Exploring the Human Aspects of Information Systems Implementation in a Nigerian Public Sector Supply Chain

The purpose of the study was to explore the complex interaction of the ‘soft issues’ relating to people and processes involved with IT/IS implementation in a public sector supply chain. The understanding of these complex interactions is critical and limited in the literature. There is evidence of a link between a supply chain problem-situation in the Nigerian context with these soft issues thereby demonstrating the rationale for the study.

The research adopts the use of a combination of case study and action research (collaborative enquiry) concepts. The approach employed a descriptive analysis reviewing UK IT/IS projects acting as a prompt to facilitate the exploration of the Nigeria case were there is no significant prior research information.

The research findings corroborates the views of extant literature; conceptualising the problem situation in the Nigerian public sector context. This involved identifying the prevalent factors in the context, illustrating how they interact and developing a management framework to enhance SCM and IT/IS implementation.

The findings would aid policy makers, practitioners and academics towards understanding, formulating strategies and developing comprehensive research plans that will enhance public sector IT/IS implementation. Practitioners will obtain a better understanding of the complexities of the soft issues involved in public sector IT/IS projects.

The research adds to the limited knowledge of the complex interaction of soft issues involved in public sector IT/IS implementation and presents a distinctive explanation that defines these issues from the perspective of a developing nation.