dc.contributor.author | Haji-kazemi, Sara | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-05-22T11:09:36Z | |
dc.date.available | 2015-05-22T11:09:36Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2015 | |
dc.identifier.isbn | 978-82-326-0766-2 | |
dc.identifier.isbn | 978-82-326-0767-9 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1503-8181 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11250/283959 | |
dc.description.abstract | Despite the application of project management tools and techniques in projects worldwide,
still a large number of projects fail to meet their objectives. Based on studies on the history of
failed projects, it is obvious that projects do not result in failure overnight. With hindsight,
project managers are often able to point out the most likely factors leading to project failure.
One approach towards prevention of project failure or deviation from the main goal is to
attempt to detect possible signs of project failure in early stages of projects. These signs are
referred to in the literature as Early Warning (EW) signs. The major challenge for the project
managers is the identification of these signs and attempting to respond to them in order to
prevent the negative circumstances. Although it is not a proven fact that identification of EW
signals is a guarantee against project failure, there are a number of resources which consider
paying attention to these signals and attempt to respond to them as a contribution to project
success.
This PhD dissertation provides better understanding of the EW phenomenon, possible
approaches for identifying EW signs and barriers against effective responses to these signs in
projects. In addition to contributing to existing project management research by increasing the
understanding of the application of EW procedure in projects, the present research attempts to
contribute to development of more effective approaches towards responding to EW signs of
potential future problems in projects. Three research questions (RQs) guide the research:
- RQ1: How are early warning detection approaches addressed in the existing
literature?
- RQ2: How can the utilization of early warning identification approaches improve
project performance in practice?
- RQ3: What are the possible barriers against effectively responding to early warning
signs and how to enhance early responses to EW signs in projects?
The research questions are addressed through seven corresponding publications, based on
extant literature review within the EW field and other relevant areas, alongside four different
case studies among various industries (Oil and gas, Telecommunication, Transportation and
R&D) and a survey among Norwegian project managers or leaders in different industries. The
main focus points in the seven individual publications which comprise the dissertation
include:
- Publication I: Investigation on possible EW identification approaches and their
strengths and weaknesses
- Publication II: Presentation of a conceptual framework for application of
performance measurement as an EW identification approach (An analysis on the case
of London Ambulance Service (LAS) project)
- Publication III: Investigation on application of performance measurement as an EW
system ( A case study on the Tyrihans project within the oil and gas industry)
- Publication IV: Investigation on application of Project Health Check (PHC) as an
EW system ( A case study on LTE and MOVE projects within the
telecommunication industry)
- Publication V: Investigation on how identification of EW signs in early stages of
projects can aid project managers towards better decision making ( A case study on
the Norwegian High Speed Railway (HSR) project within the transportation industry)
- Publication VI: Investigation on behaviour of different filters against effective flow
of information in international projects
- Publication VII: Investigation on possible barriers against identifying and responding
to EW signs and remedies for improving the EW procedure.
A model is developed based on the findings from the individual publications and the initial
literature studies, which illustrates a detailed EW procedure. The initial idea for development
of the model stems from Nikander‘s (2002) decision support model and the findings from
each publication contribute to clarification of different stages of the model. The main stages
within the procedure include:
- Observations in order to detect possible EW signs of potential future problems
- Evaluation of the information gathered via application of methods and the
information perceived through gut feelings
- Transfer of information to the decision maker
- Evaluation of the information received from the observer and making decisions on
what to accept or what to discard due to being unnecessary or irrelevant
- Evaluation of information regarding accepted elements as EW signs and deciding
which one is allowed to influence the decision making process
- Making the final decision on what actions to be taken towards the identified EW
signs
- Taking the actions in order to avoid actualization of potential problems
The figure below illustrates the main stages of the EW procedure alongside the filters
throughout the procedure.
The findings of this dissertation clarify the process through which the information on a
possible EW sign should undergo in order for the suitable response to be taken before the
potential problem actualizes. It also indicates that an effective response requires the flow of
information through each and every filter throughout the procedure and discusses the
influencing factors on the strength of these filters. Based on the effects of each of the factors
on the filters, this dissertation deliberates on possible approaches for improvements in order to
lessen the negative affect of these aspects on the effectiveness of responses to EW signs. The
suggested remedies are categorized into three main groups which offer suggestions for improvement of the EW identification stage, information transfer stage and the response
stage.
The results of the studies which led to the development of this dissertation contribute to both
theory and practice. The theoretical contributions aim to bridge three main identified research
gaps including: Limited research on possible EW identification approaches within the project
management area, limited understanding and elaboration on application of EW identification
approaches and limited understanding of possible barriers against effective responses to EW
signs and potential approaches for enhancing the response process. These contributions reside
in the clarification of the full extent of EW identification approaches, evaluation of the level
of efficiency of performance measurement and PHC as EW systems, introducing new insights
to adding the EW procedure as part of the management system in early stages of projects,
clarifying the behavior of the filters against flow of information in international contexts ,
clarification of possible barriers against effective responses to EW signs and suggestions for
improvement of the procedure.
The Practical contributions of the dissertation reside in facilitating potential increased
managers’ understanding of strengths and weaknesses of possible EW identification
approaches, enhancing manager’s capabilities to identify EW signs through application of
different EW identification approaches, highlighting the importance of having an open eye on
possible EW signs of potential future problems from the early stages of projects , highlighting
the challenges involved with carrying out an effective EW procedure in practice and
suggesting remedies for overcoming these challenges.
In conclusion, this dissertation contributes to advancing theory and applications by providing
insights into the utilization of an EW procedure in projects, the challenges involved within
this procedure and suggestions for overcoming them. Further research in a range of contexts
is, however, necessary for testing and enhancing the utility of the approaches and the
remedies. | |
dc.language.iso | eng | nb_NO |
dc.publisher | NTNU | nb_NO |
dc.relation.ispartofseries | Doctoral thesis at NTNU;2015:52 | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 1: Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn; Krane, Hans Petter.
A Review on Possible Approaches for Detecting Early Warning Signs in Projects. Project Management Journal 2013 ;Volum 44.(5) s. 55-69
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1002/pmj.21360" target="_blank"> http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1002/pmj.21360</a>
© 2013 by the Project Management Institute , Published by Wiley | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 2:
Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn; Krane, Hans Petter.
A Conceptual Framework for Application of Performance Measurement as an Early Warning System in Projects, an Analysis on the Case of the London Ambulance Service Project. I: PMI Research and Education Conference 2012. Project Management Institute 2012 | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 3: Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn.
Application of Performance Measurement as an Early Warning System: A Case Study in the Oil and Gas Industry. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 2013 ;Volum 6.(4) s. 714-738
Is not included due to copyright.
Available at <a href="http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1108/IJMPB-04-2012-0015" target="_blank"> http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1108/IJMPB-04-2012-0015</a> | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 4: Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn.
Efficiency of project health checks (PHCs) as an early warning system in practice: a case study in Norway's telecommunication industry. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 2014 ;Volum 7.(4) s. 678-700
Is not included due to copyright.
Available at <a href="http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1108/IJMPB-01-2014-0012" target="_blank"> http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1108/IJMPB-01-2014-0012</a> | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 5: Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn; Krane, Hans Petter.
Identification of Early Warning Signs in Front-end Stage of Projects, an Aid to Decision Making. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 2013 ;Volum 74. s. 212-222 .
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.03.011" target="_blank"> http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.03.011</a>
This article is reprinted with kind permission from Elsevier, sciencedirect.com | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 6: Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn; Eleftheriadis, Ragnhild; Capellán, Alvaro, 2014.
The early warning procedure in an international context
IPMA World Congress, Rotterdam, Netherlands 2014 | |
dc.relation.haspart | Paper 7:
Haji-Kazemi, Sara; Andersen, Bjørn Sørskot; Klakegg, Ole Jonny.
Barriers against effective responses to early warning signs in projects. International Journal of Project Management 2015 ;Volum 33.(5) s. 1068-1083 <a href="http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.01.002" target="_blank"> http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.01.002</a> | |
dc.title | The Early Warning Procedure in Projects Foundations, Approaches and Challenges | nb_NO |
dc.type | Doctoral thesis | nb_NO |
dc.subject.nsi | VDP::Technology: 500::Mechanical engineering: 570::Production and maintenance engineering: 572 | nb_NO |