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Governance-Knowledge Fit in Systems Development Projects

Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011-1350
tiwana{at}iastate.edu

This study addresses the theoretically underexplored question of how fit between project governance configurations, and the knowledge of specialized information technology (IT) and client departments influences information systems development (ISD) performance. It conceptualizes project governance configurations using two classes of project decisions rights—decision control rights and decision management rights. The paper then develops a middle-range theory of how governance-knowledge fit shapes ISD performance by influencing the effective exercise of these decision rights during the development process. Further, the two dimensions of ISD performance—efficiency and effectiveness—are shaped by different classes of project decision rights. Data from 89 projects in 89 firms strongly support the proposed ideas. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed.

Key Words: systems development; project governance; decision rights; governance-knowledge fit; middle-range theory; project management
History: This paper was received on February 2, 2005.