Information system success as impacted by risks and development strategies

The high failure rates long associated with information system (IS) projects, despite advances in techniques for information technology development, suggest that organizations need to improve their ability to identify and to manage associated risks. Until recently, studies of specific risks and successes were limited by the lack of formal measures that were both comprehensive and multifaceted. This paper proposes and tests a model based on literature that relates sources of risk to strategies and success. One hundred ninety-six project managers were surveyed to begin an exploration of the types of risks encountered, the impact they have on different categories of success, and the types of strategies that are deployed to mitigate known risks. Analysis of responses indicates that risk-reduction strategies influence success. Strategies involving behavioral aspects tend to be more influential in risk reduction than are those aimed at technical risks. Suggestions for both practitioners and researchers are discussed.