Schneider Electric China : Implementing an EnterpriseSystem to Support Rapid Development

On December 9, 1999, Yves Cizaire, manager of MIS, had just returned from a steering committeemeeting where a difficult decision had been made. After having successfully implemented SAP´sERP software package R/3 in the head office and two distribution centers using a phasedimplementation strategy in which the different functional parts of the software would be introducedone at a time, they would change their implementation strategy to a Big Bang approach in which allmodules would be implemented simultaneously for implementing the system in the first of their sevenjoint ventures. Schneider China was in the midst of a transformation process which would put themwell ahead of their competitors in the enormously dynamic Chinese market. Glancing over theendless flights of Beijing´s new blocky high-rises, Yves Cizaire wondered what lessons could bedrawn from the first two phases or their ERP implementation project for successfully realizing theirbusiness vision for China.