Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Over the past decade, the relationship between data-driven decision making and project success rate has become a subject of considerable debate among scholars and industry practitioners alike, particularly within the context of Lagos State where operating conditions differ markedly from more developed markets.

Lagos State presents a useful setting for examining this relationship precisely because the conditions there — structural, regulatory, and behavioural — differ from those typically assumed in the broader literature, most of which draws on evidence from more developed economies.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on data-driven decision making, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with project success rate, particularly within Lagos State. Many organizations continue to make decisions about data-driven decision making without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect project success rate. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Data-Driven Decision Making on project success rate in Lagos State.
2. To assess the extent to which data-driven decision making influences project success rate within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with data-driven decision making in relation to project success rate.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing data-driven decision making in order to improve project success rate.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of data-driven decision making on project success rate in Lagos State?
2. To what extent does data-driven decision making influence project success rate within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with data-driven decision making in relation to project success rate?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize data-driven decision making in order to improve project success rate?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its academic contribution to the field of business analysis, this study has practical value for management teams within Lagos State seeking to understand how data-driven decision making translates into measurable outcomes around project success rate. It is equally useful to students and future researchers looking for a localized empirical reference on this relationship.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to an examination of Data-Driven Decision Making and its relationship with project success rate within the context of Lagos State. It reflects a PhD-level scope of analysis and relies on data and perspectives available within that scope; generalizing the findings beyond this specific context should therefore be done with appropriate caution.