Assessing and Improving Project Management Information System in a Multi National Company

Abstract

AbstractThe overall aim of the research is to (re) design and prototype project management information systems to support engineering and project management services /operations for a multinational company (X). Four specific objectives have been derived from this aim and these are:I. To analyze the existing facilities that contribute in information flow and identify constraints and problems;II. To design a new/improved information system;III. To test the new/improved system;IV. To identify conditions for successful implementation of the system.The analysis of the existing information system in the Multi National Company was done by visiting the study area during fieldwork. The aim was to identify the main stakeholders i.e., Clients, Consultants and Contractors, of the project information system, their information requirements and any bottlenecks existing in the system. Also analyzed, was the environment (both internal and external) in which the company operates by implementing SWOT analysis method.It became evident that the current system is not effective. Equally, the company's Information System (IT) infrastructure is not up-to-date, and requires modernization to promote it up to the level of competitors. The system is slow and lacks resources both human and non human. An information system to help conceptualize the various components of project management and engineering services was therefore developed to serve as the basis for developing the database to store and manage relevant information. The functions and data requirements of the system developed are detailed.The information system, Project Document Tracking Register Information Systems (PDTRIS) was implemented using Paradox database and Microsoft Excel as an export facility to enrich reporting variety, and this was tested for a few months to determine if it answered user information needs.Certain conditions must be available for the system to be effectively implemented: skilled manpower, evidence of what the system is capable of doing, financial resources, specific responsibilities in maintenance of the system and extending the responsibilities / upgrading the capabilities of the custodian of the information (incoming and outgoing) i.e., a central document control office, are among the major conditions required.