Factors influencing governance practices in rural development projects: A case study of rural road projects in Malaysia

Rural development projects are essential as a catalyst for balanced development between urban and rural areas, as well as tools for enhancing the living standard of the rural poor. This study focuses on the identification of factors that influence the governance practices in a rural road project in Malaysia. A single case study was conducted from the perspective of a stewardship theoretical lens on a rural road project in East Malaysia and multiple sources of evidence were used for data collection. The study discovered four main factors namely intrinsic motivation, altruistic empathy, effective leadership and shared vision that influence project governance practices in this project. Thus, this article contributes towards a better understanding of the interplay of these motivating factors, which drives public officials in different project actors for effective delivery in this project context. The findings of the study are limited to the utilisation of a single case study related to the rural road project and its contexts.