Abstract: This case presents a classic systems analysis and design conundrum: how to incorporate new technology into existing ongoing operations without hurting the bottom line? Antelope Trucking and Logistics, a small regional trucking business, is faced with adapting its aging information technology systems to take advantage of global positioning capability. Because of the company’s size and relative inexperience with technology, they don’t have the expertise to identify the most efficient ways to implement changes. In the past, they successfully relied on faculty and students from a local university to act as consultants and developers for small projects, but now they need to make a much bigger change. The needed functionality will impact their core competitive advantage, i.e., deliveries. They must decide how to proceed: negotiate with their incumbent vendor and possibly pay too much for a product, further customize a stalled student project and pay less money (or almost none) but maintain full control, do nothing, or seek out another solution entirely. This case takes students through the decision-making process from the point of view of a small company entrepreneur, from problem identification to researching unknown technologies, and ultimately, how to decide what to do. It also introduces students to the information technology used in the complex freight and logistics industry.

Keywords: Freight and logistics, Systems analysis & design, Geotagging, Small business, GPS, Outsourcing

Download This Article: JISE2026v37n1pp47-60.pdf

Recommended Citation: Amy J. Connolly, A. J., & Cole, C. (2026). Teaching Case: Balancing Innovation and Operations: A Systems Analysis Case of Technology Adoption in a Trucking Company. Journal of Information Systems Education, 37(1), 47-60. https://doi.org/10.62273/YWCW8502