Threats to ERP Success: A Case Study

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages have transformed the way organisations go about the process of providing Information Systems. Instead of crafting each new Information System locally, organisations are able to install well-integrated, internationally sourced packages that seek to provide best practice from IT systems world-wide. These packages also provide very rich choice in features and functions so that the adopting organisation can tailor the package implementation to meet their very specific needs. However, the enormous growth rate in ERP adoption has slowed. It is apparent that some adopters are not yet realising the benefits that they had anticipated. Efforts to make ERP packages successful in small to medium enterprises, in particular, are facing challenges. This paper reports on case study research involving one adopter of the ERP package, SAP. The research uses an a priori ERP Success Model based on a framework developed to explain success in the adoption of CASE packages. From the study, a modified model is developed. The model proposes Task-Technology Fit (TTF), User Satisfaction, and ERP Utilisation as meaningful indicators of ERP success. The revised framework can assist IS managers developing new strategy involving ERP use