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Performers, trackers, lemmings and the lost: sustained false optimism in forecasting project outcomes—evidence from a quasi-experiment

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TLDR
In this article, the authors investigate whether optimism bias persists beyond the planning phase and into the execution phase, and if so, explore the reasons why, and demonstrate on-going or sustained false optimism.
Abstract
The consistently successful delivery of projects remains an ambition that many organisations do not achieve. Whilst the reasons behind project failure are many, one recognised factor is the ‘planning fallacy’ – over-optimism in the planning phase of a project. Whilst the planning phase of a project may be a battle for acceptance and resource allocation, the execution phase is a battle for delivery. Based on both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from a project management simulation, this study set out to establish whether optimism bias persists beyond the planning phase and into the execution phase, and, if so, to explore the reasons why. The results confirm the extent and impact of optimism bias in initial project planning. More importantly, the contribution of this study is to demonstrate on-going or sustained false optimism.

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Journal ArticleDOI

An Assessment of risk response strategies practiced in software projects

TL;DR: The paper attempts to address the risk response factors that lead to successful achievement of project scope & quality, schedule and cost targets, by using a series of regressions followed with Seemingly Unrelated Regression Equations (SURE) modelling.
Journal ArticleDOI

Undesirable framing effects in information systems projects: Analysis of adjective usage in IS project business cases

TL;DR: This article analyzed the usage of such framing in 20 business cases for large information systems (IS) projects of the Dutch government and found that newly proposed systems are systematically framed using positive adjectives, whereas the existing systems are framed using negative adjectives.
Journal ArticleDOI

Optimism Bias in Bidding: Contractors’ Horizontally Biased Estimating Behavior

TL;DR: In this article , the authors tried to answer whether bidders exhibit optimism bias-like behavior when bidding for construction projects and whether financial ramifications would follow, and they found that optimistic bias is one of the undisputed factors or reasons affecting cost underestimation and cost overrun.
Journal ArticleDOI

Toward a Deeper Understanding of Optimism Bias and Transport Project Cost Overrun

TL;DR: A review of literature on optimism bias and transport infrastructure project cost overruns can be found in this paper , where the authors identify significant gaps and unanswered questions about the relationship between optimism bias in project cost appraisal and cases of transport infrastructure cost overrun.
Journal ArticleDOI

Activating supply chain business models' value potentials through Systems Engineering

TL;DR: In this paper , the authors synthesize management science concepts such as strategic alignment with enterprise architecture concepts and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven business process optimization to increase innovation productivity and master the increasing rate of business dynamics at the same time.
References
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Book ChapterDOI

Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a critique of expected utility theory as a descriptive model of decision making under risk, and develop an alternative model, called prospect theory, in which value is assigned to gains and losses rather than to final assets and in which probabilities are replaced by decision weights.
Journal ArticleDOI

Perception of risk.

Paul Slovic
- 17 Apr 1987 - 
TL;DR: This research aims to aid risk analysis and policy-making by providing a basis for understanding and anticipating public responses to hazards and improving the communication of risk information among lay people, technical experts, and decision-makers.
Journal ArticleDOI

Unrealistic optimism about future life events

TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the tendency of people to be unrealistically optimistic about future life events and found that degree of desirability, perceived probability, personal experience, perceived controllability, and stereotype saliency would influence the amount of optimistic bias evoked by different events.
Journal Article

Judgement under uncertainty: heuristics and biasis

A Tversky, +1 more
- 01 Jan 1974 - 
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