Technological Innovation in a College

The purpose of this case study was to understand the issues and factors involved in the implementation of a technological innovation in an institution of higher education. The business office of a four-year college attempted to replace a by-hand paper requisition entry process with an online process without the assistance of the information technology department. The initial implementation in 2004 was stopped and a consultant, the author, was engaged to investigate and develop recommendations to modify the implementation. Archival information consisting of reports, meeting minutes, participant-observation field notes and interview and survey results were used to review the implementation process. The college has purchased two online requisition systems for online requisitions and pilot tested a third online requisition system during the summer of 2006 through 2007 in three departments. The online requisition system is seen as the gateway for the college into e-commerce.