Bridging the gaps: Packaged software implementation projects in Vietnam

Implementations of advanced information systems in developing countries are often perceived as a way to economical prosperity and modernity. However, even in the best of scenarios implementing major information systems is far from a risk-free activity. The reality of developing countries adds extra complexity to an already demanding endeavor. This study explores socio-technical aspects of an unprecedented technological journey in the Vietnamese banking industry, and thus responds to calls for more empirical research in this field. In this paper we present contextual issues affecting the studied software package implementation project and propose a theoretical framework for a basic social process we called “gap bridging.”