International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Interpersonal skills of management teams have increasingly become a concern in the performance of public projects in Tanzania, particularly in rural road projects in Dodoma, where weaknesses in communication, conflict resolution, and leadership affect project outcomes.
Objective: This study examined how management team interpersonal skills influence the performance of public projects in Tanzania, with a focus on rural road projects in Dodoma, by assessing communication skills, conflict resolution abilities, and leadership skills.
Method: A quantitative approach was used, gathering data from 190 participants via questionnaire. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, simple regression analysis, and ANOVA using SPSS software.
Result: The results showed a significant positive correlation between communication skills (mean = 3.8872, r = 0.809, p < 0.01), conflict resolution abilities (mean = 3.9145, ? = 0.876, p < 0.001), and leadership skills (mean = 3.9464, ? = 0.891, p < 0.001) with project performance.
Conclusion: Effective communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills play a critical role in enhancing public project performance in Tanzania, particularly in rural road projects.
Unique Contribution: The study demonstrates the importance of management team interpersonal skills as key determinants of performance in public infrastructure projects in Tanzania.
Key Recommendation: Improving communication skills, conflict resolution abilities, and leadership skills among management teams can lead to better outcomes in public infrastructure projects in Tanzania