How universal are IT project success and failure factors? Evidence from Hungary

ABSTRACT

This article examines the universality of IT project failure factors and project manager characteristics for success — considering national cultural context, gender, experience and time. Based on a survey of 124 Hungarian IT professionals the comparative analysis concludes that stakeholder management, top management support and planning are the most critical factors of failure, whereas project managers with outstanding communication and change management skills are expected to excel — in Hungary and in the US as well.

KEYWORDS:

• IT project management
• project failure factors
• competencies of the project manager
• East Central Europe
• Hungary

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Márta Aranyossy

Márta Aranyossy is an assistant professor at the Department of Enterprise Finances, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. Her current focus of research includes IT business value, e-government value, IT project success and failure as well as valuation of e-commerce and technology firms. She published articles in the International Journal of Advanced Computer Science, Budapest Management Review and in the proceedings of NISPAcee Annual Conference, Annual Conference of the European Decision Sciences Institute and Bled eConference. She is the Director of Corporate Affairs and Alumni at Corvinus Business School and she has a consultancy practice as well.

Bálint Blaskovics

Bálint Blaskovics acquired his PhD title in 2015 in Project Management. He is an assistant professor at the Department of Strategy and Project Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. His research focus is project success and project management competencies. He is a co-author of a book about management studies, published several articles in journals like Budapest Management Review and Dynamic Relationship Management Journal, and he also participates eagerly in Hungarian and international conferences. He is devoted to experience oriented teaching, thus besides his academic career, he places an emphasis on working in projects as a consultant or project manager.

Ákos Ardzsuna Horváth

Ákos Horváth is a former Msc student at Department of Enterprise Finances, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary. He is interested in project management, his academic research had examined IT project success and failure factors as well as the valuation of agile techniques. He had taken part in National Scientific Students’ Associations Conference in 2009, where he earned a special prize with his article in e-business section. He has over six years of experience in project management, business analysis and consulting, he has presented several workshops, seminars, and training classes since 2010.