating that most projects in Ambo town do not meet clients'
satisfaction regarding quality standards. The study on resource mobilization practices in Ambo town
highlights a concerning trend of perceived inadequacy among respondents. A significant 45.1% express
disagreement on the town's ability to mobilize technical equipment for construction projects, indicating a
lack of consensus on the effectiveness of this practice. This study finding collectively highlights the urgent
need for strategic interventions and improved project management practices in Ambo town to address
these identified issues and enhance overall project outcomes
