Is Standard Software Wiping Out Socio-Technical Design? - Engaging in the Practice of Implementing Standard ERP Systems

摘要

Many organizations have experienced severe business disruptions and socio-technical misfits that persist for years after going live with ERP systems,. Deciding on the right mix of configuration, customization and process change seems to be very challenging. Understanding how design teams (ERP consultants and organizational representatives) actually decide on the mix has received very little attention within ERP research, however. This paper presents a focus group study on how ERP professionals perceive ERP implementations, and how their perception influences the approach used to implement the ERP system. As a result, four different perceptions of the nature of the design process have been identified. The perceptions manifest themselves as four distinct metaphors used by ERP experts to explain what implementations are about and the nature of the cooperation with the user organization. The research findings imply that the practice preferred by ERP consultants is very likely to result in a narrow focus on the design of the IT-artifact, and that joint optimization of the social and the technical sub-system will very seldom be realized.