Change Management Strategies for an Effective Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation: A Case Study of Government Institutions Pension Fund

ABSTRACT

This study is about information system research. It is an information systems research case study on GIPF ERP Implementation. The management replaced the Accountmate system with Oracle E-Business suite in 2009, as the best Enterprise Resource Planning solution. Research has shown that large IT projects such as ERP sometimes don’t meet expectations. Therefore, the GIPF CEO then commissioned a post-implementation review by Ernst & Young found in 2012 that the business processes were not aligned to the system. The objectives of this research is to critically assess and understand the change management approach undertaken to implement the ERP at GIPF, to uncover the critical success factors that facilitates the implementation of the ERP system and to trace important mechanisms leading towards how ERP systems can be implemented effectively A qualitative approach was applied using an interview guide on a purposefully selected sample of 10 core team members that were directly engaged with the ERP implementation. Half the sample was from the SILNAM consulting company. The results were that affirming the Ernst & Young review, there were change management strategies and critical success factors that were not efficiently managed throughout the implementation. It is recommended that proper training on system functionality should be given on similar projects; Proper BPR should be mapped on system business processes; a proper help desk system was needed; top management should support the process; organisational culture should be evaluated for positive change and conduct an organisation readiness assessment before commencement in all instances. Further studies need to be done on ERP to replicate similar case studies, for contribution towards knowledge.