Influence factor model
External factors affect business tasks. These so-called influence factors require special attention in planning and realizing tasks and projects to ensure successful conclusion and prevent unwanted surprises. The influence categories bundle factors (e.g., values, expectations) that unconsciously impact each participant's doing. These factors affect by subtly suggesting solutions. For example, in an institutionalized decision-making process, alternative ways of decision-making are not considered. The categories are long-term aspects like culture, medium-term aspects like organization, and short-term aspects like the economy. Technology has a unique role because it comprises long-, mid- and short-term influences. Each area consists of influence factors, which can be further detailed and expanded.
The influence factor model consists of four categories (culture, organization, economy, and technology) explained in the following.
- Culture
Culture is an influence category that emerges during a longer period and is valid for specific organizations, societies, and cultures. Cultural influence factors, like values, commitment amplifiers, and behavior patterns, are valid across organizational borders. They are covered by organizational influence factors and seem to be suppressed into the background. They persist subconsciously and create thereby intangible resistance that has to be resolved with substantial administrative effort. They promote common identity, co-operation, and behavior standards and often inhibit change. For intercultural projects, it is highly suggested to recognize the related cultures.
- Organization
Organizational influence factors result from the self-understanding of a group. Structures that describe roles and governance elements (e.g., principles, guidelines, strategy) are defined, directly and indirectly. Beyond that, every organization has different expectations that are usually not documented (e.g., conventions and opinions). To consider expectations requires special attention to be recognized (e.g., dialogue with all participants). The organizational influence factors are developed within the respective organization. For inter-organizational projects, it is highly suggested to recognize the related organizational influence factors.
- Economy
Economy describes the factors that define economic limits. At the first view, they are considered restricting factors. In reality, the specification of the economic conditions often extends the scope of action. It helps to describe these factors explicitly to avoid self-restraint, which results from assumptions and anticipatory obedience. The relevant economic factors are internal resources (people, material, infrastructure, and capital) and the external market situation (e.g., customer behavior, supplier market, competitive position). The pro-active review of the economic factors ensures the use of the available resources.
- Technology
Technology plays a unique role in today's tasks since it exerts a considerable power of influence as an essential business solution element. It enables new business models and solution types. However, it can obligate the participants to stay for a long time with a solution due to its life cycle and its integration into the landscape. Information Technology powerfully penetrates business with its application and infrastructure coverage. Nevertheless, in other technological areas, new technologies emerge more and more as success factors, e.g., medicine or environmental technology. The influence factors achievement and life cycle are somewhat measurable and objective. Acceptance and quality are subjective influence factors that need particular approaches (e.g., public surveys). Due to the long-term effects of technology, the current infrastructure, and new technologies, the upcoming, long-term impact should be reviewed.
The present model covers substantial influence factors but might not cover all influences. Therefore, regularly ask the following question: Are there further influence factors that are not considered yet?