The continuity of underperforming ICT projects in the public sector

Abstract

The continuity of underperforming ICT projects in the public sector AbstractThere is a growing body of research on the successes and failures of information and communications technology (ICT) projects in the public sector. However, this literature has rarely addressed the question: why do some projects persist and continue despite functioning poorly in several areas. In this paper, we suggest that the notions of institutional logics and status differences provide useful insights into the structure and trajectory of such a continuity.We build our arguments through an in-depth qualitative case study of a public information and communications technology (PICT) project in India. From our findings, we develop a process model of PICT project continuity. We explain how bureaucratic posturing -a manifestation of bureaucratic logic -when employed as a tactic by high status groups, lead to poor performance on several fronts. The paper elaborates on two levels of continuity: policylevel continuity, which in our case was enabled by the logics of decentralization and technocracy, and operational-level continuity, which was achieved when groups with contrasting status-related motivations supported the project.

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