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Better communication in IT-projects with the MAPS Method

Törnqvist Mellhorn, Mattias LU (2016) In LU-CS-EX 2016-39 EDA920 20161
Department of Computer Science
Abstract
Background: As IT becomes a integrated part of more and more products
and a greater part of product development process the need for good practices
to manage IT projects and software development increases.
Purpose: The aim of this work is to improve the communication in ITprojects
and thus the likelihood of a project being successful. Our focus has
been to improve the identification of relevant stakeholders, the communication
of project goals and the coordination within an IT-project.
Theortical framework: The frame of reference for the new method includes;
what makes a IT-project successful, what the main challenges in ITprojects
are, stakeholder identification, communication, coordination in ITprojects,
and communication... (More)
Background: As IT becomes a integrated part of more and more products
and a greater part of product development process the need for good practices
to manage IT projects and software development increases.
Purpose: The aim of this work is to improve the communication in ITprojects
and thus the likelihood of a project being successful. Our focus has
been to improve the identification of relevant stakeholders, the communication
of project goals and the coordination within an IT-project.
Theortical framework: The frame of reference for the new method includes;
what makes a IT-project successful, what the main challenges in ITprojects
are, stakeholder identification, communication, coordination in ITprojects,
and communication distances.
Method: The new method have been developed with the design science
framework. The problem area and what research that had previously been
conducted was investigated in a literature study. The artifact, MAPS method,
was then constructed based on the previous research trough a creative process.
When the artifact was completed it was evaluated in a case study by applying
the artifact to a recently closed project at Scania in Södertälje.
Results: The thesis have resulted in a new communication mapping method
called, MAPS Method. The new method can be used to identify stakeholders
and in the case study it identified stakeholders not present in the project documentation.
The presence of communication distances that could lead to misunderstandings
in the communication channels was identified by the MAPS
method. The communication channels where each of the stakeholder in the
case study got their information and progress updates about the project goal
was also found. The information gained by applying the MAPS method could
be used as input for the communication plan and the configuration plan. Most
of the people interviewed in the case study agreed that the MAPS method
would have provided a benefit if it had been applied to the project that was
used in the case study (Less)
Popular Abstract (Swedish)
Kommunikation är idag en av de största utmaningarna för att nå ett lyckat IT-projekt. Men hur ska man veta vad och hur man ska kommunicera? MAPS står för Mapping to Avoid Project Surprises och är en metod som hjälper till att samla in informationen som behövs för att skapa en bra kommunikationsplan.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Törnqvist Mellhorn, Mattias LU
supervisor
organization
course
EDA920 20161
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
MAPS method, Communication, FLOW mapping, Communication channels, Project success
publication/series
LU-CS-EX 2016-39
report number
LU-CS-EX 2016-39
ISSN
1650-2884
language
English
id
8893247
date added to LUP
2016-10-10 16:20:05
date last changed
2016-10-10 16:20:05
@misc{8893247,
  abstract     = {{Background: As IT becomes a integrated part of more and more products
and a greater part of product development process the need for good practices
to manage IT projects and software development increases.
Purpose: The aim of this work is to improve the communication in ITprojects
and thus the likelihood of a project being successful. Our focus has
been to improve the identification of relevant stakeholders, the communication
of project goals and the coordination within an IT-project.
Theortical framework: The frame of reference for the new method includes;
what makes a IT-project successful, what the main challenges in ITprojects
are, stakeholder identification, communication, coordination in ITprojects,
and communication distances.
Method: The new method have been developed with the design science
framework. The problem area and what research that had previously been
conducted was investigated in a literature study. The artifact, MAPS method,
was then constructed based on the previous research trough a creative process.
When the artifact was completed it was evaluated in a case study by applying
the artifact to a recently closed project at Scania in Södertälje.
Results: The thesis have resulted in a new communication mapping method
called, MAPS Method. The new method can be used to identify stakeholders
and in the case study it identified stakeholders not present in the project documentation.
The presence of communication distances that could lead to misunderstandings
in the communication channels was identified by the MAPS
method. The communication channels where each of the stakeholder in the
case study got their information and progress updates about the project goal
was also found. The information gained by applying the MAPS method could
be used as input for the communication plan and the configuration plan. Most
of the people interviewed in the case study agreed that the MAPS method
would have provided a benefit if it had been applied to the project that was
used in the case study}},
  author       = {{Törnqvist Mellhorn, Mattias}},
  issn         = {{1650-2884}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{LU-CS-EX 2016-39}},
  title        = {{Better communication in IT-projects with the MAPS Method}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}