The advent of the IT-led era and the increased competition have forced companies to react to the new changes in order to remain competitive. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offer distinct advantages in this new business environment as they lower operating costs, reduce cycle times and (arguably) increase customer satisfaction. This study examines, via an exploratory survey of 26 companies, the underlying reasons why companies choose to convert from conventional information systems (IS) to ERP systems and the changes brought in, particularly in the accounting process. The aim is not only to understand the changes and the benefits involved in adopting ERP systems compared with conventional IS, but also to establish the best way forward in future ERP applications. The empirical evidence confirms a number of changes in the accounting process introduced with the adoption of ERP systems.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offer distinct advantages in this new business environment as they lower operating costs, reduce cycle times and (arguably) increase customer satisfaction. This paper examines, via a questionnaire, the underlying reasons why companies choose to adopt ERP systems, their impact on management process including implementation problems encountered. The empirical evidence confirms a number of benefits derived from ERP systems particularly for management process but also, problems encountered. Results provide the basis for future research on the potential of ERP systems, for more effective business integration.

“Going‐concern” opinions are judgemental and therefore fraught with numerous problems. The inability to establish the “correctness” or otherwise of the “going‐concern” opinion decision has also been puzzling practitioners throughout the years. Exploratory interviews revealed that a “going‐concern” opinion decision involves not only auditors but also bankers and insolvency practitioners particularly under conditions of financial distress. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors influencing “going‐concern” opinion decisions of auditors, bankers and insolvency practitioners (IPs) for financially distressed client‐firms. Using data collected via a postal questionnaire, a logistic regression model is developed with an overall correct classification of 81.11 per cent. The model uses indicators of “going‐concern” uncertainties and events/action triggers that invalidate the “going‐concern” status of a financially distressed firm. Further research examining the impact of other (behavioural) factors is required but also highlighting any differences between these three professional user groups of company accounts.