Abstract of Dissertation

Keyword : Healthcare IT; Project Management; Project Planning; Project Implementation

Objective : : To identify the key challenges faced while planning and implementation of a project in a Healthcare IT Company • To assess the effectiveness of existing planning and implementation process for a project in the organization • To categorize the various planning and implementation issues under broader organizational issues

Background : This research project addresses the issues affecting project planning and implementation in a Healthcare IT company. The issues represented in this study are addressed in the context of IT Project Management, especially with regard to the question of the needs and perceptions of employees in the organization. In addition, this study will provide an insight to the problematic issues surrounding project planning, timely completion and implementation and how the employees perceive them. This study discuss the management and organizational issues that show a relationship to project management and the descriptive data that reveals employee’s perception about issues surrounding planning and implementation. Each of these provisions is integral to developing a comprehensive understanding of the problems associated with the planning, timely completion and implementation of projects in the organization.

Methodology : This study was conducted in a Multinational Healthcare IT Company in Hyderabad, India. The duration of the study was 3 months from February to April 2017. This study is a descriptive study with both quantitative and qualitative study design. The data collected was primary by face to face interviews with the help of a semi structured questionnaire consisting of open ended questions. The choice of respondents consisted of employees from 4 departments i.e. Business analysts, Testers, Developers and Customer Support Services. The criteria for selection was that they should have atleast one year working experience in the organization and were actively involved in the project. The quantitative data was analysed using MS Excel and categorized into different organizational issues. The qualitative data was written and then analysed. The process of handling the data in this research was to write down the interviews after conducting them and then read and analyze that information through interpretation.

Findings : The Quantitative data showed that interdepartmental coordination, timeframes and scheduling, strategic planning and training were the major issues during three phases of project management. The largest number of respondents (56%) as being highly problematic perceived the issue of lack of training. All other issues that were identified as somewhat problematic were: improper timeframes and scheduling (59%), lack of strategic planning (50%), absence of written guidelines and procedures (53%), organizational culture (50%), existing processes and system (53%), adequate staffing (50%) and lack of technological compatibility between existing systems and software (50%). There were many recurrent gaps in project management of which inter and intra departmental coordination, effort estimation and changing framework came out to be the major ones. Some of the major challenges which the employees faced included improper time framing, changing requirements, lack of training, coordination between different departments and ego clashes between personnel.

Recommendations : The research in this study suggests that there are three primary results, which are shown here. The first is that—strategic planning is deficient for any project and is a problematic issue. Secondly, it is shown that interdepartmental coordination has proven to be a major factor in effective planning and implementation. Finally, it has shown that lack of training of employees is a highly problematic issue which needs to be addressed to improve efficiency in work and their expertise. Time estimates need to be as realistic as possible. Time estimating is best-guess using the available information, and establishing the right climate for estimates is essential to ensure accuracy. Scheduling and time estimates should be done after careful understanding requirements and existing capacity and competency. Requirement documents are a snapshot of the things and processes at the time when they are written. We may not accept each and every change that is asked for but keeping them aside may lead us missing on some important points. This change should also be effectively communicated between departments through proper documentation and physical meetings. This has two benefits, first the message is sent effectively and secondly meeting with different people involved in a project and discussing what led to changes and how will it help the project will instill confidence and team spirit amongst different team members.


x