Project failures : a comparative study of information and communication technologies (ICT) and construction projects

In the ICT industry, since de-regulation business objectives have been closely linked to the lowering of prices and improvement in quality of service. Unfortunately, the industry has arguably failed to deliver the majority of its projects. This research examines this described failure and considers the reasons why it occurs. As a starting point, the research suggests that the ICT industry might be better off by comparing its progress against that already made by the construction industry, an industry involved in projects with similar characteristics such as complex relationships, detailed information and long delivery periods over many phases. A framework demonstrating similarities and differences in project characteristics between construction and ICT was developed from available literature. The framework was examined and refined by carrying out in-depth interviews. It was then tested using data from a survey of professionals involved in Construction and ICT projects. The results of the analysis indicate that there are no fundamental differences either in the definition of projects or the application of project management systems, principles and methodologies between the two industries. Therefore this is not the reason for the failure of project delivery within ICT. The real problem appears to be in the method of project performance measurement, which is based on an approach to project success that is separate from progress measurement criteria

GOAL ASSESSMENT DECISION JUDGEMENTS IN IS/IT PROJECTS (3)

This development paper sets out proposals to examine how project management practitioners articulate their decision judgements (project goal assessment) of failure of information systems and information technology (IS/IT) projects. It is intended that to undertake the study, data from interviews with practitioners from seven countries will be employed. Data analysis will undertaken utilising NVivo (V10). The study is likely to find that while some project management practitioners perceive IS/IT project failures as measureable along a goal assessment continuum, others may consider failure categorically by explicitly conceptualising either its presence or absence

Enhancing the successful delivery of service operations

The hard copy which contains published articles is available for consultation in the Brynmor Jones Library

ICT adoption in developing countries : perspectives from small-scale agribusinesses

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine how social augmented parameters impact on the effective adoption of information and communication technology (ICT) by small-scale agribusinesses operating in Southeast Nigeria. The relevance of incorporating social imperatives in scholarship focused on technology adoption is due to its role in sustaining the process of adoption and diffusion. Data were gathered from a focus group made up of 27 agribusiness proprietors affiliated with a state cooperative based in the south-eastern Nigerian state of Ebonyi. This paper puts forward an argument that to ensure successful diffusion of innovation, a balance must be maintained between the amount of effort expended in the design of ICT and social factors such as language and traditional life. The paper finds that a willingness of indigenous ICT users is particularly influenced by the recognition and incorporation of visible social imperatives during the adoption process. The outcome of this study highlights important issues for ICT adoption. One particular area that must be taken into consideration is the adoption channel. Perceptions of ICT adoption will differ significantly among adopters. For this reason, the need for developing an appropriate adoption channel that ensures successful diffusion of the innovation should be recognised. This study contributes to ongoing research in ICT innovation adoption in small agribusinesses operating in indigenous societies. The theoretical implications of this paper are the development of a conceptual ICT adoption framework that emphasises social imperatives. The paper also demonstrates that agricultural enterprises should be treated as ‘normal’ firms in their own right

Assessing the impact of amended building regulations on the operations of UK construction companies

The UK government continues to make regular amendments to building regulations. This is in order to keep these regulations relevant to today’s prevailing construction environment. More recently, UK building regulations have been amended to facilitate the introduction of the sustainability concepts in UK building design and delivery. This paper examines the impact that these amendments on the operations of UK Construction companies. To conduct the study, five major building practitioners were interviewed. We found from this preliminary study that changes to building regulations do have a considerable impact on the operations of UK Construction companies. It is however important to highlight that a full assessment of the impact of these changes in building regulations is still not fully assessed due to the limitations with the sample size

Misrepresentations and criminal liability in project reporting : a case study of the failed Virgil C. summer project

The misreporting of project information during the delivery of construction and engineering aligned projects has received substantial attention in the literature. While such intentional misreporting appears in only a minority of instances, its occurrence can expose construction and engineering-aligned companies and their principal officers to legal jeopardy, criminal liability, and sanction. To explore this phenomenon, this study conducts a case review of the failed Virgil C. Summer nuclear expansion project and the ensuing civil and criminal complaints against personnel at both SCANA (the client/owner) and Westinghouse Electric (the primary contractor). The findings suggest that various individual, project, organizational, and attributable factors drive project status information misreporting. The findings also suggest that criminal liability arises from its practice due to the economic harm that such practice causes. The originality of the paper is threefold. First, it espouses a perspective of intentional misreporting as fraudulent misrepresentation not previously examined in construction and engineering-aligned project scholarship. Second, it examines the different categories of factors driving such misreporting. Third, utilizing applicable common law legal tests, the study examines the impact of such practices within the framework of corporate illegality

Intelligence Management: Learning to Manage at the Margins

No business or organisation can remain in ignorance of, or unresponsive to, what is going on its environment and hope to remain successful for very long. This is especially true with regard to the business planning process (Cooke and Slack 1991). Even though a significant amount of decision-making takes place across the boundaries of the organisation concern with the environment within which companies operate is a relatively new phenomenon. Without understanding this environment it is very difficult to be effective at gleaning business intelligence. For this reason, this paper examines the way that organizations manage intelligence from the environment

The finality principle in arbitration : a theoretical exploration

Arbitration remains a popular means of resolving construction industry disputes. Among its purported advantages is an emphasis on the notion of finality; in other words, that awards made following arbitration proceedings are final and should bring the dispute to a conclusive and binding settlement. However, in most jurisdictions, such as in South Africa, the finality principle can be impeached by the courts, who are able to vacate awards on the basis of statutory (legislative) or common law provisions (or both). While the finality principle and vacatur are both generally well espoused in arbitration literature, our appreciation of broader theoretical discourse in arbitration is arguably, more limited. With this in mind, framed within the law and society school of thought, we set out in this paper to elucidate upon existing theories that are regularly relied upon to explain how finality may be generated, dispersed, endorsed, and modified through vacatur. In doing so, we clarify and demonstrate (set within the context of South African domestic commercial arbitration) how the finality principle in general and vacatur in particular are regulated by the state through legislation. An analysis of some specific construction arbitration case examples is also undertaken

The finality principle in arbitration : a historical exploration

South Africa maintains a robust pro-arbitration policy which emphasizes the principle of finality. Despite the fact that this principle is well advocated in construction, engineering, and other aligned sector arbitration case law, insight into the broader historical discourse on arbitration in South Africa is more limited. Subsequently, in order to develop valuable and comprehensive insight into not only the theoretical foundations surrounding the finality principle in South African arbitration but also its future, this paper undertakes a historical account of the development of the principle of finality in South African domestic arbitration law. The paper suggests that pro-arbitration attitudes toward the finality principle espoused by the judiciary represent a hallmark of early formalization of English legal traditions through legislative frameworks which predate modern-day South Africa. The value of this study comes from the valuable insight it provides into past and existing theoretical and judicial debates surrounding the robustness of domestic arbitration frameworks in South Africa and the potential opportunities for their further improvement