THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE, AND MECHANISM OF, ON-BOARD PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE FAILURE IN THE CHINESE RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

Abstract

Objective: The paper aims to explore the factors that cause the software failure of on-board PISs in China’ rail transit and to determine how these factors affect the software outcome to construct a mechanism of influencing factors on software failure based on which empirical improvement solutions can be recommended. Method: The study carries out mixed-method research by combining quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis. First the semi-structured interview contents are inductively processed with the aid of Nvivo to code the information and to identify the factors influencing software failure. The literature review and an industry expert questionnaire help to construct the influencing factor system, and then the DEMATEL method is used for quantitative analysis of the causal relationships between different factors. Finally, the questionnaire survey and structural equation analysis quantitatively define the action path of the factors that influence PIS software failure. Result: The factors that influence, and the mechanism of, PIS software failure are studied from the perspective of external market factors and internal organizational factors. The results show that an uncertain external environment, inadequate project management and insufficient software testing are the direct factors affecting the failure of PIS software; customer requirement defects indirectly affect the failure of PIS software through employees’ negative characteristics, inadequate project management and insufficient software testing; and employees’ negative characteristic affects the failure of PIS software through inadequate project management and insufficient software testing. Contributions: This research makes a threefold contribution. First, the study identifies the mechanism and action pathways that influence software failure. Second, this thesis puts forward a research model/framework based on the existing literature review and semi-structured interviews. Third, the process of the scale development, the design and selection of variables in the research also provide a good reference for future studies.

Date of Award	1 Aug 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Laszlo Czaban (Supervisor) & Matthew Allen (Supervisor)