SAP R/3-an IT plague or the answer to the tailors dream? [R&D management information system]

This contribution discusses the apparent paradox between the spread of the SAP-s system R/3 as a unitary model for enterprises and management, and the, in principle, endless choices to be made within the system. It elaborates on an identification of possible hard and soft dimensions of R/3, as they challenge management of technology in an enterprise setting. Some of the central variants and a number of "choices in principle" within system configurations are identified, followed by a discussion on the malleability of the system.