Socio-technical requirements for production planning and control systems

Due to increasing customer requirements and intensifying competition, manufacturing companies are facing growing challenges in the successful order handling. As a result, employees are forced to make increasingly complex decisions in the shortest possible time. At this, the tasks of production planning and control (PPC) are particularly affected. In response to the increasing complexity of tasks, companies rely more than ever on the potential of socio-technical systems, rendered possible by the integration of information systems (IS) in the daily decision-making process. However, due to the increasing complexity of systems used, many users are not capable to raise the potential of information systems acquired, which is why the benefits of IS implementation often fall short of expectations. The following paper thus analyses and structures potential decisive factors causing the lack of problem solving capability in context of using PPC systems. Based on findings from acceptance research, socio-technical influencing factors for the targeted handling of information systems are determined. The developed requirement framework is furthermore compared with current IS implementation strategies to derive future research needs

Enterprise systems: the upgrade process model

Purpose Enterprise systems (ES) upgrade is a complex undertaking that recurs throughout the systems’ life span, therefore, organisations need to adopt strategies and methodologies that can minimise disruptions and risks associated with upgrades. The purpose of this paper is to explore the processes undertaken during upgrading ES, to identify the upgrade project stages. Design/methodology/approach This research is grounded in a qualitative survey approach, and utilises a web-based survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews as methods for data collection. The data were gathered from 41 respondents’ and analysed using qualitatively inductive content analysis principles to derive meaning and to identify the trends about upgrade processes. Findings The study findings stress the importance of adopting a methodical approach to ES upgrades. Also, it suggests that due consideration should be given to the impact of new version features and functionality, the risks and the effort required for supporting upgrade projects. Research limitations/implications The five-stage upgrade process model can be utilised as a strategy to minimise complexity and risks associated with upgrade projects. However, this study only proposes logical generalisations; therefore, future studies could explore these stages in-depth to offer generalisable arguments applicable to ES upgrade phenomenon. Originality/value The study proposes a five-stage upgrade process model that offers a systematic approach to support upgrade projects. The proposed model extends previous models by proposing alternative strategies to support ES upgrade projects

IT CAPABILITIES IN ERP MAINTENANCE – A REVIEW OF THE ERP POST-IMPLEMENTATION LITERATURE

With the maturing use of ERP systems, the management of their post-implementation phase is receiving increased attention. There is a need to understand how to manage post-implementation activities like ERP maintenance. ERP maintenance is a critical IT service provided by IT organizations in the ERP post-implementation phase, including activities to support and extend existing ERP systems. The extant research has focused on tasks related to ERP maintenance, but it lacks studies that provide insights into capabilities required to perform ERP maintenance successfully. This paper aims to reduce this gap, reviewing IT-related tasks, success and risk factors in the ERP post-implementation literature. Based on this review, eight IT capabilities on the functional level of ERP maintenance are proposed. Integrating these findings with previous IT capability research, the link between the identified ERP maintenance capabilities and firm-wide IT capabilities is examined

Upgrade Decision Support Model (UDSM) for enterprise systems: drivers and processes

Enterprise Systems (ES) have matured over the years, offering continuous improvement to the underlying technology and functionality, hence, it is reasonable to anticipate that organisations would upgrade their systems to realise the benefits of these improvements. However, the range of benefits and risks involved within upgrade projects, motivates only few organisations to upgrade; indicating that upgrade decision-making is not trivial, and requires a comprehensive consideration of the impacts, efforts, and benefits. To date, research on ES upgrade recommends practical guidance for managing and supporting upgrade projects, with few studies focusing on upgrade decision-making, yet the upgrade decision process remains one of the areas in post-implementation that is least explored. This research investigates the interrelated aspects of ES upgrade phenomena to explore the drivers and decision processes. A qualitative survey design was adopted to explore ES upgrade decision-making process and through web-based questionnaires and semistructured interviews, qualitative data from 41 respondents representing 23 organisations was collected, coded, and analysed. Drawing from the Technology-OrganisationEnvironment (T-O-E) framework and process view of decision-making to theorise the findings, this research proposes an Upgrade Decision Support Model (UDSM) to represent ES upgrade decision-making process. The model comprises of two phases namely exploration and evaluation. The evaluation phase consists of two processes, which are objective assessment and strategy selection. In addition, objective assessment includes three sub-processes these are technical analysis, functional gap-fit analysis, and impact assessment. The study findings indicate that the decision to upgrade is an outcome of understanding the upgrade need, possible impacts, and benefits. Thus, asserting the importance of assessing the level of change, effort required and modifications to be reapplied prior to the upgrade decision. Additionally, the findings advocate that there is a relationship between upgrade drivers and the selection of an upgrade strategy, which guides the processes undertaken during the decision-making. This research contributes key insights on ES upgrade decisionmaking offering a thorough understanding of the drivers and processes. In addition, it presents decision makers with a methodical strategy for approaching upgrade decisions; hence, enables the identification of possible challenges and measures to overcome these issues

Adoção e difusão de aplicações das tecnologias da informação: iniciativas lançadas no âmbito de processos de implantação de aplicações em organizações – estudo de práticas profissionais e proposta de ferramenta de suporte

Tese de Doutoramento Tecnologias e Sistemas de InformaçãoA adoção e difusão de aplicações informáticas nas organizações é um fenómeno extensivamente estudado na área científica de sistemas de informação. Como resultado destes estudos diversas teorias têm sido propostas permitindo compreender e explicar este fenómeno. Destacam-se a teoria da difusão de tecnologia, os estudos focados na resistência à mudança e diversas teorias que se focam na adoção e uso de tecnologias da informação. Essas teorias têm sido objeto de particular atenção no que respeita a tecnologias por vezes designadas por complexas, i.e., tecnologias que, pela diversidade de funcionalidades que exibem, da gama de atividades organizacionais que suportam e dos diferentes tipos de agentes organizacionais que a usam, colocam maiores desafios à sua difusão, adoção e uso. No entanto, a literatura científica da área é escassa no que diz respeito às iniciativas/ações/políticas lançadas por profissionais de sistemas de informação (SI), no âmbito de projetos de implantação de aplicações de tecnologias da informação (ATI) que visam promover a difusão, adoção e uso das aplicações em causa, procurando deste modo contribuir para o seu sucesso. Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo identificar e classificar aquelas iniciativas, relacionando-as com as teorias existentes sobre o fenómeno da difusão e adoção de aplicações informáticas nas organizações. O resultado deste estudo assume a forma de um modelo empírico que procura estruturar as iniciativas/ações/políticas identificadas. Esse modelo contempla as características dessas iniciativas, os fatores condicionantes da difusão, adoção e uso a que essas iniciativas são dirigidas e associa uma medida do efeito que essas iniciativas têm vindo a mostrar em casos concretos. Esta primeira parte foi concretizada através da análise de um conjunto de casos secundários e com a realização de quatro estudos de caso. A sistematização de conhecimento obtido no estudo atrás referido levou ao emergir de um conceito subjacente a uma ferramenta de suporte ao trabalho de profissionais de SI envolvidos em projetos de implantação de ATI. Trata-se do conceito de um repositório de casos. O repositório permitirá relacionar os vários elementos explorados nesta tese, nomeadamente: fatores que condicionam a difusão, a adoção, e o uso de tecnologias; tipos de ATI; tipos de iniciativas/ações/políticas lançadas por profissionais de SI, no âmbito de projetos de implantação de ATI; e resultado (efeito) dessas iniciativas. Este repositório permitirá aos profissionais de SI, envolvidos em projetos de implantação de ATI, ter acesso aquela informação, facilitando a tomada de decisões sobre o que fazer, por forma a promover a difusão, a adoção e uso das aplicações em causa, procurando deste modo contribuir para o seu sucesso. Relativamente a esta ferramenta é proposto um modelo da sua estrutura e do seu interface. Este modelo foi usado em sessões de grupos de foco para avaliar a perceção da sua utilidade por parte de profissionais de SI. Nesta segunda parte, com a construção do modelo da ferramenta e o procedimento da avaliação da sua utilidade, foram concretizadas as etapas subjacentes à metodologia adotada, que foi a do Design Science Research (DSR). O resultado da tese será, assim, um contributo para os profissionais de SI, no sentido de promover uma abordagem sistemática, na preparação de projetos que envolvem o processo de implantação de ATI.The diffusion and adoption of information technology applications (ITA) in organizations is a phenomenon extensively studied in the scientific area of information systems (IS). As a result of these studies several theories have been proposed that enable to understand and explain this phenomenon. Such studies and theories include the theory of diffusion of technology, studies focused on resistance to change and various theories that focus on the adoption and use of information technologies. These theories have been object of particular attention in relation to complex technologies, i.e., technologies that because of the diversity of features they exhibit, the range of organizational activities they support and the different types of organizational agents that use it, put greatest challenges to its diffusion, adoption, and use. The scientific literature in this area is however scarce in regard to initiatives / actions / policies launched by IS professionals, when carrying out ITA implementation projects, aimed at promoting the diffusion, adoption and use of these applications, thus trying to contribute to their success. The main objective of this doctoral work is to identify and classify those initiatives, relating them to the existing theories on the phenomenon of adoption and diffusion of computer applications in organizations. The result of this study takes the form of an empirical model that seeks to structure the initiatives / actions / policies identified. This model encompasses the characteristics of these initiatives, the conditioning factors of adoption, use and diffusion that these initiatives are directed and associates a measure of the effect that these initiatives have been showing in concrete cases. This was accomplished by analyzing a set of already published cases (secondary data) and though four case studies. The knowledge systematization obtained in the above study led to the emergence of a concept for a support tool for the IS professionals involved in ITA implementation projects: a repository of cases. This repository will enable to relate the various elements explored in this thesis, namely: factors that influence the diffusion, adoption and use of technology; ITA types; types of initiatives / actions / policies launched by IS professionals, in ITA implantation projects; results (effect) of these initiatives. This repository will enable IS professionals involved in ITA implantation projects, to access that information, facilitating decision making about what to do in order to promote the adoption, use and dissemination of these applications. For this tool it is proposed a model of its structure and its interface. This model was tested in a focus group sessions to assess the perception of their usefulness by IS professionals. In this second part of the thesis, involving the conception of the tool and the evaluation of its usefulness, the Design Science Research (DSR) process has been followed. The result of the thesis constitutes a contribution to the work of IS professionals, supporting the promotion of a systematic approach in the preparation of projects involving ITA implantation process