| dc.description.abstract | Working with cost management in complex projects in today’s society is a comprehensive task. The need for supporting tools is therefore increasing, where specific tools like Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) are becoming more necessary in order to manage projects more efficiently.
This thesis aims to investigate the effects of utilizing a PMIS called Project Information Management System (PIMS), and search for how the systems Cost Management Module (CMM) could contribute in the cost management processes in complex projects. Based on this, the research question was: What are the effects of utilizing the PIMS Cost Management Module in complex projects?
In order to detect a wide range of effects, we performed interviews with the developer of the system (Omega AS) as well as relevant customers with experience in using the PIMS CMM in the cost management of complex projects.
The research showed several positive effects of utilizing the CMM. By having a centralized database it enabled the companies to generate reliable and updated information to extract reports and execute analysis in order to improve project performance. Another effect was how the system had several features to simplify the cost management processes, such as the ability to allocate human resources as well as timephase costs. However, some issues concerning transfer and loss or lack of information were mentioned as negative effects. In addition factors emerged that could have an impact on utilizing the system successfully, such as the need to apply various additional tools and to acquire sufficient knowledge about, and experience with, the system. To summarize, a common agreement was that utilizing the PIMS CMM was necessary in order to efficiently execute cost management in complex projects, but that there are some potential improvements to the system.
From our research the effects supported by theory were: centralized database, improved project performance, simplified processes, change management and historical information and experience. The effects that could be considered as supplements to the existing theory were: reduced dependency, higher quality of information and issues regarding information. Additional tools and ease of use were categorized as factors that could have an impact on achieving the effects. | nb_NO |
