Information Technology Projects Research Articles

The influence of remote work on scrum-based information technology projects management: insights for success

PurposeThis research examines how recent changes in working practices as a result of COVID-19 – most often making knowledge-based work for technologists remote to the main office – are influencing the success of software projects managed by the Scrum process model. It explores the relationship between remote working and aspects that past empirical research has identified as important to project success within Scrum.Design/methodology/approachThe research used SPSS for descriptive analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses relationships using SmartPLS 4, using a quantitative research design, a questionnaire was used and distributed electronically to the intended sample, which includes IT project managers, developers and designers in Jordan who work in projects that use Scrum methodology for their IT projects.FindingsThe study found that working from home on Scrum projects had a significant influence on project success and highlighted the need to meet the three basic psychological requirements of autonomy, competence and relatedness. Furthermore, this research revealed that both the ability to work from home and the use of Scrum contribute to project success, with Scrum acting as a mediator.Originality/valueThis study provides an understanding of the impact of adapting to remote working on project success using the Scrum framework. By filling this gap in the literature, the study generates insights that can also be extrapolated to situations in which people do not need to work remotely after a pandemic but might still anticipate and plan for new types of disruptions in the workplace.

Project Change Canvas

Project management plays a critical role in boosting the success of organizations' projects. However, no matter how well a project is managed, changes are inevitable during its execution. It is crucial to evaluate the impact of these changes before implementing them to ensure they do not compromise the project's success. Existing techniques for assessing the effects of changes have several limitations—particularly in their failure to account for how changes might affect various aspects of project management, such as scope, cost, time, resources, communication, risk, procurement, or overall success. To overcome this limitation, this article introduces a new technique – the Project Change Canvas – that enables the systematic assessment of changes in information systems and technology projects by identifying and weighing their potential impacts across all relevant project management knowledge areas.

Multilateral analysis of stakeholder integration, project complexity and project performance on information technology (IT) projects

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the influence of stakeholder integration and project complexity on information technology (IT) projects in Kenya. The following research question guided our inquiry: what is the influence of project complexity and stakeholder integration on the performance of IT projects in Kenya?Design/methodology/approachTo advance the current understanding of the effect of stakeholder integration and project complexity on IT projects, multiple regressions were used to predict how project complexity and stakeholder integration influence project performance. Both government-funded and privately funded IT projects from a developing country were examined.FindingsThe study found that any project’s complexity and stakeholder integration levels offer a distinctive contribution to its success. Theoretically, the study contributes to linkages between stakeholder integration and project complexity concerning IT project performance. Through the adoption of actionable research and theoretical elaboration, we have shown that the successful execution of IT projects is driven by the successful integration of stakeholders and monitoring the level of complexity at each phase of the project.Originality/valueThe findings of this study add to the burgeoning literature on the performance of IT projects and come with several managerial implications as well. It brings to the fore the concept of stakeholder integration as an essential element of project success. The findings suggest that the inclusion of stakeholder integration into corporate decisions, strategies and policies can be an asset to the production of sustainable competitive advantages needed during the implementation of IT projects in government entities and organisations. As shown in this study, all the above require a collaborative platform allowing for data sharing among diverse stakeholders to ameliorate distrust or lack of information.

Breaking All the Rules: Information Technology Procurement in the Government of Canada

AbstractThe Government of Canada has recently faced intense parliamentary and public scrutiny of the role played by private contractors in its information technology (IT) projects, most notably in the case of the ArriveCAN application. With these ongoing investigations as its backdrop, this article analyzes patterns in federal government IT procurement between 2017 and 2022, drawing on a comprehensive analysis of the federal contracting open dataset. We reveal that the federal government betrays accepted best practice in modern government IT procurement on several key dimensions, including on contract values and lengths; on the diversity of suppliers; on the source of IT expertise; and in the management of intellectual property. We argue that the Canadian approach to IT procurement is an historically overlooked but crucial driver of its failing digital reform efforts. We conclude by turning to IT procurement policy reforms gaining traction outside Canada that may help the Government of Canada improve how it buys and deploys IT going forward—a task we argue is essential if the government wants to avoid future IT contracting scandals and deliver on its long‐standing promise of digital era modernization.

Do Technical Implementations Help Physicians: An Evaluation of a New Procedure Documentation Tool on Provider Efficiency in the Electronic Health Record

Introduction. Provider time spent in the electronic health record (EHR) continues to increase, adding stress to an already demanding field. This study quantified the impact of a new EHR procedure documentation tool designed to reduce charting burden. Methods. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University of Kansas Health System and involved ambulatory physicians from all hospitals who were granted access to a new procedural documentation tool. Data on time spent per chart and clicks per chart per office visit were gathered from the hospital's EHR system. The cohort also completed a survey regarding their self-perceived efficiency in the EHR and charting burden. Results. The procedure documentation tool was used for 68% (25/37) of eligible procedures at one-month post-implementation. There was no significant difference in minutes per chart between the group that used the tool and the group that did not, although the group using the tool had lower charting time (median difference [MD] = 5.517; 95% CI, -0.283 to 13.317; p = 0.066). A similar trend was seen with clicks per chart, with an MD of 4 (95% CI, -3 to 11; p = 0.25). Conclusions. While the difference was not significant, this study achieved its goal of quantifying the impact of a health information technology (HIT) project and indicates the need for further examination of how to quantify future projects. It lays the groundwork for future evaluation of similar tools and studies.

Global perspectives on organizational information systems issues: An enigma in search of a theoretical framework

Information Systems (IS) research paradigms, models and findings are largely developed in the context of the United States and Western Europe and thus are largely applicable to the Western world and have limited relevance elsewhere. One area of IS research interest to both practitioners and academics is the elicitation of organizational/management issues related to the use of information technology (IT). The US-based Society for Information Management conducts an annual survey on these issues, but its findings are limited to the US. Given the current ethnocentric approach, the World IT Project, among other topics, examined the organizational IS issues in 37 countries and found that, as expected, the organizational IS issues varied widely from one organization to another and from one country to another. To better understand the nature of these issues and their driving factors, we have developed a multitiered theoretical framework to unravel these factors. This framework comprises three layers: an outer layer with three national-level factors, a middle layer with two macro-IT factors, and an inner layer with three organizational-level factors. Furthermore, 17 propositions are supported by the World IT Project data and secondary data. Such a framework has been long overdue and offers both practitioners and researchers value in understanding the global IS landscape.

Mitigating work alienation in public sector service-delivery projects caused by perceived overqualification: the roles of empowering leadership and the psychological contracts

PurposeThe study investigates the nature of an understudied yet salient relationship between perceived overqualification (POQ) and work alienation in project management. It employs relative deprivation theory to propose two dimensions of the psychological contract, i.e. relational and transactional, as underlying mediating mechanisms and how empowering leadership mitigates the adverse effects of POQ.Design/methodology/approachTo this end, in two waves, we surveyed 232 project members of three public-sector information and communication technologies (ICT) projects in Punjab, Pakistan. The data was analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe key findings are: (1) POQ leads to work alienation, (2) relational and transactional contracts mediate this relationship, and (3) empowering leadership can mitigate the adverse effects of POQ in project management settings.Originality/valueThis research adds valuable insights to the scant POQ literature in public-sector project management settings. It also contributes by identifying the mediating role of relational and transactional psychological contracts and the moderating role of empowering leadership to mitigate the adverse effects of POQ in these settings.

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.

دراسة مقارنة لفعالية منهجية IMaRD وIMGSIE في مجال تكنولوجيا المعلومات

The usefulness of two well-known approaches, IMARD and IMGSIE, is compared in this paper within the context of information technology (IT) domains. Techniques are essential for organizing project workflows, improving productivity, and producing the intended results. IMARD, which comprises phases like Introduction, Method, Analysis, Results, and Discussion, is widely used in scientific academic papers and professional research to guarantee methodical problem-solving. On the other hand, IMGSIE methodology which consists of phases Introduction, Method, Generalization, Specification, Implementation, and Evaluation—has become more popular in technical and IT engineering projects. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the relative merits and demerits of different approaches in IT-related projects, taking into account variables like project and papers success rates, difficulties in implementation, and overall project management effectiveness. Discussion of case studies of IT projects that use both approaches offers practical insights into their efficacy. Key findings indicate that IMGSIE is more appropriate for graduation it projects needing iterative refinement and flexibility, even though IMARD offers a systematic and complete approach. Questionnaire was distributed to supervisors who used the IMARD and PPDIOO methodologies to evaluate its quality and effectiveness. The most important differences between the methodologies have also been identified, as well as where and when each method is used. Key words: IMGSIE methodology, IMaRD methodology, IMGSIE Lifecycle, Research methodology.

Influence of transformational and transactional leadership on agile project success

This study investigates the influence of Transformational and Transactional Leadership contribution in project accomplishment. It specifically evaluates the mediating role of Leadership for Agile project methodology. The data was collected from cross-sectional professionals such as Information Technology project Managers of various fields, Civil and Construction, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunication, Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Oman that comprised 384 valid samples. We used conformity factor analysis for reliability and validity of our measurement and it was valid and reliable. Partial Least-Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the theoretical framework. The results confirmed leadership enhances agile project methodology through the project excellence, improves end user satisfaction, value addition by achieving triple constraints. It was observed that leadership improves project performance in which team building, management commitment, unobstructed vision, daily standup meeting eases the influence of leadership on Agile methodologies.

Structuration theory perspective of Big Data in a typical South African municipality

Background: Big Data, sourced from various digital sources, offers valuable insights for better decision-making, and organisations are implementing Big Data technologies to improve their services. This article is about how the City of Tshwane (CoT), a South African metropolitan municipality is using data collected from its various information and communication technology (ICT) projects to improve decision-making.Objectives: The study aims to identify the type of Big Data generated by South African municipalities and to establish ways in which knowledge, expertise and suitable management techniques impact the efficient application of Big Data in these municipalities.Method: A qualitative approach, a case study method and Semi-structured interviews were deemed fit to collect data while thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns and themes associated with participants’ experiences. Structuration Theory was used to analyse existing social structures that govern how Big Data is used in the CoT.Results: There is a lack of data integration and a Big Data management system in the CoT. However, the CoT is ready to embrace Big Data and it is currently establishing a unit to effectively analyse collected data.Conclusion: Big Data’s potential for developing effective data management systems has garnered significant attention in the public sector and the CoT is also ready to fully adopt and implement these technologies.Contribution: South African municipalities can effectively utilise Big data by establishing skilled staff, good infrastructure and suitable policies for efficient data generation and interpretation.

Enhancing agile project success: a comprehensive study of risk management approaches among Malaysian practitioners

AbstractRisk management (RM) plays a role in project management in the software development field. As information technology (IT) systems become more essential across industries and IT projects continue to face failure rates effective project management becomes crucial. However, the utilization of methodologies in risk management is not widely considered, specifically in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate how software practitioners in Malaysia have implemented risk management and discover strategies that can enhance risk management for agile contexts. The main focus of this study is the limited integration of methodologies into risk management practices, which has created a gap within the software risk domain. Successful risk management is essential for the achievement of software projects, and the findings from this study can offer insights for software development organizations to make informed decisions and improve project outcomes. By utilizing a quantitative approach and adapted questionnaires, this comprehensive study collected data from 60 practitioners and conducted descriptive analysis to identify key risk elements that have significant potential to affect project performance. The findings highlight these risk elements that can significantly impact project success. Agile methodologies, with their emphasis on collaboration, communication within teams, and engagement with stakeholders, including top management, are instrumental in aligning project objectives, identifying potential risks, and resolving issues promptly. This study provides empirical insights into the risk management practices of agile practitioners in Malaysia, which can equip software development organizations with valuable knowledge for informed decision‐making. By enhancing project outcomes and guiding future strategic actions, the findings of this study can contribute to the improvement of agile risk management in the software development industry, particularly in the Malaysian context.

A Sugeno ANFIS Model Based on Fuzzy Factor Analysis for IS/IT Project Portfolio Risk Prediction

Risk inherence jeopardises Information System (IS) and Information Technology (IT) Project Portfolio Management (PPM) to realise thestrategic objectives. Previous studies have mainly provided Artificial Intelligence (AI) and statistical models to predict the overall riskof IS/IT project portfolio, whereas neuro-fuzzy models were rarely used. This paper proposes a Sugeno Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy InferenceSystem (ANFIS) model based on Fuzzy Factor Analysis (FFA) named ANFIS-OPR to predict the overall risk of IS/IT project portfolio fromhistorical IS/IT project risk data. The ANFIS-OPR inputs are the relevant factor loadings resulting from the FFA application on the IS/IT projects risks set to cope with the curse of dimensionality. Then, the Sugeno ANFIS model is adopted to give strategic interpretability to the predicted IS/IT project portfolio overall risk by implementing the IS/IT Project Management Office (PMO) expert knowledge, represented by fuzzy rules, on the relationship between IS/IT project portfolio strategic alignment and the IS/IT projects risks. The ANFISOPR outputs are the predicted Overall Portfolio Risk (OPR) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The paper also presents an IS/IT PMO case study that shows the proposed ANFIS-OPR efficacy, which predicted the OPR values closely to the OPR estimates with an accepted RMSE of 0.108. The proposed ANFIS-OPR is a novel intelligent decision-making tool that enables the IS/IT PMO to monitor the OPR, considering its linkage with strategic alignment; thus, contingency plans can be carried out appropriately while ensuring that the IS/IT project portfolio is strategically aligned.

How well do the companies responsible for facilitating the digital transition perform? An analysis on Romanian ICT sector

PurposeThis study proposes an analysis of the performance of companies that have assumed the responsibility of facilitating the digitalization of economic activities. Because of their potential to accelerate digitization, these companies have been financially supported. The monitoring of the performances recorded by these companies, including the evaluation of the impact of different determining factors, meets both the needs of the financiers (concerned with the evaluation of the efficiency of the use of nonreimbursable financing) and the needs of continuous improvement of the activities of the companies in the field.Design/methodology/approachThe study assesses performance dynamics and the impact of its determinants. The model allows achieving a simplified vision of performance and its determinants, supporting decision-makers in the management process. The construction of an estimation model based on the multiple regression method was considered. Robustness tests were performed on the results, using parametric and nonparametric tests.FindingsThe results of the analysis at the level of the extended sample indicated that, during the analyzed period, the economic and commercial performances decreased, and significant influences in this respect include the financing structure, sales dynamics and volume of receivables. The analysis at the level of the restricted sample confirmed these interdependencies and provided additional evidence of the impact of other determinants.Research limitations/implicationsThe study contributes both to performance research and to the assessment of the prospects for accelerating digitalization in support of economic activities. Since the empirical research was carried out on a sample of Romanian companies that provide services in information technology, which accessed nonreimbursable financing, the representativeness of the results is limited to this sector. For the analyzed sample, the study provides support for improving performance.Practical implicationsThe results of the study prove to be useful from a microeconomic and macroeconomic perspective as well, as they provide evidence on the performance of companies that have implemented information and communication technology (ICT) projects and on the efficiency of the use of non-reimbursable funding dedicated to business support.Originality/valueThe study fills the literature gap regarding the performance of companies that have developed ICT projects and received grant funding for the implementation of these projects. The literature review indicated that there are few studies conducted on these companies, which did not include Romanian companies.

Investigating resistance to IT projects: a conceptual model from a meta-synthesis approach

PurposeThe study aims to drive conceptual clarity around resistance to information technology projects, integrating multiple facets of the phenomenon from earlier studies.Design/methodology/approachThe study conducts a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies on resistance to technology projects; it analyzes those studies at a case-specific level, compares and contrasts emergent concepts against each other, and “translates” those to the rest of the studies. The study uses the seven-step meta-ethnography method by Noblit and Hare to reciprocally translate emergent concepts to construct the conceptual model.FindingsThrough meta-synthesis, the study derives a new conceptual model for resistance to information technology projects, exemplifying how the identified antecedents create user resistance and how the phenomenon progresses within organizations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study enriches the observations and conclusions of past individual studies while explicating various facets of the mechanisms that generate and progress technology resistance within organizations. It offers fresh insights into the equivocal nature of the phenomenon and the distinctive ways it progresses from individual to group level.Practical implicationsMany ambitious and costly digital transformation efforts do not succeed due to user resistance. Understanding the mechanisms that create user resistance can help organizations manage technology projects better, thereby reducing the technology assimilation gap and protecting returns on related investments.Originality/valueThere have been extensive studies on technology acceptance (enablers) within organizations, while those relating to technology inhibitors are somewhat limited. However, the symmetry of understanding between enablers and inhibitors is vital for organizations to assimilate promising technologies and transform their business models. This model uses a new lens of sensemaking theory to explain how the antecedents trigger perceived threats and resistance behavior; it highlights the nuances around the development of resistance within individuals and its progression to groups. The resultant model offers better generalizability in organizational contexts.

Tools for monitoring software quality in information systems development and maintenance: five key challenges and a design proposal

As software grows in size and complexity, organizations increasingly apply tools to automatically assess software quality of information systems during development and maintenance. Software quality assessment tools (SWQAT) promise fast and actionable insights into the technical state of software through various quality characteristics, such as maintainability, reliability, or security. These tools have been used to support a wide variety of Information Technology (IT) project management decisions related to system development, contract negotiations, project terminations, and even settling legal disputes between suppliers and clients. However, despite their rising importance, questions regarding how they function and how reliable they are to support decision-making have so far escaped scholarly attention. This paper conducts an evaluation of widely used SWQATs and analyzes how they rate the quality of software systems of varying sizes, functionalities, and programming languages. Our results reveal five key challenges for using SWQATs in IT projects. To address these challenges, we propose a design for tailorable SWQATs that allows for more conscious and prudent software quality assessments that better reflect the socio-technical aspect of software systems and the context-specific nature of software quality.

The Effect of High Risk Behavior on Project Success in the Existence of Competency of Project Manager as a Moderator

Efficient project management is necessary for the success and survival of information technology sector of Pakistan in this rapidly changing technology era. The aim of the study is to check the complex relation among high risk behavior and success of projects in the information technology sector of Pakistan by keeping in place competency of project managers as a moderator. Consideration of efficient project management and rapidly technological changes is necessary for success of information technology sector as this sector is facing worldwide competitiveness and plenty of risk of failure. Instant study contains 330 sample size from information technology sector of Pakistan. Quantitative technique is used in this study. Theoretical framework of this study built on the relationship of high risk behavior, project manager competency and project success of information technology sector of Pakistan. The core motive of this study is to check the effect of high risk behavior in the projects on the success of information technology sector projects of Pakistan in the existence of competency of project managers as a moderator. Data analysis and findings of this study reflects that there is positive association among high risk behavior and success of information technology projects and competency of projects managers positively enhances this relationship. Both hypothesis of the study accepted. This study is important for both researchers and practitioners. From researchers’ point of view, it opens more avenues for further research and for practitioners it gave recommendations for enhancement of the success of the projects that ultimately leads to success of that organization.

Project managers: old, grumpy and suspicious or just “once bitten, twice shy?”

PurposeThis research aspires to contribute in the area of exploration of the psychological traits evolving by practitioners within the project management profession. Specifically, it investigates whether there is any difference in optimism levels among experienced project management practitioners and newcomers in the profession.Design/methodology/approachThe research used the life orientation test-revised (LOTR) (Scheier et al., 1994) to calculate respondents’ optimism scores. With these scores at hand, the researchers could then apply inferential statistics in order to deduce any differences observed among optimism score and the respondents’ characteristics (age, years of experience etc.).FindingsBased on the results of this research, several demographic variables were shown to be statistically significant with optimism. These were (1) the number of years of experience the respondent had in managing projects, (2) working in a government organisation and (3) possessing specific project management certifications, all of which were found to adversely affect the respondent’s optimism score.Originality/valueThis research was unique in applying a well-known psychological test instrument (LOTR) to provide insight into the psychological impacts of a career as an information technology (IT) project manager. It is also highly likely that this correlation between the length of time working as a project manager and the adverse impact on their optimism would also apply to not just IT project managers but all experienced project managers.

The impact of usability in information technology projects

Achieving success in information system and technology (IS/IT) projects is a complex and multifaceted endeavour that has proven difficult. The literature is replete with project failures, but identifying the critical success factors contributing to favourable outcomes remains challenging. The triad of Time-Cost-Quality is widely accepted as key to achieving project success. While time and cost can be quantified and measured, quality is a more complex construct that requires different metrics and measurement approaches. Utilizing the PRISMA Methodology, this study initiated a comprehensive search across literature databases and identified 142 relevant articles pertaining to the specified keywords. A subset of ten articles was deemed suitable for further examination through rigorous screening and eligibility assessments. Notably, a primary finding indicates that despite recognizing usability as a critical element, there is a tendency to neglect usability enhancements due to time and resource constraints. Regarding the influence of usability on project success, the active involvement of end-users emerges as a pivotal factor. Moreover, fostering the enhancement of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) knowledge within the development team is essential. Failure to provide good usability can lead to project failure, undermining user satisfaction and adoption of the technology.

The impact of usability in information technology projects

Achieving success in information system and technology (IS/IT) projects is a complex and multifaceted endeavour that has proven difficult. The literature is replete with project failures, but identifying the critical success factors contributing to favourable outcomes remains challenging. The triad of Time-Cost-Quality is widely accepted as key to achieving project success. While time and cost can be quantified and measured, quality is a more complex construct that requires different metrics and measurement approaches. Utilizing the PRISMA Methodology, this study initiated a comprehensive search across literature databases and identified 142 relevant articles pertaining to the specified keywords. A subset of ten articles was deemed suitable for further examination through rigorous screening and eligibility assessments. Notably, a primary finding indicates that despite recognizing usability as a critical element, there is a tendency to neglect usability enhancements due to time and resource constraints. Regarding the influence of usability on project success, the active involvement of end-users emerges as a pivotal factor. Moreover, fostering the enhancement of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) knowledge within the development team is essential. Failure to provide good usability can lead to project failure, undermining user satisfaction and adoption of the technology.