An Assessment of GIS-Integrated Design Management in Enhancing Project Success in Infrastructure Development in Zimbabwe

This study examines GIS-integrated design management practices in Zimbabwean infrastructure development projects through a web-based survey of 198 respondents. Despite development efforts, Bulawayo faces persistent project management challenges, including issues with stakeholder coordination, design quality, and environmental sustainability. These difficulties have led to project failures, wasted resources, and unmet needs, exacerbated by the underutilisation of GIS-integrated design management. The study seeks to identify the root causes of these challenges and propose solutions to improve project success rates in Bulawayo. Firstly, the study aims to examine the current practices of GIS-integrated design management in Zimbabwe's IDPs, providing a comprehensive overview of how these practices are implemented and utilised. Second, it seeks to analyse how the integration of GIS in design management can enhance environmental sustainability in IDPs, exploring the potential for GIS technologies to contribute to more eco-friendly infrastructure projects. Third, the study will evaluate the role of GIS-integrated design management in improving the success of infrastructure development projects through enhanced stakeholder collaboration, highlighting the benefits of improved communication and coordination among project stakeholders. Finally, the study will assess the impact of GIS-integrated design management on cost efficiency in infrastructure development projects, examining how these practices can lead to cost savings and more efficient use of resources. The results indicate that Design Thinking and Agile Design are the most prevalent methodologies, with mean scores of 3.6549 and 3.6429, respectively. These methods are favoured for their iterative, flexible, and user-centric approaches, which align well with the evolving demands of infrastructure projects. The analysis shows a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.265) between integrated design management and environmental sustainability, which is statistically significant (p = 0.000). This suggests that enhanced design management practices are linked to better environmental outcomes. Additionally, there is a significant correlation (r = 0.268, p = 0.01) between integrated design management and stakeholder collaboration, indicating that these practices improve collaboration by providing shared platforms for communication and project information. Conversely, the correlation between integrated design management and cost efficiency is minimal (r = 0.043, p = 0.552), suggesting that these practices do not significantly influence cost efficiency. A positive but modest correlation (r = 0.249) with project success, significant at the 0.01 level, implies that effective design management practices contribute to project success, though the impact is moderate. Based on these findings, it is recommended to continue developing and integrating Design Thinking and Agile Design methodologies to enhance project management effectiveness. Furthermore, to maximise the positive impact on environmental sustainability, it is advisable to deepen the integration of GIS tools that support environmental management and regulatory compliance. Investment in advanced GIS tools that facilitate real-time collaboration and data sharing can also improve stakeholder engagement and project alignment. The study makes significant contributions to the practical use of GIS integration in design management, which is an emerging and developing practice in infrastructure development projects considering the rapid pace and development of technology.