A conceptual framework for understanding clan control in isd project teams

While many control frameworks exist in the literature, there is a lack of a comprehensive framework for clan control. Clan control is generally studied in a broader context as part of a suite of controls. Researchers have examined clan control from a number of different perspectives, but there is a need for a framework that synthesises and extends existing research. To address this gap, this paper reviews and consolidates the literature to present a conceptual framework for clan control. Firstly, the framework presents the conditions for the development of clans within organisations. Secondly, it identifies the conditions that must exist in order to implement clan control. Finally, it details how all of these conditions contribute to the development of seven different characteristics that promote clan control. While the primary contribution of this paper is a framework to guide future research on clan control in IS project management, it may also be applied to studies of clan control in other disciplines.