Software And Organisations: The Biography Of The Enterprise-wide System Or How Sap Conquered The World (routledge Studies In Technology, Work And Organizations)

This is the first book that addresses the genesis and career of the modern day enterprise system in a comprehensive and robust manner. It does so through setting out a new approach for the study of packaged solutions and presents novel empirical studies based on in-depth ethnographic and longitudinal research conducted within supplier organisations and other relevant sites. The authors shift the debate within the social study of information systems, from one that is primarily focused on ‘implementation studies’, to one that follows software as it evolves, matures and crosses organisational boundaries. Through tracing and comparing the ‘biography’ of a number of software systems the authors develop a new vocabulary for the dynamics that surround standardised software. Original in its approach, this book draws on a number of ethnographic studies in supplier organisations, user settings, user forums, and applies theories from the Sociology of Technology, Technology Studies, Innovation Studies, and beyond. As such it will be of interest across all of these subject areas and to researchers from the wider fields of Information Systems and Business Studies. Economics, Finance, Business & Industry Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of Figures and Tables 9 Acknowledgements 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction: The reshaping of the modern enterprise solution 14 1 The dynamics of software packages 32 2 Critique of existing knowledge 64 3 The Biography of Artefacts Framework 93 4 Fitting standard software to non-standard organisations 141 5 Generification work in the production of global solutions 164 6 Technology choice and its performance: Towards a Sociology of Software Package Procurement 189 7 Industry analysts and the labour of comparison 223 8 Passing the user: Searching for expertise in globalised technical support 254 9 Discussion and conclusions 288 Notes 316 Bibliography 332 Index 355 The Dynamics Of Software Packages -- Critique Of Existing Knowledge -- The Biography Of Artefacts Framework -- Fitting Standard Software To Non-standard Organisations -- Generification Work In The Design Of Global Solutions -- Technology Choice And Its Performance : Towards A Sociology Of Software Package Procurement -- Industry Analysts And The Labour Of Comparison -- Passing The User : Searching For Expertise In Globalised Technical Support -- Discussion And Conclusions. Neil Pollock And Robin Williams. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [303]-341) And Index.