Socio-technical structures in enterprise systems implementation: evidence from a five year study

Abstract

How are users involved in enterprise systems implementations? In response, we draw on theories of social structure and use data drawn from a five year study of an enterprise system implementation at a medium-sized university (MSU). The analysis of this data focuses on the differences between formal organizational structures and the social structural network of ties among those involved in the implementation effort. Doing so helps to highlight the changed relationships between users, product developers, third-party consultants and the internal information systems people.