The 18-month intensive fieldwork phase corresponded
with the implementation and post-implementation of the
ERP project. The first author made four visits to the field
site where she was embedded within the ERP project environment
for eight weeks at a time (summer 99, winter
99, spring 00, and summer 00). During these intensive
data collection periods the researcher attended meetings,
reviewed formal documentation, and conducted interviews.
Years prior to conducting this study, the first author
was employed by Ivy as an accountant. This proved to
be helpful for understanding Ivy University norms and
communicating using local colloquialisms. The other two
authors became involved only after the field study was
complete.