Effect of Project Manager Competence on Project Success in Construction Firms in Anambra State, South East Nigeria

Project manager competence is widely acknowledged as a critical determinant of project success, encompassing technical, behavioral, and contextual dimensions. This study examines the effect of project manager competence on project success in construction firms in Anambra State, South East Nigeria. A descriptive survey will recruit 180 project managers, team members, and clients from 30 registered construction firms in Onitsha, Awka, and Nnewi. The Project Management Competency Development Framework (PMCD) will assess competence across knowledge, performance, and personal domains. Project success will be measured across the triple constraint dimensions of scope, cost, and schedule, supplemented by stakeholder satisfaction ratings. Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis will identify which competence domains most strongly predict success outcomes. Recent literature from Nigerian construction contexts highlights a significant gap between project manager qualifications on paper and applied competency in practice, with implications for project failure rates. Findings will support professional development investment decisions for construction firms and inform certification requirements for project managers in Anambra State. Keywords: project manager competence, project success, construction firms, Anambra State, PMCD