Abstract

This qualitative study analyses the lived experiences of project members who worked in a three-year-long inter-organizational information system (IOIS) project. The IOIS project spanned nine organizations. The data was gathered by means of narrative stories, observations of project meetings, diaries, project memoranda and emails sent by project members to each other during these years. This study used dramaturgical theory by Goffman (1959, 1963, 1974) as a lens to view emotional issues in an IOIS project to further the understanding of the human issue of project management.We also demonstrate how a dramaturgical perspective to assess emotional issues not only helps our understanding of inter-organisational information systems but also improves management of projects and further contributes to system success. The paper concludes by discussing theoretical and practical implications of our findings.

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