Bibliography: pages 184-207 / Digital records are either stored in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system or
electronic content management (ECM), or managed without the benefit of either system.
In many countries, public and private organisations have implemented ECM systems, some
have implemented ERP systems and others generate digital records without the benefit of
any controlled system. In most organisations such systems are not integrated resulting in
duplication and fragmentation of records. The South African Water Utility company, Rand
Water, has implemented both ERP and ECM systems. Investing in these systems as an
organisation comes at a cost but it can add value when used optimally to improve the
organisation’s productivity and efficiency. To achieve high productivity and efficiency,
integration of an ERP system into an ECM system is a requirement but remains lacking.
This qualitative study utilised the Actor Network Theory to explore the integration of ERP
into ECM at the South African Water Utility company, Rand Water, with a view to
developing a framework for integration of the systems. The study utilised a system analysis
case design with fourteen interviews conducted at different levels in the organisation and
diverse business units using ERP and ECM to perform their operational deliverables in line
with the organisation’s business objectives. The interviews were augmented with data from
document analysis of policies, specifications and functionalities of the systems to
determine the feasibility of integration. The study established that the water utility
company has implemented ERP systems (SAP) since 1994 and ECM system since 1991
(Papertrail and later IBM FileNet) with only information flow module integrated. The study
suggested that to integrate ERP into ECM, human and non-human actors need to
collaborate to ensure that the actor network being integrated is achieved. The study also
presents a strategy discussion for integrating ERP into ECM. A further study on the transfer
of digital records in ECM into archival custody is recommended. / Information Science / D. Phil. (Information Science)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/27378 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Mello, Vincent Malesela |
| Contributors | Ngoepe, Mpho Solomon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (xiv, 216 pages; tables, charts (mostly color), application/pdf |
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