Rethinking Project Escalation: An Institutional Perspective on the Persistence of Failing Large-Scale Information System Projects

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Berente, Nicholas; de Lima Salge, Carolina Alves; Mallampalli, Venkata K. P.; Park, Ken
• 署名单位: University of Notre Dame; University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; University of Arkansas System; University of Arkansas Fayetteville
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0742-1222
• DOI: 10.1080/07421222.2022.2096545
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 640-672
• 关键词: throwing good money; DE-ESCALATION; CHOSEN COURSE; BIG MUDDY; COMMITMENT; management; DECISION; determinants; CONTRADICTIONS; TRANSFORMATION

摘要

Project escalation involves the continued, persistent commitment to a failing project. Through a qualitative meta-analysis of 15 published cases of large information systems (IS) projects in escalation situations, we develop an institutional perspective on IS projects in escalation situations. This perspective describes how project persistence emerges from a plurality of legitimizing institutional logics that decision-makers draw upon at different project stages to maintain and reduce their commitment to the project. Logics related to the project's approval are not the same logics that guide decisions throughout the project. For example, while we find that innovation and economic logics of return on investment are salient before approval, economic costs tend to be more salient after approval, along with technical impositions and managerial concerns. We further find that managerial logics are particularly salient in reducing commitment to projects, and we detail the differences and point out contextual triggers of external scrutiny and leadership changes that can contribute to reduced commitment to a project and eventual de-escalation.