The non-technical side of IT-enabled organisational transformation : A study of the organisational effects of brownfield port automation adoption

Abstract

This thesis explores the non-technical dimensions of an IT-enabled organisational transformation (ITOT) project in the context of port automation. Especially brownfield port automation situations, where automated container handling equipment are being implemented to existing container terminal operations, are studied. While port automation, and other ITOT projects, have traditionally been examined with a technical or financial emphasis, this study puts focus to the organisational challenges, e.g. human, procedural and structural changes, that influence the success of an automation initiative. The subject is approached in qualitative interview study, with practitioners involved in recent brownfield port automation projects. The study concludes that while the non-technical aspect of port automation and the need to plan for them is recognised but insufficiently carried out at least in some projects. There seems to be a uniform attitude towards process change needs, but topics such as attitude change and employee transition seem to be missing uniformly agreed upon ‘best practices’ amongst the interviewed practitioners. Port automation also faces challenges posed by the structure of the employment system applied to port work, and this study tries to highlight the effects this has on e.g. operational roles and worker training. The study outlines theoretical contributions to both the academic port automation discourse and the ITOT theory discourse. Managerial implications are also drawn for practitioners embarking on port automation projects in the future.