Sony Barcelona Plant (B)

This is the second of a three-case series (906-041-1 to 906-043-1). The cases describe the ERP (enterprise resource planning) implementation in Sony Barcelona Plant within a major project initiative called STAR with the aim to standardise processes and information systems in all production plants in Europe: Barcelona (Spain), Pencoed (UK) and Stuttgart (Germany). The point of view is from the Barcelona Plant. While there are many cases describing ERP implementation, project and risk management, very few cover success and failure in the same setting. In this case series we show success and failure factors within the same project and we get into the 'black box' of a decisional process. In addition we link strategy, organisational change and information systems' value assessment. Case (B) shows how in January 2000, Barcelona had successfully covered 24 months of phased-project and also explains how Pencoed (UK), after its big-bang implementation, experienced a major technical problem which stopped the factory. SONY headquarters asked Barcelona to stop the project under the risk of a major production stoppage in Europe. Students are exposed to a discussion on the pros and cons of whether to continue with the project.