Better communication in IT-projects with the MAPS Method

Abstract: Background: As IT becomes a integrated part of more and more products and a greater part of product development process the need for good practices to manage IT projects and software development increases. Purpose: The aim of this work is to improve the communication in ITprojects and thus the likelihood of a project being successful. Our focus has been to improve the identification of relevant stakeholders, the communication of project goals and the coordination within an IT-project. Theortical framework: The frame of reference for the new method includes; what makes a IT-project successful, what the main challenges in ITprojects are, stakeholder identification, communication, coordination in ITprojects, and communication distances. Method: The new method have been developed with the design science framework. The problem area and what research that had previously been conducted was investigated in a literature study. The artifact, MAPS method, was then constructed based on the previous research trough a creative process. When the artifact was completed it was evaluated in a case study by applying the artifact to a recently closed project at Scania in Södertälje. Results: The thesis have resulted in a new communication mapping method called, MAPS Method. The new method can be used to identify stakeholders and in the case study it identified stakeholders not present in the project documentation. The presence of communication distances that could lead to misunderstandings in the communication channels was identified by the MAPS method. The communication channels where each of the stakeholder in the case study got their information and progress updates about the project goal was also found. The information gained by applying the MAPS method could be used as input for the communication plan and the configuration plan. Most of the people interviewed in the case study agreed that the MAPS method would have provided a benefit if it had been applied to the project that was used in the case study