Strategic Business-IT alignment of application software packages: Bridging the Information Technology gap

Abstract

<jats:p>An application software package implementation is a complex endeavour, and as such it requires the proper understanding, evaluation and redefining of the current business processes to ensure that the implementation delivers on the objectives set at the start of the project. &#x0D; Numerous factors exist that may contribute to the unsuccessful implementation of application software packages. However, the most significant contributor to the failure of an application software package implementation lies in the misalignment of the organisation’s business processes with the functionality of the application software package. Misalignment is attributed to a gap that exists between the business processes of an organisation and what functionality the application software package has to offer to translate the business processes of an organisation into digital form when implementing and configuring an application software package. This gap is commonly referred to as the information technology (IT) gap.&#x0D; This study proposes to define and discuss the IT gap. Furthermore this study will make recommendations for aligning the business processes with the functionality of the application software package (addressing the IT gap). The end result of adopting these recommendations will be more successful application software package implementations.</jats:p>

A project management framework for small- and medium-sized entities: Accounting software implementation

“…• Quality: It is essential that software packages implemented by SMEs should have sufficient functionalities to successfully drive the business system and attain the business imperatives of the SME (Kruger 2012). Therefore, the installed software program should work for the purposes for which it was installed (Saad et al 2013).…”

“…PRINCE2 is a framework suitable for project management, but it focuses mainly on large implementation projects (Marcelino-Sádaba et al 2014). The need therefore arose for a framework for smaller projects that can be used by SMEs during the implementation of small accounting packages to ensure alignment of business imperatives or strategies with the accounting package functionalities (Kruger 2012).…”

“…Many publications focus on the consequent failure of information systems (ISs) if proper project management principles are not followed (Kruger 2012;Umble, Haft & Umble 2003). Reasons for failure include risks that are not identified and addressed during the implementation phase (Verner & Evanco 2005), software not working as desired and strategic alignment not reached.…”

“…Reasons for failure include risks that are not identified and addressed during the implementation phase (Verner & Evanco 2005), software not working as desired and strategic alignment not reached. This further leads to the accounting package not being configured properly and not operating in a way that enables the business to successfully manage its business system (Kruger 2012). …”

The Alignment Between Business Objectives Clarity and Software ObjectivesThe Alignment Between Business Objectives Clarity and Software Objectives

“…The alignment between the clarity of purpose of business organizations and the software industry has long been a concern for practitioners and academics alike. (Kruger, 2012;Brown & Motjolopane, 2005).…”