E-Governance Systems and Project Performance of Construction SMEs in Lusaka, Zambia

E-governance systems are increasingly deployed across Sub-Saharan Africa as mechanisms for improving regulatory efficiency; however, their effects on construction SME project outcomes in developing economies remain inadequately examined. This study investigated the relationship between e-governance adoption and project performance among Small and Medium Enterprises in Lusaka District, Zambia, specifically examining time efficiency, cost management, and quality outcomes. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 237 construction firms through structured questionnaires while qualitative evidence was obtained from semi-structured interviews with 12 stakeholders. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke's framework. Findings revealed statistically significant positive relationships between e-governance adoption and perceived performance improvements across time efficiency (R² = .155), cost management (R² = .213), and quality outcomes (R² = .170), yet negligible effects on actual schedule adherence, budget performance, and quality inspection results. Qualitative findings identified platform accessibility problems, institutional capacity constraints, technical support deficiencies, and infrastructure connectivity limitations as barriers preventing perceived benefits from materialising in measurable performance gains. The study concludes that e-governance platforms deliver localised process improvements in regulatory compliance activities without affecting fundamental project performance determinants, as digital submission systems cannot overcome systemic constraints including inadequate government processing capacity and resource limitations. Theoretical contributions include revealing conditions under which the Technology Acceptance Model's perceived usefulness diverges from actual utility. Practical implications prioritise institutional capacity development alongside platform deployment for sustainable digital governance reform.

E-governance systems; construction SMEs; project performance

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