DOI: 10.4018/IJARPHM.2019010105 International Journal of Applied Research on Public Health Management Volume 4 • Issue 1 • January-June 2019 Copyright © 2019, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. 67 The Challenges of the IS/IT Projects in the Healthcare Sector Jorge Gomes, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal Mário Romão, ISEG, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal ABSTRACT Essentially, the purpose of investment in information systems and information technology (IS/IT) is to improve the operational efficiency of the organizations, reducing costs and improving levels of quality. Thus, many traditional appraisal techniques are used to evaluate tangible benefits, which are based on direct project costs. Since the 1980s, IS/IT has positioned itself as a strategic tool that through flexibility and innovative ways can produce superior performance. The health sector has sought to improve its effectiveness and efficiency by adopting IS/IT solutions to increase the quality of services, namely patient safety, organizational efficiency, and end-user satisfaction. Hospitals are complex organizations, and this complexity magnifies the opportunity for inevitable human errors. A poorly integrated system can decrease operational efficiency and reduce the quality of healthcare services. The issue remains controversial, as evidenced by several articles. The authors noticed that emergent technologies may offer opportunities to those who can exploit them effectively. KeywoRdS IS/IT Implementations in Healthcare, IS/IT in Healthcare, IS/IT Investments in Healthcare, IS/IT Projects in Healthcare, Success of IS/IT in Healthcare INTRodUCTIoN The business value of Information Systems and Information Technology (IS/IT) investments is predicted to remain, one of the major topics for the researchers (Dehning et al., 2014; Roztocki & Weistroffer, 2008). Some early studies (Dos Santos et al., 1993; Hitt & Brinjolfsson, 1996; Im et al., 2001; Rai et al., 1997; West & Courtney, 1993) doubt from the economic value of IS/IT, the vast majority of authors find empirical evidence and theoretical arguments in favor of both the operational and strategic relevance of IS/IT (Aral et al., 2007; Beccalli, 2007; Dedrick et al., 2003; Dehning et al., 2003; Han et al., 2011; Kim et al., 2009; Kohli & Grover, 2008; Lee et al., 2011; Lin et al., 2006; Mahmood & Mann, 2005; Neirotti & Paolucci, 2007; Peslak, 2003; Ramirez et al., 2010; Santhanam & Hartono, 2003; Shin, 2006; Swierczek & Shrestha, 2003; Zhang, 2005). As competition increases because of globalization and other market factors, it is even more important that an organization performs at its best capabilities. Organizations are being put under increasing pressure to justify the large amount of financial resources spent on IS/IT assets (Gomes et al., 2013). The decision-making process over IS/IT investments is not