Combining Project Management Methods : a Case Study of Distributed Work Practices

• Distribution is a multifaceted concept and one aspect concerns the adoption of ideas from a combination of methods for project management. Such distribution imposes new demands on project management and coordination since the project management aspect is an integral part of information systems development methods. This paper reports from a case study of coordinating project management practices in a commercial development method and an in-house method for project management. In order to conduct the study of how methods are combined and utilized, one of the researchers followed a development project for six months. The general aim of the project under study is to replace the numerous system registers in use with one general register, which will aid in making system maintenance more efficient. The project also has two organisational goals: to give the team members an opportunity to use RUP in a real project setting; and to introduce new technology and a new development tool. The study highlights the importance of taking a start in current work practice as opposed to focusing on the new method as such. In summary, we stress the importance of taking a start in the work practice in terms of a method in use as opposed to method proponents’ push for new methods. Any long term change in work practices has to be internalised by the stakeholders in the practical context of method use. Hence, the case study presented here adds to the body of knowledge which distinguishes between the method as used and the method as prescribed by its proponents.

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