AN ASSESSMENT OF ASSET MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: CASE STUDY OF ADDIS ABABA LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT PROJECT

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the asset management practices on of Addis Ababa light railway network. To achieve this, a total of 96 questionnaires were distributed to employees as one of primary data collection method. Out of which 80 usable questionnaires were collected back and the total response rate for the study was 83.3 % in total. As a result, the paper’s findings were drawn from the 80 questionnaires. The study has been conducted based on the case study research design. Interview, observation and secondary data were also among the tools used for gathering qualitative and quantitative data in this research. The qualitative data are presented using narrative and also the quantitative data presented using frequnecyof response mean and standard Deviations. Results in general indicated that 60% of employees have positive response to the question raised about asset management elements. There are variations on the level of employee’s position towards each question. It is found that there is some indication of asset management practice in the organization. However, it isn’t well-built to put the organization on competitive and profitable situation. The key challenges to implement asset management in this organization are found as: lack of well educated engineers/ expertise, no proper system, material mismanagement and improperly recorded information. It is recommended that the organization should build the capacity of its employee with continuing professional’s development program to develop their competence. Also, the organization should have its own information management system, planned operation and maintenance strategy for successful asset management practice.