Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering ((LNEE,volume 349))

  • 4311 Accesses

Abstract

Successfully implementing projects accelerate organizational growth. Given the limited organizational resources available, project funding is a critical strategic decision to ensure the most appropriate projects are selected. Recent research suggests that a proposed project’s target benefits—those anticipated to be realized at project completion—are important to consider when making decisions for project funding. Yet, the literature provides few measures to appraise the quality of target benefits. Consequently, sub-optimal projects are funded due to estimations errors, optimism bias about the future (“planning fallacy”) and strategic misrepresentation of target benefits. This paper presents three studies to develop and validate a new “Quality of Target Benefits” (QTB) scale consisting of three dimensions: specificity, attainability, and comprehensiveness. This scale can be used practically—that is, to objectively appraise a proposed project’s target benefits and to support an informed funding decision. It can also be used theoretically—as an instrument to facilitate theory development in areas of decision making, organizational strategy implementation, and project performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ansar, A., Flyvbjerg, B., Budzier, A., Lunn, D.: Should we build more large dams? The actual costs of hydropower megaproject development. Energy Policy (2014) (forthcoming), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.069i

  • Anderson, J.C., Gerbing, D.W.: Predicting the performance of measures in a confirmatory factor analysis with a pretest assessment of their substantive validities. Journal of Applied Psychology 76(5), 732 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashurst, C., Doherty, N.F., Peppard, J.: Improving the impact of IT development projects: The benefits realization capability model. European Journal of Information Systems 17, 352–370 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Department of Finance and Deregulation, “Assurance Review Process - Lessons Learned Benefits Realisation Management”. Australian Government (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  • Breese, R.: Benefit realisation management: Panacea or false dawn? International Journal of Project Management 30, 341–351 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brislin, R.W.: Translation and content analysis of oral and written material. In: Triandis, H.C., Berry, J.W. (eds.) Methodology, vol. 2. Handbook of Cross-Cultural Psychology, pp. 349–444. Allyn and Bacon, Boston (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, C., Kolehmainen, K., Mitchell, F.: Strategic investment decision making practices: A contextual approach. Management Accounting Research 21(3), 167–184 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cats-Baril, W., Thompson, R.: Managing Information Technology Projects in the Public Sector. Public Administration Review 55(6), 559–566 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill, G.A.: A Paradigm for Developing Better Measures of Marketing Constructs. Journal of Marketing Research 16, 64–73 (1979)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosby, P.B.: Quality Is Free: The Art of Making Quality Certain. New American Library, New York (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Doran, G.: There’s a SMART way to write management’s goals and objectives. Management Review 70(11), 35–36 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Flyvbjerg, B., Holm, M.K.S., Buhl, S.L.: How (In)accurate are demand forecasts in public works projects? Journal of the American Planning Association 71(2), 131–146 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flyvbjerg, B.: Policy and planning for large-infrastructure projects: problems, causes, cures. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 34, 578–597 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flyvbjerg, B.: Quality control and due diligence in project management: Getting decisions right by taking the outside view. International Journal of Project Management 31, 760–774 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon, P.: Review of Australian Government’s Use of Information and Communication Technology. Department of Finance and Deregulation, Australian Government, Parkes (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gimbert, X., Bisbe, J., Mendoza, X.: The role of performance measurement systems in strategy formulation processes. Long Range Planning 43(4), 477–497 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grushka-Cockayne, Y., De Reyck, B., Degraeve, Z.: An integrated decision-making approach for improving European air traffic management. Management Science 54(8), 1395–1409 (2008)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, J., Ruikar, K.: Technology implementation strategies for construction organisations. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management 17(3), 309–327 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hinkin, T.R.: A Brief Tutorial on the Development of Measures for Use in Survey Questionnaires. Organizational Research Methods 1(1), 104–121 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irani, Z., Love, P.: The propagation of technology management taxonomies for evaluating investments in information systems. Journal of Management Information System 17, 161–177 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenner, S.: Realising Benefits from Government ICT Investment—AFool’s Errand? Academic Publishing, Reading (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen, M., Halkjelsvik, T., Kitchenham, B.: How does project size affect cost estimation error? Statistical artifacts and methodological challenges. International Journal of Project Management 30(7), 839–849 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D.: Thinking, Fast and Slow, 1st edn. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahneman, D., Tversky, A.: Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 263–291 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerlinger, F.N.: Foundations of behavioral research. CBS Publishing Limited, Japan (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lechner, C., Floyd, S.W.: Group influence activities and the performance of strategic initiatives. Strategic Management Journal 33(5), 478–495 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, S., Rao, S.S., Ragu-Nathan, T.S., Ragu-Nathan, B.: Development and validation of a measurement instrument for studying supply chain management practices. Journal of Operations Management 23(6), 618–641 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, C., Pervan, G.: The practice of IS/IT benefits management in large Australian organizations. Information Management 41, 13–24 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linderbaum, B.A., Levy, P.E.: The development and validation of the Feedback Orientation Scale (FOS). Journal of Management 36(6), 1372–1405 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Locke, E.A., Latham, G.P.: Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: a 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist 57(9), 705–717 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mihm, J.: Incentives in new product development projects and the role of target costing. Management Science 56(8), 1324–1344 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M.B., Huberman, M.A.: Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook, 2nd edn. Sage Publications, Newbury Park (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, G.D.: Post-investment appraisal. In: Willcocks, L. (ed.) Investing in Information Systems: Evaluation and Management, pp. 193–223. Chapman & Hall, Boca Raton (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson-Crotty, S., Theobald, N., Nicholson-Crotty, J.: Disparate Measures: Public Managers and Performance-Measurement Strategies. Public Administration Review 66(1), 101–113 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunnally, J.C.: Psychometric theory, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrinelli, S., Bowman, C.: Implementing strategy through projects. Long Range Planning 27, 125–132 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadakis, V.M.: Strategic investment decision processes and organizational performance: an empirical examination. British Journal of Management 9(2), 115–132 (1998)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Raghunathan, S.: Impact of information quality and decision-maker quality on decision quality: a theoretical model and simulation analysis. Decision Support Systems 26(4), 275–286 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, C.A., Bednar, D.A.: Defining quality: alternatives and implications. Academy of Management Review 19(3), 419–445 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sendjaya, S., Sarros, J.C., Santora, J.C.: Defining and measuring servant leadership behaviour in organizations. Journal of Management Studies 45(2), 402–424 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapira, Z., Shaver, J.M.: Confounding changes in averages with marginal effects: How anchoring can destroy economic value in strategic investment assessments. Strategic Management Journal (2013), doi:10.1002/smj.2165

    Google Scholar 

  • Shenhar, A.J.: One size does not fit all projects: exploring classical contingency domains. Management Science 47, 394–414 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verbeeten, F.H.M.: Performance management practices in public sector organizations. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal 21(3), 427–454 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, J., Daniel, E.: Benefits Management: Delivering Value from IS & IT Investments. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick, M., Guinote, A.: How long will it take? Power biases time predictions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 46, 595–604 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ZengJ, A.M., Smith, N.J.: Application of a fuzzy based decision making methodology to construction project risk assessment. International Journal of Project Management 25(6), 589–600 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zikmund, W.G., Babin, B.J., Carr, J.C., Griffin, M.: Business Research Methods, 8th edn. South-Western Cengage Learning (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J.R.: A general framework for gauging the performance of initiatives to enhance organizational value. British Journal of Management 23, S6–S22 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J.R.: Project Management for the Creation of Organisational Value. Springer, London (2011)

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Zwikael, O., Chih, YY. (2015). Enhancing Project Funding Decision Quality. In: Gen, M., Kim, K., Huang, X., Hiroshi, Y. (eds) Industrial Engineering, Management Science and Applications 2015. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 349. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47200-2_39

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47200-2_39

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-47199-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-47200-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics