Sample Case Study On Support To The Answer

Questions

Is it the incompetency of the project development teams that led to failure to deliver the standard accepted system for knowledge management?

Is it not the problem of management that led to project implementation failure?

Answer question (b)
With reference to the case study, it is true to say that the problem of management led to the failure to successfully implement knowledge management project.

If proper management was practiced, then the management could have planned on how to train users so that they are comfortable with the system. When Rita reports that that the project is not being used as it is supposed to be used, it becomes a clear indication that systems are just being development without considering users in mind. As a result, the implemented system becomes a strange product to them contrary to their expectation. The second evidence of management problem is seen where Andrew talked of “This is your project. This is mine”. This implies that the project teams are operating differently, showing lack of corporate aspect of management and consequently lack of team players. The third evidence is the issue of losing experts from PTA which is only realized when an individual has gone. This is mentioned by Bob in the case study. Failure to retain this highly skilled workforce has contributed inability to achieve the long term vision as part of TPA information technology strategic plan.

Supporting arguments for the different sides

The project failures depicted in the case study may not be brought about by poor management. The example of share drives, SharePoint project, and other tools for knowledge management was not a failure as such. They only appeared to be failures at some point. The attempt to implement a new system like SharePoint Project made users to go back and prefer to use the former systems even more efficiently. In real sense, there is no way a system that was once considered ineffective by users can suddenly become effective only after the implementation of a new one to replace it. This simply means that it is the users who are resistant to change.
But if it is true that the users are resistant to change, then this can still be a problem of management. This is because it is the responsibility of management to catalyze and drive the change process. In other words, if the systems were not failure, then the same management that was responsible for the project success should also be responsible for the change by ensuring that there is high usage of the project.