Information Systems Project Management During Organizational Change

Abstract

Information systems (IS) fail for numerous reasons. Reasons may include organizational factors outside a project's control. This article describes research in progress, exploring effects of organizational change on the development, implementation, and operation of IS. A human resources system (HRS) project is discussed in detail, examining the link between organizational change and project outcome. It appears as though the collective and cumulative effects of minor organizational changes on IS project outcomes could be as significant as the influence of radical organizational restructuring. It suggests that organizational changes, even minor, seemingly insignificant changes, need to be identified and their potential influence on IS projects assessed as part of any strategy aiming to increase IS success. Implications of these findings for IS project management are discussed.