Facilitating the Transformational: An Exploration of Control in Cyberinfrastructure Projects and the Discovery of Field Control

Author List: Moody, Gregory D.; Kirsch, Laurie J.; Slaughter, Sandra A.; Dunn, Brian Kimball; Weng, Qin;

Information Systems Research, 2016, Volume 27, Issue 2, Page 324-346.

Emerging from rapid advances in digitization and technological capabilities is a new form of information systems development project: cyber projects. Cyber projects are complex, massive, and ambitious, often involving hundreds of academic, government, and industry professionals, requiring years of development, and costing millions of dollars. In our study, we examine how control is exercised in cyber projects. Based on a longitudinal study over eight years, we develop a process theory of the control of cyber projects. Initially we observe that project control is driven by the field, i.e., all of the individual or collective entities that subscribe to the general purpose of the project. This form of control is later replaced by a more bureaucratic form from government-sponsored entities to ensure that traditional project objectives are met. Once construction begins and the field understands the implications and promise of the project, we observe that control is again exerted by the primary project users in the field, complemented by authority-based control exerted by the government-sponsored entisty in the field.

Keywords: control ; project management ; cyberinfrastructure projects ; strategic action fields

Algorithm:

List of Topics

#135	0.218	project projects development management isd results process team developed managers teams software stakeholders successful complex develop contingencies problems greater planning
#280	0.164	control controls formal systems mechanisms modes clan informal used internal literature outsourced outcome theory configuration attempts evolution authority complementary little
#79	0.156	public government private sector state policy political citizens governments contributors agencies issues forums mass development organizations issue differences economic study
#279	0.139	field work changes new years time change major period year end use past early century half traditional areas established strong
#175	0.057	taxonomy systems different concept isd alternative generalization mechanistic distinction types generalizability theoretical speech richer induction original form inductive empirical organic