RFID goes bananas

Abstract: Abstract Title: RFID goes bananas - Change management for implementing RFID technology Authors: Viktor Hebrand and Fredrik Swahn Tutors: Per Magnus Andersson, Associate professor Department of Business Administration, Lund University Daniel Hellström, Assistant professor Packaging Logistics, Department of Design Science, Lund Uni-versity Robert Davstedt, Project Manager Nowaste Logistics AB Problem discussion: To achieve innovation, logistic companies could implement innovative technology such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. However, implementing RFID technology involves a great deal of uncertainty and risk which induces specific requirements for successful implementations. The existing literature about implementing RFID technology often focus on the technological aspects of the implementation. The change management perspective is often neglected. What issues do company face when implementing RFID technology and is there a way to get prepared? Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is twofold; 1.To develop a change management process model for RFID implementations. 2.To identify central components of change and their interaction within an RFID implementation. Methodology: The systematic research approach has been used in this thesis, which suggests that components of the RFID system are mutually dependant and interacts with each other. An abductive scientific reasoning is used where observations and theoretical studies are conducted simultaneously. Furthermore, a descriptive case study method is chosen, which focuses on how things are done and based on participation analyse the situations and finally conclude a result. Conclusion: Besides identified three components: people-process-technology, which we consider to be central during technical implementations, we have realized that the interaction among these factors is essential for a successful implementation. However, during RFID technology implementations, the uncertainty and lack of knowledge surrounding the technology affects the balance between the components negatively. The importance of change management also increases as the uncertainty of the technology can cause major set backs during the implementation. By studying literature within change management, pilot stud-ies and risk management and by conducting a case study at Nowaste Logistics, we have developed an RFID change man-agement process model. Through our case study we have also concluded that Nowaste Logistics handles changes successfully and that they have an obvious and honest drive to improve. Nowaste Logistics manages the hard factors of change management very well. However, the soft aspects could be improved such as defining a clear vision, communication and documentation. Furthermore, the case study provides experiences of an RFID implementation within the fruit and vegetable industry and highlights the challenges of the RFID technology due to the products with high water content. Key words: Innovative technology, Innovation, RFID, Change Manage-ment, Risk Management, Pilots studies, Technical verification, Implementations, Nowaste Logistics.