Sensemaking, complexity and ERP systems adoption : a conceptual study with reference to Project Phakama in the City of Johannesburg

• Main Author: Mohlakwana, Dibuleng Elizabeth
• Other Authors: Kinghorn, J.
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Enterprise resource planning; Public administration > Information technology; Sensemaking in organizations; Complexity theory; Dissertations > Information science; Theses > Information science; Information Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20318

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis provides an interpretation of what happens during Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) adoption in the Public Sector and in particular Local Government using Sensemaking and Complexity Theory. Chapter 1 outlines the background and objective of the thesis including the methodologies used. In Chapter 2 the theoretical foundations of the study are discussed. The theories are carefully meshed together to provide a new angle to interpret and analyse what takes place in ERP adoption. Chapter 3 provides a detailed description of the case study, Programme Phakama. Programme Phakama implemented an Enterprise Resource Planning solution in the City of Johannesburg. Chapter 4 contains an explanation of what happened in other projects with the same mandate within the public service elsewhere in the world. This in comparison to what happened in Project Phakama, to highlight the similarities or differences during the evolvement of the projects. The last two chapters provide the interpretation and recommendations using the conclusion arrived at in Chapter 4 from a Complexity and Sensemaking perspective. There are no right or wrong answers in ERP projects, only good or bad decisions. The number of changes to be managed in ERP projects is overwhelming. Therefore many projects are challenged, regardless of success, failure or abandonment. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis interpreteer aspekte van die implementeringsproses van ‘Enterprise Resource Planning Systems’ (ERP) in die openbare sektor, en in die besonder op plaaslike regeringsvlak. Die interpetasie word gedoen met behulp van die sinmakingteorie van KE Weick en van kompleksiteitsteorie. Hoofstuk 1 bied ‘n oorsig oor die agtergrond en doelstelling van die tesis, sowel as die metodologiese aanpak. In hoofstuk 2 word die teoretiese grondslae van die tesis bespreek. Die teorie word geïntegreer om ‘n nuwe perspektief op die analise van ERP implementering te kan gee. Hoofstuk 3 bied ‘n gedetailleerde beskrywing van die geval wat hier ondersoek word, naamlik ‘Programme Phakama’ wat die implementering van ‘n ERP in die stad van Johannesburg behels het. Hoofstuk 4 span die net wyer om vergelykende gegewens van soortgelyke projekte elders te beskryf. Hoofstuk 5 ontleed die problematiek en toon dat die gebruik van kompleksiteitsteorie en insig in sinmaking help om die verskynsel beter te begryp. Hoofstuk 6 maak gevolgtrekkings vir die bestuur van sodanige projekte.