{"id":"https://openalex.org/W1537188161","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","title":"Understanding Runaway Information Technology Projects: Results from an International Research Program Based on Escalation Theory","display_name":"Understanding Runaway Information Technology Projects: Results from an International Research Program Based on Escalation Theory","publication_year":1994,"publication_date":"1994-12-01","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W1537188161","doi":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","mag":"1537188161"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S9954729","display_name":"Journal of Management Information Systems","issn_l":"0742-1222","issn":["0742-1222","1557-928X"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320547","host_organization_name":"Taylor & Francis","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320547"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Taylor & Francis"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Management Information Systems","raw_type":"journal-article"},"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":false,"oa_status":"closed","oa_url":null,"any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5050779192","display_name":"Mark Keil","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9203-2277"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Mark Keil","raw_affiliation_strings":["View further author information"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"View further author information","institution_ids":[]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5007790291","display_name":"Richard Mixon","orcid":null},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Richard Mixon","raw_affiliation_strings":["View further author information"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"View further author information","institution_ids":[]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5017490778","display_name":"Timo Saarinen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7117-2120"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Timo Saarinen","raw_affiliation_strings":["View further author information"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"View further author information","institution_ids":[]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5087621565","display_name":"Virpi Kristiina Tuunainen","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5758-6925"},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Virpi Tuunainen","raw_affiliation_strings":["View further author information"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"View further author information","institution_ids":[]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":4,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":1.8315,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":101,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.83615978,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":{"min":90,"max":99},"biblio":{"volume":"11","issue":"3","first_page":"65","last_page":"85"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11810","display_name":"Complex Systems and Decision Making","score":0.987500011920929,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1803","display_name":"Management Science and Operations Research"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/18","display_name":"Decision Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11810","display_name":"Complex Systems and Decision Making","score":0.987500011920929,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1803","display_name":"Management Science and Operations Research"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/18","display_name":"Decision Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10430","display_name":"Software Engineering Techniques and Practices","score":0.9854000210762024,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1710","display_name":"Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T11572","display_name":"Information Technology Governance and Strategy","score":0.967199981212616,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1404","display_name":"Management Information Systems"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/14","display_name":"Business, Management and Accounting"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/sunk-costs","display_name":"Sunk costs","score":0.8233950138092041},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/phenomenon","display_name":"Phenomenon","score":0.745446503162384},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/escalation-of-commitment","display_name":"Escalation of commitment","score":0.7185754776000977},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/context","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","score":0.6200142502784729},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/information-system","display_name":"Information system","score":0.510810375213623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/action","display_name":"Action (physics)","score":0.4940948784351349},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/information-technology","display_name":"Information technology","score":0.4568546414375305},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/project-management","display_name":"Project management","score":0.45439743995666504},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/research-program","display_name":"Research program","score":0.42036908864974976},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/business","display_name":"Business","score":0.3828922510147095},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/knowledge-management","display_name":"Knowledge management","score":0.3685981035232544},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science","display_name":"Computer science","score":0.36559492349624634},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/public-relations","display_name":"Public relations","score":0.3248341679573059},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/economics","display_name":"Economics","score":0.3094266653060913},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/management","display_name":"Management","score":0.28021514415740967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/political-science","display_name":"Political science","score":0.20646032691001892},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/microeconomics","display_name":"Microeconomics","score":0.12109431624412537}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C79179835","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q958242","display_name":"Sunk costs","level":2,"score":0.8233950138092041},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C50335755","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q483247","display_name":"Phenomenon","level":2,"score":0.745446503162384},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C158981924","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3799353","display_name":"Escalation of commitment","level":2,"score":0.7185754776000977},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779343474","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3109175","display_name":"Context (archaeology)","level":2,"score":0.6200142502784729},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C180198813","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q121182","display_name":"Information system","level":2,"score":0.510810375213623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780791683","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q846785","display_name":"Action (physics)","level":2,"score":0.4940948784351349},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121017731","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11661","display_name":"Information technology","level":2,"score":0.4568546414375305},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C15952604","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179012","display_name":"Project management","level":2,"score":0.45439743995666504},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778035492","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7315176","display_name":"Research program","level":2,"score":0.42036908864974976},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144133560","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4830453","display_name":"Business","level":0,"score":0.3828922510147095},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C56739046","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192060","display_name":"Knowledge management","level":1,"score":0.3685981035232544},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.36559492349624634},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39549134","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133080","display_name":"Public relations","level":1,"score":0.3248341679573059},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162324750","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8134","display_name":"Economics","level":0,"score":0.3094266653060913},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C187736073","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2920921","display_name":"Management","level":1,"score":0.28021514415740967},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C17744445","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q36442","display_name":"Political science","level":0,"score":0.20646032691001892},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C175444787","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39072","display_name":"Microeconomics","level":1,"score":0.12109431624412537},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C199539241","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7748","display_name":"Law","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121332964","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q413","display_name":"Physics","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111472728","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471","display_name":"Epistemology","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C138885662","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891","display_name":"Philosophy","level":0,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111919701","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9135","display_name":"Operating system","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C62520636","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q944","display_name":"Quantum mechanics","level":1,"score":0.0},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C151730666","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7205","display_name":"Paleontology","level":1,"score":0.0}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","is_oa":false,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.1994.11518050","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S9954729","display_name":"Journal of Management Information Systems","issn_l":"0742-1222","issn":["0742-1222","1557-928X"],"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/P4310320547","host_organization_name":"Taylor & Francis","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310320547"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Taylor & Francis"],"type":"journal"},"license":null,"license_id":null,"version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"Journal of Management Information Systems","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":null,"sustainable_development_goals":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":43,"referenced_works":["https://openalex.org/W91975816","https://openalex.org/W576153743","https://openalex.org/W628172195","https://openalex.org/W1517560247","https://openalex.org/W1526525204","https://openalex.org/W1666649037","https://openalex.org/W1966114254","https://openalex.org/W1967966640","https://openalex.org/W1984877325","https://openalex.org/W1996874724","https://openalex.org/W2009822858","https://openalex.org/W2010123235","https://openalex.org/W2014877462","https://openalex.org/W2042888638","https://openalex.org/W2047174296","https://openalex.org/W2049704651","https://openalex.org/W2052405237","https://openalex.org/W2067915089","https://openalex.org/W2080031489","https://openalex.org/W2130173750","https://openalex.org/W2133469585","https://openalex.org/W2153744606","https://openalex.org/W2162477530","https://openalex.org/W2163737472","https://openalex.org/W2169517738","https://openalex.org/W2171816001","https://openalex.org/W2297612634","https://openalex.org/W2324135921","https://openalex.org/W2329849488","https://openalex.org/W2492742972","https://openalex.org/W2493097425","https://openalex.org/W2610798843","https://openalex.org/W2798326610","https://openalex.org/W2955541030","https://openalex.org/W2983995785","https://openalex.org/W3011865677","https://openalex.org/W3141049634","https://openalex.org/W4245458463","https://openalex.org/W4285719527","https://openalex.org/W4299601558","https://openalex.org/W4300107936","https://openalex.org/W4401286428","https://openalex.org/W4408504024"],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W1999883556","https://openalex.org/W2355564889","https://openalex.org/W2126245135","https://openalex.org/W2982441946","https://openalex.org/W1997063670","https://openalex.org/W2779061901","https://openalex.org/W1580630839","https://openalex.org/W1966974211","https://openalex.org/W2066551474","https://openalex.org/W4286621017"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Abstract:Information":[0],"technology":[1,242],"(IT)":[2],"projects":[3],"can":[4,12,87],"fail":[5],"for":[6,18,323],"any":[7],"number":[8],"of":[9,26,44,66,98,101,109,131,158,192,199,232,240,260,269,317,339,349,358,370,389,397,419,432,441,450,458,464,477,485,499,520,531],"reasons,":[10],"and":[11,80,123,151,173,230,237,245,267,326,328,346,356,376,399,417,429,454,461,487,501,534],"result":[13],"in":[14,115,167,196,210,219,252,292,336,386,406,408,439,474,511,543],"considerable":[15],"financial":[16],"losses":[17],"the":[19,36,55,81,96,107,160,164,170,197,215,228,238,261,270,315,337,340,350,359,387,394,415,475,482,496],"organizations":[20],"that":[21,28,39,51,127],"undertake":[22],"them.":[23],"One":[24],"pattern":[25],"failure":[27,525],"has":[29,249,333,367,436,538],"been":[30,71,250,334],"observed":[31,114],"but":[32],"seldom":[33],"studied":[34],"is":[35,188,279,381,469,502],"runaway":[37],"project":[38,145,179,226,313,377],"takes":[40],"on":[41,163,184,243,264,274,343,353,363,425,508],"a":[42,63,99,128,281,304,373],"life":[43],"its":[45],"own.":[46],"Such":[47],"projccts":[48],"exhibit":[49],"characteristics":[50],"are":[52],"consistent":[53],"with":[54,284,422],"broader":[56],"phenomenon":[57,108],"known":[58],"as":[59,303,372],"escalating":[60,110,175],"commitment":[61,111,141],"to":[62,73,104,138,142,148,320],"failing":[64],"course":[65],"action.":[67],"Several":[68],"theories":[69],"have":[70],"offered":[72],"explain":[74],"this":[75,150],"phenomenon,":[76],"including":[77],"self-justification":[78],"theory":[79],"so-called":[82],"sunk":[83,132],"cost":[84,133,181],"effect":[85],"which":[86],"be":[88,113],"explained":[89],"by":[90],"prospect":[91],"theory.":[92],"This":[93],"paper":[94,161],"discusses":[95],"results":[97],"series":[100],"experiments":[102,120],"designed":[103],"test":[105],"whether":[106],"could":[112],"an":[116,143,155,189,382,423,470],"IT":[117,144],"context":[118],"Multiple":[119],"conducted":[121],"within":[122],"across":[124],"cultures":[125],"suggest":[126],"high":[129],"level":[130],"may":[134],"influence":[135],"decision":[136],"makers":[137],"escalate":[139],"their":[140],"In":[146],"addition":[147],"discussing":[149],"other":[152],"findings":[153],"from":[154,214,296,495],"ongoing":[156],"stream":[157],"research,":[159],"focuses":[162],"challenges":[165],"faced":[166],"carrying":[168],"out":[169],"experiments.Key":[171],"Words":[172],"Phrases::":[174],"commitmentescalationinformation":[176],"systems":[177,213,295,374,421,433,510,546],"failurerunawaysoftware":[178],"managementsunk":[180],"Additional":[182],"informationNotes":[183],"contributorsMark":[185],"KeilMark":[186],"Keil":[187],"Assistant":[190],"Professor":[191,385],"Computer":[193],"Information":[194,265,354,390,443,445,451,455,465,478],"Systems":[195,282,391,459,479],"College":[198],"Business":[200,217,400,488],"Administration":[201],"at":[202,393,481],"Georgia":[203,297],"State":[204,298],"University.":[205],"He":[206,288,366,402,435],"received":[207,289,403,491],"his":[208,290,404],"D.B.A.":[209],"management":[211,418,431],"information":[212,233,241,294,409,420,521,532,545],"Harvard":[216],"School":[218,396,484,498],"1991.":[220],"His":[221,247,308,331,411],"research":[222,248,306,309,332,412,516],"interests":[223,310,413,517],"include":[224,311,414,518],"software":[225,312,324],"management,":[227,314],"development":[229],"implementation":[231],"systems,":[234,522,529],"human/computer":[235],"interaction,":[236],"impacts":[239,530],"individuals":[244],"organizations.":[246,536],"published":[251,335,437,539],"Sloan":[253],"Management":[254,442],"Review,":[255],"Decision":[256],"Support":[257],"Systems,":[258,266,355,444,452],"Proceedings":[259,268,338,348,357],"International":[262,272,351,361],"Conference":[263,273,342,352,362],"Hawaii":[271,360],"System":[275,364],"Sciences.Richard":[276],"MixonRichard":[277],"Mixon":[278],"currently":[280,503],"Analyst":[283],"Oxford":[285],"Books,":[286],"Inc.":[287],"M.S.":[291],"computer":[293],"University":[299],"where":[300],"he":[301],"worked":[302],"graduate":[305],"assistant.":[307],"application":[316],"artificial":[318],"intelligence":[319],"computer-aided":[321],"tools":[322],"design":[325],"development,":[327],"algorithmic":[329],"processes.":[330],"Allerton":[341],"Communication,":[344],"Control,":[345],"Computing,":[347],"Sciences.":[365],"twelve":[368],"years":[369],"experience":[371],"analyst":[375],"manager.Timo":[378],"SaarinenTimo":[379],"Saarinen":[380],"Acting":[383,471],"Associate":[384],"Department":[388,476],"Science":[392,480],"Helsinki":[395,483,497],"Economics":[398,486],"Administration.":[401,489],"Ph.D.":[405],"1993":[407],"systems.":[410],"economics":[416,519],"emphasis":[424],"organization,":[426],"competitive":[427],"evaluation,":[428],"risk":[430],"development.":[434],"articles":[438],"Journal":[440,449,457,463],"&":[446],"Management,":[447,460],"European":[448,544],"Behavior":[453],"Technology,":[456],"Scandinavian":[462],"Systems.Virpi":[466],"TuunainenVirpi":[467],"TuUNAINEN":[468],"Senior":[472],"Lecturer":[473],"She":[490,537],"her":[492,505,540],"master's":[493],"degree":[494],"Economics,":[500],"preparing":[504],"doctoral":[506],"dissertation":[507],"interorganizational":[509,528],"dyadic":[512],"factory-subcontractor":[513],"relationships.":[514],"Her":[515],"success":[523],"or":[524],"ofIS":[526],"investments,":[527],"technology,":[533],"network":[535],"earlier":[541],"work":[542],"conferences.":[547]},"counts_by_year":[{"year":2026,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2025,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2024,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2023,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2022,"cited_by_count":4},{"year":2020,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2019,"cited_by_count":2},{"year":2018,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2017,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2016,"cited_by_count":3},{"year":2015,"cited_by_count":1},{"year":2014,"cited_by_count":9},{"year":2013,"cited_by_count":5},{"year":2012,"cited_by_count":6}],"updated_date":"2026-06-11T09:08:48.828518","created_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00"}