The five disciplines of ERP software implementation

In the book by P. Senge (see The fifth discipline: the art and practice of the learning organisation, Doubleday, 1992) the critical factors in businesses which learn, grow and succeed are identified. This paper applies the central concepts of the book, its five disciplines, to the software business, specifically the management of software implementation. Using the learning challenge posed by the organisation-wide implementation of enterprise resource systems (ERP) the paper covers how ERP software project leaders may manage themselves, their teams, business vision, corporate culture and team members to create a survival machine which can thrive in the current economic and technological climate.