International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems, 8(3), 15-33, July-September 2012 15
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Keywords: Company Size, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), ERPSystems Success, Industry Variables,
Information Systems, Information Technology Issues, Organization Size
INTRODUCTION
One of the major software implementations in
business organizations in the past decade has
been enterprise resource planning systems.
Enterprise resource planning systems are large
complex systems that run many if not all of
business functions and processes in an orga-
nization. Ifindeo (2007) suggests that “today,
organizations worldwide adopt Enterprise
Resource Planning Systems (ERP) under the
pressure of changing business environments
rather than build their own information systems
(IS) in house.” According to Miller (2003),
the key parts of an enterprise resource plan-
ning system are integrated modules that allow
business process that cross business functional
areas; one large real-time database that allows
for a single entry and repository for informa-
tion across business functions; and seamless
business transactions across business functions.
The comprehensive nature of ERP systems al-
lows them to minimize redundancy, provides
best practices for functions and processes and
allows for standardized interchange of infor-
mation across geographical, organizational,
and cultural boundaries. The savings were
first recognized by large multi-nationals and
large organizations were the first to implement
these integrated systems and reap the potential
savings. But now small and medium sized busi-
nesses are implementing as well. Generally,
enterprise resource planning systems consist
of a series of functional modules that are in-
tegrated through standard business processes
and include all the data and information about
vendors, customers, partners, employees, raw
materials, processes and products. The common
modules include accounting, sales and market-
ing, supply chain, purchasing, manufacturing,
Industry Variables Affecting
ERP Success and Status
Alan R. Peslak, Penn State University, USA
ABSTRACT
This manuscript analyzes the views of top fnancial executives on the information systems (IS) in their orga-
nizations and to study the level of enterprise resource planning implementation success and well as current
status of activity in ERP systems. Specifcally, ERP success and status were studied in 2010 as well as the
effect of company size, level of ownership, and industry. An analysis of secondary data obtained from the 2006
and 2010 Financial Executives International comprehensive survey-based research on technology issues for
fnancial executives. The results of this study are further explored deeper in the article.
DOI: 10.4018/jeis.2012070102