Evaluation of an enterprise resource planning system as a performance enhancing tool for non-profit organisations

M.Comm.Non-profit organisations are generally self-regulated bodies and usually manage their operations in an independent manner. This self-management aspect of non-profit organisations can create room for unethical behaviour such as mismanagement and poor performance. As public benefit organisations that primarily function because of donor funding, there is increased pressure from funders and stakeholders for non-profit organisations to provide greater accountability and transparency relating to their work. An information technology solution that can assist non-profit organisations in achieving greater accountability and transparency, as well as improvement in resource utilisation, is the implementation and use of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. However, whether such systems can improve the performance of non-profit organisations and their accountability to stakeholders has not been widely researched. This exploratory study aimed at identifying whether the use of an ERP system at two non-profit organisations (one based in South Africa and the other in Taiwan) assisted in accountability and transparency in their operations. Furthermore, it was investigated whether the use of an ERP system assists with optimal resource unitisation. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through the use of an interview guide with six senior managers to assess whether they perceived that the use of an ERP system promoted accountability and transparency. An electronic survey was distributed to a population of 271 users of the system (with 85 completed responses) to gain insight into user perceptions regarding performance improvement through use of an ERP system. Overall, three participants from the South African non-profit organisation suggested that the Maconomy ERP system was beneficial in achieving accountability and transparency goals. They indicated that they system provided them with the ability to monitor and control project activities at the organisation. The three participants from the Taiwanese non-profit organisation indicated that Maconomy ERP system assisted them with accountability and transparency objectives in a limited way. They further suggested that they realise that the system has the potential to assist them further with this requirement as it is still to be rolled out to the entire organisation. Furthermore, most respondents at the South African organisation perceived that the use of the Maconomy ERP system improves operational and personal performance. With regard to the survey, the majority of respondents reported that they understood the system and perceived that it provides value to the organisation. Most respondents at the Taiwanese non-profit organisation perceived that the Maconomy ERP system is beneficial to their organisation; however, most suggested that it does not improve their personal performance. A difference in length of the exposure to the system by respondents could be the cause of the differences in perceptions regarding personal performance. Overall, most of the respondents at both organisations perceived that adopting the Maconomy ERP system to improve performance at their organisation was the correct decision