A model for assisting software project managers to treat project teams as key stakeholders: What do experts say?

Abstract Project teams (PTs) are critical resources in the success of projects in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, as projects in this sector are highly dependent on human resources. Numerous researchers have written about the key role played by the PTs. However, PTs have not received commensurate recognition from their project managers (PMs) when it comes to the addressing of their needs and interests. ICT PTs have become forgotten stakeholders. In an effort to address the neglect of project teams by PMs, a model was developed by the authors of this paper to assist ICT PMs in treating PTs as key stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the refinement and evaluation process to which this model was subjected, using a two-phase Delphi methodology, using experienced experts comprising five PMs, twenty PT members as well as five academics. The data collected from the experts using interviews was analysed by means of statistical and qualitative methods. The results show that the experts have welcomed the use of the model in the ICT sector, acknowledging its suitability for a real-life project environment. Future studies should include the validation of the model in a real-life project environment.