An Analysis of Organization Readiness at Anniston Army Depot for Information Technology Change

Abstract

The purpose of this MBA Project is to assess the change-readiness of Anniston Army Depot's (ANAD) organizational climate especially now as the Depot prepares for large-scale Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) information technologies (IT) change. ANAD is a highly important division of the United States Army Materiel Command (AMC) and is the Army's designated Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence (CITE) for a variety of combat vehicles, artillery equipment, bridging systems and small-caliber weapons. It provides advanced maintenance support for all of these systems, in addition to fulfilling a host of other vitally important Army-wide logistical functions. ANAD presently uses the Standard Depot System (SDS) to manage its complex array of administrative and logistical functions. However, AMC has mandated that ANAD completely replace the SDS and employ the new Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) starting in March 2009. The researchers gathered a combination of historical information, personnel observations and responses to survey questionnaires on readiness for change in order to conduct a quality analysis of ANAD structure and climate and their implications, if any, for LMP implementation. Ultimately, people are the heart of any IT system, regardless of its size and degree of automation. The tremendous importance of organizational personnel in the change process is often under appreciated and under addressed in the civilian sector of the military particularly when this sector embarks on significant IT transformation initiatives. Bold IT actions inevitably have a profound impact on any organization regardless of its mission, size, and personnel composition. This project was conducted with the sponsorship and assistance of the Anniston Army Depot.