An exploration of the execution of software system project for supply chain management in practice: Project as Practice study

Abstract:   The advantages of adopting a new software system for Supply Chain Management (SCM) enable the organization to enhance work efficiency as well as customer satisfaction in the supply chain network. These advantages make enterprises update their SCM system through project as a method of realize their strategic change. This research explores how the project manager leads the project team, a temporarily formed unit with multi-functional members, by looking into three focus concepts of the practice perspective: Practitioner, Praxis, and Practices. The empirical study utilized two projects in the electronics firms as the case study. It was decided that a qualitative approach was the most appropriate method to gather the data based on the practice perspective.   The findings of this thesis support this primacy of communication.  To successfully execute the short duration project for system change, intra-organizational communication has an important part to play in the success of change initiatives. Analysis revealed that the project managers’ soft skills are more important than their knowledge of using project-specific tools or techniques in managing short-duration projects. In the empirical study, the requirements of all project practitioners were not met due to tight schedule and limited resource. However, the project objectives were still achieved on time. Some key success factors were identified, such as top management commitment to the project, correct prioritization of different stakeholders’ power, and involvement of employees as early as possible within the change process. The study concludes that the three focus concepts of the practice perspective interplay during the project process and they contribute to the general framework in the short duration project for realizing strategic change, which can be a reference for industry participants in managing similar projects.