ERP and Organizational Misfits: An ERP Customization Journey

Abstract Enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects are complex and resource demanding. Some ERP projects fail due to what is called ‘misfit’ between the adopting organization's business requirements and the ERP's functionalities. Existing literature has studied how ERP systems match to different organizations and have argued that there always exists a gap between the business rules embedded in the system, and the practices and processes that exist in organizations. Thus, tailoring might be an important procedure during ERP implementations, in which the ERP customization takes place in order to ensure the compliance with the organizations’ critical business processes and requirements. Via …

Creating a sustainable digital infrastructure: The role of service-oriented architecture

Abstract The United Nations’ goal of generating sustainable industry, innovation, and infrastructure is the point of departure for our reflective paper. The paper elaborates on the concepts of digital infrastructure, service-oriented architecture, and microservices. It emphasizes the benefits and challenges of creating a sustainable infrastructure based on a service-oriented environment, in which cloud services constitute an important part. We outline the prerequisites for obtaining a sustainable digital infrastructure based on services. Service-oriented architecture (SOA) and recently, microservice architecture, and cloud services, can provide organizations with the improved agility and fl…

Implementing Intranet 2.0: A Study of Knowledge Requirements for External Consultants in Enterprise Systems

Published article from the series: Procedia Technology. Also available on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2014.10.018 Open Access This paper reports on a case study focusing on intranet implementation projects seen from a consultancy lens. SharePoint is an Intranet 2.0 platform which is a user-centric system based on functionalities adapted from Web 2.0 technologies. Intranet implementation projects are accompanied by a complex socio-technical organizational environment, and require changes in organizational structure and culture. While former studies mainly have focused on challenges seen from the implementing organization's perspective, this study focuses on the experie…

Enterprise Architecture in Hospitals: Resolving Incongruence Issues

Early Warning Systems in a Digitalisation Era: Key Characteristics and Directions for Future Research

Implementing cloud ERP solutions: a review of sociotechnical concerns

Abstract Cloud ERP solutions allow organizations of all sizes to support and coordinate key business processes by leveraging virtualization. Nevertheless, the implementation of cloud ERPs is not straightforward and there are significant issues that need to be taken into account when launching cloud ERP initiatives. To explore these issues, we conducted an in-depth systematic review of related research literature. We identified six key issues related to cloud ERP implementation: a) functionality fit, b) integration, c) data migration, d) organizational change, e) data security, and f) reliability. Furthermore, we mapped these issues to the different sizes of organizations. Based on this revi…

Information Security Practices in Organizations: A Literature Review on Challenges and Related Measures

This paper reports a systematic literature review that explores challenges related to information security practices in organizations and the ways these challenges are managed to avoid security breaches. We focused on empirical evidence from extant research studies and identified four general challenges re-lated to: (1) security rules and procedures, (2) individual and personal risks, (3) culture and security awareness, and (4) organizational and power relations. To manage these risks, nine measures were prominent in the selected studies. Training and organizational collaboration across the hierarchical levels were widely used to enhance the security culture. In addition, awareness campaign…

Digital Inequalities: A Review of Contributing Factors and Measures for Crossing the Divide

Part 8: Digital Divide and Social Inclusion; International audience; This literature review focuses on the digital divide in contemporary technologically and economically advanced societies. Prior research shows that the digital divide entails more than physical accessibility and points to issues of technology acceptance and actual use. Recurring digital divide factors outside socioeconomic characteristics were identified in the articles reviewed. These factors relate to personality traits, motivation and digital skills. The factors can be used as the basis for a personality model for understanding acceptance and use of technology complementing models related to economic and social resource…

Exploring knowledge work practices and evolution in distributed networks of practice

Published version of an article from the journal:Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management Also available from the publisher: http://www.ejkm.com/volume-8/v8-1/v8-i1-art7.htm This paper derives from a longitudinal study conducted in a multinational company. Through an interpretive case study approach, we have explored the phenomenon of knowledge networking in distributed work. More specifically, we have focused on the evolution patterns in a particular knowledge networking structure denoted as distributed networks of practice. The paper conceptualizes this kind of network of practice as an information and communication technology (ICT) facilitated dynamic relationship of participants that …

ERP Systems in Multinational Enterprises: A literature Review of Post-implementation Challenges

Abstract This paper reports on a literature review focusing on challenges during post-implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in a multinational context. Through an extensive literature search across multiple databases, we identified 20 articles which address issues in this context. Global demands prove to be a key challenge and source of conflict between parent and subsidiary companies: frequently, parent companies seek control through standardized solutions, while local subsidiaries aim to sustain local processes and routines. The primary focus is to shed light on these contradictive objectives unfolding in this context and identify research areas that need more atten…

Enterprise architecture operationalization and institutional pluralism: The case of the Norwegian Hospital sector

Enterprise architecture (EA) is a systematic way of designing, planning, and implementing process and technology changes to address the complexity of information system (IS) landscapes. EA is operationalized when architecture visions move towards realization through concrete projects. We report a case study on the dynamics of operationalizing EA in the Norwegian hospital sector by exploring different EA project trajectories. Our empirical context is an institutionally pluralistic setting where multiple logics coexist. We show that the distinct logic of EA is added to the institutional context and we find that tensions among existing medical, technical, and managerial logics and EA principle…

Knowledge Mobilization in Agile Information Systems Projects: A Literature Analysis

This study focuses on how knowledge is mobilized in agile information systems (IS) projects. One crucial success factor of those projects is to mobilize knowledge through different knowledge management processes. It is vital to establish efficient knowledge management (KM) processes to generate a knowledge culture based on transparency and communication. Communication channels, digital tools, and platforms are essential for establishing a KM infrastructure supporting the knowledge work of the project organization. Thus, each IS implementation team should maintain a knowledge base and a knowledge potential at some level. However, this is not always the case. We conducted a literature review …

Service-oriented Architecture Projects in Practice: A Study of a Shared Document Service Implementation

Published version of an article in the journal: Procedia Technology. Also available on Science Direct: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2014.10.017 This paper reports on a case study focusing on service-oriented architecture (SOA) projects in practice. The aim of these projects has been to develop a shared document service supporting different business divisions in a large Norwegian governmental institution. The research question guiding this research is: How are SOA projects carried out in practice? What are the challenges of developing shared services in service-oriented architecture? SOA projects are accompanied by a complex socio-technical system development environment. In the presen…

Moving enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to the cloud: the challenge of infrastructural embeddedness

Cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions allow organizations to support and coordinate key business processes by leveraging virtualization. Nevertheless, moving ERPs to the cloud is not straightforward, and organizational cloud ERP initiatives raise multiple concerns. We conducted an in-depth systematic review of relevant research literature and identified six key concerns related to cloud ERP implementation: a) the introduction of new ERP work arrangements, b) the migration of legacy data, c) the assurance of compliance with extant rules and regulations for security, d) the continuous alignment between ERP functionality and business processes, e) the ongoing integration between E…

Understanding cloud computing adoption issues: A Delphi study approach

An exploratory ranking-type Delphi study and follow-up interviews were conducted.Important cloud computing adoption issues are identified, categorized and ranked.Three subpanels top-ranked issues from security, strategy and legal categories.A framework of inhibitors and drivers for cloud computing adoption is proposed.Recommendations to assist decision-makers in cloud computing adoption are proposed. This research paper reports on a Delphi study focusing on the most important issues enterprises are confronted with when making cloud computing (CC) adoption decisions. We had 34 experts from different domain backgrounds participated in a Delphi panel. The panelists were IT and CC specialists r…

Facilitating Teaching and Learning Capabilities in Social Learning Management Systems: Challenges, Issues, and Implications for Design

The adoption of learning management systems LMSs and social networking technologies SNTs in higher education has begun to change the way learning and teaching take place. However, the adoption of these emerging tools as a means to support collaboration seems to be slow. This study seeks to identify issues and opportunities related to LMS and SNT utilization and combination to enhance learning and teaching capabilities in higher education. An illustrative study reports on student and instructor experiences of using these systems in two Norwegian universities. The empirical evidence gained is analysed in terms of current benefits and drawbacks, and future challenges and capabilities. This pro…

ERP Implementation in an SME: A Failure Case

This study examines a failed enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation in a small-and-medium-sized enterprise (SME). The improper handling of critical success factors (CSFs), particularly those relating to support from top management, project management, and the use of consultants, led to severe problems. This placed stress on the organization, caused employees to leave the company, workarounds, and led to serious errors in the systems and a significant cost overrun. This case study contributes to the literature on ERP implementation in SMEs. In particular, it contributes to our understanding of the socio-technical dynamics of ERP implementation projects. Failed ERP cases are little…

Employee Information Security Practices: A Framework and Research Agenda

Author's accepted manuscript Employee information security practices are pivotal to prevent, detect, and respond to security incidents. This paper synthesizes insights from research on challenges related to employee information security practices and measures to address them. The challenges identified are associated to idiosyncratic aspects of communities and individuals within organizations (culture and personal characteristics) and to systemic aspects of organizations (procedural and structural arrangements). The measures identified aim to enhance systemic capabilities and to adapt security mechanisms to the idiosyncratic characteristics and are categorized as: (a) measures of training an…

Enterprise System Implementation in a Franchise Context: An Action Case Study

Abstract This research paper reports on a study focusing on a franchise relationship that utilizes an enterprise system (ES) to optimize its supply chain. The ES is in its post-implementation phase; however, the franchisee has challenges with inventory management due to poor data quality, which causes problems with vendor analysis and revenue control. An action case study was carried out to identify and diagnose the source of the problem, and interventions were implemented and evaluated. The findings demonstrate that several of the challenges related to poor data quality in the supply chain were influenced by problems of a socio-technical character. These included a lack of understanding of…

Educating reflective Enterprise Systems practitioners: a design research study of the iterative building of a teaching framework

This research paper reports on the iterative design of a teaching framework developed for teaching Enterprise Systems ES classes for Information Systems IS graduates. These systems embed technical complexity and create organizational challenges when implemented in organizations. Therefore, teaching good ES classes is pedagogically challenging for faculty, and ES curricula are difficult for students. We have gradually designed and rebuilt curricula and teaching frameworks over 8years. This has also resulted in a set of eight design principles. We report from our design and evaluation process and present our final artefact, the teaching framework. The aim is to educate reflective practitioner…

Agility and system documentation in large-scale enterprise system projects: a knowledge management perspective

Abstract The growth of the agile approach usage comes with a deemphasis on formal documentation (explicit knowledge) and an increased reliance on personal interactions (tacit knowledge) for knowledge transfer. However, the sharing of tacit knowledge poses challenges. The agile approach is prone to knowledge hoarding, as well as knowledge loss from employee turnover and reassignment during periods of significant organizational changes. This study proposes a model that frames documentation and personal interactions as co-agents of system knowledge transfer. We report the preliminary confirmation of crucial antecedents along the dimensions of codification and personalization strategies to supp…

ERP Post-implementation Issues in Small-and- Medium-Sized Enterprises

This paper focuses on ERP post-implementation issues in Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).We conducted a case study in a small Norwegian retail company. We studied the enterprise in the period after going live with their new ERP system. Certain challenges were observed such as security risks because of inaccurate configuration of the system, difficulties with operational issues such as sending invoices and getting sales reports, inaccurate inventory, insufficient training arrangement, workarounds, conflicting incentives among customer, reseller and consultant. There were human consequences for end users since the implementation of the system caused stress among some of the employees…

Implementing a Service-Oriented Architecture: A Technochange Approach

This research reports on a longitudinal field study focusing on the implementation process of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) in a public institution of Norway. Findings illustrate how the organization gradually breaks down technical and organizational silos by creating a cross-silo mindset among the employees in the organization and the system developers in particular. We describe how the organization under study achieves integration by transforming organizational structure and system development practices and by introducing governance principles. We argue that a SOA program as such is a complex, risky, and enterprise-wide initiative, which requires a technochange management approach.

Creating Business Value from Cloud-Based ERP Systems in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Part 11: Modelling and Managing the Digital Enterprise; International audience; This qualitative study focuses on how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can realize benefits and create information technology (IT) value by investing in cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. We interviewed 19 respondents from cloud providers and cloud clients and found that their SMEs experienced both benefits and challenges when implementing cloud ERP systems. The digital value was obtained through work process automatization, fast updates of system functionalities, enhanced security of data storage, and increased access to critical business data from multiple digital units. Challenges in …

ERP Post-Implementation

This exploratory study focuses on ERP post-implementation issues in Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The authors conducted a case study in a small Norwegian retail company, which experienced a performance dip that lasted longer than expected. The case demonstrates how overwhelming the ERP competence requirements can be for an SME. Errors in the configuration of the ERP system and improper training led to frequent workarounds. The workarounds, in turn, led to significant problems and many errors in the database. This led to a general level of frustration with the system and a high stress level in the company. This study has implications for SMEs planning to implement ERP systems.