Abstract
Technology projects have increased over the years and information technology (IT) systems are now crucial competitive elements in other organisations. However, other companies deliver less value out of these projects than predicted. Projects are informed by needs, and they follow strategy and are identified as tools to assist in achieving the strategic objectives of the organisation. This research is mainly about investigating whether organisations are able to realise the value and benefits of implementing IT projects. The research started with a general overall area of investigation by exploring the benefits of implementing IT projects, and the criteria for establishing the best methods of gathering information were derived from the literature review. The philosophy for this study was defined by the interpretivist research paradigm, which is a subjectivist philosophy, recommended through qualitative and in-depth interviews and analysis. The inductive approach was adopted for this research and the empirical data was first gathered from the real world, and thereafter the theory based on those findings was created. The non-probability purposive data sampling technique was adopted for this research. Virtual interviews were conducted with the selected research sample to obtain the information required. It was easier to be subjective in discussions since it was not yet clear what the outcomes of the research ought to be, and that strengthened the credibility of this research. Some of the findings of this study are that the concept of benefits realisation management is not clearly defined in organisations, or properly structured or organised since there is no clear understanding of what contributes to project success. It was further discovered that there are no dedicated resources involved in benefits realisation management; hence the challenges that hinder its successful implementation. It is recommended that effective and efficient benefits realisation management structures, systems, and processes first be put in place in the organisation prior to answering the research question of whether organisations are able to realise the value and benefits of IT projects.
Key words
Project, programme, value, information technology, benefits realisation, qualitative.