Impact of Client skills on IT project success with mediating role of project requirements volatility

Abstract

This study examines the impact of client skills on IT project success with mediating role of requirements volatility. Most of the literature however discusses failure factors and risks in general and the impact of those failure factors on IT project success. This study in addition arbitrates the role of project requirements volatility on IT project success, which has not been explored previously in Pakistan IT Industry. Perceived understanding of client knowledge about skills like project management skills, technical and non-technical skills are studied from the perspective of project development managers, senior managers and team leads who have direct interaction and communication with the clients (Project owner). Certain volatility factors like Scope changes during project, Project plan not updated after requirements changes and Change control not monitored effectively. Volatility factors are taken as mediating effect in between the client skills and success of IT projects. IT projects completed in time, budget and with complete project functionality and performance, and lastly client satisfaction is considered as success indicators of IT projects. A summarized model is proposed through the literature review done from the previous studies. All forgoing literature strengthens the model justification. Software developers, team leads, technical leads, project managers are targeted as respondents for our quantitative analysis. Questionnaires are circulated through a systematic random sampling technique for data collection. Using various tests statistical analysis are performed and findings are reported as results and conclusion. Future implications are also be recommended and proposed.