Project Risk Prevention Method Using a Reconstructional Concept Map

Abstract

In modern web service development, involving various professionals with different expertise, the process has become increasingly fast-paced and complex. Effective information transmission within the team is crucial for success, as discrepancies often arise from differences in background knowledge and context interpretation. Understanding the context in which information is transmitted is essential to avoid these discrepancies. This study explores a method to reduce project risks by visualizing information transmission during the requirements definition and design phases using a Reconstructional Concept Map，as established in previous research. The method involves several steps: the transmitter expresses the content they want to convey as in the form of a concept map (referred to as a sharing understanding map), which is then broken down into nodes and links. The receiver reconstructs these components and overlays them onto the original map to identify discrepancies at the propositional level. This method has been validated in educational settings for its effectiveness and utility. The study applied this method to a BizDevOps team in a real web service project, aiming to detect discrepancies in information sharing and reduce project risks. The results indicated that the method was effective in detecting discrepancies, deemed useful by participants, and helped deepen sharing understanding among team members. Specifically, the study found that: (1) the method was effective in detecting discrepancies, (2) participants judged that it is a cost-effective and useful method, (3) transmitters could effectively describe their intended content using the concept map, and (4) the reconstruction activity itself helped deepen the sharing understanding among receivers.