Supporting case-based design for packaged software implementations

Design in packaged software implementation (PSI) is the process to solve business problems by customizing and integrating the off-the-shelf software package. PSI experts frequently practice case-based design (CBD) when facing a new problem situation: explore the past design cases, find a similar case, and reuse the design for that case in the new problem situation. The success of CBD depends on a continuous cycle of knowledge creation. This paper presents a theoretical framework of case-based design as an organizational knowledge creation process. Based on this framework, the research proposes an innovative tool to support CBD in packaged software implementations. The fundamental belief is that by utilizing the collective power of a large group of people, better designs can be achieved at lower costs with lower risks.