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This chapter illustrates how IT-enabled business process reengineering can fail if top management fails to understand the underlying process problems and limitations of data-centric enterprise software. Vicro Communications (we use a pseudonym to mask the organization’s name) attempted to reengineer its basic business processes with the aid of data-centric enterprise software. Vicro management however made the mistake of relying completely on enterprise software to improve the performance of its business processes. It was hoped that the software would increase information sharing, process efficiency, standardization of IT platforms, and data mining/warehousing capabilities. Management however made no attempt to rethink existing processes before embarking on a very expensive implementation of the software. Unfortunately for Vicro, the reengineering effort failed miserably even after investing hundreds of millions of dollars in software implementation. As a result, performance was not improved and the software is being phased out. By using a phenomenological approach, we were able to socially construct the events surrounding the case to gain a rich understanding of what really happened. From deep analysis, we were able to develop emergent theory about a set of factors influencing enterprise database integration success.

This case is a study of the application of tree-based solutions to Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) challenges in the development of a computerized system to meet complex, yet exacting compliance requirements extended to thousands of employees in a largescale organization. We rehearse the history of the project and include information on the theoretical structure of the tree-based solution used. Using primary research documentation, we use a constructivist approach to the issue of subject matter expert empowerment, a major theme of the case. Of particular interest is how the engineer in question was able to modify his work paradigm to incorporate a new role as digital content designer and overseer of the project. Additionally, the study concentrates on the overall effects of the project on other INEEL systems and working environments at the INEEL. Implications of management- and subject matter expert-directed system design projects using tree-based tools are considered with respect to all aspects of enterprise systems development.