| dc.description.abstract | This study examined the factors considered in selection of changeover approaches and the
challenges encountered in information systems changeover. The study is timely as I?any
corporations had to change from traditional manual systems t6 adapt computer based
information systems as a tool of competitive advantage. Background information on
changeover approaches and the factors considered in choice is given in details. Also the
challenges encountered in the conversion process are discussed.
The study objectives were to determine the extent to which various information system
conversion approaches are used by Information Systems consultants in Kenya, establish
the challenges encountered by IS consultants during the information system conversion
process and determine the relative importance of factors that affect the choice of
information system conversion approaches.
Descriptive methodology was mainly used and data was collected using questionnaires on
a drop and pick later basis. Data was analyzed using factor analysis and tabulation
techniques. The findings on the demographic factors show that most firms are largely
locally owned and most had at most two branches. Most respondents were programmers
and IS managers who had the required knowledge on system changeover. Gender and age
of the respondents was analyzed with the aim of finding out the proportion of men to
women involved in the system changeover process, and it was found out that majority of
the respondents were men aged between 29-35 years.
Findings of this study also show that majority of the firms in Kenya use the parallel
approach in the conversion process. Phased conversion approach is the second most used
followed by the pilot approach and the least used approach is the direct approach.
The challenges that greatly affected the conversion process were lack of management
support, end users resistance, intended users ignoring the operational system and doing
the job the old way, diversion of resources for conversion process, inadequate budget and
insufficient conversion time. However, poor coordination of the conversion process,
inadequate documentation for the conversion process and impatience of end users with
initial disappointing results produced by the system moderately influenced the conversion
process.
The factors considered most important in the choice of an approach are size of the system,
top management support to the approach, cost benefit justification, conversion risk,
ability to enhance user motivation, amenability of approach to facilitate interaction
between users and system development, volume of data to handled, flexibility of
approach and complexity of system being handled.
Other factors that were considered but did not greatly influence the conversion process
were organizational culture, value of the old system to be implemented and client's
recommendation.
Unfortunately, during the study some limitations like lack of enough study literature on
the area, lack of enough time and lack of enough money were encountered.
In conclusion management support was the major factor considered in the choice of an
approach and the lack of management support was also the greatest challenge
encountered during the system conversion. Therefore recommendations sensitizing top
management to provide resources are included in this report. | en |
