Effective Strategies to Overcome Challenges in ERP Projects: Perspectives from a Canadian Exploratory Study

Abstract

This qualitative exploratory case study explores strategies and mitigating actions for successful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations. The research was conducted in a Canadian case organization in the oil and gas industry, using a semi-structured interview guide with a total of twenty interviews that includes members from four project role groups of senior leaders, project managers, project team members, and business users. For triangulation purposes, the study used interview responses and also ERP project documentation collected for the purpose. The research highlighted several strategies and mitigating actions that can be put in use by organizations. The key themes that emerged as effective strategies include having the right people for support and guidance from experts, change management, clear communications, hands-on training, lots of testing, and risk management. The study also provided evidence that adopting strategies can help overcome critical challenges during ERP implementations.

Benefits and Process Improvements for ERP Implementation: Results from an Exploratory Case Study

“…The literature espouses several benefits for organizations undertaking ERP implementations and knowing them in advance can help achieve desired project results. The current study examined a large-scale ERP implementation in the Canadian oil and gas industry (Menon et al, 2019, Menon, 2019. Six key themes on benefits and four themes on process improvements were uncovered from interview responses, based on high frequency counts.…”

“…This study reviewed some of the foundational studies by Themistocleus, Irani, O'Keefe, and Paul (2001); Mishra & Mishra (2011); Stanciu & Tinca (2013); Menon (2019). According to the study conducted by Themistocleus et al (2001) ERP provide several benefits such as efficiency of firms, competitiveness, reduced development risk, and solving legacy system problems.…”

“…It was also noted that critical challenges were significant during ERP projects (Menon, 2016;Menon, Muchnick, Butler & Pizur, 2019). Menon (2019) also listed some of the effective strategies that can be used to overcome critical challenges. The key strategies emerged to overcome challenges include having the right people for support and guidance from experts, change management, clear communications, hands-on training, lots of testing, and risk management (Menon, 2019).…”

“…Menon (2019) also listed some of the effective strategies that can be used to overcome critical challenges. The key strategies emerged to overcome challenges include having the right people for support and guidance from experts, change management, clear communications, hands-on training, lots of testing, and risk management (Menon, 2019). Adopting these strategies early in the project, can overcome challenges and increase business benefits for organization (Menon, 2019).…”

How innovative organization culture affects firm performance in the wake of enterprise resource planning? evidence from energy- and non-energy-sector firms in Pakistan

“…ERP allows managers to align the structure and goals of firms to get better control of expenses, expand the efficiency of the supply chain, bring value to the customer, and improve the understanding of customers' demands. A recent study by Menon (2019) reports that the benefits of ERP mediate the relationship between the implementation of ERP and FP in Canada. ERP enables firms to achieve fast and efficient business processes and standardized reporting through higher access to data sets, which are directly linked with a higher return on assets (ROA), returns on sales (ROA), and return on investments (ROI).…”