The implementation of computer based systems

Abstract The difficulty of implementing planned change in an organization is legend. In the last 20 years the implementation of computer based models and systems in particular has received a significant amount of attention in the form of hundreds of conference presentations, published case studies, and research reports. Yet, system implementation failures are still prevalent. p]This paper surveys the implementation literature primarily in three fields: management information systems, operations research/management science, and production‐inventory management. Common difficulties are identified and managerial proverbs, consultants' insights, statistically verified procedures, research conclusions. and other such documented wisdom for improving the chances of implementation are analyzed. p]A classification scheme is developed which divides this documented material into three diverse categories of pitfalls in implementation. These categories are then discussed from the perspective of providing managers with the information needed to analyze their own organization in terms of the likelihood of successfully implementing such computer based information systems as Material Requirements Planning (MRP).