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Walking atop the cliffs: Avoiding failure and reducing risk in large scale e-government projects

  • SUNY Albany

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite a growing body of descriptive, theoretical and practical knowledge about information systems development (ISD), large-scale information system development and implementation projects still fail in high numbers. The deeper causes of such failures are only partially understood. This study uses an action research approach in which prescriptions and recommendations drawn from research on and practice in ISD are utilized, assessed, and expanded in an ongoing large-scale ISD project. This study is undertaken to address this partial understanding of failure and to add some clarity of understanding of the interdependence of technical, social and behavioral elements of the ISD process. Our preliminary results confirm earlier findings that failure causes are intertwined with technical, social, and behavioral factors. Organizational members' deviations from a recommended sequence and scope of an ISD roadmap can be predicted and also adjusted to a certain degree. We also see evidence that the action research methodology provides a reflective framework that ties together theory and practice in a more immediate fashion promising faster and more effective feedback between the two.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 35th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2002
EditorsRalph H. Sprague
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages1656-1665
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)0769514359
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Event35th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2002 - Big Island, United States
Duration: Jan 7 2002Jan 10 2002

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences
Volume2002-January

Conference

Conference35th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS 2002
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBig Island
Period01/7/0201/10/02

Keywords

  • Business process re-engineering
  • Electronic government
  • Feedback
  • Information systems
  • Information technology
  • Large-scale systems
  • Legged locomotion
  • Management information systems
  • Testing

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