A “beliefs of the future” framework: Addressing project management tactics to harness the power of disappointment

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

Abstract

For projects to be successful, expectations need to be met. This has been a rule of thumb for project managers for ages. However, as expectations differ from person to person, from stakeholder to stakeholder, it can be difficult, even impossible, to meet.
In this position paper, I show how the common assumption of considering expectations as absolute and immovable will have a tendency to end with disappointment, and that disappointment does not necessarily need to be avoided. The research question being addressed is to identify project management reactions that can be used when expectations change. A single case study of an IT implementation in the pre-hospital sector is used to find that disappointment is not an absolute negative for projects. Rather, disappointment can be conceptualised as a range that can be viewed as positive or negative for further motivation of the project.
Original languageEnglish
Publication dateMay 2017
Number of pages9
Publication statusPublished - May 2017
Event3rd Danish Project Management Research Conference (DAPMARC3): Symposiet Dansk Projektledelse 2017 - Kalvebod Brygge, IDA, København, Denmark
Duration: 23 May 201724 May 2017
Conference number: 3
http://www.tilmeld.dk/Symposiet2017

Conference

Conference3rd Danish Project Management Research Conference (DAPMARC3)
Number3
LocationKalvebod Brygge, IDA
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityKøbenhavn
Period23/05/201724/05/2017
Internet address

Keywords

  • project management
  • beliefs
  • framework
  • tactics
  • user expectations

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