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Ghassan Abukar Thesis v2.0.pdf (1.85 MB)

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SYSTEM INFLUENCE FRAMEWORK: IT PROJECT MANAGERS’ INFLUENCE TO FORM CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENTS AND PROMOTE VALUE REALIZATION

Abukar, Ghassan
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2814-4148
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1626795218031468

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Management.
Information technology (IT) projects are getting more complex by the day. From piloting to deployment, through different project phases and cycles, the IT field is still experiencing catastrophic failure. Seventy-one percent (71%) of IT projects are either outright failures or remain significantly challenged during the project execution, and most are related to soft-skills inadequacies. The three studies in this dissertation provide empirical evidence through various theoretical lenses that help explain how to avoid such failures. In particular, I focus on IT project managers’ influence in forming critical project alignment toward actualizing project benefits and shaping consequent project success. Study 1 researched factors that lead IT projects to fail. I intended to better understand what shapes project outcomes, that is, causes that contribute to failure. Findings revealed, the use/lack of power, authority, and influence shapes project outcome. Study 2 investigated the role of the IT project manager’s influence toward actualizing project benefits realization. I developed a model of benefits realization at the project level and analyzed to what extent it is driven by the stakeholders’ and business alignment induced by three types of influence (dimensions); behavioral, and informational, and power-based held associated with the project manager’s role. Findings revealed information and behavioral-based influence are significant means of impacting stakeholder alignment to realize benefits. Also, my research suggested that power and behavioral-based influence are significant means of impacting business alignment to realize benefits. Study 3 aimed to uncover the influence tactics (success elements) IT project managers enact while creating stakeholders and business alignment. Results revealed that IT project managers use different tactics to achieve the desired results and/or actualize benefits while engaging with business and stakeholders. Nonetheless, this behavior is harnessed on the leadership style which is dependent on personal traits and positional power. The IT Value Realization Model is a complex set of processes that requires a dynamic shift and myriad leadership styles depending on the project phase, task(s) on hand, stakeholders, and benefits to be actualized. The role of the IT project manager is to be insightful to get things done through people while assessing the environment. Based on my collective findings, I offer an integrated discussion of the three studies concluding with the System Influence Framework. I elucidate how IT project managers’ behaviors can influence and form critical project-level alignments and to what extent such influence is conducive to project benefit realization.
Kalle Lyytinen (Committee Chair)
Richard J. Boland, Jr (Committee Member)
William Brake (Committee Member)
George Vairaktarakis (Committee Member)
136 p.
Business Administration; Business Community; Computer Science; Epistemology; Information Systems; Information Technology; Management; Social Research; Social Structure; Sustainability; Systems Design; Technology
Project Management, Information Systems, Project Success, Project Failure, Power, Authority, Influence, Information Seeking, Stakeholder Alignment, Business Alignment, Benefits Realization, Value Realization, Social Influence, Influence Tactics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Abukar, G. (2021). SYSTEM INFLUENCE FRAMEWORK: IT PROJECT MANAGERS’ INFLUENCE TO FORM CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENTS AND PROMOTE VALUE REALIZATION [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1626795218031468

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Abukar, Ghassan. SYSTEM INFLUENCE FRAMEWORK: IT PROJECT MANAGERS’ INFLUENCE TO FORM CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENTS AND PROMOTE VALUE REALIZATION. 2021. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1626795218031468.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Abukar, Ghassan. "SYSTEM INFLUENCE FRAMEWORK: IT PROJECT MANAGERS’ INFLUENCE TO FORM CRITICAL STAKEHOLDER ALIGNMENTS AND PROMOTE VALUE REALIZATION." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1626795218031468

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.