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International Journal of Project Management 33 (2015) 808 815
www.elsevier.com/locate/ijproman
Abstract
This paper reviews the problems, approaches and analytical models on project control systems and discusses the possible research extensions.
We focused on literature in Earned Value Analysis (EVA), optimization tools, and the design of decision support systems (DSS) that will
contribute to helping project managers in planning and controlling under uncertain project environments. The review reveals that further research is
essential to develop analytical models using EVA metrics to forecast project performance. It also suggests that DSS should be model driven,
function as early warning systems and should be integrated to commercial project management software.
2014 Elsevier Ltd. APM and IPMA. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Project management; Project monitoring and control; Earned Value Analysis; Decision support systems; Project management software
1. Introduction
Projects are one of the most important components of
today's organizations. In almost any firm and sector, organizations are becoming more and more project based. This may
be perceived as a consequence of the contemporary management
practices that have transformed organizations from hierarchical to
more flat ones. As they have receded from a hierarchical and
isolated nature, projects have become the medium for interdepartmental or even inter-organizational activities. Another
factor that reinforces the rise of projects is the increasing
competitive pressure. Competition, becoming fierce day by day,
leads the firms to seek excellence in accomplishing the tasks.
This pursuit of excellence in management has increased the
importance of coordination, monitoring and control functions.
From this perspective, project based organizational structures
support accomplishing specific purposes/outcomes, focusing on
responsibility and authority, ensuring better control and coordination, and facilitating better communication and customer
relationships (Meredith and Mantel, 2011).
E-mail address: oncu.hazir@tedu.edu.tr.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.09.005
0263-7863/00/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. APM and IPMA. All rights reserved.
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