Improving productivity and firm performance with enterprise resource planning

Productivity is generally considered to be the efficient utilisation of organisational resources and is measured in terms of the efficiency of a worker, company or nation. Focusing on efficiency alone, however, can be harmful to the organisation's long-term success and competitiveness. The full benefits of productivity improvement measures are realised when productivity is examined from two perspectives: operational efficiency (output/input) of an individual worker or a business unit as well as performance (effectiveness) with regard to end user or customer satisfaction. Over the years, corporations have adopted new technology to integrate business activities in order to achieve both effectiveness and efficiency in their operations. In recent years, many firms have invested in enterprise resource planning (ERP) in order to integrate all business activities into a uniform system. The implementation of ERP enables the firm to reduce the transaction costs of the business and improve its productivity, customer satisfaction and profitability.     

ERP system implementation in SMEs: exploring the influences of the SME context

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Compared to large enterprises, SMEs differ in a number of inherent characteristics, which are likely to impact the ERP system implementations. The purpose of this study is to explore these influences of the SME context on the ERP system implementation process. SME characteristics are synthesised from relevant literature and the influences of the contextual factors on various activities across the ERP life cycle are investigated. The study presents findings from a multiple case study of four SMEs. The ownership type of the companies and limited resources were identified as the most influential contextual factors. Among the ERP life-cycle phases, the implementation phase was affected most by the SME context. The case studies also illustrate the need for a more nuanced view on what should be considered general characteristics of SMEs; for example, regarding the level of IS knowledge, business processes, and market characteristics.     

Method of evaluating the impact of ERP implementation critical success factors – a case study in oil and gas industries

The so far implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have in many cases failed to meet the requirements regarding the business process control, decrease of business costs and increase of company profit margin. Therefore, there is a real need for an evaluation of the influence of ERP on the company's performance indicators. Proposed in this article is an advanced model for the evaluation of the success of ERP implementation on organisational and operational performance indicators in oil–gas companies. The recommended method establishes a correlation between a process-based method, a scorecard model and ERP critical success factors. The method was verified and tested on two case studies in oil–gas companies using the following procedure: the model was developed, tested and implemented in a pilot gas–oil company, while the results were implemented and verified in another gas–oil company.     

Technical and organisational aspects in enterprise resource planning systems implementation: lessons from a Spanish public hospital

Public resources should always be managed efficiently, more so in times of crisis. Due to the specific characteristics of the healthcare sector, there is a need for special attention, especially in regards to hospitals. Administrators need useful tools to be able to efficiently manage available resources, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Therefore, an analysis of the effects of their implementation and use in hospitals is valuable. This study has two purposes. One is to analyse the role ERP systems play in aiding the integration of hospital data, with focus on user satisfaction as well as possible resistance to change. The other purpose is to analyse the effects of implanting and using ERP systems in the hospital environment and identifying how certain variables influence the process, especially the existence of different organisational cultures. Results indicate that clinical information has become notably more integrated, despite the lack of flow in the economic–financial area. The heterogeneous nature of the different groups, clinical (Medical, Nursing) and non-clinical (Economic–Financial, Accounting), had a negative influence on the implementation process, and limited the integration of information as well as the system's performance.     

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation using the value engineering methodology and Six Sigma tools

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a software solution that integrates the operational processes of the business functions of an enterprise. However, implementing ERP systems is a complex process. In addition to the technical issues, companies must address problems associated with business process re-engineering, time and budget control, and organisational change. Numerous industrial studies have shown that the failure rate of ERP implementation is high, even for well-designed systems. Thus, ERP projects typically require a clear methodology to support the project execution and effectiveness. In this study, we propose a theoretical model for ERP implementation. The value engineering (VE) method forms the basis of the proposed framework, which integrates Six Sigma tools. The proposed framework encompasses five phases: knowledge generation, analysis, creation, development and execution. In the VE method, potential ERP problems related to software, hardware, consultation and organisation are analysed in a group-decision manner and in relation to value, and Six Sigma tools are applied to avoid any project defects. We validate the feasibility of the proposed model by applying it to an international manufacturing enterprise in Taiwan. The results show improvements in customer response time and operational efficiency in terms of work-in-process and turnover of materials. Based on the evidence from the case study, the theoretical framework is discussed together with the study’s limitations and suggestions for future research.     

Effects of people-centred factors on enterprise resource planning implementation project success: empirical evidence from Sri Lanka

Extant literature suggests people-centred factors as one of the major areas influencing enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation project success. Yet, to date, few empirical studies attempted to validate the link between people-centred factors and ERP implementation project success. The purpose of this study is to empirically identify people-centred factors that are critical to ERP implementation projects in Sri Lanka. The study develops and empirically validates a framework for people-centred factors that influence the success of ERP implementation projects. Survey research methodology was used and collected data from 74 ERP implementation projects in Sri Lanka. The people-centred factors of ‘project team competence’, ‘rewards’ and ‘communication and change’ were found to predict significantly the ERP implementation project success.     

企业实施ERP的先决条件

企业资源计划(EnterpriseResourcePlanning,ERP)作为当今最先进的企业管理理念的事实不容置疑。然而,并不是任何企业实施ERP系统之后都注定能得到高的回报。因此,ERP对企业也有适应性的要求。什么样的企业适合实施ERP系统?企业实施ERP系统应具备哪些前提条件?本文将就企业实施ERP前必须满足的先决条件展开论述。     

基于项目管理的ERP系统实施

为降低企业在ERP系统实施过程中的风险,文章从项目管理的角度对ERP系统的实施进行分析,围绕ERP系统实施的项目生命期从ERP系统项目准备、ERP系统项目评估以及ERP系统实施的3个步骤展开论述,阐明了基于项目管理的ERP系统实施的特点。     

ERP系统下的企业内部控制风险及防范研究

ERP环境下,企业内部控制的运行环境发生了明显变化,这给内部控制带来了很多新的问题。首先对ERP系统实施对企业内部控制进行分析,着重探讨了在ERP应用的过程中,企业要面临来自业务流程、应用架构、数据质量和技术架构等四个方面的业务风险,并提出了相应的防范内部控制风险措施。     

基于改进技术接受模型的ERP系统实施方案研究

为了解决ERP系统实施过程中的诸多管理问题,引入了技术接受模型,分析了其心理学基础并做了改进。在此基础上提出了系统实施的原型方案,为企业顺利实施ERP系统提供新的思路和方法。     

Implementation of enterprise resource planning in China

ERP implementation is a ‘Triple Play’ that combines people, technology, and processes. It embodies a complex implementation process, especially in developing countries like China, often taking several years, huge amount of fund and involving a major business process reengineering exercise. In this paper, an attempt has been made to identify some Chinese-specific difficulties in the implementation process and provide solutions to implement ERP system successfully through questionnaire survey, interviews, and secondary data. On the basis of analysis of questionnaire results, some common difficulties have been explored by authors, such as support of top management, costly and time-consuming, cultural differences, technical complexity, lack of professional personnel, and inner resistance. The difficulties are largely due to the nature of enterprise's ownership and size. Suggested solutions to overcome these difficulties: ERP software packages selection, ERP implementation team, BPR, Training, and Outsourcing-Application Service Provider. These solutions can effectively solve ERP difficulties.     

Shared leadership in enterprise resource planning and human resource management system implementation

Human resource management systems (HRMS) integrate human resource processes and an organization's information systems. An HRMS frequently represents one of the modules of an enterprise resource planning system (ERP). ERPs are information systems that manage the business and consist of integrated software applications such customer relations and supply chain management, manufacturing, finance and human resources. ERP implementation projects frequently have high failure rates; although research has investigated a number of factors for success and failure rates, limited attention has been directed toward the implementation teams, and how to make these more effective. In this paper we argue that shared leadership represents an appropriate approach to improving the functioning of ERP implementation teams. Shared leadership represents a form of team leadership where the team members, rather than only a single team leader, engage in leadership behaviors. While shared leadership has received increased research attention during the past decade, it has not been applied to ERP implementation teams and therefore that is the purpose of this article. Toward this end, we describe issues related to ERP and HRMS implementation, teams, and the concept of shared leadership, review theoretical and empirical literature, present an integrative framework, and describe the application of shared leadership to ERP and HRMS implementation.     

ERP实施风险及对策分析

首先介绍了ERP当前的实施应用现状,并按开发阶段-运用阶段-评估阶段的时间序列方式详细分析了ERP实施应用过程中可能存在的风险,并在此基础上,给出了旨在对所存在的风险进行有效规避的若干措施与建议.     

试谈ERP在电子商务企业中的实施与评价

ERP是现代企业实现现代化、管理科学化强有力的工具。本文介绍了电子商务企业模型、ERP与电子商务的整合,对影响ERP实施效果的因素进行了分析、提出了在ERP具体实施中应注意的事项,最后给出一个企业实施ERP的评价方法。     

多平台中小型工业企业ERP系统设计

为了满足中小企业对ERP系统灵活性、可移植性、可扩展性的要求,文章提出了一种基于Web Service、面向多平台的ERP系统,从系统结构、网络构架、功能模块设计等方面阐述了系统的实现过程。该系统以J2EE平台、多层Web结构等为基础进行技术设计与实施,把各项功能和业务逻辑处理封装于各个相对独立的对象和组件中,利用了基于构件的开发模式,模块之间耦合度较低,实现了较好的扩展性。Web服务器采用了Linux系统和IBMDB2数据库,系统能够实现跨平台和对不同行业的服务。     

从MRP-Ⅱ到ERP,中国企业物流信息化的发展

在对中国实施MRPⅡ、ERP系统状况回顾的基础上,总结了ERP实施中的相关问题,得出"最先进的系统不一定是最合理的"结论,试图通过全面总结我国企业实施ERP的经验,为ERP的成功实施提供借鉴,寻求ERP实施的合理途径。     

An empirical identification and categorisation of training best practices for ERP implementation projects

Although training is one of the most cited critical success factors in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems implementations, few empirical studies have attempted to examine the characteristics of management of the training process within ERP implementation projects. Based on the data gathered from a sample of 158 respondents across four stakeholder groups involved in ERP implementation projects, and using a mixed method design, we have assembled a derived set of training best practices. Results suggest that the categorised list of ERP training best practices can be used to better understand training activities in ERP implementation projects. Furthermore, the results reveal that the company size and location have an impact on the relevance of training best practices. This empirical study also highlights the need to investigate the role of informal workplace trainers in ERP training activities.     

论ERP与企业流程再造

由于我国企业的自身特性,无论是从ERP软件背景,还是ERP系统功能应用和应用目的等方面都要求企业对原有流程进行优化、重组,ERP与BPR互为成功条件。文章指出,企业应将实施ERP与实施BPR两者结合起来,集成实施。     

Risk assessment for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementations: a fault tree analysis approach

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system implementations are often characterised with large capital outlay, long implementation duration, and high risk of failure. In order to avoid ERP implementation failure and realise the benefits of the system, sound risk management is the key. This paper proposes a probabilistic risk assessment approach for ERP system implementation projects based on fault tree analysis, which models the relationship between ERP system components and specific risk factors. Unlike traditional risk management approaches that have been mostly focused on meeting project budget and schedule objectives, the proposed approach intends to address the risks that may cause ERP system usage failure. The approach can be used to identify the root causes of ERP system implementation usage failure and quantify the impact of critical component failures or critical risk events in the implementation process.     

模糊综合评判在ERP实施时机决策中的应用

文章研究了利用模糊数学方法,将模糊综合评判理论应用于对ERP实施时机决策,建立影响ERP实施的因素体系,构造隶属函数建立数学模型,通过数据处理与分析确定最佳ERP实施时机,克服了传统决策方法的种种弊端,对于ERP的实施时机决策提供了一条新的可行途径。