Title: SUFFI: success and failure factors in ICT projects with Dutch case studies as examples

Authors: A.J. Van Dijk; A.S. White; R.A. Comley

Addresses: Avédé-Info BV, Ponyweide 79A, 2727 HK Zoetermeer, The Netherlands ' School of Engineering and Information Sciences, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, NW4 4BT, London, UK ' School of Engineering and Information Sciences, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, NW4 4BT, London, UK

Abstract: The low success rate of software projects in terms of reliability, meeting due dates and budgets is widely recognised. This paper devises a set of most important factors (MIFs) vital to project success, of such importance that if they are not implemented then successful project completion is in doubt. Work by other authors is used to assess the relevant contributions to success and failure with new factors devised from systems dynamics. From this analysis a SUFFI chart (SUFFI = success and failure factors in ICT projects) of 139 factors has been developed and evaluated against a portfolio of nine projects and four project audits, where the first author participated showing agreement between important SUFFI factors and project success. This work shows that for a successful project four of the five MIFs have to be absent. Projects with a smaller number of the MIFs present can still fail if the minor SUFFIs have sufficient impact.

Keywords: success factors; failure factors; SUFFI; ICT projects; software project dynamics; software project management; software audits; The Netherlands; information and communications technology; information technology; reliability; due dates; budgets; project success; project failure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2013.055857

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2013 Vol.5 No.3, pp.239 - 264

Received: 11 Sep 2010
Accepted: 02 May 2011
Published online: 31 Jan 2014 *

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