Challenges of Small Virtual Teams in ERP implementations
Contreras Yuretic, Maria (2016)
Contreras Yuretic, Maria
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201605229066
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201605229066
Tiivistelmä
Technology grants employees a virtual environment to collaborate and work far away from each other, but how should team members and managers handle their physical separation? One should think twice before applying the same rules and processes of face-to-face teams to virtual teams. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations are more likely to succeed when all participants understand the differences and are provided with the tools needed.
Ad hoc virtual teams represent both opportunities and threats, and companies struggle to understand how to minimize the negative effects that a virtual environment may cause in team effectiveness. Organizations try to support virtual teams through different kinds of technology solutions, however, studies show mixed results depending on the specific characteristics of the team and tasks.
The study explored small virtual teams efficiency during ERP implementations carried out in different projects around Germany and Spain, and made recommendations to improve virtual team performance.
The conceptual framework of this thesis was built on literature about virtual teams and ERP implementations. This thesis analysed qualitative data obtained through attended meetings and open interviews performed to small virtual team members responsible for system implementations.
Results show that although both technology and processes are necessary variables to work in a virtual environment, they are not enough to guarantee a successful implementation. This study facilitates best practices to members who, for the first time, need to work in a virtual project to implement an ERP solution.
Ad hoc virtual teams represent both opportunities and threats, and companies struggle to understand how to minimize the negative effects that a virtual environment may cause in team effectiveness. Organizations try to support virtual teams through different kinds of technology solutions, however, studies show mixed results depending on the specific characteristics of the team and tasks.
The study explored small virtual teams efficiency during ERP implementations carried out in different projects around Germany and Spain, and made recommendations to improve virtual team performance.
The conceptual framework of this thesis was built on literature about virtual teams and ERP implementations. This thesis analysed qualitative data obtained through attended meetings and open interviews performed to small virtual team members responsible for system implementations.
Results show that although both technology and processes are necessary variables to work in a virtual environment, they are not enough to guarantee a successful implementation. This study facilitates best practices to members who, for the first time, need to work in a virtual project to implement an ERP solution.