Marianne Bradford

Examining the Role of Innovation Diffusion Factors on the Implementation Success of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Abstract Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been adopted by many organizations in the past decade. These systems have revolutionized organizational computing by facilitating integrated and real-time planning, production, and customer response. While some companies have achieved significant efficiencies through ERP, others have complained of failed implementations, budget overruns, and disappointing performance. This paper draws upon Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and Information Systems Success (IS) theory to develop and test a model of ERP implementation success. Results reveal that top management support and training are positively related to user satisfaction, while perceived complexity of ERP and competitive pressure show a negative relationship. Consensus in organizational objectives and competitive pressure are positively associated with perceived organizational performance. Post hoc analysis identifies user satisfaction as a moderator between certain DOI characteristics and organizational performance. This leads to the proposal of a new model of ERP implementation for future research.

The value impact of strategic intent on firms engaged in information systems outsourcing

While information systems outsourcing has been on the rise in recent years, empirical evidence about whether IS outsourcing is value creating for shareholders is limited. Little is known about what factors influence the relation between information systems outsourcing and firm value. This study examines the effect of information systems outsourcing announcements on firm value by analyzing whether equity market reactions are associated with the managements strategic intent for outsourcing and firm characteristics of the outsourcing firm. After examining 103 IS outsourcing announcements made during the period from 1996 to 2003, results suggest that value is created for firms outsourcing with short-term operational intent rather than for longer term strategic reasons. In addition, the increase in firm value from an IS outsourcing announcement is positively associated with the firms operating asset efficiency and the firm being in a service industry.

The Status of ERP Integration in Business School Curricula: Results of a Survey of Business Schools

Although a growing number of business graduates are involved in the selection, implementation, and use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, many schools are slow in adopting and integrating these systems into their business curricula. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many schools perceive the integration of ERP software into curricula to be too complex, and the resulting costs to outweigh the benefits derived. Other schools question the relevance of ERP skills and knowledge to students. However, an increasing number of schools are joining ERP vendor alliance programs, offering ERP tracks in various departments or even building their business programs around ERP software. The apparent divergence of opinions regarding incorporating ERP into business curricula lends itself to a fruitful area of inquiry. The current study presents the results of a survey administered to information systems faculty at 94 colleges and universities that examines the current status of ERP integration in the classroom. All but three of these schools are in the US. Topics addressed in the survey include extent of ERP use in the classroom, reasons why schools did not adopt ERP for teaching purposes, implementation issues, and pedagogical uses. In addition, based on the authors’ recent experiences in implementing ERP for classroom use, benefits and challenges of ERP integration into curricula are discussed. The study’s results are informative to those schools wanting to benchmark their efforts against other schools, as well as to non-adopting schools that are considering undertaking this initiative.

System Diagramming Techniques: An Analysis of Methods Used in Accounting Education and Practice.

System diagrams (SD) are an integral component of system documentation and have become increasingly important in response to heightened awareness surrounding process improvement and documentation as well as compliance concerns with legislation such as the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act. SD is also an important concept in accounting information systems and auditing education. This study examines SD commonly included in accounting curricula and compares the methods with those used by accounting practitioners. The SDs included in the study are system flowcharts, entityrelationship diagrams, data flow diagrams, resource‐event agent models, process maps, and Unified Modeling Language. The results include analyses of frequency of use, purpose of use, and strengths and weaknesses based on several dimensions. Using a survey of accounting practitioners, we find that SD use in practice is not entirely consistent with what is included in accounting curricula. This study can be useful to accounting educators by providing insight...

Centralized end-to-end identity and access management and ERP systems: A multi-case analysis using the Technology Organization Environment framework

System security is a top issue facing global organizations. This study investigates the constraints and benefits of a successful centralized end-to-end identity and access management (CIAM) implementation and the moderating role that ERP systems have in the implementation. We apply the Technology Organization Environment (TOE) framework to a case study approach. We find that organizational and technological factors result in lapses in IT governance and act as barriers to CIAM. Environmental factors also hinder CIAM implementation. Additionally, ERP systems facilitate the development of a CIAM due to integration and standardization of identities and automated provisioning. When the ERP system supports CIAM, the organization and its employees experience significant benefits including single sign-on capabilities, increased security and privacy, efficiencies in user provisioning and password management, and audit process improvement. Our results will be of value to any organization implementing CIAM and ERP. Researchers can also use our findings to further study IAM, ERP or extensions to the TOE framework.

New York State Agencies: A Case Study for Analyzing the Process of Legacy System Migration: Part I

Part II of this case chronicles the actions and outcomes of the legacy system migrations of five New York State agencies. The case highlights the problems these agencies encountered in migrating from legacy systems to enterprise‐wide systems built upon relational databases. The case also explores the additional complexities of legacy system migration under the unique legal and operational constraints of governmental entities. Investigated issues include business process management, technical and financial project feasibility, cost‐benefit analyses, consultant management, and ERP implementations.

Understanding sustainability for socially responsible investing and reporting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine what types of sustainability activities companies are reporting and whether persons external to the companies understand how those reported activities correspond to the companies’ narratives about sustainability. That is to ascertain how people interpret the meaning of the activities included in the sustainability reports. Design/methodology/approach From a sample of sustainability reports prepared by Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, the authors identified the distinct activities reported. The authors prepared a survey comprised of these activities and asked a sample of people knowledgeable about business and investing to evaluate each activity on the extent to which they are relevant to sustainability performance. The responses were then factor analyzed to identify the most important dimensions of sustainability these persons employed to relate the activities to sustainability. Findings The dimensions employed by the subjects differed in some significant ways from those dimensions used to construct the GRI format. Subjects evaluated sustainability efforts as primarily efforts of being a good citizen with sustainability an end in itself rather than as constraint to be respected in achieving profitability goals. Research limitations/implications The study is a first attempt so results are preliminary, i.e. suggestive but not definitive. Though preliminary an intriguing implication is that closure on a sustainability reporting structure would be premature. More effort needs to be devoted to provide more clarity on the concept of corporate sustainability and what its implications are for corporate behavior. Practical implications Given the results that sustainability be regarded as a corporate end, what is the role of the corporation in society seems still to be disputatious. Sustainability may not be something achievable without changes in corporate law. Originality/value The study is an early attempt to assess the potential alternative narratives about corporate sustainability. Its value lies in providing insights into the age-old question of what should be the role of the corporation in a free society.