Toni M. Somers

The impact of critical success factors across the stages of enterprise resource planning implementations

The paper describes the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) across the stages of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations using the responses from 86 organizations that completed or are in the process of completing an ERP implementation. Our results provide advice to management on how best to utilize their limited resources to choose those CSFs that are most likely to have an impact upon the implementation of the ERP system.

A taxonomy of players and activities across the ERP project life cycle

An important problem in probabilistic description is to understand who are the key players, which activities associated with enterprise system implementations are important, and when their effect is most prevalent across the IT development stages. Using an information theory approach, we analyze the fit between their importance, as noted in the current literature, and the experiences reported by a cross-section of 116 organizations that completed an enterprise system implementation experience. Our results suggest that the early literature- and case-based research on enterprise systems does not take into account the importance of several key variables. These findings provide guidance to managers on how best to utilize their limited resources by employing such factors at the stage in the projects life cycle when they will have the greatest impact.

The Impact of ERP Implementation on Business Process Outcomes: A Factor-Based Study

Failures in large-scale information technology implementation are abundantly documented in the practitioner literature. In this study, we examine why some firms benefit more from enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation than others. We look at ERP implementation from a technological diffusion perspective, and investigate under what contextual conditions the extent of ERP implementation has the greatest effect on business process outcomes. Using empirical data, we find that the extent of ERP implementation influences business process outcomes, and both ERP radicalness and delivery system play moderating roles. For information systems (IS) practice, this study helps managers direct their attention to the most promising factors, provides insights into how to manage their complex interactions, and elaborates on their differential effects on business process outcomes. For IS research, it integrates innovation diffusion theory into our current knowledge of ERP implementation and provides theoretical explanations for ERP implementation failures.

The measurement of manufacturing flexibility

Abstract In this paper we report the development of an instrument for measuring and analyzing manufacturing flexibility. Thirty-four items affecting manufacturing flexibility were identified from the literature and a preliminary instrument was created to measure them. Using a survey of 269 firms and employing factor-analytic techniques, the instrument was modified. The final instrument contained 21 items representing nine components of manufacturing flexibility. In order to determine technical validity (i.e., convergent and discriminant validity) additional data from 113 firms were collected. The results of this effort and suggested uses of this instrument are given in this paper.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the End‐User Computing Satisfaction Instrument: Replication within an ERP Domain*

Over the past decade, organizations have made significant investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The realization of benefits from these investments depends on supporting effective use of information technology (IT) and satisfying IT users. User satisfaction with information systems is one of the most important determinants of the success of those systems. Drawing upon a sample of 407 end users of ERP systems and working within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), this study examines the structure and dimensionality, and reliability and validity of the end-user computing satisfaction (EUCS) instrument posited by Doll and Torkzadeh (1988). In response to Klenkes (1992) motion to cross-validate management information system (MIS) instruments and to retest the end user computing satisfaction instrument using new data, this studys results, consistent with previous findings, confirm that the EUCS instrument maintains its psychometric stability when applied to users of enterprise resource planning application software. Implications of these results for practice and research are provided.

Alignment of a firm's competitive strategy and information technology management sophistication: the missing link

The need for establishing a link between information technology (IT) management strategies and a firms competitive strategy has been identified and discussed in the literature. In this paper, factors for measuring IT management sophistication are identified first. Then the effects of the competitive strategy on IT management sophistication are tested empirically. According to a survey of 213 managers, this study finds that competitive strategy has a direct impact on IT management sophistication. This paper concludes with implications for both researchers and practitioners.

Enterprise Resource Planning

ARIK RAGOWSKY is an Associate Professor of Information Systems in the Department of Information Systems and Manufacturing and the Director of the Manufacturing Information Systems Center at Wayne State University. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. in Information Systems from Tel Aviv University. His experience includes working as a CIO at a manufacturing company and as a consultant for manufacturing organizations with their information systems (ERP systems). Dr. Ragowsky has published in such journals as Journal of Management Information Systems, International Journal of Industrial Engineering, International Journal of CIM, Journal of Systems Management, Information & Management, Communications of the ACM, and Information Technology and Management. His current research interests are in the value of information systems, manufacturing information systems, ERP, and strategic information systems.

The impact of IT outsourcing on information systems success

Abstract The objective of this research is to assess the impact of IT outsourcing on Information Systems’ success. We modeled the relationships among the extent of IT outsourcing, the ZOT (the Zone of Tolerance), and IS success. We justified our model using the expectancy–disconfirmation theory, the agency theory, and transaction cost economics, and we empirically tested it using structural equation modeling with responses from IS users. We found significant direct and indirect effects (through the service quality) of outsourcing on IS systems’ perceived usefulness and their users’ satisfaction. Whereas the extent of outsourcing is negatively related to the service quality and perceived usefulness, the ZOT-based IS service quality is positively related to the user satisfaction.

The Role of ERP Implementation in Enabling Digital Options: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

Many firms are transforming themselves from vertically integrated organizations into digitally enabled organizations. As firms become more innovative in their technical infrastructures and more competitive in their respective industries/verticals, their extended enterprise models include using their previous enterprise resource planning (ERP) investments as foundations for prioritizing additions and for longer-term strategies. The key issue for many firms is how to leverage their ERP implementation to become better partners and collaborators by enabling digital options to exploit business opportunities. This paper ascertains the contextual conditions under which ERP system implementations have the greatest impact on intention to adopt digital options. Using empirical data, it finds that the impact of ERP implementation on digital-options adoption intention is moderated by a firms digital-resource readiness. For information systems (IS) practice, the study suggests that firms should view ERP divisibility as an option value generator for supporting new customers and revenue opportunities. For IS research, it relates digital-options theory to specific measurable constructs and to the firms digital-resource readiness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Telecommuting: problems associated with communications technologies and their capabilities

Recent advances in information and communications technologies have permitted new flexibility in work arrangements. The number of people who either work from their home or take work home from their job is increasing. This evolution has led to a different set of needs at the persons residence than is traditionally required by the residential market. This paper presents an empirical study, based on 375 responses, to clarify: (1) the small business and residential market communications needs and problems; (2) the new communications technologies potential to fill those modern needs; and (3) the impact of the communications needs and problems on the telecommuters effectiveness. The implication of the findings from this study for the technologies providers, managers, university community, and researchers are discussed in detail.