MIS Success or Failure

Various factors influence whether or not a particular system will be a success or failure. In general terms the larger the scale of the project, the greater will be the risk. Poor project management can lead to a system failing to be produced on time, failing to deliver the functions necessary or overrunning the planned budget to a point where it must be abandoned.

At the analysis stage sufficient time and resources must be made available so proper research is carried out. End users must be consulted and management must ensure that a climate exists where end users are motivated to co-operate with the information gathering.

End users should have an active involvement at the design stage to ensure that the system matches needs and is workable. Management must plan any necessary changes in work practice bearing in mind any impact this may have on the organisational structure. The design needs to take account of future needs and possible expansion. It is important that the design is oriented to the tasks that need to be performed and to the people who will perform those tasks. There is a danger that computer oriented designers will produce a system in which the hardware is seen as more important than the job it is supposed to do.

Without full management input there is also a danger that the system will concentrate on low-level data processing tasks and be unable to provide management information with sufficient flexibility to be of use. For this reason the development team should include people with some knowledge of management.

Conversely it is possible for management to over specify their requirements so that the system becomes unrealistic due to excessive or inappropriate demands.

© LEV