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Kansallis Bank (Finland): Managing a Large Scale Systems Migration Project

By Soumitra Dutta,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Pekka Forselius
Published 01 Apr 1997
Reference 4655
Topic Operations
Industry Banking
Region Europe
Length 23 page(s)
Inspection copy
Teaching note
6.00
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Summary

This case outlines a large scale systems migration project in a major Finnish bank. Starting in 1982, Kansallis Bank succeeded in migrating its entire banking systems to a new platform only in 1995. While such large and ‘never-ending’ IT projects are painfully common, few organizations can afford them today when business planning cycles are increasingly measured in months.

Teaching objectives

The case provides an excellent forum for discussing issues related to large scale project management and the challenges of motivating people during such long projects. The case also emphasizes the need for senior management involvement in large, strategic projects. The case can be used in a course on the management of IT and in modules on project management in operations management courses.

Keywords
  • AR1997
  • IT in Banking
  • Project Management
  • IT Management
  • MIS Project Management
About the authors
Dutta

Soumitra Dutta

Van Wassenhove

Luk Van Wassenhove

Emeritus Professor of Technology and Operations Management

Pekka Forselius


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