Personality And IT Project Team Makeup

Abstract

IT project success continues to present major problems for organizations.  The CHAOS survey results for 2004 report that only 29% of IT projects were considered successful, 53% were challenged, and 18% were considered failures.  Many of these problems are avoidable and it is important to understand the various success factors associated with IT projects.  This study provides insight into improving these inadequate IT project outcomes by investigating the influence of IT project team member personality traits on project success factors. The “Big Five” factor model of personality is utilized to measure team member personality characteristics.  Relationships between the Big Five personality traits and the project success factors of “on schedule” and “quality” are evaluated.  Results indicate the personality trait of extroversion is positively associated with keeping the project on schedule, while the trait of openness to experience is negatively associated with keeping the project on schedule.  In addition, conscientiousness was found to have a positive influence on project quality.  Agreeableness was not evaluated and no significant relationship was found between emotional stability and project success.