Petri Hallikainen

Enterprise size matters: objectives and constraints of ERP adoption

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on enterprise resource planning (ERP) system adoption by investigating the relationship of enterprise size to the objectives and constraints of ERP adoption.Design/methodology/approach – In the paper, survey data, based on the responses of 44 companies, are analyzed, by dividing the companies into small, medium‐sized, and large enterprises; and comparing these groups, using statistical methods.Findings – The paper finds significant differences exist between small, medium‐sized and large enterprises regarding the objectives and constraints of ERP system adoption. While small enterprises experience more knowledge constraints, large enterprises are challenged by the changes imposed by ERP adoption. Further, large and medium‐sized enterprises are more outward‐oriented in ERP adoption than small enterprises. Business development, as opposed to mere efficiency improvement, while being the most prevalent objective for ERP adoption in all the ...

ERP System Adoption - Does the Size Matter?

This paper investigates the relationship of enterprise size to the constraints and objectives of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems adoption. The survey data based on the responses of 44 companies indicates that significant differences exist between small, medium-sized and large enterprises in ERP system adoption. Specifically, the findings suggest that small companies experience more knowledge constraints than their larger counterparts in ERP adoption. Further, while being the most prevalent objective for ERP adoption in all the company groups, business development through ERP adoption is considered especially important by the medium-sized and large enterprises. Finally, the findings of the study suggest that instead of considering small and medium-sized enterprises as one homogenous group, the differences between these two groups of companies should be acknowledged in the future research.

Gathering innovative end-user feedback for continuous development of information systems: a repeatable and transferable e-collaboration process

Receiving innovative end user feedback on an information system is essential for acquiring further development ideas. The feedback gathering method should encourage end users to freely bring out new ideas. The method should be repeatable and transferable to allow its use in various contexts. We employ the principles of collaboration engineering using so-callled thinkLets as building blocks to construct a feedback gathering process. We apply the principles for receiving new development ideas for a multi-university student information system in Finland. We reflect on the experiences and give insights on applying two alternative processes in a complex organizational context.

Evaluating strategic IT investments: an assessment of investment alternatives for a web content management system

As widely recognized in the literature, information technology (IT) investments have several special characteristics that make assessing their costs and benefits complicated. Here, we address the problem of evaluating a web content management system for both internal and external use. The investment is presently undergoing an evaluation process in a multinational company. We aim at making explicit the desired benefits and expected risks of the system investment. An evaluation hierarchy at general level is constructed After this, a more detailed hierarchy is constructed to take into account the contextual issues. To catch the contextual issues key company representatives were interviewed. The investment alternatives are compared applying the principles of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Due to the subjective and uncertain characteristics of the strategic IT investments a wide range of sensitivity analyses is performed.

Impacts of the Implementation of Electronic Invoicing on Buyer-Seller Relationships

In this paper, we examine the effects of the implementation of electronic invoicing on buyerseller relationships. We apply the framework by Cannon & Perreault [1] to analyze the changes in the relationship connectors between the two parties. Drawing on qualitative interview data from a single case study, we find that the implementation of electronic invoicing has a strong impact on the information exchange component as well as on the operational linkages component. In addition, we find that both parties have made adaptations due to the implementation of electronic invoicing. It was also concluded that the switching costs have increased and the commitment improved between the seller and its customers. While the investments in electronic invoicing usually reduce costs for the buyers, the sellers benefit from the implementation of electronic invoicing in creating long-lasting relationships and even dependence between the two parties.

SUPPORTING IT IMPLEMENTATION DECISIONS WITH ANP — SUPPLIER SCHEDULING FOR e-INVOICING

Companies aim to make their supply chains more efficient by using modern information technology (IT). Owing to limited resources there is a need to prioritize IT projects and those generating the highest business value should be implemented first. In this paper, we first develop the theoretical foundations for the prioritization decision and then implement the theoretical principles by applying the ANP (analytic network process) approach. A model is developed to aid a buyer company in selecting prioritized suppliers for adopting electronic invoicing. The case company is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company. The ANP approach is considered suitable for this type of decision problem with many interconnected decision-making criteria. As the result of the analysis, the prioritized suppliers, representing different supplier types in the case company, are determined. The results can be applied to schedule e-invoicing implementation projects among the supplier companies. Based on the case study it can be concluded that the theoretical principles and the ANP approach can also be applied to other IT implementation decisions concerning supply chain efficiency.

Coordination of Outsourced Information System Development in Multiple Customer Environment - A Case Study of a Joint Information System Development Project

In large software development projects, coordination is considered critical for the success of system development. Generally, coordination focuses on managing interdependencies among different organizational units within one organization. However, in IS outsourcing the interdependencies reach beyond organizational boundaries into coordination of development between a software vendor and a client company. Our research focuses on coordination of development in a setting where several vendors and client organizations develop a common information system. In this study we investigate the characteristic features of system development in a multiple customer environment. Especially we look at the coordination mechanisms and their evolution over time and phases of system development. Our analysis shows that the coordination mechanisms become more formal and control-oriented as the jointly developed system becomes more and more functional. Subsequently changes to the system become harder to get through the coordination mechanisms.

Emerging evaluation processes in consortium‐based outsourced system development

Purpose – In large system development efforts organizational and managerial issues are often more challenging than technical ones. One of the key concerns of managers is the control and evaluation of the overall development effort. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the evaluation of system development process in a setting where there are multiple stakeholders in multiple organizations that develop a common information system (IS). The case is a consortium of universities that has developed a common student registrar system over a period of more than ten years.Design/methodology/approach – The authors used a social process model to analyze the episodes and encounters in the system development and evaluation process. The research approach can be characterized as action case.Findings – The authors found that in the early stages of system development the evaluation was emergent or even non‐existent. As the system was developed further and issues, such as delays and missing features, arose, there was a ...

Supporting the Supplier Scheduling Decisions in the E-Invoicing Implementation Projects - An Application of the ANP Method

In this paper, an ANP (Analytic Network Process) model is developed to aid a buyer company in prioritizing suppliers for adopting electronic invoicing. The case company is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company. Because implementing e-invoicing with all the suppliers at the same time would require too many financial and other resources, it is necessary to schedule the implementations among the suppliers. Since the problem involves a lot of interconnected decision making criteria, the ANP method is considered suitable for this type of decision problem. The ANP model is constructed based on the business value concept as the main goal. As the result of analysis, the priorities between the suppliers are computed and the results can be applied to schedule the e-invoicing implementations among the supplier companies.

Reorganizing Projects through Enterprise System: Emerging Role of Enterprise System in Radical Organizational Change

In this paper we analyze the role of Enterprise System (ES) in shaping a companys transformation process by conducting an in-depth case study in a large European high-tech company. Although there are previous studies concerning organizational transformation and ES implementation process, the role of ES as an instrument for de-institutionalization is not well understood. By drawing on the framework of neo-institutional theory we seek to understand how ES facilitates discarding of the old ways of doing things and the simultaneous forming of the new institutional arrangements. This paper seeks to provide valuable insights into the de-institutionalization process and the role of ES in a companys re-organization. The findings show how ES in use serves as an agent and a platform for de-institutionalization and later as a powerful force in forming the new institutional arrangement.