Presenting a Framework for the Management of Benefits in the Lifecycle of Information System Projects

Document Type : Original Manuscript

Authors

Abstract

Lack of a formal process for benefits management is considered as one of the main factors of failure in achieving expected benefits from investments in Information Systems. Although various models have been proposed for benefits management process, their practical application has been limited due to the lack of integration with Information Systems projects’ lifecycle. This research attempts to identify the main phases of Information Systems project lifecycle, map connections between these phases and different stages of benefits management lifecycle, and introduce benefits management activities and related inputs and outputs separated by their attributed phases. The proposed framework has been totally validated based on the opinions of the domain experts. The applicability and usefulness of this framework has been evaluated through scrutinizing Information Systems projects in System Group company as one of the forerunners of the software industry in Iran. The results indicate that more benefits has been realized in those projects that paid more attention to the benefits management activities proposed by this research.

Keywords

References

1. Bennington, P. and D. Baccarini. 2004. Project Benefits Management in IT Projects – an Autralian Perspective. Project Management Journal, 1(35), 20-30.
2. Breese, R., 2012. Benefit realisation management: panacea or false dawn? International Journal of Project Management, 30, 341–351.
3. Dhillon, G. 2005. Gaining benefits from IS/IT implementation: Interpretations from case studies. International Journal of Information Management, 25, 502-515.
4. Gumn, C. 2005. IT project fail to deliver promised benefits. http://www.kpmg.co.uk
5. Kolltveit, B.J., Karlsen, J.T. and K. Grønhaug. 2007. Perspectives on project management. International Journal of Project Management, 25, 3–9.
6. Lin, C. and G. Pervan. 2001. A Review of  IS/IT Investment Evaluation and Benefits Management Issues, Problems and Processes. Information Technology Evaluation Methods and Management , Idea Group Publishing, 2-24.
7. Lin, C. and G. Pervan. 2003. The practice of IS/IT benefits management in large Australian organizations. Information & Management, 41, 13-24.
8. Marchewka, J.T. 2010. Information Technology Project Management. Wiley, 3rd ed.
9. OGC. 2008. Managing Benefits: An Overview. http://www.ogc.gov.uk
10. Remenyi, D. and M. Sherwood-Smith. 1998. Business benefits from information systems through an active benefits realisation programme. International Journal of Project Management, 2(16), 81-98.
11. Schwabe, G. and P. Banninger. 2008. IT-Benefits-Management in the Swiss Financial Sector. 41st Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
12. Shenhar, A.J. and D. Dvir. 2007. Reinventing Project Management: The Diamond Approach to Successful Growth and Innovation. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA.
13. Thorp, J. 2001. A Benefits Realization Approach to IT Investments. Information Technology Evaluation Methods and Management. Idea Group Publishing, 25-43.
14. Ward J. and E. Daniel. 2006. Benefits Management, Delivering value from IS and IT investments. Wiley.
15. Ward, J., P. Murray and E. Daniel. 2004. Benefits management best practice guidelines. Information Systems Research Center, Cranfield School of Management: Cranfield.
16. Zwikael,O. and J.R. Smyrk. 2012. A general framework for gauging the performance of initiatives to enhance organizational value. British Journal of Management, 23, S6–S22.
Iranian journal of management sciences
Volume 10, Issue 39 - Serial Number 39
September 2015
Pages 33-52

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics