Risk management affecting IS/IT project success through communicative action

Project risk management is defined in the literature as being instrumental action based on rational problem solving. Research indicates limited positive effects of an exclusive focus of instrumental action on project success. This article proposes to extend this instrumental view through communicative action. This theoretical broadening was explored by interviewing project stakeholders about project success and risk management application. Analysis demonstrates stakeholders deliberately use risk management to convey messages to others, with the aim of influencing their behavior, synchronizing their perception, and making them aware of the context and their responsibilities. Stakeholders perceive these effects as contributing to project success.