Team Dynamics and Project Completion Rates in the Nigerian Construction Industry: A Study in Plateau State

This study examines the relationship between team dynamics and project completion rates in the Nigerian construction industry, focusing on selected construction firms in Plateau State, part of Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone. The construction sector in Nigeria faces well-documented project delivery challenges including cost overruns, schedule delays, and quality shortfalls, many of which are attributable to human and organisational factors rather than purely technical constraints. This research employs a descriptive survey design with data collected from 105 project managers, site engineers, and team leaders through structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The study evaluates team dynamic variables including role clarity, communication frequency, conflict resolution culture, team cohesion, and leadership effectiveness at the project level. Results reveal that role clarity and team cohesion exhibit the strongest positive correlations with project completion rates. Poor communication and unresolved intra-team conflicts were identified as the most common contributors to schedule delays. Leadership effectiveness emerged as a cross-cutting mediating variable that influences the impact of all other team dynamic dimensions. The paper recommends that construction firms in Plateau State invest in project team leadership training, institutionalise structured team communication protocols, and adopt formal role-mapping exercises at project inception. Keywords: team dynamics, project completion, construction industry, Plateau State, project management.