Information Systems Development Projects Research Articles

Navigating role identity tensions — IT project managers’ identity work in agile information systems development

ABSTRACT While the management of traditional, plan-based information systems development (ISD) projects lies with the information technology project manager (ITPM), this role is challenged in agile ISD team settings, characterised by self-managed and autonomous teams. Driven by the potential for individual, project, and organisational benefits through a deeper comprehension of these challenges, our study draws upon role identity theories to uncover identity tensions that this role creates and ways in which ITPMs engage in identity work to resolve these tensions. We conducted an in-depth, qualitative study involving interviews with ITPMs operating within agile ISD teams embedded in traditionally-managed organisations. A central contribution of our paper lies in the development of a theoretical model that unpacks how ITPMs navigate identity work tensions by engaging in specific identity work activities. By revealing the interplay between ITPMs’ role identity tensions, identity work activities, and contextual factors, our study moves beyond purely descriptive accounts and offers a nuanced understanding of the emotional and behavioural dimensions of ITPMs in their liminal position. Additionally, our work underscores the pivotal role of ITPMs as boundary spanners, bridging the gap between traditional and agile governance structures to drive digital transformation. For practitioners, we provide agile ISD team design recommendations.

A Proposed Quality Measurements for Information Systems Development Projects

The objective of this paper is to propose quality measurements for ISDP to achieve higher quality levels for information systems development projects (ISDP). The complexity of assessing information system quality stems from its many important dimensions. This paper presents important quality concepts and fundamentals related to ISDP. In addition, it presents the life cycle, phases, and activities of ISDP. Depending on the proposed steps and a combination of statistical techniques, this paper introduces a proposed quality assurance model for ISDP activities. This proposed model can be used for building a software tool for the quality assurance of ISDP.

Understanding the nature of information interdependencies and developing control portfolios for modularized information systems development projects

For better governance, information systems development (ISD) projects are often decomposed ex ante, using client requirements, to create self-contained modules. Following such a modular approach allows independent and efficient structuring of ISD project work. However, given the integrated nature of ISD work, maintaining information flows across the different modules within ISD projects is essential. Through an in-depth examination of six ISD projects, we discover four types of requirements information interdependencies across ISD project modules. Next, we identify appropriate control portfolios for governing the different types of inter-modular requirements information interdependencies. Results indicate that different types of requirements information interdependencies necessitate governance through varying control portfolios. Our study contributes to the ISD literature by identifying the nuanced mechanisms through which requirements information interdependencies could be better governed by applying appropriate control portfolios. Our study also offers significant practical implications for ISD project governance.

DevOps project management success factors: A decision‐making framework

AbstractDevelopment and operations (DevOps) refer to the collaboration and multidisciplinary organizational effort to automate continuous delivery of information systems (IS) development project with an aim to improve the quality of the IS. The flexibility and quality production of software projects motivated the organizations to adopt DevOps paradigm. Organizations face several complexities while management of DevOps process. This study aims to explore and analyze the factors that could positively impact the management of DevOps process. Firstly, literature review was performed and identified 36 success factors that are related to 10 knowledge areas of DevOps project management. Secondly, a questionnaire survey study was conducted to get the insight of industry experts concerning the success factors of DevOps project. Finally, the fuzzy‐AHP was applied for ranking the success factors and examining the relationship between 10 knowledge areas of identified success factors. The results of this study will serve as a body of knowledge for researchers and practitioners to consider the highest priority success factors and develop the effective policies for the successful execution of DevOps project management.

How to Apply and Manage Critical Success Factors in Healthcare Information Systems Development?

Studies on Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) development projects have traditionally often been limited to retrospectively identifying CSFs in a finished project. In this paper, we focus on how to prospectively apply and manage CSFs in HIS projects. Based on a holistic perspective and systems thinking, an inductive research strategy was applied and a single in-depth case study was conducted. The findings include detailed descriptions that contribute to further understanding of how to prospectively apply and manage CSFs in HIS projects. The analysis reveals that CSFs must be applied differently and managed on various system levels. Furthermore, it shows how interactions exist between different system levels, both in the case of a specific CSF and between different CSFs on various system levels. Our analysis framework and findings indicate new directions for future research: how to prospectively apply and manage CSFs in HIS development projects can now be investigated both in a more holistic way and more in detail. Finally, healthcare practitioners can use the descriptions as practical checklists for guiding them in how to realize situational adaptation of CSFs in HIS projects across different system levels.

The multiplexity of diagrams and prototypes in requirements development

Information systems development (ISD) requires dynamic and flexible ways of working, particularly when developing requirements in collaboration with customers. Although prior research has acknowledged the importance of objects to support ISD practices, there has been a lack of frameworks to help discern the multiple overlapping roles objects play to support requirements development in a variety of ways throughout an ISD project. This paper explores and theorizes this phenomenon by leveraging multiplexity as a theoretical lens to analyze an extensive qualitative data set from a case study at a Swiss multinational banking software provider. Results show how diagrams and prototypes both play the roles of epistemic, activity, boundary, and infrastructure objects as a reflection of how they are used in requirements development. Our analysis articulates how two classical requirements specifications play multiple overlapping roles to support dynamic and flexible ISD practices. Based on these findings, we advance a framework for discerning the multiplex role of objects in practice

REWARDING AND SUCCESS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The purpose of the research is to determine the causes of failure of information systems development projects. We came to the hypothesis that rewarding can improve the success of information systems development projects. For this reason, it is suggested that employment contracts be tied to business results. Extrinsic and intrinsic rewards are a good motivator that affects the improvement of employee performance, i.e. increases productivity, business results and job satisfaction and contributes to increasing the success of information systems development projects. Designers and managers of information systems development projects who participated in the research, gave their views on the impact of rewards on the success of the information systems development project in response to survey questions. The attitudes were evaluated on a five-point Likert scales. We obtained additional data based on conversations with managers and designers who deal with the development of information systems. Through the research design, we determined an independent variable related to the employment contract based on business results, which is the basis for the application of various forms of remuneration, and a dependent variable related to the success of the information systems development project. The main findings of the research are related to the definition of the contract between the owner on the one hand and managers and designers on the other hand, which solves the problems of opportunistic behavior of managers and designers of information systems development project. In addition, the factors of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards that are most often used to motivate managers and designers of information systems development are defined. The practical implications of the research refer to the benefits that the company owner, managers and designers of the information systems development will have. They will receive the best model of employment contract for employees working on the development of an information systems project. In addition, they will receive information about the views of designers and project managers related to reward factors that improve the success of the information systems development project. The originality of the research refers to the creation of a model that links the work contract based on business results with reward factors that help to increase the success of the information systems development project.

Tacit knowledge sharing in information systems development projects: social interdependence and regulatory focus perspectives

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine tacit knowledge sharing within information systems development (ISD) projects by exploring the combination of social interdependence theory and regulatory focus theory (RFT).Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted on 198 ISD professionals to investigate the effect of social interdependence on tacit knowledge sharing. The survey data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and the results were discussed.FindingsThis study reveals that team members tend to share tacit knowledge in a way characterized by cooperative interdependence, and different patterns of social interdependence have an impact on tacit knowledge sharing. The RFT explains the disparities in attitude toward tacit knowledge sharing. Specifically, individuals with a prevention-focused orientation positively moderate the impact of competitive interdependence on tacit knowledge sharing, while those with a promotion-focused orientation have a negative moderating effect on the effect of competitive interdependence on tacit knowledge sharing. Moreover, promotion-focused individuals negatively moderate the effect of cooperative interdependence on tacit knowledge sharing.Originality/valueThe study identifies important aspects of social interdependence in ISD projects that affect the management of tacit knowledge. Furthermore, the study shows that the influence of cooperative and competitive interdependence on tacit knowledge sharing is moderated by the regulatory focus of an individual, providing new insights into ISD knowledge management.

Emergent Cultural Contradictions from Overlapping Cultural Levels in Information Systems Development

Research exploring the cultural influence on information system development (ISD) projects tends to focus on a single level of influence (e.g., organizational culture) or cultural incompatibility between one or two cultural levels that are assumed to be discretely separate and static (e.g., national and organizational culture). In contrast, our research conceptualizes culture as dynamic and emergent, with varying levels of overlapping cultures that occur simultaneously in ISD projects (e.g., organizational and occupational culture overlaps). The case study method is used to examine two strategic projects in a single organization in South Africa. The findings describe how the overlap of different cultural levels gives rise to cultural contradictions in ISD projects. Understanding the relevance of the multiple cultures that exist in ISD projects offers further opportunity for refining explanations of cultural contradictions. Cultural contradictions that emerge from cultural overlaps during ISD are conceptualized as five distinct types: Vision Contradictions, Priority Contradictions, Process Contradictions, Role Contradictions, and Technology Contradictions. Despite variation in the context of each project, there is a similarity in the nature and effect of emergent cultural contradictions. The paper concludes with suggestions for addressing cultural contradictions in and influences on ISD projects.

Development of an Agile Requirements Risk Prioritization Method: A Design Science Research Study

The practice of information systems development (ISD) has changed during the past two decades from very structured approaches to agile ISD methods. However, in the literature many methods available for managing requirements-related risks follow a structured approach to ISD. Few, if any, available methods offer solutions that prioritize requirements risks for agile ISD projects based on recognizing requirements-related risks and patterns in order to mitigate these. To fill this gap in the literature, we apply the design science research methodology to develop an agile requirements risk prioritization method together with industry experts (n=54) in Finland and New Zealand in a multi-year study. The method was developed by applying contingency theory, and our study makes an artifactual contribution to the literature. The method helps practitioners prioritize the overall requirements-related risks for ISD projects.

Intellectual capital and team resilience capability of information system development project teams

Adversities are inherent in the information system development (ISD) process and often put projects to a halt. However, it is unclear what capabilities the team needs to resist and bounce back from adverse events. The purpose of this study is to propose that team resilience capability (TRC), containing affective, cognitive, and behavioral factors is vital for effective project performance. Further, by adopting the conservation of resource perspective, we theorize that intellectual capital, including human capital, technology capital, and political capital fosters TRC. Survey data collected from 149 ISD project teams confirmed our ideas that TRC is strongly tied with project performance and is more affected by human capital, followed by political capital and technology capital.

Deep Learning Model for Selecting Suitable Requirements Elicitation Techniques

Requirement elicitation represents one of the most vital phases in information system (IS) and software development projects. Selecting suitable elicitation techniques is critical for eliciting the correct specification in various projects. Recent studies have revealed that improper novice practices in this phase have increased the failure rate in both IS and software development projects. Previous research has primarily relied on creating procedural systems based on contextual studies of elicitation properties. In contrast, this paper introduces a deep learning model for selecting suitable requirement elicitation. An experiment was conducted wherein a collected dataset of 1684 technique selection attributes were investigate with respect to 14 elicitation techniques. The study adopted seven criteria to evaluate predictive model performance using confusion matrix accuracy, precision, recall, F1 Score, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) and loss curve. The model scored prediction accuracy of 82%, precision score of 0.83, recall score of 0.83, F1 score of 0.82, cross-validation score of 0.82 (± 0.10), One-vs-One ROC AUC score of 0.74, and One-vs-Rest ROC AUC score of 0.75 for each label. Our results indicate the model’s high prediction ability. The model provides a robust decision-making process for delivering correct elicitation techniques and lowering the risk of project failure. The implications of this study can be used to promote the automatization of the elicitation technique selection process, thereby enhancing current required elicitation industry practices.

Conceptualizing Information Systems Development as an Organizational Routine

Research acknowledges that information systems development (ISD) teams experiment with, overlook, or adapt the methods that they purportedly use. Given this, one stream of research adopts a perspective focused on prescriptions based on the idea of a method. Another stream of research adopts a perspective anchored in the view that human agency plays a critical role in the unfolding of ISD projects. We suggest that our understanding of ISD can be enriched by mobilizing both perspectives. Specifically, we propose a conceptualization of ISD as an organizational routine based on the ontology developed by Feldman and Pentland. We build on the elements of this ontology- (1) the idea of a routine (the ostensive aspect) and (2) its enactment (the performative aspect) as the two mutually constitutive aspects of organizational routines; and (3) the role of artifacts as mediators of the relationship between actors and the ostensive and performative aspects of organizational routines - to develop theoretical arguments explaining the benefits of applying this ontology to the ISD phenomenon. Extending the contextual boundaries of Feldman and Pentland's ontology, we propose research avenues that have the potential to contribute to our understanding of this core phenomenon of the IS discipline.

Feasibility Analysis of Information Technology Investment Using Cost Benefit Analysis Method

Objective: One of the strategies that companies can do to survive amid fierce business competition is to invest in IT. Currently all companies need to invest in IT to improve company performance better but usually the budget costs that must be incurred by companies to make IT investments are very large. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the feasibility of IT investment. This study aims to determine how much the costs incurred and the benefits obtained after creating a Social Media Analysis information system and also to find out whether the Social Media Analysis information system development project is feasible or not.Methods: This study uses the Cost Benefit Analysis method where the method compares the components of costs and benefits which are then recommended for a policy on investment projects. The Cost Benefit Analysis method is supported by several calculation criteria such as Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PP), Return On Investment (ROI), and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR).Results: The results showed that the NPV for 5 years was Rp. 300,138,606, PP was 2 years and 11 months, ROI was 9.03%, and BCR was 1.08. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the Social Media Analysis information system investment project is feasible to continue.

Transactive memory systems, team learning and project outcomes in information systems development projects: the moderating roles of shared leadership

Little work exists to examine shared leadership as an internal team context. This study aims to explore how and in what ways shared leadership impacts team processes and outcomes. Specifically, this study proposes the moderating effects of shared leadership on the relationship between transactive memory system (TMS) and team learning and between team learning and project outcomes. A survey method was adopted to test the proposed model. Based on partial least squares (PLS) analysis, the results confirmed a negative effect of shared leadership on the relationship between team learning and project outcomes. High-level shared leadership substitutes the effects of team learning on project outcomes. However, the moderating effect of shared leadership on the relationship between TMS and team learning was not supported. This study makes theoretical contributions and practical implications for understanding the context of information systems development (ISD) project teams.

Focus group study: budget effectiveness impact on information system development projects in Kuwait

Software development projects in government or private entities are almost bound to fail. Some approaches and methods have been introduced to mitigate or eliminate threats to undergoing projects, but projects have still failed for some reason or other. Due to the drop in oil prices globally, this research was conducted in the state of Kuwait to examine the effect of budget cuts leading to the identification of risk factors that could hinder the success of projects. This research focuses on the risk factors affecting the efficiency of budget allocation for information system development projects. A focus group study was used as a qualitative approach, which is not commonly used in the discipline of information systems development projects. The approach consisted of two consecutive sessions that were facilitated by the authors. The research produced a taxonomy list consisting of ten risk factors that could be used by practitioners in the field.

Transactive memory systems, team learning and project outcomes in information systems development projects: the moderating roles of shared leadership

Transactive memory systems, team learning and project outcomes in information systems development projects: the moderating roles of shared leadership

Focus group study: budget effectiveness impact on information system development projects in Kuwait

Focus group study: budget effectiveness impact on information system development projects in Kuwait

Too Drained from Being Agile? The Self-Regulatory Effects of the Use of Agile ISD Practices and their Consequences on Turnover Intention

While much is known about the beneficial effects of agile information systems development (ISD), scholars have largely neglected to address its potential downsides. Specifically, research on this topic has thus far overlooked the ambivalent implications of the specific demands placed on developers working in agile ISD teams, including potentially depleting effects. Drawing on ego depletion theory and the associated literature, we provide a more balanced view and introduce self-regulatory resource depletion triggered by using agile ISD practices—encompassing software development (SD) and project management (PM) practices—as a theoretical perspective on why agile developers experience different levels of work-related fatigue that lead to stronger or weaker turnover intentions. Furthermore, we propose that due to the specific way in which agile ISD methods organize ISD project work, developers’ perceived workload influences the intensity by which agile ISD practices affect self-regulatory resources and developers’ feelings of fatigue. We examined our research model using a multimethod approach including quantitative and qualitative data. We found that the use of agile SD practices enhances developers’ self-regulatory resources and reduces fatigue and turnover intention. Our results also show that perceived workload strengthens the energizing effects of the use of agile SD practices and reveals a depleting effect of the use of agile PM practices, with countervailing implications for turnover intention. This study contributes to agile ISD literature by drawing a more nuanced and balanced picture with both resource-enhancing and resource-draining effects of the use of agile ISD practices. Finally, we give managerial advice regarding factors to consider when designing and managing agile ISD projects.

Team Leadership and Diversity Management in Information Systems Development Project Teams

Background: The interplay of diversity and leadership produces mixed findings in the literature. Based on the categorization-elaboration model (CEM) and diversity management (DM) literature, this study investigates the role of team leadership in a diverse ISD team. Further, this study examines the moderating roles of DM practices in the relationships between group diversity, team leadership, and project performance. Method: This study selected a paired survey method to test the hypotheses. Eighty-two valid paired questionnaires were received from project managers and team members in ISD projects. In addition, this study used partial least squares (PLS) with a bootstrapping technique to examine the proposed model. Results: The results show that group diversity has mixed impacts on team leadership. Furthermore, DM practices positively moderate the effect of value diversity on team leadership, as value diversity is positively related to team leadership when DM practices are more robust. At last, DM practices negatively moderate the relationship between team leadership and project performance as the effect of team leadership has weaker effects on project performance when DM practices are strong than when the practices are weak. Conclusion: This study adds to the literature by examining team leadership in a heterogenous ISD team and providing empirical evidence for the moderating roles of DM practices in team leadership processes.