Choosing the Appropriate Integration Approach in Systems Projects

摘要

This paper deals with the integration process in technological systems projects. The paper reviews the objectives of the integration process, planning and managing principles, as well as the pitfalls and difficulties associated with this process. The following integration approaches are described and analyzed: hardware-assisted versus software only, bottom-up versus top-down, and hierarchial versus functional approaches. Then, a case study that focuses on the third group-the hierarchial and functional approaches-is presented. Four projects that were conducted at the same firm have been examined. The case study attempts to determine whether there is a relation between these two integration approaches and project success. The findings of the case study show that-particularly when customer satisfaction is determined as a major goal-the hierarchial integration approach is preferable to the functional approach, with respect to project success.