eThesis - School of Business electronic theses

Objectives of the Study

The main objective in this study is to answer to the two main research questions: what factors cause complexity in Maximo asset management system implementation projects, and how the complexity in Maximo implementation projects can be effectively managed. The purpose of this study is also to give an overview of enterprise asset management field and the Maximo asset management system. In the empirical part it is also briefly discussed how the complexity varies between the project life cycle.

Academic background and methodology

The study includes a literature review with four main topics. Firstly, enterprise asset management and the information systems used in this field, including Maximo, are discussed. Secondly, complexity theory is defined and the existing academic literature is used to find causes for the complexity in information system projects. Thirdly, Xia's and Lee's (2005) information system development project complexity framework is presented, and finally suggestions from academic literature how to manage the complexity in information system projects are brought up. On the other hand, the empirical part of this study includes a case study approach with seven semi-structured interviews. The case study is a Maximo implementation project and the empirical part answers how the complexity is present in Maximo implementations and how it can be managed. Also insights for the other objectives of the study are presented in the empirical part.

Findings and conclusions

Information system development project complexity framework by Xia and Lee was seen valid to represent the complexities in Maximo projects but with some modifications. Five complexity factors were removed from the original framework and five new ones added. The new factors included complexities related to global project team, inexperienced team members, multiple vision and goals, negative attitudes and conflicts, and multiple customizations. Also a new dimension, uncertainty, was suggested to be added to the framework. The study also identified seven different methods to manage the complexity in Maximo implementation projects.