The Impact of Planning and Other Organizational Factors on the Success of Small Information Technology Projects

While extensive empirical research has been conducted in the past to assess the value of project management and planning on large projects and to evaluate the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) and other organizational factors, little research is available on the techniques and factors used on small IT projects, and their influence on project success. This dissertation presents a research study which tests the relationship between the type and level of project planning performed on small Information Technology (IT) projects, and the success of those projects. The research considers the influence of well-documented project critical success factors (CSFs) and other project and organizational characteristics, using empirical data from 79 projects of varying complexity in which the primary objective is to upgrade the operating system on personal computers in corporate systems and networks from Windows XP to Windows 7. Data was collected via a self-directed on-line survey administered to participants on each of the projects in the study, as well as through analysis of project planning artifacts from each project. This research found that many of the factors that correlate to success on large projects also influence the success of small IT projects. However, it also identified several distinct differences between large and small projects that may inform project practitioners on techniques to apply during the execution of small IT projects to improve their probability of success