| Summary: | Implementing a new information technology (IT) system often requires an enterprise
to adopt many changes in order to exploit the full set of capabilities generated
by the new system. However, the new IT system itself can often act as a barrier
to change rather than as an enabler. The challenge in making sure that the new
IT system serves as an enabler, rather than a barrier, to change requires the concurrent
performance of three sets of activities with the aim of exploiting the synergies
among them: redesign processes, develop and implement the system
through a mix of internal talent and external suppliers, and involve the user community.
Product Data Management (PDM) technology represents a substantial
portion of the rather sizeable investment by industry in IT systems over the last
decade. The selection, development, and deployment of PDM solutions were studied
in the context of the aerospace industry, wherein data management (DM) is
critical due to high product complexity and long system life cycles. A study of
current PDM-related implementation experiences in nine different aerospace company
sites highlights the difficulty in reaching PDM technology's full potential to
deliver customer value. The timing of system implementation, the creation and
composition of the team, and a willingness to overcome organizational inertia are
the three most important factors in developing a solution that meets an organization’s
needs. All three factors and the interactions across them are highlighted in
the two case studies focusing on two companies designated as Aero Company and
Space Company, respectively.
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