An Information Systems Sub-framework for the Governance of Projects

Authors

  • Wikus Erasmus University of Johannesburg South Africa
  • Carl Marnewick University of Johannesburg South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19255/JMPM02711

Keywords:

Project management, Information systems, Governance, IS project management, Framework, Governance of projects

Abstract

Most information systems projects fail. Very little progress has been made to turn the tide. A lack of effective project governance has been suggested as a major reason for project failure. Through an analysis of governance practices in literature from various project management standards, methodologies and guidelines, various project governance practices are identified. A quantitative approach is followed to obtain data from IS project practitioner to descriptively analyse and to perform exploratory factor analysis. The purpose is to determine what governance practice in the project lifecycle are considered important and to what extent these are implemented. The results indicate that here is a fundamental disconnect between the perceived importance of governance practices and the extent of their implementation. In all cases, project governance practices are implemented to a lesser extent than the importance attached to them. Underlying structures revealed there are some overlapping factors between the desired state of project governance and current state. These overlaps indicate that certain governance practices be enhanced. Practices currently implemented that are not considered as important are identified to be maintained. Practices considered to be part of the desired state but that do not form part of the current state are to be prioritised to be implemented. This provides the basis for establishing a framework for the governance of IS projects.

Author Biographies

  • Wikus Erasmus, University of Johannesburg South Africa

    Wikus Erasmus is a researcher and senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg which he joined in 2010. Prior to joining academia he was a project manager for information systems and IT infrastructure projects. His main research areas are chiefly concerned with achieving greater IS project, programme and portfolio success through effective and value adding governance. This eventually translated in him obtaining his Ph.D. in Information Technology Management in 2020 at the University of Johannesburg. He obtained his B.Com in Informatics and B.Com (Hons) in Strategic Management at the same institution. He is currently the deputy head of department for Applied Information Systems serving in the teaching and learning portfolio. Email: werasmus@uj.ac.za

  • Carl Marnewick, University of Johannesburg South Africa

    Carl Marnewick received his BSc, BSc (Hons), MSc, and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, Potchefstroom, South Africa, in 1989, 1990, 1992 and 2009, respectively. He is a Professor at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. The focus of his research is the overarching topic and special interest in the strategic alignment of IT projects with the vision of the organization. A natural outflow of the research is the realization of benefits to the organization through the implementation of IT/IS systems. His research to date has identified impediments in the realization of benefits, which is part of a complex system. He is currently the Head of the Information Technology Project Management Knowledge and Wisdom Research Cluster. This research cluster focuses on research in IT project management and includes governance, auditing, and assurance, complexity, IT project success, benefits management, sustainability, and agile project management. Email: cmarnewick@uj.ac.za

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Published

2022-05-20

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2021): The Journal of Modern Project Management

Section

Articles-JMPM

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Wikus Erasmus, Carl Marnewick

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

An Information Systems Sub-framework for the Governance of Projects. (2022). The Journal of Modern Project Management, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.19255/JMPM02711

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