CHANGING SPACES

FOR SOCIAL LEARNING

IN THE IMPLEMENTATION BIOGRAPHY
OF AN ERP SYSTEM

Gian Marco Campagnolo

Dep. of Sociology and Social Research
University of Trento
gianmarco.campagnolo@unitn.it
 Field Interviews
Excerpts
“We wanted to see SAP from the
point of view of the project or of
the plan, not from the accounting
point of view [...]. But the logic
has been changed.”
(Dante Province ERP PM).

“[...] I asked that feasibility would be

done by SAP and not by others.
Unfortunately, in both cases, it has been
decided to establish a Consortium including
local University consultants, the in-house
IT company and a third consulting firm. SAP
is not part of the consortium. (Dante
Province ERP PM).

[...] the Consortium is more or less like the in-

house IT company. [...] they customized the system
more than what they had to do - now we will come
back...-, the same will be with the
Consortium” (Dante Province ERP PM).
Reviewing the literature
...efficiency
accountability...
...administrative decentralization

- “motivations” to implement an ERP system have been extensively

investigated. Less has been said about the changes of motivations in
extended periods.

:::
...make or buy
packaged software or ‘best of breed’...
...customize the package

focus upon documenting the various forms of customization and

adaptation processes and not about how these forms can evolve,
and combine and relate to each other on single organizational
cases.
 antagonism or absence of choice?

•“a single industry solution is not going to be

‘best’ from all perspectives..” (and for ever, I
would add)

•administrative/academic cultures

•best practice= the dominant perspective

antagonism or absence of choice?
 Theoretical Framework

• organizational moves (Pentland, 1992)

• abduction (Pierce, 1958)

“Social Learning in
Technological
Innovation”
(Williams et al.,
2005; Stewart &
Hyssalo 2008)
 Methodology

Research Setting
Dante Province; SAP R/3 implementation;1998-2009 (10 different
modules/applications)

Research Approach
how actors (top managers; Operative and Staff Services; key users;
project managers; developers and consultants) make sense of
implementation choices

Data Collection Method

Biographic interviews; Document Analysis; Observation - 2 years
fieldwork (2007-2009)
 Analysis
4 PERIODS: 1998-2002,
2002-2005,2005-2008, = four time periods
2009-...

supply customize

=
the system
the map of a space: the
modify
the standard supply/use space
use

= an implementation trajectory

moving locus of
= implementation choices

sense made of notions like

= standardization/
customizations
 PERIOD 1998-2002
supply
ABAP programming
suppliers
customize
IT in-house developers the system
Steering Committee
in-house IT
Dante Province
Company PM
Top Managers
Top Managers

“more controls by Staff

Services”

modify training
the standard Operative
Users

“giving
responsability to
Operative Services”
use
 “coming from the PERIOD 2002-2005
supply Design
private”

Analysis Suppliers* “coherent with

Suppliers* regulatory provisions”

Feasibility in-house IT
customize
the system
Suppliers* Company

Accounting key user (Dept.1)

Department key user (Dept.2)
PM key user (Dept.3)
key user (Dept.4)
key user (Dept.5)
key user (Dept.6)
key user (Dept.7)
key user (Dept.8)

modify Operative
Users
the standard

*all with experience from SAP

implementation in the private use
 PERIOD 2005-2008
supply
customize
in-house IT
the system
Feasibility Company
Supplier =
SAP
Accounting
Consultants SAP partnership
Department
for Public
Sector PM key user (Dept.2)
key user (Dept.3)
“a change management key user (Dept.4)
key user (Dept.5)
“best practice tool” key user (Dept.6)
software” key user (Dept.7)
key user (Dept.8)

Other Public
PSUG Administrations

modify
implementing SAP Operative
Users
Re-Use of Software
the standard
use
 PERIOD 2009-...
supply
Consortium customize
IT in-house company, non SAP consultants, local Univ. the system
“aligning
interpretations
of procedures” key user

key user
(Dept.2)

(Dept.3)

Accounting key user (Dept.4)

Department
key user (Dept.5)

PM key user (Dept.6)

key user (Dept.7)

key user (Dept.8)

modify
the standard
Other local organizations implementing SAP
(85 edu institutions; 12 public agencies)

use