Workarounds in application and use of manufacturing software as enablers to organizational change

Abstract

In this paper we look at four Norwegian manufacturers’ Information System and stages of Information Technology adaptation, explaining how practice of technology and actions/workarounds to IT systems, that enables, hinders, and drives change in wanted or unwanted directions. Four stages of technology and organizational integration is described: Planning, Adapting, Improving, and Firefighting. These change perspectives are either emergent or deliberate and the workarounds plays an important role in enabling an organization to evolve through the phases. The choice of methods comprised a collection of qualitative methods, such as fieldwork, case studies, observation, interviews, and focus groups. The analysis process of the collected data was based on abductive reasoning. The results can serve as a backdrop to the implementation of Industry 4.0 and how technological and organizational evolvement can be intertwined.