Escalation in Information Technology Projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde Mobekk ◽  
Asle Fagerstrøm
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Agency Theory ◽  
The Self ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Subjective Value ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Completion Date ◽  
Approach Avoidance ◽  
Considerable Insight

According to the information systems literature, many information technology (IT) projects go wildly over budget, drag on long past their originally scheduled completion date, and do not deliver according to initial specification. Theories that have been used to understand the escalation phenomenon in general are the self-justification theory, the prospect theory, the agency theory, and the approach avoidance theory. These theories have contributed to a considerable insight in the phenomenon of escalation, but divergence among them indicates that there are still some unanswered questions. Discounting describes how the subjective value of an outcome is altered because its outcome is either uncertain and/or delayed. Since a key factor in IT project is the uncertainty and/or delay associated with cost, schedules and functionality of the IT solutions that are made, the authors decided to introduce the concept of discounting to expand understanding of escalation behavior in IT projects.

scholarly journals Requirements for developing a culture of small information technology projects among university students in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-314
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abdel Salam Mohamed Mahmoud El Balshi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
University Students ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
The University

The current study aimed to develop mechanisms for developing the culture of small information technology projects among university students in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution by integrating the development of the culture of small information technology projects in the university’s vision, objectives and strategy, and localizing it in the university environment, activating it in the university’s teaching and learning processes, and strengthening the university’s partnership and the outside community to achieve this. The study used the descriptive approach, and the researcher applied a questionnaire consisting of (37) phrases distributed over (4) axes, and the sample amounted to (136) university professors from (5) Egyptian universities. The study found: The need for the university to emphasize in its objectives the teaching of students to build and manage small information technology projects through the development of knowledge and awareness of it, consolidating the values ​​and beliefs that support them, and that the university is interested in formulating a strategy that supports innovation and creativity among faculty members and students, and that the promotions of teachers and assistant professors be linked to their supportive activities for educating students with small IT projects, and to provide paper or digital brochures on opportunities to build small IT projects in the surrounding environment, and to support the practice of cultural activities, and spread the culture of patent in the information technology sector among its students, and that the university’s learning outcomes target the need for graduates to possess positive attitudes and values ​​towards them. and pay attention to educating students about the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on small IT projects, and that the university link the teaching and learning processes, building and managing small information technology projects, and directing its faculty members towards linking the contents of the curricula with the skills of building and managing small information technology projects, with the need to achieve partnership with the external community through the establishment of exhibitions and platforms for marketing information technology projects, and hosting businessmen in seminars or meetings to inform students of their successful experiences.

Managing Information Technology Projects Using Agile Methodology

2021 ◽  
pp. 123-146
Author(s):  
Alice S. Etim ◽  
Chandra Prakash Jaiswal ◽  
Marsheilla Subroto ◽  
Vivian E. Collins Ortega
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Agile Methodology ◽  
It Project ◽  
Product Delivery ◽  
Sub Saharan

The management of information technology (IT) projects has experienced a shift from predictive and traditional project management methodology to more adaptive practices like Agile. Agile method and its developmental stages are a response to current business-changing trends and computing needs of society. The process assists in accelerating product delivery with rapid feedback and cost-conscious, consecutive iteration, distinguishing it from other traditional practices like the waterfall method. This chapter contributes to the existing literature by discussing agile project management for IT projects, with a specific case of the Africa IT project – the Books for Africa Project (hereafter called, Book Project). The first part of the chapter is used to review the literature on Agile IT projects. The Book Project as a case is an IT project, and it is discussed in detail in the chapter. The chapter concludes with transferable lessons for projects in developing countries, specifically those located in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Assessment of Risk on Information Technology Projects Through Moments of Translation

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Petronnell Sehlola ◽  
Tiko Iyamu
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Infrastructure Networks

Many of the IT solutions in an organisation are employed through IT projects. Based on the reliance on IT solutions, organisations’ investment on IT projects has increased tremendously in the last two decades. This is informed and triggered by the premises that IT will help them to yield solutions that will fulfill or exceed their expectations, thereby make the organisation realise the required return on investment. Projects are a means to yield solutions through technological artefacts such as infrastructure (networks included), applications, databases or a combination of these. The technological artefacts do carries or are associated with foreseen or unforeseen risks. Hence proper risk identification and management on IT projects is necessitated to ensure that the organisation reaches its desire state. Unfortunately, risks are never easy to identify or manage. Using one case, the study employed actor-network theory in the analysis of the data to understand the factors which manifest themselves into risks during the deployment of IT projects in the organisation.

Assessment of Risk on Information Technology Projects Through Moments of Translation

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-43
Author(s):  
Petronnell Sehlola ◽  
Tiko Iyamu
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Return On Investment ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Infrastructure Networks ◽  
The Past

Many of the IT solutions in an organisation are employed through IT projects. Based on the reliance on IT solutions, organisations’ investment in IT projects have increased tremendously in the past two decades. This is informed and triggered by the premise that IT will help yield solutions that will fulfill or exceed expectations, thereby making the organisation realise the required return on investment. Projects are a means to yield solutions through technological artefacts, such as infrastructure (networks included), applications, databases, or a combination of these artefacts. Technological artefacts are associated with foreseen or unforeseen risks. Hence, proper risk identification and management of IT projects is necessary to ensure that the organisation reaches the desired state. Unfortunately, risks are not easy to identify or manage. Using one case, the study employed actor network theory in the analysis of the data to understand the factors which manifest themselves into risks during the deployment of IT projects in the organisation.

Managing International Information Technology Project Relationships

2016 ◽  
pp. 1161-1174
Author(s):  
Peter Haried ◽  
Chun-Lung Huang
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Agency Theory ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
International Project ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Significant Cost ◽  
Technology Project ◽  
Information Technology Project

Many organizations in recent years have adopted an offshore model to deliver most or part of their information technology needs. While offshoring can be associated with significant cost savings and implementation benefits, it can also be a challenge to effectively manage the international client-vendor relationship. Thus, it is argued that the effective management, coordination and structuring of the international client-vendor relationship is critical to project management success. In this paper an agency perspective is applied to examine the management of international client-vendor relationships in offshore information technology (IT) projects. This paper synthesizes key relational findings from eight offshore IT projects consisting of 29 client interviews. The authors' findings suggest that the relational tenets of agency theory (shirking, privately held information, task programmability and monitoring) play key roles in successfully managing international project relationships. Based on the findings, propositions are presented to guide future offshore IT project research and organizations to successfully manage and structure their client-vendor relationships.

The Influence of Probability Discounting on Escalation in Information Technology Projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39
Author(s):  
Hilde Mobekk ◽  
Asle Fagerstrøm ◽  
Donald A. Hantula
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Hyperbolic Discounting ◽  
Probability Discounting ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Titration Procedure ◽  
It Project ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Viable Approach

An experimental study was conducted with 17 experienced information technology (IT) project decision-makers. Each participated in a computer based simulation where they had to choose whether to continue an ongoing IT project despite negative feedback, (called escalation of commitment), or abandon it and sell the project as is. A titration procedure for sales price was manipulated over seven probability conditions for success of the project. The switching points where each participant would choose to sell the project instead of continuing development was determined, and probability discounting factors were calculated. The median switching point of the participant's subjective values of the project fit a hyperbolic discounting function well. An escalation factor was calculated and the results indicate that several participants in the study showed signs of escalation. These data demonstrate that the discounting framework may be a viable approach to understand the phenomenon of escalation in IT projects.

Influence processes of implementation effectiveness in challenged information technology projects in Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nixon Muganda Ochara ◽  
John Kandiri ◽  
Roy Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
It Projects ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Implementation Effectiveness ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Innovation Attributes

Purpose – This research reports on how influence processes (IP) impact on the implementation effectiveness of information technology (IT) projects. Drawing on an innovation perspective that elevate the interplay of factors related to innovations framing, innovations environment and innovation attributes, the study focused on IT projects based in Africa that are generally classified as “challenged” due to the conditions in the environment. The purpose of this paper is to assess how IP related to innovation framing, innovation environment and innovation attributes can be used to determine implementation effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach – Using a interpretive approach, a case study of institutions under a partnership that has been implementing various educational technologies in five African countries formed the sample. In all, 25 interviews of top-management representatives, project leaders and user representatives were conducted between 2012 and 2013 to assess the implementation effectiveness of these projects. Theoretical thematic analysis, based on a deductive approach, was employed to analyse the data. Findings – The results show that a majority of these development-oriented projects are “mandated failures” characterized by high framing, a bad internal environment and typically negative innovation attributes. That typically, the institutions engage symbolically in such innovations initiatives which are regarded as “show” projects. Such behaviour can be construed to be a pattern of cynical technology adoption linked to the appeasement of external stakeholders. In addition, participation in initiatives was largely symbolic and is considered as a mere demonstration of a modern organization that is technologically aware, yet the requisite innovation environment is lacking for effective appropriation of the technology. Third, mandated failures result in low morale of employees, who regard themselves as pawns in the process which make them grudgingly participate in the implementation process. Practical implications – These findings have implications for managing innovations in such challenged environments: the first proposition is that projects in challenged environment for innovation adopting organizations need to be considered as technology transfer projects. Second, the innovation environment and attributes can only be improved during implementation of the conditions related to absorptive capacity of the organization and the individual are addressed. Originality/value – The research reported in this paper, provides an empirical determination of the concept of implementation effectiveness by using three constructs of innovations framing, environment and attributes. On the basis of the empirical findings, an original contribution is claimed, especially in “challenged” IT project environments where the concept of success if fluid and outcomes uncertain.

Incidence of Organizational Culture on Management Effectiveness of Information Technology Projects

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-102
Author(s):  
Dora Alba Ariza
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Management Effectiveness ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Confirmatory Factor

This chapter describes the findings of a research aimed to determine the cultural characteristics which have incidence on the management effectiveness of IT projects. A quantitative study was carried out. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) were applied. A random sample of 139 respondents conformed by leaders and team members who developed IT projects in private companies from different economic sectors located in Bogotá, Colombia was used. The evidence shows that the adaptation to solve problems has incidence in the management effectiveness of IT projects and the compliance of stakeholder expectations can be predicted from the alignment level of the projects with the strategy and the consideration of their needs and opinions. The study extends the theory in project management and information technology. The results can guide the efforts of project offices to identify cultural characteristics which can be intervened to enhance the project success.

Providing a Model for Virtual Project Management with an Emphasis on IT Projects

2016 ◽  
pp. 476-496
Author(s):  
Hamed Nozari ◽  
Seyed Esmaeil Najafi ◽  
Meisam Jafari-Eskandari ◽  
Alireza Aliahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Geographically Distributed ◽  
Virtual Project ◽  
Virtual Project Management

With globalization of economy and increase of global competition to acquire rare resources, the organizations have moved towards geographical distribution to achieve competitive advantage. Users and project teams at various places within various countries with different national and local cultures throughout the world work on projects at the environment concerning geographical distribution. On the other hand, with increase of advancements in communication, the distributed project teams have been witnessed with more expansion, known with “virtual teams”. When members of virtual project team from various organizations and time zones attend in the projects, they will be more likely affiliated to electronic media such as email. With regard to virtualization of IT projects, the present study aims to develop a model for virtual project management with an emphasis on information technology projects, including several elements in geographically distributed environments. The final model of virtual project management of information technology projects was represented.

Project Management Best Practices to Increase Success

2005 ◽  
pp. 2335-2340
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Project Manager ◽  
It Projects ◽  
Information Technology Projects ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Job Title ◽  
Goals And Objectives ◽  
Term Objective

Utilizing good project management practices has become one of the key differentiators in delivering successful information technology projects. Kerzner (2001) defines project management as “the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of company resources for a relatively short-term objective that has been established to complete specific goals and objectives” (p. 4). The field of project management has seen explosive growth in the amount of individuals holding a job title such as project manager, in the amount of research being conducted, and in the amount of books and articles being published. This paper explores the reasons for this growth, the reasons why project management has become so important to the on-going success of IT projects and thus the success of organizations and what future directions the field of project management will travel.

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