A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University

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dc.contributor.authorJoubert, Trevor
dc.contributor.authorSeymour, Lisa
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-11T13:01:12Z
dc.date.available2020-02-11T13:01:12Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractAim/Purpose Improving or changing business processes is one of the most important roles for Information technologies functions. Yet, most organizations struggle with planned process change and even more with unplanned change. There is little support from research as the dynamics of planned process change is understud-ied and unplanned process change is seldom researched. Background This paper describes the impact of unplanned business process change from a systems perspective. The #feesmustfall student protest movement, which be-gan in 2015, and affected Universities throughout South Africa provides the context. Methodology An interpretive abductive case study at a South African university used Steven Alter’s Work System framework to describe the unplanned business process change that occurred due to the #feesmustfall student protest movement. Contribution Theoretically, this paper demonstrates the practical use of Alter’s work system framework to analyze unplanned business process change. Practically, it de-scribes and explains the impacts of the change which may be useful to execu-tives or administrators responsible for operational systems within organizations. Findings During unplanned business process change, change management, staff training, customizable technology and strategic fluidity and focus were found to be im-portant. Unplanned business process change results in all elements of the work systems and its environment changing, even resulting in changed products and customer behavior. Impact on Society If organizations are more aware of the impacts of unplanned process change they will be better equipped to control them. Future Research Future action research studies on unplanned business process change could suggest actions for manager’s dealing with them. Keywords business process management, work system theory, systems thinking, un-planned change, #feesmustfallen_US
dc.identifier.apacitationJoubert, T., & Seymour, L. (2019). <i>A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University</i>. Jerusalem, ,Faculty of Commerce ,Faculty Commerce: IT. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31039en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationJoubert, Trevor, and Lisa Seymour. "A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University."n.d. Jerusalem. ,Faculty of Commerce ,Faculty Commerce: IT. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31039.en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationJoubert, T., Seymour, L. 2019. A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Conference Paper AU - Joubert, Trevor AU - Seymour, Lisa AB - Aim/Purpose Improving or changing business processes is one of the most important roles for Information technologies functions. Yet, most organizations struggle with planned process change and even more with unplanned change. There is little support from research as the dynamics of planned process change is understud-ied and unplanned process change is seldom researched. Background This paper describes the impact of unplanned business process change from a systems perspective. The #feesmustfall student protest movement, which be-gan in 2015, and affected Universities throughout South Africa provides the context. Methodology An interpretive abductive case study at a South African university used Steven Alter’s Work System framework to describe the unplanned business process change that occurred due to the #feesmustfall student protest movement. Contribution Theoretically, this paper demonstrates the practical use of Alter’s work system framework to analyze unplanned business process change. Practically, it de-scribes and explains the impacts of the change which may be useful to execu-tives or administrators responsible for operational systems within organizations. Findings During unplanned business process change, change management, staff training, customizable technology and strategic fluidity and focus were found to be im-portant. Unplanned business process change results in all elements of the work systems and its environment changing, even resulting in changed products and customer behavior. Impact on Society If organizations are more aware of the impacts of unplanned process change they will be better equipped to control them. Future Research Future action research studies on unplanned business process change could suggest actions for manager’s dealing with them. Keywords business process management, work system theory, systems thinking, un-planned change, #feesmustfall CY - Jerusalem DA - 2019 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - business process management KW - work system theory KW - systems thinking KW - un-planned change KW - #feesmustfall LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PP - Jerusalem PY - 2019 T1 - A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University TI - A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31039 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/31039
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationJoubert T, Seymour L, A Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African University. ; Jerusalem. ,Faculty of Commerce ,Faculty Commerce: IT; 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31039 .en_ZA
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisher.departmentFaculty Commerce: ITen_US
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerceen_US
dc.publisher.locationJerusalemen_US
dc.subjectbusiness process managementen_US
dc.subjectwork system theory
dc.subjectsystems thinking
dc.subjectun-planned change
dc.subject#feesmustfall
dc.titleA Work Systems View of Unplanned Business Process Change: The Case of #feesmustfall at a South African Universityen_US
dc.typeConference Paperen_US
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