Keeping Mum as the Project Goes Under: Toward an Explanatory Model.

Author List: Smith, H. Jeff; Keil, Mark; Depledge, Gordon;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 2001, Volume 18, Issue 2, Page 189-227.
The problem of "runaway" information systems (IS) projects can be exacerbated by the reluctance of organizational members to transmit negative information concerning a project and its status. Drawing upon relevant bodies of literature, this paper presents a model of the reluctance to report negative project news and develops hypotheses to be tested. An experiment, which was designed to test these hypotheses for both internal and external reporting alternatives, is then described. Two factors are manipulated: (1) the level of impact associated with project failure should an individual fail to report negative information, and (2) the level of observed behavioral wrongdoing associated with the project. The results explain a significant portion of the variance in the reluctance to report negative information and suggest that some differences in internal and external reporting behavior. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Keywords: information system development; mum effect; project management; whistle-blowing
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#139 0.221 project projects failure software commitment escalation cost factors study problem resources continue prior escalate overruns taken failing troubled sunk fail
#108 0.172 model research data results study using theoretical influence findings theory support implications test collected tested based empirical empirically context paper
#292 0.162 information research literature systems framework review paper theoretical based potential future implications practice discussed current concept propositions findings provided extant
#50 0.096 financial crisis reporting report crises turnaround intelligence reports cash forecasting situations time status adequately weaknesses selective impact systemic power described
#75 0.079 behavior behaviors behavioral study individuals affect model outcomes psychological individual responses negative influence explain hypotheses expected theories consequences impact theory
#166 0.076 negative positive effect findings results effects blog suggest role blogs posts examined period relationship employees research employee bloggers reveal companies
#58 0.069 internal external audit auditing results sources closure auditors study control bridging appears integrity manager effectiveness auditor controls facilitating boundaries potential