The Rise and Fall of a Shadow System: Lessons for Enterprise System Implementation

TLDR

Shadow systems are infrequently studied but are viewed as undesirable because they are believed to undermine enterprise system implementation and should be eliminated. The paper aims to analyze the eight‑year rise and expected fall of a single shadow system using a theoretical framework that explains its development within an enterprise system context. The authors conduct a longitudinal case study guided by this theoretical framework. Results indicate that shadow systems may serve as useful indicators of various problems in enterprise system implementation, and that close examination can help practitioners and researchers improve implementation and evolution.

Abstract

In much of the enterprise systems (ES) literature shadow systems, although infrequently studied, are regarded as undesirable. They are believed to undermine ES implementation and as such should be eliminated. Using a theoretical framework that explains the motivation for the development of shadow systems within an ES context, this paper analyses a longitudinal case study of the eight-year rise and expected fall of a single shadow system. Results of the analysis indicate that shadow systems may be useful indicators of a range of problems with enterprise system implementation. It appears that close examination of shadow systems may help both practitioners and researchers improve enterprise system implementation and evolution.