Modelling IT projects success: Emerging methodologies reviewed

IT projects are different from and potentially more difficult than other engineering projects as they are characterised by high complexity and high chances of project failure. Therefore, it is important to identify those Critical Success Factors (CSFs) which increase the chances for project success. This paper reviews three emerging methodologies for identifying, classifying and evaluating CSFs in IT projects: Critical Success Chains (CSC), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCM). These three methodologies are compared; their advantages, disadvantages and limitations are analysed with the objective to provide decision-makers concerned with the success of an IT project with an understanding which will help them to identify the most suitable methodology in view of the project specifics and circumstances.