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The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between project delivery success factors, project management tools, software, and methods.

A statistical analysis was undertaken using data from a survey from a purposive sample of 150 participants across three countries (Australia, Canada and the UK). The findings were used to consider the relationships between project success factors, project management tools, software, and methods.

The findings reveal certain insights in the use of tools and methodologies. Of all the variables measured, the number of project management tools used and the number of risk tools used showed the highest direct correlation. It was therefore surmised that the use of tools from one of these categories is often coincident with the use of tools from the other category. Also, the use of project management tools exhibited less variability as compared to use of information communication technology support tools and risk management tools. In addition, use of formal project management methods exhibited less variability than use of formal decision‐making methods. Therefore, it is suggested that use of project management tools and methods is more consistent across the organizations studied, as compared to other tools and methods.

This paper extends the survey findings of an international 2011 study and sheds light on the use of project management and related tools and methods.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a project‐specific version of the Formal Systems Model that can be used by project managers and other professionals to identify actual or potential weaknesses in a project's structure or processes and to look for difficulties in the relationships between the project and the context in which it is or will be taking place.

The paper uses research findings to show how the model was developed and to demonstrate the utility of the approach taken.

A model that is based upon the Formal Systems Model but which is accessible to those who are not fluent in the language of systems thinking and not familiar with its concepts is developed and its utility is demonstrated. Its use in a real‐life project situation is also demonstrated.

The model that is presented provides a robust means of helping project managers avoid failure.

This paper is based on primary research and provides the first full introduction to the project‐specific version of the Formal Systems Model.

The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a survey designed to: capture the “real world” experiences of people active in project management (PM) in Australia, Canada and the UK; determine the extent to which those involved in the management of projects make use of the methods and techniques that are available; and discover how effective the methods and techniques are felt to be.

A questionnaire comprising 24 questions with a mixture of yes/no, Likert‐scale, multiple choice and open questions was developed. These were designed so that the data gathered could be compared with the results of a similar survey conducted in the UK a decade ago. Professional networks and direct e‐mails were used to distribute the survey electronically to potential respondents who were actively involved in PM in the three countries. A total of 150 responses are used in the analysis, 50 from each country.

The results show that there are many areas where the experiences, practices and views are similar across all three countries and are comparable to the earlier UK survey. However, as is often the case, it is perhaps the differences that are of most interest and these are commented upon throughout the paper.

This paper sheds light on current practice across three countries and presents a useful historical perspective on PM trends in practice and rates of credentialization of those surveyed. It also provides useful quantitative results that can be used to more broadly speculate and make sense of other qualitative studies.

Idea generation is central to many quality improvement methods and techniques but examination of that part of the quality literature which relates to problem‐solving improvement shows a remarkable concentration on just one technique‐brainstorming. Examines the drawbacks of brainstorming and puts forward two further idea‐generation techniques which the author has found particularly useful in the context of quality problem solving.

The purpose of this paper is to set out the results of a study of a major landmark construction project and to use systems thinking to shed light on the organisation, management and performance of the project.

The three main methods of gathering the data were a series of formal and informal interviews with representatives of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council and their main project partner Harbour and General, regular visits to the main construction site and the secondary site where the bridge was pre‐fabricated and an extensive study of newspaper and magazine articles, Council minutes and memoranda and other relevant literature. The paper also employs a systems‐based approach whereby the project is represented as a system and compared with an ideal model of a system that is capable of purposeful action without failure.

This paper has shown that shown that, although many aspects of the management of this construction project such as its decision‐making processes were very effective, the project was over budget and significantly late. Analysis using systems thinking has been able to reveal that the problems encountered during the construction were caused by unforeseen environmental influences and failure to appreciate the viewpoints of those directly and indirectly affected by the project. It is suggested that the lessons learned from investigating this project in real time can provide a valuable insight into understanding the challenges faced by similar projects.

Unlike many reports of similar‐sized projects, this case study uses data gathered throughout the life of a lengthy construction project. It uses these data to conduct an assessment of project performance and evaluate the way the project was managed. The method used to do this is transferable to a wide variety of design and engineering projects and is of value to academics and practitioners alike.

The purpose of this paper is to explore, through a case study, and using Pawson and Tilley's notion of context-mechanism-outcome configurations, how a sectoral innovation system (SIS) for health technologies has developed.

The case study data were collected as part of a large study that looked at technology innovation and adoption in the UK's National Health Service and were collected using an interpretive case study methodology. Primary data came from interviews and secondary data from published sources, including articles authored by members of the innovation team.

The paper identifies three specific configurations of context, mechanism and outcome that were important in the case and discusses how these contribute to a broader understanding of a healthcare services SIS.

Research conducted through a single case study is open to the criticism that its findings are not generalisable but it has offered an economical way of gaining a deep description of a situation and an understanding of the contextual factors affecting a phenomenon. The paper presents a refined model for understanding SISs that though primarily rooted within the healthcare care sector has potential for application in other sectors, especially those that encompass a significant public-sector component.

The paper's findings and conclusions have relevance to healthcare service innovation policy development. The findings will also be useful to professionals responsible for innovation projects and their support within the sector.

The paper makes an important contribution to the understanding of a SIS for healthcare services as well as refining a general model of SISs.

The purpose of this paper is to question whether the emphasis placed within translational research on a linear model of innovation provides the most effective model for managing health technology innovation. Several alternative perspectives are presented that have potential to enhance the existing model of translational research. A case study is presented of innovation of a clinical decision support system. The paper concludes from the case study that an extending the triple helix model of technology transfer, to one based on a quadruple helix, present a basis for improving the performance translational research.

A case study approach is used to help understand development of an innovative technology within a teaching hospital. The case is then used to develop and refine a model of the health technology innovation system.

The paper concludes from the case study that existing models of translational research could be refined further through the development of a quadruple helix model of heath technology innovation that encompasses greater emphasis on user-led and open innovation perspectives.

The paper presents several implications for future research based on the need to enhance the model of health technology innovation used to guide policy and practice.

The quadruple helix model of innovation that is proposed can potentially guide alterations to the existing model of translational research in the healthcare sector. Several suggestions are made for how innovation activity can be better supported at both a policy and operational level.

This paper presents a synthesis of the innovation literature applied to a theoretically important case of open innovation in the UK National Health Service. It draws in perspectives from other industrial sectors and applies them specifically to the management and organisation of innovation activities around health technology and the services in which they are embedded.

This paper seeks to record the author's personal reflections on his career as a marketing scholar.

Personal reflections are provided in an autobiographical approach.

The author's career as a student, teacher, and scholar are described in some detail.

This paper records events and memories that might otherwise be forgotten. No other such account has been published of William Lazer's career.

One of the central tenets of total quality control is that responsibility for quality lies at the point of production. Salancik′s model of commitment is used to describe systems of work organisation which encourage employees to take on this responsibility. Commitment to quality can be fostered by managing the context within which production takes place. Management of the human aspects of total quality control may be informed by relevant ideas from the commitment literature.