ISSUE 2023, No. 2, Article 4, Year of publication: 14, June, 2023
Reducing agency costs and improving the
quality of information systems projects
AUTHORS
Boris Todorović, PhD*;
Marija Todorović**
*PhD Assistant Professor, University in Banja Luka, Faculty of Economics, Department for Quantitative Analysis and Informatics **Aska Media, Belgrade
ABSTRACT
ARTICLE INFO
Agency theory offers a potential explanation for the low rate of success and quality of information systems projects. Agency theory explains
that relationships between owners and managers cause agency problems. Agency problems arise due to the opportunistic behavior
of managers. Opportunistic behavior of managers causes agency costs. Agency costs can be reduced or eliminated by an adequate
contract between the owner and the manager. The research was conducted as a case study, and survey, interview and content analysis
methods were used. The design of the research systematically links agency problems with agency costs and presents response variables
related to contracts between owners and managers and/or designers of information systems development that need to improve project
management, success and quality of information systems development projects. Owners and managers and/or designers of information
systems development will primarily benefit from the results of the research. The original value of the research refers to new scientific
facts and a model of project management for the development of information systems where agency problems and agency costs arise.
The article suggests that reducing negative impacts related to conflict of interest, avoiding tasks, creating and using private information,
not using techniques and tools related to programmability of tasks and fraud, leads to improvement of project success and quality.
Keywords: agency theory, agency problems, agency cost, quality of the information systems development project, contracts between owners and managers