Decision-Making in Project Management
Tiainen, Aliisa (2014)
Tiainen, Aliisa
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405269997
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201405269997
Tiivistelmä
This thesis researched how to improve the Decision-making process of a global IT-transformation programme operating in a complex environment with multiple dependencies. The research problem was approached with an open research question to allow exploratory study on the topic. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study by first analysing existing literature and finding best practice guides for decision-making in businesses. Then it was continued with an empirical research conducted in two parts: first analysing programme internal data and by conducting semi-structured interviews with eleven employees from the programme. The empirical research showed many procedures already in place to formalize decision-making. They were already quite mature and well established. The interviews provided an inside view to the existing process and revealed that though most knew the process, parts of it were unclear. Especially post-decision activities were seen to have room for improvement.
The research yielded interesting results and based on the findings the programme was recommended to define the decision-making process, to establish a demand funnel to filter only management relevant decision requests, to apply a general decision-making model based on theory, improve the post-decision activities by following a four step approach and by using three key performance indicators to measure the quality of the process. These recommendations would improve results and transparency of the process and clarify the linkages and meanings of different parts in it. As a single case study the results cannot be generalised, but the topic has potential for further research.
The research yielded interesting results and based on the findings the programme was recommended to define the decision-making process, to establish a demand funnel to filter only management relevant decision requests, to apply a general decision-making model based on theory, improve the post-decision activities by following a four step approach and by using three key performance indicators to measure the quality of the process. These recommendations would improve results and transparency of the process and clarify the linkages and meanings of different parts in it. As a single case study the results cannot be generalised, but the topic has potential for further research.