The Effect of an Initial Budget and Schedule Goal on Software Project Escalation.
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| Title: | The Effect of an Initial Budget and Schedule Goal on Software Project Escalation. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Lee, Jong Seok1, Keil, Mark2, Kasi, Vijay3 |
| Source: | Journal of Management Information Systems. Summer2012, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p53-78. 26p. 1 Diagram, 5 Charts, 2 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | Computer software development -- Management, Management information systems, Project management, Sunk costs, Management, Goal setting in personnel management |
| Abstract: | Software project escalation is a costly problem that leads to significant financial losses. Prior research suggests that setting a publicly announced limit on resources can make individuals less willing to escalate their commitment to a failing course of action. However, the relationship between initial budget and schedule goals and software project escalation remains unexplored. Drawing on goal setting theory as well as sunk cost and mental budgeting perspectives, we explore the effect of goal difficulty and goal specificity on software project escalation. The findings from a laboratory experiment with 349 information technology professionals suggest that both very difficult and very specific goals for budget and schedule can limit software project escalation. Further, the level of commitment to a budget and schedule goal directly affects software project escalation and also interacts with goal difficulty and goal specificity to affect software project escalation. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the existing body of knowledge on software project management by establishing a connection between goal setting theory and software project escalation. The study also contributes to practice by highlighting the potential negative consequences that can result from the nature of initial budget and schedule goals that are established at the outset of a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Management Information Systems is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 79629585 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The Effect of an Initial Budget and Schedule Goal on Software Project Escalation. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lee%2C+Jong+Seok%22">Lee, Jong Seok</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Keil%2C+Mark%22">Keil, Mark</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kasi%2C+Vijay%22">Kasi, Vijay</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Management+Information+Systems%22">Journal of Management Information Systems</searchLink>. Summer2012, Vol. 29 Issue 1, p53-78. 26p. 1 Diagram, 5 Charts, 2 Graphs. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+software+development+--+Management%22">Computer software development -- Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Management+information+systems%22">Management information systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Project+management%22">Project management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sunk+costs%22">Sunk costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Management%22">Management</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goal+setting+in+personnel+management%22">Goal setting in personnel management</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Software project escalation is a costly problem that leads to significant financial losses. Prior research suggests that setting a publicly announced limit on resources can make individuals less willing to escalate their commitment to a failing course of action. However, the relationship between initial budget and schedule goals and software project escalation remains unexplored. Drawing on goal setting theory as well as sunk cost and mental budgeting perspectives, we explore the effect of goal difficulty and goal specificity on software project escalation. The findings from a laboratory experiment with 349 information technology professionals suggest that both very difficult and very specific goals for budget and schedule can limit software project escalation. Further, the level of commitment to a budget and schedule goal directly affects software project escalation and also interacts with goal difficulty and goal specificity to affect software project escalation. This study makes a theoretical contribution to the existing body of knowledge on software project management by establishing a connection between goal setting theory and software project escalation. The study also contributes to practice by highlighting the potential negative consequences that can result from the nature of initial budget and schedule goals that are established at the outset of a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Management Information Systems is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.2753/MIS0742-1222290102 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 26 StartPage: 53 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Computer software development -- Management Type: general – SubjectFull: Management information systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Project management Type: general – SubjectFull: Sunk costs Type: general – SubjectFull: Management Type: general – SubjectFull: Goal setting in personnel management Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The Effect of an Initial Budget and Schedule Goal on Software Project Escalation. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lee, Jong Seok – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Keil, Mark – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kasi, Vijay IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Summer2012 Type: published Y: 2012 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 07421222 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 29 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Management Information Systems Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
