JISAR

Journal of Information Systems Applied Research

Volume 11

V11 N2 Pages 13-23

August 2018


An Exploratory Analysis of Gender Differences in IT Project Commitment, Continuation, and Escalation


Melinda Korzaan
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA

Amy Harris
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA

Nita Brooks
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132, USA


Abstract: This study examines the IT project environment with a focus on understanding gender differences that exist in key constructs known to influence project continuation. These constructs were chosen from two key streams of project-based research known to influence intention to continue: commitment and escalation. Commitment is a multi-faceted construct reflecting an individual’s need or desire to continue working on a project. Escalation is also multi-faceted construct that generally refers to an individual’s inclination to continue working on a project even in the face of negative information. Findings from a web-based survey resulted in 199 usable responses with the sample consisting of 56.7% males and 43.2% females. Data analysis revealed that gender differences existed in both continuance commitment and intention to continue the project. Differences were also found in constructs identified as being related to escalation within IT projects: desire for project success, negative information/status, over optimism, and sunk cost. Implications for these findings as well as directions for additional study are provided.

Keywords: Commitment, Escalation, Gender, IT Projects, Project Continuation

Download this article: JISAR - V11 N2 Page 13.pdf


Recommended Citation: Korzaan, M., Harris, A., Brooks, N. (2018). An Exploratory Analysis of Gender Differences in IT Project Commitment, Continuation, and Escalation. Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 11(2) pp 13-23. http://jisar.org/2018-11/ ISSN: 1946-1836. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of CONISAR 2017)