The Nature of Adherence to Planning as Criterion for Information System Project Success

Dirk Basten University of Cologne, Germany

Ali Sunyaev University of Cologne, Germany

Abstract
Derived from engineering, adherence to planning (ATP) is the central and most often used criterion for the evaluation of information system (IS) projects. Although this evaluation is questionable as ATP does not account for all of IS projects' particularities, a systematic approach for the assessment of ATP's suitability in the context of IS projects is still missing. We propose a theory to explain the suitability of using ATP as success criterion for IS projects. Thereby, we use the project life cycle's processes and their outcomes as the theory's primary constructs. We argue for the constructs' interdependencies corroborated by a systematic literature review. Our results show that ATP's suitability is not given or at least questionable in many cases. Researchers and managers should adapt the way of evaluating IS projects to avoid misleading implications.

Full Text Document:	Preview PDF 483Kb
Reference:	Basten, D., Sunyaev, A. (2011). "The Nature of Adherence to Planning as Criterion for Information System Project Success," Proceedings > Proceedings of JAIS Theory Development Workshop . Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 11(142). http://sprouts.aisnet.org/11-142
Keywords:	explaining theory, adherence to planning, information system, project success, literature review
Item Type:	Article - Volume 11 Article 142 (2011)
Language:	English
Email:	Dirk Basten (basten@wiso.uni-koeln.de) Ali Sunyaev (sunyaev@wiso.uni-koeln.de)
Related Link(s):	http://www.isq.uni-koeln.de

Repository Staff Only: item control page