Effective Risk Management Strategies for Information Technology Project Managers

A high rate of information technology (IT) projects in the telecommunication industry fail because of ineffective risk management strategies. Effective risk management strategies are important to IT project managers for the improvement of project success rates. Grounded in the actor-network theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore risk management strategies used by IT project managers in the telecommunication industry for improving project success rates. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviews of companies’ documentation on project risk management. The participants were 5 IT project managers in Dakar, Senegal, and had more than 8 years of IT project management experience with a risk management success rate of 70%. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis through 4 steps including data transcription, data organization, data coding, and data validation. The data analysis revealed 4 major themes: risk management culture, risk management framework, risk communication, and risk lessons learned. The key recommendation is for IT project managers to establish strategies to enhance risk-based decisions and use appropriate tools to communicate project risks to stakeholders. The implications for positive social change include the potential to use new and innovative telecommunication broadband networks to enhance the quality of life for individuals who work in the field of education, health, and agriculture