Factors influencing the usage and selection of project management software

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and assess those factors that influence the extent of usage, type of usage (planning only versus planning and control), and selection of project management (PM) software by professionals in the field. Discriminant analysis is used to analyze hypotheses relating to these three issues. The analysis is based on the results of a random survey of members of the Project Management Institute. This research was guided by an organizing framework that considers environmental factors (demographics and work environment characteristics), intermediate factors (PM software usage category and historical use patterns), and outcomes (level of software package selected). The analysis reveals strong differences in extent of usage, type of usage, and software selection based on individually significant environmental and intermediate factors. It also provides strong support for the hypotheses relating to extent of software use and level of software package used, while providing qualified support for the hypothesis relating to software use for planning only versus planning and control. These results together validate the organizing framework. Adopters of PM software are advised to consider the findings concerning industry practice as well as their specific needs when selecting and deciding how to use PM software packages.