Relevance: a framework to address preconceptions that limit perceptions of what is relevant
International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
ISSN: 1753-8378
Article publication date: 7 September 2015
Abstract
Purpose
Erroneous perceptions of relevance contribute to business projects not being successful. Although the importance of relevance is recognized in the project management literature, thus far there has not been a formal framework for addressing erroneous perceptions of relevance. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a framework for identifying and counteracting erroneous perceptions of relevance.
Design/methodology/approach
The research comprised review of the literature relating to factors that contribute to, and methods that counteract, erroneous perceptions of relevance.
Findings
Contributory factors to erroneous perceptions of relevance include cultural cognition, path dependencies, lock-ins, fads, and hype. Mediating factors include priming and questioning, counterfactual reasoning, and optimal stopping.
Research limitations/implications
A classification of erroneous perceptions of relevance is introduced Type III (inept positive) errors, Type II (false negative) errors, and Type I (false positive) errors. This terminology has the advantage of already being known to academics through statistical hypothesis testing, and to practitioners through process capability studies.
Practical implications
The introduction of a framework for identifying and counteracting erroneous perceptions of relevance can better enable practitioners to make the selection of relevant concepts and technologies for projects – a capable process.
Originality/value
The originality of this research note is that it provides a framework that can be applied to increase objectivity in perceptions of relevance. The value of this research note is that it introduces a framework for identifying and counteracting erroneous perceptions of relevance before the application of methods such as cost-benefit analysis.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: EU Grant No. 609027.
Citation
Fox, S. (2015), "Relevance: a framework to address preconceptions that limit perceptions of what is relevant", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 804-812. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-05-2015-0040
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited