Critical Success Factors on the Implementation of ERP Systems: Building a Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Existing pressure for the confrontation of a radically changing external environment has led many companies to invest in various Information Systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), in order to optimize their production processes and strategies. Despite the fact that ERP system is an important strategic tool, many companies fail to take advantage of its benefits due to their default in many aspects of management and implementation. This study aims to investigate the critical success factors of enterprise resource planning system implementation and build a categorization framework so as to create a theoretical base that enhances any further research approaches in various sectors of the economy. Therefore, 37 ERP critical success factors were identified by using Content Analysis method and classified into relative categories to the ERP orientations of implementation and the ERP life cycle phases. Finally, these two types of categorization were merged in order to examine the critical success factors' behavior during the ERP implementation. This paper and the multilateral theoretical framework it creates, sets out how critical success factors must be taken into account by companies and marks a beginning point that promises a sequence of further research approaches in particular economic sectors or in a set of them. By fulfilling the purpose of this study, a significant contribution to computer science literature and especially to the ERP field is offered.

Evaluation of Critical Success Factors for Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation Using Quantitative Methods in Agricultural Processing Companies

“…It is mentioned in [19,20] that an ERP system, apart from the wide range of its practical application in various economic sectors, is an equally active field of interest regarding research and literature. As is mentioned in [19], many surveys conduct literature reviews investigating the implementation of critical success factors of ERP [5,11,17,[21][22][23][24]. In this way, a CSF's general mapping is achieved [19,25].…”

“…As is mentioned in [19], many surveys conduct literature reviews investigating the implementation of critical success factors of ERP [5,11,17,[21][22][23][24]. In this way, a CSF's general mapping is achieved [19,25]. Some of these studies, subsequently, conduct a further analysis-such as CSFs' evaluation-using a specially designed questionnaire to specify the CSFs that are important for ERP implementation success in particular economic sectors, or in a set of them [11,14,17,23].…”

“…Some of these studies, subsequently, conduct a further analysis-such as CSFs' evaluation-using a specially designed questionnaire to specify the CSFs that are important for ERP implementation success in particular economic sectors, or in a set of them [11,14,17,23]. The general investigation of critical factors was covered by the effort of [19], while ERP CSFs' evaluation is to be covered in this study for a specific sector of the economy, specifically, agriculture in the context of agricultural processing companies.…”

“…All of the above facts point to a literature gap, which this study aims to fill in through the evaluation of critical factors according to Greek agricultural processing companies' ERP users. Taking into account the study of [19], who identified 37 critical success factors, this paper conducts research to answer a specific question:…”

“…The present study's authors go into more depth in the field of agricultural processing companies' management through the evaluation of ERP critical success factors. This evaluation-combined with aspects from the literature [19]-may show if the examined sector (agricultural processing) is actually interesting in the context of ERP, and how a digital production system can be managed and redesigned to become sustainable for a company.…”