Effects of the Information Presentation Format on Project Control

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the information presentation format and project control. Furthermore, the effects of some system conditions, namely the number of projects to be controlled and the level of time pressure, on the quality of the project control decisions are analyzed. Information provided by Earned Value Analysis is used to monitor and control projects, and simulation is applied to replicate and model the uncertain project environments. Software is developed to generate random cost figures, to present the data in different visual forms and to collect users' responses. Having performed the experiments, the statistical significance of the results is tested. Journal of the Operational Research Society (2011) 62, 2157-2161. doi: 10.1057/jors.2011.11 Published online 2 March 2011