Abstract

Information systems projects that experience substantial cost and time overruns are common in organizations today. Given their pervasiveness and significant consequences, there is a need to understand how to effectively manage runaway projects. To identify specific actions that should be employed as part of a recovery strategy, this article reports on a survey of seasoned information systems consultants. According to these experts, developing a recovery plan, refining the scope of the troubled project, and re-evaluating the leadership of the project team are the most important actions that must be pursued in a comprehensive recovery effort. These and other recommendations by the experts are framed within a crisis management perspective to highlight their potential relevance and impact.