Evaluating Management Actions to Mitigate Disruptive Scenario Impacts in an E-Commerce Systems Integration Project

Abstract

E-commerce and other software-related projects are subject to disruptions that result in schedule delays, cost overruns, and degraded quality. Systems integration projects must address and mitigate the most disruptive scenarios resulting in the potential to miss predefined programmatic targets. In this paper, we present a method that aids in the selection of management actions that mitigate the effects of two concurrent modes of project disruption: 1) changes in the emphasis placed by decision-makers on project management success criteria, and 2) changes to the schedule network and its constituent activities. We identify disruptive emergent and future conditions and quantify those scenarios that are the most disruptive to the project. We then evaluate several management actions in mitigating project disruptions, accounting for benefits and costs. A systems integration of an e-commerce system with multiple functionalities is described in an example.