Understanding project success through analysis of project management approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 638-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asbjørn Rolstadås ◽  
Iris Tommelein ◽  
Per Morten Schiefloe ◽  
Glenn Ballard
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Project Organization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Review Model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that project success is dependent on the project management approach selected, relative to the challenges posed by the project, and to develop an analytical model for analyzing the performance of the project organization. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on literature review, model development, interviews, and case studies. Findings – The findings define two different approaches in project management: The prescriptive approach focusses on the formal qualities of the project organization, including governing documentation and procedures. The adaptive approach focusses on the process of developing and improving a project organization, project culture and team commitment. The two approaches have been identified through studies of three different case projects. An analytical model, referred to as the Pentagon model, has been applied for analyzing the performance of the project organization and explaining the project management approach. The model focusses on five different organizational aspects: structure, technologies, culture, social relations and networks, and interaction. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited to megaprojects and to project management success. Practical implications – It is suggested that project teams consider and select their project management approach at project initiation, and accordingly decide on relevant success factors to focus on. The adapted Pentagon model can be applied to develop the project management organization and assess its performance in the course of project delivery. Originality/value – The contribution of the research is the application of the analytical model, and the identification as well as illustration of the prescriptive, vs adaptive management approach.

Investigating collective sensemaking of a major project success

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 644-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maude Brunet ◽  
Daniel Forgues
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collective Sensemaking ◽  
Major Project

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a case of collective sensemaking about the project success of the multifunctional amphitheater of Quebec (Canada). Design/methodology/approach For this explorative and qualitative research, the authors started from the post-mortem document and complemented their comprehension with six semi-structured interviews with the main project actors and other public documents regarding this project. Findings According to the respondents, the main success factors of this project can be attributed to: a clear governance structure; proven project management and construction methods; the use of emerging collaborative practices in construction (such as building information modeling (BIM) and lean construction); an adapted policy for procurement; as well as a code of values and ethics shared by all stakeholders. Originality/value The sensemaking perspective has been scarcely mobilized in project management studies, emerging from a constructivist view of reality and being sensitive about material-discursive practices. This exploratory study explores a case of collective sensemaking of a major project success and suggests avenues for major and megaprojects research. Lessons learned and implications for practice are also outlined. The conclusion allows a synthesis and an opening to consider how practitioners and researchers can build on this (and other successful) case(s) for future projects and research.

Designers’ performance evaluation in construction projects

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Kärnä ◽  
Juha-Matti Junnonen
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Design Teams ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Benchmark Database ◽  
Project Participants ◽  
Project Level

Purpose In a construction project, “participants’ satisfaction” is one of the main dimensions used for measuring the successfulness of a project. Designers perform a major role in attaining the project goals and managing project complexity during production. The purpose of this paper is to examine the designers’ performance as evaluated by the main participants: the client, the project consultant/manager and the main contractor, and to identify the main success factors of designer performance using the participants’ evaluation. The study also aims to examine how the economic size of a project affects the project participants’ assessment of the designer’s performance. It is assumed that as the size of a project increases, so does the complexity of the project, which will affect the scope of work and demands on the designers’ operational performance for the specific project level. Design/methodology/approach The Finnish project evaluation and benchmark database was used in this study as empirical data. The quantitative data consists of surveys on the project level and are based on a multi-dimensional standard evaluation wherein the main participants evaluate each other’s performances. The client, project consultant and main contractor evaluated the designer’s performance. The data of the study consisted of a total of 892 evaluations. ANOVA analysis was used to examine the differences between the project participants’ assessments based upon the different economic sizes of the projects. Findings Contractors were satisfied with the designers’ performance in small projects, whereas the client and the project consultant/manager rated the designers’ performance most successful in large projects. This result may be due to small projects are typically simple and less complex, in which case design solutions are generally well-defined. Nonetheless, the participants’ level of satisfaction follows the same factors. The main problems in the designers’ performance were related to the design content: the flawlessness and comprehensiveness, as well as the compatibility and consistency of designs. These factors were emphasized particularly in the client’s low satisfaction of the designer’s performance. However, project participants were satisfied with the collaboration with designers; however, room for improvement could be found in internal communication and collaboration within the design teams. The findings illustrated that the assessment of the success rate of a project was party-specific, which was clearly affected by the size of the project, as large projects appeared to be more complex than smaller ones. Practical implications The findings suggested that there is a need to develop project-specific practices in managing multidisciplinary design teams. Additionally, particularly in large projects, designers should focus more on solving problems and design requirements occurring at the construction site. However, this should be implemented in such a way that this does not interfere with the design activities conducted with the client and project management. While client satisfaction is low in the small projects, designers should focus more on customer-oriented methods to serve client needs better. Originality/value In construction project management studies, there is a need to measure the importance that various participants assign to different success factors. Since project success factors depend on project type, a more project-specific approach is suggested to identify the main parameters for measuring project success. This study provides a holistic approach of the designers’ performance, which contributes to the theory of project success and designers’ performance improvement.

Soft skills of construction project management professionals and project success factors

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zuo ◽  
Xianbo Zhao ◽  
Quan Bui Minh Nguyen ◽  
Tony Ma ◽  
Shang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Management Professionals ◽  
Management Professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the soft skills of construction project management; and second, to investigate the influence of these soft skills on project success factors in the Vietnamese construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted with 108 project management professionals from the Vietnamese construction industry. Partial least square structural equation modelling was employed in data analysis. Findings Four-dimensional structure of project success factors was confirmed in this study. Results also showed that soft skills of project managers significantly contributed to project success factors and hence the project success. Research limitations/implications There may be geographical limitation on the conclusions drawn from the findings. Similarly, the sample size was still small, despite a relatively high response rate. In addition, the majority of the respondents were contractors and clients as other project players were reluctant to respond to the survey. Practical implications This study provides an understanding of the relationship between soft skills and project success factors. Originality/value Although there have been studies focused on soft skills of project management and project success factors, few have attempted to analyse the effects of these soft skills on critical success factors. Thus, this study adds significantly to the existing research on both project management skills and project success factors.

Indicators of best practices in technology product development projects

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supachart Iamratanakul ◽  
Yuosre F. Badir ◽  
Sununta Siengthai ◽  
Vatcharapol Sukhotu
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Interpretive Structural Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Management Of Technology ◽  
Technology Product

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to rank the importance of the critical success factors (CSFs) for best practices in technology product development in the Thailand electronics industry and to determine the relationships between these factors in terms of their impact on project success. Design/methodology/approach – Interviews with experts and a review of past studies are used to design an instrument for data collection. A case analysis is conducted to classify CSFs. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) methodology is applied to analyze CSFs and investigate their relationships. Findings – The authors identified 14 “driving” and “dependent” factors, which were then classified into four factor categories: linkage, autonomous, dependent, or independent factors. The results show that strategic alignment was the most significant CSF. Three factors which had a high driving power and were less dependent on others were: follow-up work, co-ordination, and relationships with clients. Practical implications – The results may inform and assist technology project management in the little understood business cultures of the developing world. These finding may allow practitioners to prioritize the factors that drive project success when allocating their limited resources. Originality/value – This research contributes to the field of project management by identifying the relative importance of the CSFs which enhance the management of technology projects. Despite the abundance of studies on CSFs, their importance has still not been fully explained. The findings provide insights into the degree of importance of the factors and their interdependencies, which can either drive or undermine project success. In addition, the ISM methodology the authors used is a unique approach in the project management field.

A contingency fit model of critical success factors for software development projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Ahimbisibwe ◽  
Robert Y Cavana ◽  
Urs Daellenbach
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Software Development ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Software Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Agile Methodologies ◽  
Project Characteristics

Purpose – While the choices available for project management methodologies have increased significantly, questions remain on whether project managers fully consider their alternatives. When project categorization systems and criteria are not logically matched with project objectives, characteristics and environment, this may provide the key reason for why many software projects are reported to fail to deliver on time, budget or do not give value to the client. The purpose of this paper is to identify and categorize critical success factors (CSFs) and develop a contingency fit model contrasting perspectives of traditional plan-based and agile methodologies. Design/methodology/approach – By systematically reviewing the previous literature, a total of 37 CSFs for software development projects are identified from 148 articles, and then categorized into three major CSFs: organizational, team and customer factors. A contingency fit model augments this by highlighting the necessity to match project characteristics and project management methodology to these CSFs. Findings – Within the three major categories of CSFs, individual factors are ranked based on how frequently they have been cited in previous studies, overall as well as across the two main project management methodologies (traditional, agile). Differences in these rankings as well as mixed empirical support suggest that previous research may not have adequately theorized when particular CSFs will affect project success and lend support for the hypothesized contingency model between CSFs, project characteristics and project success criteria. Research limitations/implications – This research is conceptual and meta-analytic in its focus. A crucial task for future research should be to test the contingency fit model developed using empirical data. There is no broad consensus among researchers and practitioners in categorizing CSFs for software development projects. However, through an extensive search and analysis of the literature on CSFs for software development projects, the research provides greater clarity on the categories of CSFs and how their direct, indirect and moderated effects on project success can be modelled. Practical implications – This study proposes a contingency fit model and contributes towards developing a theory for assessing the role of CSFs for project success. While future empirical testing of this conceptual model is essential, it provides an initial step for guiding quantitative data collection, specifies detailed empirical analysis for comparative studies, and is likely to improve clarity in debate. Since previous studies have not rigorously assessed the impact of fit between project characteristics, project environment and project management methodology on project success, additional empirically robust studies will help to clarify contradictory findings that have limited theory development for CSFs of software development projects to date. Originality/value – Previous research for software development projects has frequently not fully incorporated contingency as moderation or contingency as fit (traditional vs agile). This research sets out to develop fully a contingency fit perspective on software development project success, through contrasting traditional plan-driven and agile methodologies. To do this, the paper systematically identifies and ranks 37 CSFs for software projects from 148 journal publications and holistically categorizes them as organizational, team, customer and project factors.

The impact of manager’s personality traits on project success through affective professional commitment: the moderating role of organizational project management maturity system

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aqsa Ameer ◽  
Farah Naz ◽  
Bushra Gul Taj ◽  
Iqra Ameer
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Professional Commitment ◽  
Experimental Proof ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of conscientiousness and extraversion personality traits on project success. The relationship is mediated by affective professional commitment, whilst the relationship between personality traits and project success is moderated by organizational project management maturity. Design/methodology/approach The deductive approach is used to achieve the objectives of this study. Data were collected through a purposive sampling technique from 250 respondents with the help of questionnaires from information technology sectors. The structural equation modelling (SEM) in partial least squares-SEM and SPSS is used to analyse the data and to examine the hypothesis. Findings The outcomes demonstrate the partial mediating impact of affective professional commitment between the relationship of conscientiousness and extraversion personalities with project success. Additionally, it proves the moderating effects of project management maturity between the relationship of conscientiousness and extraversion personalities with project success. Practical implications This study reflects that employee personality appears to be a reliable indicator of how an employee is faithful to his profession. This faithfulness or duty decides the employee’s execution in terms of offering a successful project. Thus, achieving employee commitment needs to be done by completing the project successfully by the organizations in the presence of project management maturity systems. Originality/value It is the first study of its kind to provide experimental proof of the impact of a manager’s personality traits on project success in the presence of affective professional commitment (mediator) and organizational project management maturity (moderator).

scholarly journals EARLY WARNING SYSTEM IN MANAGING WATER INFRASTRUCTRE PROJECTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-550
Author(s):  
Mariela Sjekavica Klepo ◽  
Mladen Radujković
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Final Stage ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Critical Success

There is a continuous need to improve existing project management decision-making support models, particularly those for monitoring and control are needed to increase chances for success. In this paper, potential of early warning in project management was focused, along with its connection to project success via project success factors. First, a systematic literature review was conducted, along with the focus group method, in order to identify project success factors. The selected success factors were also collected on 93 water infrastructure projects through a survey. By the means of linear regression analysis, critical success factors were finally determined. The results were integrated in the early warning system algorithm, composed by three modules – detection, validation and response module. The response module is composed by three dimensions: 1) risk, constraint and change management, 2) incorporation of project management competences and 3) application of project management methods, tools and techniques. The proposed early warning system was tested on three infrastructure projects. The results confirmed that improved early warning system can contribute in increase of project management success. As original database is composed by projects from only one country (Croatia), in the final stage of the research proposed approach was checked in five countries from the Central or South East Europe (Czech Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina). The results from the final stage confirmed potential of the proposed approach as declared originally, so it is reasonable to expect success in early warning system’s implementation due to similarities of critical success factors on projects as well as project management problems in general, that countries in regions share. This research presents new and creative way in linking early warning and project success, as well as interpretation of early response through different dimensions in project management. Also, based on the results of this research, it is possible to create a useful practical tool for managing other types of projects.

scholarly journals The impact of project manager on project success — The case of ICT sector

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-281
Author(s):  
Bálint Blaskovics
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Success Criteria ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Management Attitude

The project management literature on project success is rich. Numerous papers focus on the evolution of the understanding of project success, identification of success criteria and critical success factors. Critical success factors increase the potential for achieving project success, while project success can be evaluated with the help of success criteria. Although the interrelationships between critical success factors and success criteria are rarely analyzed, yet there is a strong demand for it. The aim of this paper is twofold. One of the aims is to identify the impact of one of the critical success factors, the project manager’s project management attitude on project success. The other aim is to highlight the interrelationship between the project manager’s personal characteristics and project management attitude and leadership style, which are three critical success factors. These aim to address the shortcoming mentioned above, which is considering the lack of the interrelationships between critical success factors and success criteria. The research outcomes are drawn from qualitative field research at the Hungarian subsidiaries of multinational companies operating in the ICT sector.

Campus Portal Strategies

2011 ◽  
pp. 68-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Eisler
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Project Organization ◽  
Community Strategies ◽  
Campus Portal

This chapter is designed to assist campuses and their leaders in determining whether to pursue a portal project. For those universities that choose to create portals, a series of strategies and approaches are presented to guide and assist in the success of the effort. This material is provided from the perspective that campus portals can provide a new way to connect with students, faculty, alumni and the community. Strategies are presented to determine whether to undertake a portal project, and the campus readiness for this effort. Nine different approaches to campus portals are presented, together with suggestions on project organization. Project success factors are developed together with potential planning pitfalls for campus portal projects. Finally future approaches for portals are discussed with thoughts for portal acceptance on campus.

Key Success Drivers for Large High-Technology Projects

2016 ◽  
pp. 2341-2352
Author(s):  
Phil Crosby
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
High Technology ◽  
Strategic Success

Success in project management, and particularly in large, high-technology projects, continues to test the resources of organisations and their sponsors. This chapter revisits the conclusions of an earlier meta-study (Crosby, 2012a) that examined a large number of published case investigations and research efforts relating to the success and failure of projects. In that study, the success factors for general, and high-technology, projects were grouped and ranked as strategic success drivers for use prescriptively by project practitioners and approvers, and the principal drivers were examined closely to reveal any less obvious characteristics influencing project success. This chapter takes the original findings of ranked success drivers and investigates how these align with the experiences of three large contemporary high-technology projects. The conclusions show that, while the original set of drivers remains valid as predictors of project success, the ranking is likely to vary, even between projects that are technically and structurally similar. Two additional success factors are added as a result of the present study.

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