Deadlines the key concern with IT projects

Companies would rather IT projects met their deadlines than met their budgets, according to a report from Spikes Cavell.

The research house conducted over 200 interviews with private sector IT managers and project managers to determine what are perceived as the most important measurements of success and the greatest barriers to success for IT projects.

"Communication is key," said Stephen Myler, business development director for Bull Information Systems' Systems Integration Division, which commissioned the report. "It is the number one indicator on whether a project is likely to succeed."

Clare Wood, project manager at Bull, explained that although companies might track formal reports and meetings, it is informal communication that actually holds the project team together. She admitted that Bull has not yet worked out a way of ensuring this happens.

Also high on project managers' agendas are the importance of risk assessment. The report appears to show that although most project managers are aware of the need for continuous risk assessment, a low proportion actually practice what they preach. Myler said this might be because they have their hands tied by superiors, who do not share their worries about risk.

The third concern for project managers is choosing the right supplier. Value for money is lower down on the list than attributes that inspire confidence in a supplier. Myler said this suggests companies are more concerned that their suppliers deliver on time and that they are much more prepared to tweak the brief and pay more than be stuck with an implementation that moves away form their business needs.