ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on management community, and the in-depth description of the project (Shell HR Online) offers the reader some interesting suggestions. It illustrates how, at one time, Shell had several IT platforms for Shells Human Resources (HR) departments around the world, which no longer supported the company's need for an integrated view of business and organization. It concerns the Trojan horse effect. In other words, ERP and major IS projects are often a good opportunity to introduce new management rules or to change corporate culture. It also challenges calls for the personalization of software. Although everybody is different, software customization is often just an attempt to maintain the status quo in businesses where uncertainty and rapid change threaten traditional business practices. The chapter explains the Shell HR Online case is an important take-home message for academics and practitioners, and shows once again how a sound IS governance system is a prerequisite for many technology projects.
