Exploring temporal dimensions of benefits realisation management in agile IT environments

Abstract

This study explored the temporal dimensions of benefits realisation management (BRM) in agile IT project management environments. BRM, focused on aligning strategy with project execution, is inherently temporal, requiring the consideration of past, present, and future outcomes, as well as both short- and long-term benefits. This research explored BRM in agile IT project management through a temporal lens. Adopting a 'time as process' lens, our interest was in how actors collectively negotiate, enact, and interconnect the present, past, and future. Through qualitative interviews and a focus group, we examined how agile methods, specifically Scrum and SAFe, interact with BRM processes across different time perspectives. The findings identify challenges such as (1) limited availability of past project data, (2) neglect of long-term benefits, and (3) lack of harmonisation between past, present, and future considerations in benefits realisation. The paper contributes to project management literature by emphasising the importance of temporal leadership in navigating these challenges and improving the harmonisation of past, present, and future actions in BRM.