Risk management in information system development

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to facilitate the implementation process of the case corporation’s new information system for managing their inventory of bus tires. This study attempts to answer the questions “What were the main IT-risks in-volved with the development and implementation of the new bus tire inventory management system, what kind of effects did they have and how were they dealt with”. The study was carried out with the cooperation of the case corporation, Koiviston Auto, as a part of the development of their Tire Inventory Management system.

The data collection for the study was done through participation in the information system development project, interviews and conversations with the various stake-holders and by studying the circumstances surrounding the system and the work processes of the users. This data was then collected as descriptions of the different aspects of the development process and analyzed using qualitative research meth-ods to find out the biggest risks threatening the implementation of the new system.

The study discovered several possible risks threatening the success of the new system. The discovered risks include risks concerning the data transfer from the old system, user resistance towards the new system, the reliability of the system and personnel risk involving the small size of the project group. These findings were used to mitigate the effect of the risks during the implementation of the new Tire Inventory Management system.