Computerised information systems: Comparison of relative impacts on planned project duration within a multi-project environment

 

 

S. Govender; H. Steyn

Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa herman.steyn@up.ac.za

 

 

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ABSTRACT

As more organisations acquire project management computerised information systems (CIS) to ensure the efficient scheduling of projects, there is increasing interest in the extent to which various CIS contribute to a reduction in planned project duration. However, there seems to be no empirical research that suggests that CIS have a positive impact on planned duration or how relative impacts could vary when different CIS are implemented. This paper reports on experimental research that evaluates and draws comparisons between the relative impacts of three CIS on planned project delivery within a specific, real, multi-project environment, and investigates the reasons for such variations.

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OPSOMMING

Namate meer organisasies gerekenariseerde inligtingstelsels bekom om doelmatige skedulering van projekte te verseker, neem belangstelling toe oor die mate waartoe verskillende stelsels bydra tot die verkorting van die beplande tydsduur van projekte. Dit blyk egter dat geen empiriese inligting bestaan wat aandui dat hierdie rekenaarstelsels 'n positiewe impak op beplande duur van projekte het of hoe die impak varieer met die gebruik van verskillende stelsels nie. Hierdie artikel rapporteer oor empiriese navorsing wat die relatiewe impak van drie rekenaarstelsels op beplande projek aflewering in 'n spesifieke, werklike multi-projek omgewing evalueer. Die redes vir die verskille wat gerapporteer word, word ook ondersoek.

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1 The author was enrolled for the MPM programme at the Department of Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria