International Journal of Actor-Network Theory and Technological Innovation, 4(3), 1-12, July-September 2012 1
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Keywords: Actor-Network Theory, IT Projects, Risk Identifcation, Risk Management, Translation
INTRODUCTION
There is an increasing demand for Information
Technology (IT) solutions by organisations,
including government administrations, financial
institutions, higher institutions of learning, and
insurance companies (Clancy, 2004). Some
of these organisations process high volumes
of data at high rates. The effectiveness and
efficiency of their operations depend on the
capability and capacity of the IT solutions. The
IT solutions get obsoletes faster as a result of
changes in the business environment and rapid
development of IT artefacts. The changes are
driven by the business objectives and strategies
(Lee & Xia, 2003). This suggests that there is
a need to deliver the solutions early while they
are still relevant and value-adding to the busi-
ness. Many of the IT solutions are employed
through IT projects.
The IT projects are aimed at enabling busi-
ness processes and activities in order to deliver
business benefits and competitive advantage. IT
projects follow project management principles
like any other project in other disciplines and
professions. They must be delivered on time, on
Assessment of Risk on
Information Technology Projects
Through Moments of Translation
Petronnell Sehlola, Tshwane University of Technology, SouthAfrica
Tiko Iyamu, Tshwane University of Technology, SouthAfrica
ABSTRACT
Many of the IT solutions in an organisation are employed through IT projects. Based on the reliance on IT
solutions, organisations’investment on IT projects has increased tremendously in the last two decades. This is
informed and triggered by the premises that IT will help them to yield solutions that will fulfll or exceed their
expectations, thereby make the organisation realise the required return on investment. Projects are a means
to yield solutions through technological artefacts such as infrastructure (networks included), applications,
databases or a combination of these. The technological artefacts do carries or are associated with foreseen
or unforeseen risks. Hence proper risk identifcation and management on IT projects is necessitated to ensure
that the organisation reaches its desire state. Unfortunately, risks are never easy to identify or manage. Using
one case, the study employed actor-network theory in the analysis of the data to understand the factors which
manifest themselves into risks during the deployment of IT projects in the organisation.
DOI: 10.4018/jantti.2012070101