Management of Stakeholder Communications in IT Projects

Abstract

The study centers on examining communication among stakeholders in information technology projects, exploring measures for application by project managers to ensure success. In projects, the correct management of the stakeholders and ensuring their effective communication is a key challenge. Issues of diversity, varying objectives and other communication barriers adversely affect project success. Other challenges entail resistance and weaknesses in shareholders in sharing information, challenge of reaching multiple audiences, heterogeneous goals and concerns, and resource limitations. The study objective is depicting a need for workflow process automation for effective stakeholder communication, identify challenges in communication and develop a useful workflow automation application for implementation in IT projects using Microsoft Visual Studio (ASP.net). Through the app, there is the defining of stakeholders and communications within the project with the inclusion of tasks, their status, and specific milestones. Finally, we aim in examining communication variation across age, educational level, and gender of stakeholder and explore how response times vary across these facets. The research applies a descriptive-survey method and reviews in expanding on the study, relying on information from reviewers and past studies. In the attainment of the project aims, the design and development of a communication software/application were undertaken. The prototype app was made with Microsoft Visual Studio (ASP.net). The design considers an app platform for adequate coverage and communication of stakeholders on different tasks. The prototype app is vital in supporting IT Project Manager in a dynamic stakeholder communication process. With the app, project managers can conveniently plan and control IT projects. The study shows challenges faced by project managers in communication. This entails resistance in data sharing, inability to reach multiple stakeholder needs and audiences, varied needs among various stakeholders, and limited resources or communication tools. The verification and validation procedures were conducted for measuring the product's performance, its functionalities, and customer perceptions. A sample of 102 reviewers was vital in the verification process during the inspection meeting. The data analysis from stakeholders showed that the average response time on project task communication was 300.20 minutes. From the analyzed demographic data collected from the reviewers, it was demonstrated that age affects the communication process and involvement level during the task in the stakeholders. Education and gender were shown as not affecting communication and task involvement.