http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1538 Research Conference on Business Studies – 2025 2026-04-05T20:13:48Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1383 Performance Management of Human Resources in Project-Based Organisations: Evidence from Non-Governmental Organizations in the Batticaloa District Keepika, K.; Thirugnanasampanthar, S. Project-Based Organizations increasingly face sustainability and accountability challenges in today’s dynamic environment. To address these demands, they require flexible, intelligent, and technically advanced performance management practices that foster continuous improvement, dialogue, and innovation. Stakeholders now prioritize not only productivity and efficiency but also creativity, innovation, and problem-solving capabilities. In response, organizations must continuously refine their performance management strategies to meet evolving expectations. Human resources represent a critical asset for any organization, as they are essential for managing non-human resources and achieving strategic goals. Accordingly, many organizations are adopting robust performance management practices to enhance project performance and ensure long-term sustainability. These practices contribute to completing project activities effectively within the triple constraints of time, cost, and scope. This study aims to examine performance management practices in three selected project-based organizations, focusing on ten interview participants from non governmental organizations in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The research investigates how specific performance management practices, such as setting SMART goals, providing feedback, conducting performance reviews, implementing reward systems, managing under-performance, and sustaining high performance, contribute to project success and organisational sustainability. Despite the recognized benefits, the implementation of performance management practices faces several challenges, including limited resource allocation, communication barriers, technological constraints, donor requirements, and organizational sociocultural factors. To overcome these issues, organizations emphasize staff capacity building, competency-based employment, and professional development. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these practices is often constrained by inconsistent funding and fluctuating project timelines. In conclusion, successful performance management in PBOs requires a balanced, context-sensitive approach that aligns human resource management strategies with local realities and the broader goals of humanitarian and developmental initiatives. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1382 Assessing Key Success Factors in Community-Based Water Distribution Extension Projects: Evidence from Vavuniya District Thurkka, T.; Thirugnanasampanthar, S. This study explores the critical success factors (CSFs) influencing the outcomes of community-based water projects (CBWPs), with a specific focus on the Vavuniya Distribution Extension Project (VDEP) in Sri Lanka. Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 100 participants using structured questionnaires, complemented by interviews with key stakeholders. Five primary CSFs were identified: technological advancements, community involvement, training and capacity building, leadership attributes, and effective communication. The findings indicate that technological innovations significantly enhanced project efficiency, while strong community involvement promoted ownership and satisfaction. Training and capacity building improved operational capabilities and stakeholder competencies. Conversely, leadership attributes showed a negative influence, highlighting challenges in leadership effectiveness. Transparent and timely communication emerged as a key factor in aligning goals and resolving project related issues. The study also identified several challenges, including financial limitations, logistical constraints, and occasional community resistance. Strategies such as adaptive planning and strategic resource allocation were essential for overcoming these obstacles. Despite minor delays, the VDEP successfully achieved its objectives, demonstrating the pivotal role of the identified CSFs in project success. The study concludes with practical recommendations to enhance project management, strengthen community engagement, and improve adaptability in similar initiatives. Future research is recommended to investigate additional CSFs, apply longitudinal designs, and adopt mixed-method approaches for a more comprehensive understanding of CBWP dynamics. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1381 The Impact of Effective Project Management Practices on Successful and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development in the Northern Province Thirugnanasampanthar, S.; Ajitha, S.; Sharangi, S. Sri Lanka's protracted economic downturn with more profound structural weaknesses in manufacturing, industrialization, entrepreneurial landscape and project governance; sluggish recovery rate, and threatening international political and economic conditions has accentuated the urgent need to revitalize the economy through enhancing the production capabilities of the country through its entrepreneurial possibilities, particularly in nderdeveloped regions such as the Northern Province, which contributes a mere 4% to the national GDP. This conceptual paper investigates the impact of effective project management practices on successful and sustainable entrepreneurial development as a means to revitalize economic growth in post-conflict regions. The study is motivated by persistent issues such as youth migration, narcotic drug abuse, low manufacturing output, and diaspora disinvestment, all of which are compounded by ineffective development planning and political uncertainty. By reviewing national and international literature on project management and entrepreneurship, the paper explores how structured project management approaches, such as the Logical Framework Approach (LFA), Theory of Change (ToC), and stakeholder-driven governance, can facilitate local enterprise development, youth engagement, and diaspora-led innovation. The study uses a theoretical framework grounded in project governance, stakeholder theory, and participatory development, proposing that entrepreneurial outcomes in fragile regions are strongly linked to the quality of project design, stakeholder alignment, and adaptive monitoring. Using a conceptual methodology informed by the Research Onion framework, the paper advocates for a mixed-method future empirical study employing SPSS and thematic analysis. Anticipated findings suggest that project based entrepreneurial strategies can reduce youth emigration, increase local job creation, and build trust among diaspora investors, provided they are managed with transparency, accountability, and community inclusion. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for institutionalizing project management best practices in entrepreneurship programs and calls for stronger integration between political stability, economic development, and local innovation systems in Sri Lanka. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://drr.vau.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1380 Exploring Factors influencing Labour Retention in Large Scale Construction Projects: A Qualitative Study in Colombo District Sathuthika, S.; Mathivathany, S. Labour retention remains a critical challenge in the construction industry, particularly in large-scale projects where workforce stability significantly influences project success. This study explores the factors influencing labour retention in large-scale construction projects within the Colombo District, Sri Lanka, through a qualitative research approach. Colombo District, as the commercial and infrastructural hub of the country, hosts numerous large-scale construction initiatives, making it an ideal context to investigate retention dynamics. Using semi-structured interviews with construction workers, site supervisors, and human resource managers, the study seeks to uncover the underlying reasons for labour turnover and identify key retention drivers such as job characteristics, work environment, compensation, career development opportunities, and organizational commitment. The findings aim to provide rich, contextual insights into the lived experiences and perceptions of construction labourers and management in Colombo, contributing to the development of effective retention strategies tailored to the district’s unique socioeconomic and project conditions. This research offers practical implications for construction firms and policymakers to enhance workforce stability, reduce turnover-related costs, and improve overall project performance in Sri Lanka’s rapidly evolving construction sector. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z