A QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF A CROSS-BORDER IDENTITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO SUPPORT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: INSIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

This paper reports on the research experience gained by carrying out an evaluation for a cross-border identity management system to support e-procurement. This evaluation, which took place in the context of an international research project in the European Union, brought together multiple players. The nature and diversity of the stakeholder involved, and the complexity of the systems under evaluation (in particular their social rather than technical complexity) called for a qualitative evaluation approach. Our investigation provided some interesting insights. On the one hand, these concern the challenges of working in an international project team in the context of a research project. The scope of the project, which essentially aimed at supporting public administrations in diverse national contexts in Europe, adds to complexity as the involvement of public bodies in the trials brings to the fore the political agendas of different parties and member states. On the other hand, equally interesting are the opportunities, the benefits and impediments for cross-border digital identity management across European countries as perceived by the stakeholders involved. These findings have, of course, practical implications for the success of the implementation of e-government systems but also implications for the research agenda in e-government

DECISION MAKING SUPPORT THROUGH A KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR COMPLEX IT SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Recent research reveals a narrow, rational model of problem- solving and decision-making in complex IT systems development projects. This creates problems that are identified in the thesis. The aim of this study is to develop a novel decision-making framework to support the decision-making process of managers of complex IT systems development projects by focusing on knowledge management frameworks. The objectives for the research were determined through a critical review of the existing research on decision-making in IT projects, primarily to discover how project managers’ decision-making can be supported through project-specific knowledge management. A qualitative research approach was then designed to investigate the phenomenon in its context by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews. This study used qualitative data, through expert participants’ observations and opinions on IT systems development, particularly by understanding project management issues. The expert participants expressed their experiences through in-depth interviews. The collected data was then analysed using the thematic analysis technique and the findings were used to develop the IT Systems Development Decision-Making Support Framework. The Framework was then validated through focus group interviews. The main contribution of this research is based on the application of knowledge creation and knowledge management theories to decision-making frameworks for IT systems projects through the IT Systems Development Decision-Making Support Framework. The Framework is expected to enable decision evaluation and project-specific knowledge generation and sharing in IT systems development projects. This is vital for the type of contextual knowledge required for project-specific knowledge creation and management. Since IT systems development projects tend to be unique and their development process is complex, it is contended that an effective novel approach for modelling the expert decision-making process and assessing the defined model through project-specific knowledge activities is essential. This approach should help to deal with high level of complexity that is normally found in IT systems development projects

An interpretive framework for complexity in IT projects

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building.This research was prompted by the continuous failure rate in IT system implementation projects, in one of the largest telecommunication organisations in Australia where the researcher was working as a program manager. There was a consensus among the project management professionals that the human condition experienced by the role of a project manager has severe social implications. This research study is a response to the concern expressed in the project management community that existing project management methodologies are limited by their unduly normative and mechanistic approach. Research in project management has confirmed that the conventional project definition is not inclusive of the social dimension and attempts to measure the project's success in simplistic terms, using scope, time and cost as parameters. Failing to recognise the inherent complexity (Murray 2000, p. 34) in IT projects is one of the prime reasons why many projects are considered failures. Recent research directions in project management have shown an urgent need to develop theories from project environment to reflect the complexity of projects. (Cicmil & Hodgson 2006; Cicmil et al. 2006; Kwak & Anbari 2009; So'derlund 2004; Williams 1999 ; Winter, Smith, Morris, et al. 2006). In recent management publications of repute, the application of complexity theory principles has been widely suggested as an effective way to deal with organisational complexities (Sullivan 2011). Complexity theory has also drawn the attention of scholars and practitioners in the project management community. Emerging trends in project management research point to treating projects as complex adaptive systems (Austin et al. 2002; Harkema 2003; Milosevic 1989; Pundir, Ganapathy & Sambandam 2007; Whitney & Daniels 2013; Whitty & Maylor 2009) learning and temporary organisations (Lundin & Söderholm 1995; Packendorff 1995; Turner & Müller 2003) and organisational techno-social processes (Small & Walker 2012). A simple inquiry, namely, 'Can complexity theory principles be used to understand the projects better?' led to this research. Based on the literature review two primary research questions were formed: 1. What are the factors believed to cause complexity in IT projects? 2. How does human interaction engender social complexity in IT projects? Given the explorative nature of this research, a ‘constructionist’ research paradigm with participant observer mode was adopted (Guba & Lincoln 1994; Strauss & Corbin 1990a; Strauss 1998). For more than two years, detailed data was collected in a large telecommunication organisation. Qualitative data analysis techniques, such as context analysis and grounded theory principles (coding and memo), were applied to narratives and observations collected in a case project. In order to answer the research question, ‘What are the factors believed to be causing complexity in IT projects?’ a practitioner’s definition of complexity was elicited through extensive interviews in the telecommunication organisation. The complexity factors in the real environment as experienced and perceived by practitioners were listed, analysed and classified. It became evident that the practitioner’s view of complexity differs from a mathematical definition of complexity: the practitioner’s is born of their experience. The practitioners mentioned such characteristics as ‘uncertainty’, ‘unprecedented’, and 'unexpected’ to identify a project situation as 'complex’. However, the demarcation between complicated and complex was not distinguishable in practitioners’ perception or understanding of complexity. The classification followed a typology of complexity factors found in the literature review: technological, structural, directional and temporal (Remington & Pollack 2007a). The research has revealed that environmental, directional, temporal (time) and social complexities are prevalent; they are experienced mostly in comparison to technical and structural complexity and are contrary to the general belief that IT projects are complex due to technological factors. It was found that complexity originates in three layers: the product, the project (organisational process) and the social. The research participants believed that not all situations in a project manifest complexity, but a few situations exhibit inherent complexity and it is experienced in spurts. As a result of this analysis, a construct called ‘tipping point’ has been proposed to refer to these atypical project situations in this research. A tipping point is defined as a state where projects experience chaos, conflict, contest and decision-making, and external intervention is required. When I cross-validated this construct with the research participants, they concluded that the number and frequency of tipping points were indicative of the level of complexity the project stakeholders were experiencing. This research presents the analysis using headings complexity factors, echo of complexity, relationship, action-to-reaction, and emotions. The research has illustrated that, as all types of complexity factors require human interaction, they lead eventually to social complexity. In order to explore deductively the second research question, ‘How does human interaction engender social complexity in IT projects?’ a framework using a range of lenses has been applied to a case project. These lenses are Context, Connectedness (Cohesion & Coupling) and Adaptive-Reflexive Response. Giving preference to transformative teleology, a process perspective has been adopted to analyse the social complexity through the proposed lenses. The lens ‘context’ explored meaning creation, multi-dimensional interpretations and cognitive schemata at individual and organisational level. The ‘connectedness’ lens attempted to demonstrate the influence of private networks beyond formal organisational boundaries and interconnectedness in project decision-making. The ‘adaptive response’ lens traced the dynamic creation of positions through deliberations in project tipping point situations. The ‘reflexive response’ lens depicted the time-phased reflexivity in project team members' interactions. The application of these lenses to the case project data attempted to unveil the unfolding complexity; it was concluded that these lenses were suitable for comprehending the underlying social complexity in IT projects. Recently published literature on application of complexity theory frames to projects, concepts of the complex responsive process of power relating (CRPR) (Cicmil et al. 2009; Cooke-Davies et al. 2007; Stacey & Griffin 2005; Stacey 2000a) and in social theories, symbolic interactionism and organisational sense making (Weick 1995) have provided the necessary theoretical foundation to these lenses. Concepts such as Chaos Theory, Strange Attractors and Complex Adaptive Systems have been mapped in general terms to the project data. This research has contributed to a body of project management knowledge by introducing ‘context’, ‘connectedness’ (Cohesion & Coupling) and ‘adaptive-reflexive response’ lenses as well as the construct ‘tipping point’ to comprehend underlying complexity in IT projects. Further research can be carried out in other industries to confirm the complexity factors arrived at in this research. Agent-based models can be built as competing and cooperating (co-opting) mechanisms for complex scenarios in projects. Explorative research can be carried out to develop other lenses to capture social complexity in projects. Cross-validating the framework across multiple industries can offset the bias associated with this qualitative research. The framework is useful for the practitioner to understand project complexity, as the stakeholders do experience it in varying stages of a project. The classification of the complexity factors (static) may help the industry to acknowledge project complexity and create a typology of projects for better treatment through fostering a higher form of collaboration. This thesis presents the results of an investigation to understand the nature of project complexity factors and how social complexity is generated in IT projects because of human interaction

Can Action Research Strengthen District Health Management and Improve Health Workforce Performance? A Research Protocol.

The single biggest barrier for countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to scale up the necessary health services for addressing the three health-related Millennium Development Goals and achieving Universal Health Coverage is the lack of an adequate and well-performing health workforce. This deficit needs to be addressed both by training more new health personnel and by improving the performance of the existing and future health workforce. However, efforts have mostly been focused on training new staff and less on improving the performance of the existing health workforce. The purpose of this paper is to disseminate the protocol for the PERFORM project and reflect on the key challenges encountered during the development of this methodology and how they are being overcome. The overall aim of the PERFORM project is to identify ways of strengthening district management in order to address health workforce inadequacies by improving health workforce performance in SSA. The study will take place in three districts each in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda using an action research approach. With the support of the country research teams, the district health management teams (DHMTs) will lead on planning, implementation, observation, reflection and redefinition of the activities in the study. Taking into account the national and local human resource (HR) and health systems (HS) policies and practices already in place, 'bundles' of HR/HS strategies that are feasible within the context and affordable within the districts' budget will be developed by the DHMTs to strengthen priority areas of health workforce performance. A comparative analysis of the findings from the three districts in each country will add new knowledge on the effects of these HR/HS bundles on DHMT management and workforce performance and the impact of an action research approach on improving the effectiveness of the DHMTs in implementing these interventions. Different challenges were faced during the development of the methodology. These include the changing context in the study districts, competing with other projects and duties for the time of district managers, complexity of the study design, maintaining the anonymity and confidentiality of study participants as well as how to record the processes during the study. We also discuss how these challenges are being addressed. The dissemination of this research protocol is intended to generate interest in the PERFORM project and also stimulate discussion on the use of action research in complex studies such as this on strengthening district health management to improve health workforce performance

Portfolios of Agile Projects: A Complex Adaptive Systems’ Agent Perspective

While agile methods can be extremely effective at a project level, they can impose significant complexity and a need for adaptiveness at the project portfolio level. While this has proven to be highly problematic, there is little research on how to manage a set of agile projects at the project portfolio level. What limited research that does exist often assumes that portfolio-level agility can be achieved by simply scaling project level agile methods such as Scrum. This study uses a complex adaptive systems lens, focusing specifically on the properties of projects as agents in a complex adaptive portfolio to critically appraise current thinking on portfolio management in an agile context. We then draw on a set of 30 expert interviews to develop 16 CAS-based propositions as to how portfolios of agile projects can be managed effectively. We also outline an agenda for future research and discuss the differences between a CAS-based approach to portfolio management and traditional approaches

A conceptual system design and managerial complexity competency model

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Complex adaptive systems are usually difficult to design and control. There are several particular methods for coping with complexity, but there is no general approach to build complex adaptive systems. The challenges of designing complex adaptive systems in a highly dynamic world drive the need for anticipatory capacity within engineering organizations, with a goal of enabling the design of systems that can cope with an unpredictable environment. This thesis explores this question of enhancing anticipatory capacity through the study of a complex adaptive system design methodology and complexity management competencies. A general introduction to challenges and issues in complex adaptive systems design is given, since a good understanding of the industrial context is considered necessary in order to avoid oversimplification of the problem, neglecting certain important factors and being unaware of important influences and relationships. In addition, a general introduction to complex thinking is given, since designing complex adaptive systems requires a non-classical thought, while practical notions of complexity theory and design are put forward. Building on these, the research proposes a Complex Systems Life-Cycle Understanding and Design (CXLUD) methodology to aid system architects and engineers in the design and control of complex adaptive systems. Starting from a creative anticipation construct - a loosening mechanism to allow for more options to be considered, the methodology proposes a conceptual framework and a series of stages to follow to find proper mechanisms that will promote elements to desired solutions by actively interacting among themselves. To illustrate the methodology, a financial systemic risks infrastructure systems architecture development case study is presented. The final part of this thesis develops a conceptual model to analyse managerial complexity competency model from a qualitative phenomenological study perspective. The model developed in this research is called Understanding-Perception-Action (UPA) managerial complexity competency model. The results of this competency model can be used to help ease project manager’s transition into complex adaptive projects, as well as serve as a foundation to launch qualitative and quantitative research into this area of project complexity management

Facilitating Transformations in a Human Genome Project Database

Human Genome Project databases present a confluence of interesting database challenges: rapid schema and data evolution, complex data entry and constraint management, and the need to integrate multiple data sources and software systems which range over a wide variety of models and formats. While these challenges are not necessarily unique to biological databases, their combination, intensity and complexity are unusual and make automated solutions imperative. We illustrate these problems in the context of the Human Genome Database for Chromosome 22 (Chr22DB), and describe a new approach to a solution for these problems, by means of a deductive language for expressing database transformations and constraints

Dissemination and adoption of bottom-up agriculture to improve soil fertility in Africa: An interdisciplinary approach

Soil fertility is at stake at a global scale, putting pressure on food security, poverty alleviation and environmental protection, under scenarios of climate change that in most cases aggravate the threat. In sub-Saharan Africa, a combination of depleted soils and population growth adds particular pressure to smallholder farmers and society. Their capacity to innovate in a social, economic, political and cultural context is seen as decisive to reverse the trend of declining soil fertility. However, many technologies with a potential to protect, maintain and build up soil fertility are hardly used by small-scale farmers, triggering the urgent question on their reasoning not to do so. Exploring and understanding the constraints and complexity of the social systems interacting with the implied institutional dynamics are essential steps in designing appropriate agricultural innovations that are scalable and adoptable. The focus of the inter- and transdisciplinary approach applied in the project ORM4Soil (Organic Resource Management for Soil Fertility; www.orm4soil.net) lies at the heart of this project. We are combining qualitative and quantitative methods from agronomy, sociology and communication sciences in order to bring soil-fertility-enhancing-technologies and their adoption to the center of the decision-making process of farmers’ as well as local and regional institutions. At local and regional innovation platforms, stakeholders from business, government, academia and farmer organizations are discussing the outcomes of agronomic trials and sociological research. We are expecting to create bridges between the needs and concerns of farmers, relevant segments of society and policymaking, with the new common goal to enhance soil fertility

Self-Organising Networks in Complex Infrastructure Projects: The Case of London Bank Station Capacity Upgrade Project

Managing large infrastructure projects remains a thorny issue in theory and practice. This is mainly due to their increasingly interconnected, interdependent, multilateral, nonlinear, unpredictable, uncontrollable, and rapidly changing nature. This study is an attempt to demystify the key issues to the management of large construction projects, arguing that these projects are delivered through networks that evolve in ways that we do not sufficiently understand as yet. The theoretical framework of this study is grounded in Complexity Theory; a theory resulted in a paradigm shift when it was first introduced to project management post-2000 but is yet to be unpacked in its full potential. The original contribution of the study is predicated on perceiving large construction projects as evolving complex systems that involves a high degree of self‐organisation. This is a process that transitions contractually static prescribed roles to dynamic network roles, comprising individuals exchanging information. Furthermore, by placing great emphasis upon informal communications, this study demonstrates how self-organising networks can be married with Complexity Theory. This approach has the potential to make bedfellows around the concept of managing networks within a context of managing projects; a concept that is not always recognised, especially in project management. With the help of social network analysis, two snapshots from Bank Station Capacity Upgrade Project Network were analysed as a case study. Findings suggest that relationships and hence network structures in large construction projects exhibit small-world topology, underlined by a high degree of sparseness and clustering. These are distinct structural properties of self-organising networks. Evidence challenges the theorisation about self-organisation which largely assumes positive outcomes and suggests that self-organising could open up opportunities yet also create constraints. This helps to provide further insights into complexity and the treatment of uncertainty in large projects. The study concludes with detailed recommendations for research and practice