Big bang adoption
Encyclopedia
Big bang adoption is the adoption
type of the instant changeover, when everybody associated with the new system moves to the fully functioning new system on a given date (Eason, 1988).
When a new system
needs to be implemented in an organization
, there are three different ways to adopt this new system: The big bang adoption, phased adoption
and parallel adoption
.
In case of parallel adoption the old and the new system are running parallel, so all the users can get used to the new system, and meanwhile do their work using the old system. Phased adoption means that the adoption will happen in several phases, so after each phase the system is a little nearer to be fully adopted. With the big bang adoption, the switch between using the old
system and using the new system happens at one single date, the so called instant changeover of the system. Everybody starts to use the new system at the same date and the old system will not be used anymore from that moment on.
The big bang adoption type is riskier than other adoption types because there are fewer learning opportunities incorporated in the approach, so quite some preparation is needed to get to the big bang (Eason, 1988). This preparation will be described below, illustrated by the process-data model of the big bang adoption.
|Concept
|Definition
|-
|REPORT OF DETERMINED CHANGES
|A report of the determination by the management of all the changes that will be executed to be able to implement the new system (Eason, 1988)
|-
|AGREEMENT CONTRACT
|An understanding between individuals to follow a specific course of conduct (Wiktionary)
|-
|PLANNING
|The management function that is concerned with defining goals for future organizational performance and deciding on the tasks and resources needed to be used in order to attain the said goals (Wikipedia)
|-
|CONVERTED DATA
|Data which is converted from the old system to be able to fit in the new system (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|LOADED DATA
|Converted data which is loaded in a new system (Eason, 1988)
|-
|TESTED DATA
|Loaded data which is tested in the new system, to see whether if it works or not (Eason, 1988)
|-
|TRIAL
|A test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard (Wikipedia)
|-
|VALIDITY CHECK
|Checked validity of the new database (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|DATABASE
|A database is a collection of records stored in a computer in a systematic way, so that a computer program can consult it to answer questions. (Wikipedia)
|-
| APPLICATION
|This is a loosely defined subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform (Wikipedia)
|-
|INFRASTRUCTURE
|Infrastructure, most generally, is the set of interconnected structural elements that provide the framework for supporting the entire structure (Wikipedia)
|-
|LIST OF TRAINED USERS
|List of trained users who are ready for the big bang to be happening (Eason, 1988)
|-
|BUFFER
|A buffer of experienced staff who can go into any office and take over the duties on a temporary basis so that the staff can plan the change, undergo training, etc.(Eason, 1988)
|-
|CONVERTED SYSTEM
|Valid system containing tested data, checked by trials (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003; Eason, 1988)
|-
|RELEASED PART
|All the different parts of the system that are released: the database, produced application and the infrastructure (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|RELEASE SYSTEM
|The public release of a new version of a piece of software (Wikipedia)
|-
| NEW SYSTEM
|System which is in use, after the Big bang has happened (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|}>
has decided to use the big bang method and supports the changes which are needed for this, the real changing process can start. This process exists of several steps: converting the system, releasing parts of the system and training the future users
(Eason, 1988).
The activities in the process are explained in the table below, to state them clear. The concepts that are used to execute the activities are in capitals.
|Activity
|Subactivity
|Description
|-
|Prepare management (see Adoption)
|Determine organizational changes
|The process of determining the changes that will have to take place to make the big bang possible that results in a REPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
|-
|
|Agree on organizational changes
|To be able to introduce the big bang, there has to be agreement about the change-plan which results in an AGREEMENT CONTRACT. If there’s no agreement a new agreement meetings are necessary or the changes need to be determined different again and again, until an AGREEMENT CONTRACT is created.
|-
|Convert system
|Make planning for future users
|Make the PLANNING for the people who will have to deal with the NEW SYSTEM, so they have an overview of the events that are going to happen (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Convert data from old system
|Convert data from the old system so it can be used in the NEW SYSTEM (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|
|Load data into new system
|Load data the CONVERTED DATA into the NEW SYSTEM (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Test data in new system
|TEST DATA so it’ll be known whether if the data will be usable in the NEW SYSTEM (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Execute offline trials
|Execute TRIAL with the system and with the users of the system to check whether if the system will work correct (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Check to verify validity
|Checking validity so the system can be made ready to become released (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|Release parts
|Release converted database
|Release DATABASE which is converted from the old DATABASE (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Release produced application
|Release the APPLICATION which is produced for the staff (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Release infrastructure
|Release the new INFRASTRUCTURE (Eason, 1988)
|-
|Prepare users
|Maintain buffer of experienced staff
|Create a BUFFER of staff who can take over the duties of the people who have to be trained in using the NEW SYSTEM, so the daily work can go on (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Train users
|Train users in preparation for the big release of the system, to create a LIST OF TRAINED USERS>
for the whole adoption process is needed. By making a planning future users will know what will happen and when they should expect certain changes, which avoids unnecessary uncertainties and therefore creates a better working atmosphere. The planning also makes clear when the real adoption takes place and gives the future users the opportunity to get ready for this change (Eason, 1988). In the model below is shown that the activities (in the grey box) lead to outcomes (in the boxes next to the grey box) to be able to have a partial outcome: the converted system
When the planning is made and everyone knows what will be expected from them, the technical changeover can start. First the old data needs to be converted into new data to be able to work with the data in the new system (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003). Then the new data needs to be loaded into the new system, which results in the so called loaded data. This loaded data needs to be tested to check the efficiency of the data and to test the level of understanding of the future users. So off-line trials
need to be executed to check if the system and the users can work together. Not only the efficiency and the understanding need to be tested, also the validity needs to be tested to make the level of data validation
clear (Eason, 1988). ). If the data is not valid, the management need to determine the changes again and the organisation will have to prepare again on a different way of executing the Big bang adoption (See Adoption
; Prepare an organization for adoption).
If all the data is valid, separate parts of the system can be released. The database
which is converted from the old database needs to be released, so the new data is accessible. Further on the produced application
needs to be released, so the new application can also be used. The infrastructure
of the whole new system also needs to be released, so that it is clear what the system will look like and how everything is connected (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003). Important to note is that in this phase only separate parts are released, which don’t form the new system yet, but only parts of it. Note that all of this happens off-line, only the system developers see this, the users are still working on the old system. In the model above is shown what activities need to be executed (in the grey box) by the system controller, to get the outcomes that lead to the released parts. If the release of the parts failed, the management need to determine new changes again (See Adoption
; Prepare an organization for adoption).
If the release of the separate parts succeeded, the next step can be taken: prepare the users. To be able to introduce the whole new system, i.e. to adopt it, all users need to be trained in working with the new system. Without huge consequences for the production level of an organization, training everyone is only possible, if there is a buffer of experienced staff, who can take over the daily work of the users that need to be trained. This means that for all the people that need to be trained, there will be staff available who can take over the work, so there won’t be an enormous delay of work. When this buffer is created, the users can be trained (Eason, 1988). The human resources department will create the buffer of experienced staff (activity in the grey box) by inviting applicants for the buffer. After this the users can be trained and the trained users can be listed, so a user preparation report can be written.
But training the future users properly is not as easy as it seems, as the FoxMeyer case illustrates (Scott, Vessey, 2000). This company used the big bang method to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) system. Wrong trainings were given, the assumption was made that users already knew enough about it and wrong skills were taught . Also the company Dow Corning had big problems with acquiring the necessary skills during their big bang ERP implementation (Scott, Vessey, 2000). Using a new system demands various skills and knowledge, which in several cases seem to be underrated by the (change) managers.
.jpg)
Figure 1: Adaption to change (Eason, 1988)
Once the system is introduced there usually is a socalled ‘initial dip phenomenon’ which happens because the users are struggling with the new system and with the connection to their daily work and the system (Eason, 1988). So what you can see in Figure 1 is that after the red line, which represents the big bang, the organizational performance goes to a bottom value, which takes a while, and after that it will increase again. This catch-up period needs to be planned, to be able to deal with these problems and difficulties.
The total process modeled in the process-data model is shown below. In this model you see the separate parts (the grey boxes) from the management preparation and the concerned activities (see also Adoption
; Prepare an organization for adoption), to the next step that can be taken once there is agreement. This next step is the converting of the system with all the sub activities included and the outcomes of these activities at the right next to the grey box. The prepared management report makes it possible to make the planning. Once the system is converted the release of parts of the system (third grey box) can get started, and after this the next step (the last grey box) is the user preparation which is executed by the human resources department. The outcome of this is the buffer as explained above and the trained users list.When the users are trained a report of the user training is made, which is required for the final implementation of the system.
(Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003) is for example a method which is developed to implements systems. This method, developed by Sogeti, treats a changeover as a project and focuses several stages of this project, for example the preparation phase (Regatta: preparation phase) of an adoption and on the acceptance of an implementation method (Regatta: adoption method). SAP Implementation
is another technique specialized in implementing and adopting SAP AG
software, which is divided into several techniques.
The advantages of this method:
The disadvantages on the other hand are:
To illustrate some other risks, two examples will be given. The first one is the company Dow Corning, which used systems that were focused on specific departments. The management decided that they wanted to become a truly global company, that would use only one information system: an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)-system. To adopt this new ERP-system, they used the big bang adoption type and they spent considerable time and effort reexamining its business processes. The company was prepared for the adoption and first conducted three pilot implementations, before using the new system across the global organization. Second, FoxMeyer adopted an ERP-system with ambitious warehouse
automation software, using the big bang adoption to gain competitive advantage. But FoxMeyer seemed to have an overoptimistic management with unrealistic expectations, the change was too big and too drastic.This resulted in very high work pressure to meet the deadlines for all the employees. So unrealistic expectations of the management are also a risk (Scott, Vessy, 2000).
Dow Corning monitored the progress constantly and made decisions to make sure that the deadlines would be met. This was only possible with feedback and good communication. FoxMeyer failed in having communication and attention that was necessary to be able to give fast and effective feedback. They instead tried to minimize problems by ignoring them and gave discouraging criticism, which resulted in ambiguous feedback. This hindered organizational learning
, something which is very important during an organizational change. So bad communication and ambiguous feedback are also risks when adopting a system with the big bang (Scott, Vessey, 2000).
Other risks are to focus only on the outcome, not on how to achieve this outcome and underrating the learning process for users. It is very hard to plan learning or knowledge, though these are necessary to be able to execute the big bang changeover.
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
type of the instant changeover, when everybody associated with the new system moves to the fully functioning new system on a given date (Eason, 1988).
When a new system
Conceptual system
A conceptual system is a system that is composed of non-physical objects, i.e. ideas or concepts. In this context a system is taken to mean "an interrelated, interworking set of objects".- Overview :...
needs to be implemented in an organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
, there are three different ways to adopt this new system: The big bang adoption, phased adoption
Phased adoption
Phased adoption is a strategy of implementing an innovation in an organization in a phased way, so that different parts of the organization are implemented in different subsequent time slots...
and parallel adoption
Parallel adoption
Parallel adoption is a method for transferring between an old system to a target system in an organization. In order to reduce risk, the old and new system run simultaneously for some period of time after which, if the criteria for the new system are met, the old system is disabled...
.
In case of parallel adoption the old and the new system are running parallel, so all the users can get used to the new system, and meanwhile do their work using the old system. Phased adoption means that the adoption will happen in several phases, so after each phase the system is a little nearer to be fully adopted. With the big bang adoption, the switch between using the old
system and using the new system happens at one single date, the so called instant changeover of the system. Everybody starts to use the new system at the same date and the old system will not be used anymore from that moment on.
The big bang adoption type is riskier than other adoption types because there are fewer learning opportunities incorporated in the approach, so quite some preparation is needed to get to the big bang (Eason, 1988). This preparation will be described below, illustrated by the process-data model of the big bang adoption.
Table of concepts
Several concepts are used in this entry. The definitions of these concepts are given in the table below to make the use of them clear.|Definition
|-
|REPORT OF DETERMINED CHANGES
|A report of the determination by the management of all the changes that will be executed to be able to implement the new system (Eason, 1988)
|-
|AGREEMENT CONTRACT
|An understanding between individuals to follow a specific course of conduct (Wiktionary)
|-
|PLANNING
|The management function that is concerned with defining goals for future organizational performance and deciding on the tasks and resources needed to be used in order to attain the said goals (Wikipedia)
|-
|CONVERTED DATA
|Data which is converted from the old system to be able to fit in the new system (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|LOADED DATA
|Converted data which is loaded in a new system (Eason, 1988)
|-
|TESTED DATA
|Loaded data which is tested in the new system, to see whether if it works or not (Eason, 1988)
|-
|TRIAL
|A test, usually a test to see whether something does or does not meet a given standard (Wikipedia)
|-
|VALIDITY CHECK
|Checked validity of the new database (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|DATABASE
|A database is a collection of records stored in a computer in a systematic way, so that a computer program can consult it to answer questions. (Wikipedia)
|-
| APPLICATION
|This is a loosely defined subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform (Wikipedia)
|-
|INFRASTRUCTURE
|Infrastructure, most generally, is the set of interconnected structural elements that provide the framework for supporting the entire structure (Wikipedia)
|-
|LIST OF TRAINED USERS
|List of trained users who are ready for the big bang to be happening (Eason, 1988)
|-
|BUFFER
|A buffer of experienced staff who can go into any office and take over the duties on a temporary basis so that the staff can plan the change, undergo training, etc.(Eason, 1988)
|-
|CONVERTED SYSTEM
|Valid system containing tested data, checked by trials (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003; Eason, 1988)
|-
|RELEASED PART
|All the different parts of the system that are released: the database, produced application and the infrastructure (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|RELEASE SYSTEM
|The public release of a new version of a piece of software (Wikipedia)
|-
| NEW SYSTEM
|System which is in use, after the Big bang has happened (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|}>
Big bang
Once the managementManagement
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
has decided to use the big bang method and supports the changes which are needed for this, the real changing process can start. This process exists of several steps: converting the system, releasing parts of the system and training the future users
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
(Eason, 1988).
The activities in the process are explained in the table below, to state them clear. The concepts that are used to execute the activities are in capitals.
|Subactivity
|Description
|-
|Prepare management (see Adoption)
|Determine organizational changes
|The process of determining the changes that will have to take place to make the big bang possible that results in a REPORT OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES
|-
|
|Agree on organizational changes
|To be able to introduce the big bang, there has to be agreement about the change-plan which results in an AGREEMENT CONTRACT. If there’s no agreement a new agreement meetings are necessary or the changes need to be determined different again and again, until an AGREEMENT CONTRACT is created.
|-
|Convert system
|Make planning for future users
|Make the PLANNING for the people who will have to deal with the NEW SYSTEM, so they have an overview of the events that are going to happen (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Convert data from old system
|Convert data from the old system so it can be used in the NEW SYSTEM (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|
|Load data into new system
|Load data the CONVERTED DATA into the NEW SYSTEM (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Test data in new system
|TEST DATA so it’ll be known whether if the data will be usable in the NEW SYSTEM (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Execute offline trials
|Execute TRIAL with the system and with the users of the system to check whether if the system will work correct (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Check to verify validity
|Checking validity so the system can be made ready to become released (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003)
|-
|Release parts
|Release converted database
|Release DATABASE which is converted from the old DATABASE (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Release produced application
|Release the APPLICATION which is produced for the staff (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Release infrastructure
|Release the new INFRASTRUCTURE (Eason, 1988)
|-
|Prepare users
|Maintain buffer of experienced staff
|Create a BUFFER of staff who can take over the duties of the people who have to be trained in using the NEW SYSTEM, so the daily work can go on (Eason, 1988)
|-
|
|Train users
|Train users in preparation for the big release of the system, to create a LIST OF TRAINED USERS>
Convert the system
At first a planningPlanning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
for the whole adoption process is needed. By making a planning future users will know what will happen and when they should expect certain changes, which avoids unnecessary uncertainties and therefore creates a better working atmosphere. The planning also makes clear when the real adoption takes place and gives the future users the opportunity to get ready for this change (Eason, 1988). In the model below is shown that the activities (in the grey box) lead to outcomes (in the boxes next to the grey box) to be able to have a partial outcome: the converted system
When the planning is made and everyone knows what will be expected from them, the technical changeover can start. First the old data needs to be converted into new data to be able to work with the data in the new system (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003). Then the new data needs to be loaded into the new system, which results in the so called loaded data. This loaded data needs to be tested to check the efficiency of the data and to test the level of understanding of the future users. So off-line trials
Evaluation
Evaluation is systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone using criteria against a set of standards.Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises, including the arts, criminal justice,...
need to be executed to check if the system and the users can work together. Not only the efficiency and the understanding need to be tested, also the validity needs to be tested to make the level of data validation
Data validation
In computer science, data validation is the process of ensuring that a program operates on clean, correct and useful data. It uses routines, often called "validation rules" or "check routines", that check for correctness, meaningfulness, and security of data that are input to the system...
clear (Eason, 1988). ). If the data is not valid, the management need to determine the changes again and the organisation will have to prepare again on a different way of executing the Big bang adoption (See Adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
; Prepare an organization for adoption).
Release parts of the system
If all the data is valid, separate parts of the system can be released. The database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
which is converted from the old database needs to be released, so the new data is accessible. Further on the produced application
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
needs to be released, so the new application can also be used. The infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
of the whole new system also needs to be released, so that it is clear what the system will look like and how everything is connected (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003). Important to note is that in this phase only separate parts are released, which don’t form the new system yet, but only parts of it. Note that all of this happens off-line, only the system developers see this, the users are still working on the old system. In the model above is shown what activities need to be executed (in the grey box) by the system controller, to get the outcomes that lead to the released parts. If the release of the parts failed, the management need to determine new changes again (See Adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
; Prepare an organization for adoption).
Train the organization in using the system
If the release of the separate parts succeeded, the next step can be taken: prepare the users. To be able to introduce the whole new system, i.e. to adopt it, all users need to be trained in working with the new system. Without huge consequences for the production level of an organization, training everyone is only possible, if there is a buffer of experienced staff, who can take over the daily work of the users that need to be trained. This means that for all the people that need to be trained, there will be staff available who can take over the work, so there won’t be an enormous delay of work. When this buffer is created, the users can be trained (Eason, 1988). The human resources department will create the buffer of experienced staff (activity in the grey box) by inviting applicants for the buffer. After this the users can be trained and the trained users can be listed, so a user preparation report can be written.
But training the future users properly is not as easy as it seems, as the FoxMeyer case illustrates (Scott, Vessey, 2000). This company used the big bang method to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning
Enterprise resource planning
Enterprise resource planning systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application...
(ERP) system. Wrong trainings were given, the assumption was made that users already knew enough about it and wrong skills were taught . Also the company Dow Corning had big problems with acquiring the necessary skills during their big bang ERP implementation (Scott, Vessey, 2000). Using a new system demands various skills and knowledge, which in several cases seem to be underrated by the (change) managers.
Release of the system
When all the steps which are described above are taken, the old system will be turned down. When the old system is off-line, the new system can be loaded and then will be released. Once the new system is released there is no turning back: the big bang has taken place. The run time of this adoption type is not very long. But the precare and perhaps moreover the aftercare is in the opposite very extended. For example a fall-back scenario needs to be developed, to be able to deal with or to prevent a disastrous changeover.Figure 1: Adaption to change (Eason, 1988)
Once the system is introduced there usually is a socalled ‘initial dip phenomenon’ which happens because the users are struggling with the new system and with the connection to their daily work and the system (Eason, 1988). So what you can see in Figure 1 is that after the red line, which represents the big bang, the organizational performance goes to a bottom value, which takes a while, and after that it will increase again. This catch-up period needs to be planned, to be able to deal with these problems and difficulties.
The total process modeled in the process-data model is shown below. In this model you see the separate parts (the grey boxes) from the management preparation and the concerned activities (see also Adoption
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
; Prepare an organization for adoption), to the next step that can be taken once there is agreement. This next step is the converting of the system with all the sub activities included and the outcomes of these activities at the right next to the grey box. The prepared management report makes it possible to make the planning. Once the system is converted the release of parts of the system (third grey box) can get started, and after this the next step (the last grey box) is the user preparation which is executed by the human resources department. The outcome of this is the buffer as explained above and the trained users list.When the users are trained a report of the user training is made, which is required for the final implementation of the system.
Techniques
There are several techniques to implement a new system. The adoption phase is only one phase of the whole implementation. RegattaRegatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
(Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003) is for example a method which is developed to implements systems. This method, developed by Sogeti, treats a changeover as a project and focuses several stages of this project, for example the preparation phase (Regatta: preparation phase) of an adoption and on the acceptance of an implementation method (Regatta: adoption method). SAP Implementation
SAP Implementation
SAP implementation is the whole of processes that defines a complete method to implement the SAP ERP enterprise resource planning software in an organization. The SAP implementation method described in this entry is a generic method and not a specific implementation method as such...
is another technique specialized in implementing and adopting SAP AG
SAP AG
SAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
software, which is divided into several techniques.
Advantages and disadvantages
This sudden changeover is quite drastic. This has advantages, but because of the instant changeover there are also disadvantages (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003).The advantages of this method:
- Training is only needed for the new method, not also for the changeover period.
- User documentation does not need to be updated during the implementation process, because it happens in such a short period.
- The changeover is at one date and this date is clear for everyone.
- There are no special interfaces needed to be able to get used to the new system, because the new system is all there is.
The disadvantages on the other hand are:
- There is no time for extra additions
- The completeness and validity of the converted data is not completely proved, only in the pre-phases, but not in the whole system situation.
- Start up problems are a problematic factor
- The operation is complex, one of the main complexities is tuning all activities to happen on one moment: the big bang
- ‘Fall back’-plans are hard to develop and become more impossible when the big bang has taken place
- There can be a catch up period (as explained above)
- This adoption is vulnerable because of the limited possibilities to maneuver. There is a lot of pressure because the deadline must be met.
Risks
Because of the instant changeover, everything must be done in a fixed time schedule. This is a risky operation. The organization might not be ready yet for this, an incorrect dataset might be used, or the information system can get stuck, because of a lack of experience and start up problems. Also an incapable fall-back method can be a risk in implementing a system using the Big Bang (Koop, Rooimans and de Theye, 2003).To illustrate some other risks, two examples will be given. The first one is the company Dow Corning, which used systems that were focused on specific departments. The management decided that they wanted to become a truly global company, that would use only one information system: an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)-system. To adopt this new ERP-system, they used the big bang adoption type and they spent considerable time and effort reexamining its business processes. The company was prepared for the adoption and first conducted three pilot implementations, before using the new system across the global organization. Second, FoxMeyer adopted an ERP-system with ambitious warehouse
automation software, using the big bang adoption to gain competitive advantage. But FoxMeyer seemed to have an overoptimistic management with unrealistic expectations, the change was too big and too drastic.This resulted in very high work pressure to meet the deadlines for all the employees. So unrealistic expectations of the management are also a risk (Scott, Vessy, 2000).
Dow Corning monitored the progress constantly and made decisions to make sure that the deadlines would be met. This was only possible with feedback and good communication. FoxMeyer failed in having communication and attention that was necessary to be able to give fast and effective feedback. They instead tried to minimize problems by ignoring them and gave discouraging criticism, which resulted in ambiguous feedback. This hindered organizational learning
Organizational learning
Organizational learning is an area of knowledge within organizational theory that studies models and theories about the way an organization learns and adapts....
, something which is very important during an organizational change. So bad communication and ambiguous feedback are also risks when adopting a system with the big bang (Scott, Vessey, 2000).
Other risks are to focus only on the outcome, not on how to achieve this outcome and underrating the learning process for users. It is very hard to plan learning or knowledge, though these are necessary to be able to execute the big bang changeover.
See also
- Adoption (software implementation)Adoption (software implementation)Adoption deals with the transfer between an old system to a target system in an organization. So if a company works with an old software system, it may want to use a new system which is more efficient, has more work capacity etc. So then a new system needs to be adopted, where after it can be...
- Phased adoptionPhased adoptionPhased adoption is a strategy of implementing an innovation in an organization in a phased way, so that different parts of the organization are implemented in different subsequent time slots...
- Parallel adoptionParallel adoptionParallel adoption is a method for transferring between an old system to a target system in an organization. In order to reduce risk, the old and new system run simultaneously for some period of time after which, if the criteria for the new system are met, the old system is disabled...
- Flash-cutFlash-cutA flash-cut, also called flash-cutover, is an immediate change in a complex system, with no phase-in period.Some telephone area codes were split immediately, rather than being phased in with a permissive dialing period. An example is telephone area code 213, which was split into 213 and 714 all at...
- Regatta: Adoption Method
- Regatta: Preparation phase
- Regatta: Execution method
- SAP ImplementationSAP ImplementationSAP implementation is the whole of processes that defines a complete method to implement the SAP ERP enterprise resource planning software in an organization. The SAP implementation method described in this entry is a generic method and not a specific implementation method as such...
- PRINCE2PRINCE2PRojects IN Controlled Environments 2 is a structured project management method endorsed by the UK government as the project management standard for public projects. The methodology encompasses the management, control and organisation of a project...
- AgreementAgreementAgreement may refer to:* Agreement or concord, cross-reference between parts of a phrase* Gentlemen's agreement, not enforceable by law* Contract, enforceable in a court of law...
- ImplementationImplementationImplementation is the realization of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy.-Computer Science:...
- PlanningPlanningPlanning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
- Data validationData validationIn computer science, data validation is the process of ensuring that a program operates on clean, correct and useful data. It uses routines, often called "validation rules" or "check routines", that check for correctness, meaningfulness, and security of data that are input to the system...