Page 1 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 4
April 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 72
The Effect of Project Management Information System on
Project Managers and Project Success
Shadi Fallah ; Yousef Gholipour-Kanani
Department of management, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran
shfallaah@gmail.com
Department of Industrial Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Qaemshahr, Iran
gholipourkanani@yahoo.com
Abstract. Project management information
system (PMIS) helps managers in decision
making, planning, organizing and controlling
the project. Based on the importance of
decision making, the aim of this study is
assessing the effects of PMIS on the project
management success. This study designed a
comprehensive model to evaluate the impact of
PMIS on the project management functions.
This model included five factors such as: PMIS
quality, the quality of output information of
PMIS, PMIS application, PMIS impact on
project management and the impact of PMIS
on the project success. This study conducted in
Iran in three dependent firms in Tehran
petroleum. Data of this research is collected by
using questionnaires from project managers.
Results demonstrated the crucial role of PMIS
on the project management success due to
better planning, proper scheduling, regulating
and controlling the project. At the end
limitation and suggestion for future study is
discussed.
Keywords: Project management information
system, decision making, planning, project
control.
INTRODUCTION
Information is one of the most important
capitals in the organizations, because all
physical facilities and environmental
decision making are affected by
information. Information can change
competitive aspects withing the
organization and lead to competitive
advantage. Morever, successful
organizations in information technology
can change competition characteristics in
the industry and benefit by being pioneer.
Due to the importance of project
management information system (PMIS) to
implement project faster, less expensive
and with higher quality, the general
expectation from project managers
enhanced (Welsch, 2006). Organizations
apply information systems in their
organizations to improve effeciency and
profitibility; through this way they can
adopt themselves easier to environmental
changes and attain updated information.
Also managers can estimated the project
costs, profits and budget by using PMIS.
In general, PMIS can be used in
Implementing activities, goods and
materials management, collecting and
classifying financial and non-financial
information, and storage of information.
Despite of the importance of PMIS, there
are still limited studies in this filed.
Previous studies mostly considered on
implementing information technology
instruments in the organizations. Morever,
due to importance of oil and gas projects
more research about PMIS is needed.
Because, in this industry PMIS can play
the key role in recognizing the suitable
resources, planning and scheduling, this
study has considered on the effect of
project management information system on
project managers and project success.
Forasmuch as PMIS accompanies
managers in all process of implementing
Page 2 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 4
April 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 73
project, this study aims to assess the effect
of PMIS on project managers. Also this
study targeted to evaluate the effect of
PMIS on project success. Furthermore, the
effects of PMIS on its application, project
management characteristics and quality of
outputs.
LITERATURE RIVIEW
An information system defined as ‘’ a set
of related components that assist to collect,
recovery, processing, storage and
distribution of information within the
organization’’ (Olson, 2004). This
information is very useful for decision
making and controlling the operation in an
organization. Managerial team can use this
information for analysis and making
decision about future product line. Also
Management information system defined
as ’’ series of tools which provide to
managers the required information in their
professional fields on time, accurate and in
appropriate conditions’’. Study of Welsch
(2006) indicated that MIS assists middle
managers through the provision of
information in appropriate formats
according to what they need.
According to Olson (2004) projects due to
their diverse and uniqueness are
structurally different from the current
organizational routines. Project
management is always more difficult than
regular administration and requires more
attention to different aspects of
organization. The project combines the
demands of the custodians, contractors and
other stakeholders; so to create unity
between all factors involved in the project,
appropriate techniques and utilities should
be exploited (Baker et al., 2009). Belout
(2003) in an empirical study considered on
the effects of PMIS on multi-project
environment. Results showed that using
project management information system is
beneficial for project managers. However,
no adverse effects have been observed due
to the project, and information overload.
Commonly projects implement in certain
time, cost and quality; they mostly done
only for one time. Therefore it is essential
to apply an instrument which helps
organization to do projects more effective
(Dietrich and Lehtonen, 2005). Also
another study has investigated the
Challenges in information systems projects
(Finch, 2003). Adams and Barndt (2008) in
their study showed that PMIS has a
positive effect on the management and
execution of construction projects and
managers should give careful consideration
to overcome the weaknesses of the project.
According to study of (Cooper et al., 2001)
during the projects some changes may
happen in process. Despite the theoretical
accuracy in the preparation of plans and
administered programs, managers should
carefully pay attention to using on time and
accurate information. Also project control
team requires different expertise to
accomplish the responsibilities as good as
possible (Dai and Wells, 2004). For the
purpose of control, various units should
send information to control project
department under proper discipline and
coordination. Particularly, the activities
which locate on the critical path of the
project should regularly monitor and
inspect to ensure that occurred delays don’t
lead to delay in entire project. Bozeman
and Kingsley (2007) showed that data
quality of PMIS is related positively to the
correct decisions, managers' satisfaction
from PMIS and increasing usage of PMIS
within the organization. Also this study
discussed about implementing multiple
Page 3 of 6
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
e-ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 02 Issue 4
April 2016
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 74
projects simultaneously causes that the
project managers expand the results of the
quality information for a project to all
existing projects. Based on
abovementioned literatures the following
hypotheses were proposed:
H1. PMIS quality is positively related to
output information quality.
H2. PMIS quality is positively related to
PMIS application and project management
factors.
H3. Output information quality of PMIS is
positively related to PMIS application and
project management factors.
H4. PMIS application influences positively
on project management factors.
H5. PMIS application influences positively
on project success factors.
H6. Project management factors influences
positively on project success.
METHODOLOGY
Data of this research attained by
distributing questionnaire which included
20 questions based on 6 main categories.
This study targeted project control
department of three firms which dependent
to Tehran Petroleum Company. Targeted
employees were 80 and all of them
participated in this research. According to
table of Morgan number of participants is
63. This study applied SPSS to test
normality of study population and
hypothesized relationships. Testing
normality of population evaluated by using
Kolmogorov–Smirnov test; also binominal
test applied to assess the hypothesized
relationships.
To consider on validity of questionnaire,
all questions reviewed by several scholars
and their opinions applied in the study
instrument. After discussion and making
some changes, the validity of questionnaire
approved by them. To test reliability of
questionnaire, this study applied Cronbach’
alpha and all values ranged between .76
and .85; Therefore, result demonstrated the
reliability of questionnaire. Scale format of
questionnaire was based on five-point
Likert scale (1=very low to 5=very high).
Table 1. Respondents information
Number Percentage
Gender:
Male 51
81%
Female 12 19%
Total 63 100%
