Making ERP Work : A Logistics Approach to Causes and Effects of ERP Post-Implementation Use

Problem – Companies are taking into consideration not whether an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is required, but rather how to establish an effective ERP system. Research on ERP implementation is vast, however fairly little is known about ERP management and post-implementation use. Investigating how ERP systems are managed andused by different users in various companies and sectors adds value to understanding what practices are beneficial and, or detrimental. Purpose – The purpose of this thesis is to explain how ERP system use in the post implementation phase affects logistics operations in various enterprises. Method – The research has been conducted through the method of hermeneutics, enabling the researchers to constructively interpret data from in-depth interviews and documentary secondary data in order to explain what generally goes unnoticed in ERP system use. Conclusion – Training and business process configuration (also referred to as Business Process Reengineering in ERP implementation) are fundamental drivers to „ERP use‟ that embodies a wide range of dimensions (i.e. ERP access, understanding of ERP use etc.). All these dimensions, realized in ERP use affect operations either beneficially or detrimentally, externally or internally on a individual, team and, or organizational level