Influence of Project Management Maturity on Project Success: Case Study of the Zambian Energy Sector

The relationship between project management maturity and success has gained significant attention recently. This paper investigates how project management maturity influences project success, focusing on Zambia Electricity Generating, Transmission and Distribution Company (ZESCO), a prominent Zambian company. Utilizing the Project Management Maturity Model (ProMMM) as a framework, this study examines the correlation between maturity levels in project management and the success of projects in terms of cost performance, schedule performance, quality, and customer/stakeholder satisfaction. The study adopted a quantitative research design, employing a structured questionnaire distributed among engineering personnel involved in 52 projects at ZESCO. The findings reveal that while ZESCO projects were of satisfactory quality and customer satisfaction performance, they underperformed in cost and schedule management. Surprisingly, no direct correlation was found between project management maturity and overall project success, suggesting a nuanced relationship that warrants further exploration.