Loading...
The critical success factors needed to successfully implement a stores communication portal in a nationally represented retailer
Author(s)
Brikkels, Christopher Peter
Date Issued
2009
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
The researcher is an IT business manager for Woolworths Pty Ltd and manages
franchise and back-office applications. Contained in the back-office systems
environment is a competency area called Store Productivity, which has to
implement tools and technology to assist with the creation of a more effective
“store environment”.
The researcher was tasked with implementing a web-based store portal that
would facilitate store communications and automated task management for such
stores. The findings from this research study will allow for reflection against the
set Head Office business requirements as well as end user expectations and
subsequently provide an opportunity to process alternate courses of action or
solutions for future releases or upgrades of such applications if required.
The researcher pursued a hybrid research approach that was both participatory
and evaluative in nature. The reason taken for this approach was that research
presents a unique opportunity to assess the criteria against a predetermined
“super user group” as well as the eventual intended users being store and
divisional managers. The “super user group” was defined as the group of key
individuals that understand current and future business processes very well.
They will also be involved in the design of the new solution and will provide
critical feedback to the overall project. The view around what user requirements
were, have been taken into account and a quantitative component was used to
assess whether the original view taken had been met. It is believed that the
sample and findings is representative of the targeted population of users of the
system. This is further examined in chapters three and four of this study.
Effective mitigation of risks inherent in implementing a new technology is vital to
the success thereof. The implementation considerations validated through the
research conducted were to highlight the critical success factors for the
Woolworths implementation and provide recommendations for future releases.
These recommendations are contrasted with best practice models in
communication, project management and systems development.
The findings generated from the research process suggest that business
communication and broader business engagement commence immediately at the
point of business case formulation, thereby creating awareness and should
continue throughout the implementation process to encourage buy- in and use of
the solution in the operational environment. The adoption and implementation of
the recommended strategies will contribute positively towards future
implementations of this nature.
franchise and back-office applications. Contained in the back-office systems
environment is a competency area called Store Productivity, which has to
implement tools and technology to assist with the creation of a more effective
“store environment”.
The researcher was tasked with implementing a web-based store portal that
would facilitate store communications and automated task management for such
stores. The findings from this research study will allow for reflection against the
set Head Office business requirements as well as end user expectations and
subsequently provide an opportunity to process alternate courses of action or
solutions for future releases or upgrades of such applications if required.
The researcher pursued a hybrid research approach that was both participatory
and evaluative in nature. The reason taken for this approach was that research
presents a unique opportunity to assess the criteria against a predetermined
“super user group” as well as the eventual intended users being store and
divisional managers. The “super user group” was defined as the group of key
individuals that understand current and future business processes very well.
They will also be involved in the design of the new solution and will provide
critical feedback to the overall project. The view around what user requirements
were, have been taken into account and a quantitative component was used to
assess whether the original view taken had been met. It is believed that the
sample and findings is representative of the targeted population of users of the
system. This is further examined in chapters three and four of this study.
Effective mitigation of risks inherent in implementing a new technology is vital to
the success thereof. The implementation considerations validated through the
research conducted were to highlight the critical success factors for the
Woolworths implementation and provide recommendations for future releases.
These recommendations are contrasted with best practice models in
communication, project management and systems development.
The findings generated from the research process suggest that business
communication and broader business engagement commence immediately at the
point of business case formulation, thereby creating awareness and should
continue throughout the implementation process to encourage buy- in and use of
the solution in the operational environment. The adoption and implementation of
the recommended strategies will contribute positively towards future
implementations of this nature.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Business Administration)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
critical successful factors needed.pdf
Size
1.9 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):f937f6855a2b802659cf28c7aeeab7df