This case examines a large technology firm, anonymized as TECHSERV, as they plan, manage, and implement robotics process automation. The organization was seeking ways in which to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity through technology management. Robotics process automation was strategically deployed to automate their business processes. Even though many benefits are associated with robotics process automation, the details of how robotics process automation can be implemented successfully into existing infrastructure are not well known. This teaching case focuses on problems with how to automate processes in two locations, and deals also with the resources and tools and techniques related to project execution. In addition, the case also points to future issues and challenges related to robotics process automation, cognitive tools, and blockchain integration. Students, researchers, and practitioners will obtain an understanding of the benefits and project activities required for robotics process automation and learn how to anticipate future issues and challenges including how to leverage the current implementation into future intelligent automation initiatives.

Companies understand they need to innovate to stay competitive, but innovation is not as simple as thinking of a great idea and then implementing it. Successful innovation requires supportive actions from leaders and the firm especially when the innovation is complex. In order to foster complex technological innovations, such as robotic process automation (“RPA”), we propose that firms benefit from having (1) humble leadership actions and (2) a humble organizational culture. We share what we learned about our propositions after reviewing the Finance Controllership division within a major multinational technology organization that develops hardware and other computer-related support items.

A Project Management Office (PMO) is one entity that can be used to deliver products and services to internal and external customers by using projects and project management tools and techniques. This study aims to provide an account of how to use a project to make recommendations about how to implement a Project Management Office (PMO). A case study example is used to demonstrate how an IT international company used the OPM3 (Organizational Project Management Maturity Model) approach to: (a) acquire knowledge; (b) perform assessment; and (c) managing improvements. The authors include a discussion about specific PMO implementation steps as compared to the challenges from previous implementations and thoughts about how the PMO after implementation provides value to the organization as well as value to the project human resources. Finally, the authors conclude the paper with thoughts related to the contributions of this study and the associated limitations and applicability to other implementations.

Company background: TECHSERV TECHSERV is an information technology company that provides hardware, software, and related products and