The use of information systems for logistics and supply chain management in South East Europe: Current status and future direction

This research aims to investigate the current status and future direction of the use of information systems for logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) in South East Europe. The objectives are threefold: (1) to identify major challenges and developments on the use of information systems for LSCM by enterprises, (2) to examine the actual level of satisfaction of current policy on LSCM, and (3) to reveal the actual need of enterprises in South East Europe on effective use of information systems for LSCM. Mixed methodology of literature review and questionnaire survey is adopted in this research. Data collected from 79 enterprises are analysed using descriptive analysis in SPSS. The findings suggest that enterprises in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, and Serbia and Montenegro, face similar challenges but all are in different stages of developments of LSCM. Their use of information systems explains their heavy focus on supply chain partnership and weakness in demand chain partnership. Major findings suggest that companies and governments alike in that region do not seem to be ready for playing a significant and demanding role in global supply chains. Current deficiencies, including limited abilities in building valuable forward relations, weak strategic planning and organisation, and infrastructural problems, are major obstacles for fast development in LSCM. At the same time though, traces of changing mentalities do exist, setting the ground for improved performance and ultimately for a better position in global business

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems and Knowledge Management: A Review of the Literature and Conceptual Framework

This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature published in various articles dated back to 1998 on the role of Knowledge Management (KM) in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. This article follows the literature published in this context focusing on two basic themes: KM supporting the ERP systems and KM integration into the ERP system. All the articles published on the relationship between KM and ERP systems published since 1998 were searched. Articles were sorted out on the basic themes they addressed. Most of the work on the role of KM in ERP systems was grouped into two main categories depending on the research subject matter. Integration of ERP systems being one of these basic themes was further investigated, enlisting all possible research articles published so far. Literature review on the KM and ERP relationship can be concludes that despite different relationships explored in the literature, KM has a vital role to play in the success of the ERP system. It is one of the critical success factors which complements the ERP systems to the extent that its absence will diminish the very essence, that is the adaption of ERP systems for the companies signified by the competitive advantage, market agility, and organization efficiency

ERP Decisions: The Role of Organizational Culture and SCM Practices

ERP has been well proved to be critical to improve company competitiveness, but not all ERP projects come out with a success. We believe that ERP decision is the first step to make ERP succeed, which is not as simple as comparing the prices of various systems (Piturro, 1999). Building on the knowledge of existing literature about organizational culture and IT behaviors, we examined the role of organizational culture and supply chain management (SCM) practices in an organization’s decision upon ERP decision. Based on the data we collected from 80 companies, we found that organizational culture and SCM practices significantly affect ERP decision; we also propose the mediating role of SCM practices between organizational culture and ERP decision

Organizational Culture, Supply Chain Management Practices and Organization’s Decision upon ERP Systems

In recent years, more and more Chinese organizations have tried to adopt enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems to improve their supply chain management (SCM) practices and efficiencies and subsequently to increase their competiveness in the marketplace. However, compared with their Western counterparts, the failure rate of ERP implementation for the Chinese organizations is much higher. Many of them find it very difficult to select an ERP system that fits their management practices. We believe that cultural differences could be the important reason contributing to the phenomenon that existing Western-based ERP systems cannot be directly adopted in Chinese companies. In this study, we propose a theoretical model that stipulates how organizational culture affects ERP decisions through influencing supply chain management practices. The object of this study is not only to provide insights for Western ERP vendors to modify/localize their existing systems to better fit local Chinese practices; but also to provide guidance for Chinese companies to select ERP systems or to develop their own systems. Empirical data will be collected to validate the proposed model. In order to develop measurement constructs for the survey instrument, company visits and interviews are conducted. In this paper, we shall reveal the initial findings from the interviews and discuss the steps forwar

Do Enterprise Systems Enable Supply Chain Integration?

Features of ERP systems such as standardized business processes, data integrity, real-time availability, visibility and processing capability of information are expected to create an excellent backdrop for embarking on integration with external partners in the supply chain. This paper reports on the enabling role of ERP systems in achieving supply chain integration from an interpretive case study analysis. Study observed that the organization is slow in embarking on changes to the inter-enterprise processes and not taking full advantage of the high potential. Reasons noted for constraining role of ERP systems in achieving an effective supply chain integration are changes in power and organizational structures, inadequate integration of internal processes, limited flexibility of processes, lack of decision support capability of the ERP system, and general inertia for further changes consequent to ERP implementation. In addition other factors such as supply chain partners inability to take a holistic view, complexity of developing technology interfaces, industry characteristics, and lack of information technology sophistication of the smaller partners are also limiting the potential

Reinforce customer satisfaction through enterprise resource planning and supply chain management integration

The purpose of this project is to try and establish a blueprint for integrating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Supply Chain Management (SCM). ERP and SCM have become popular in many industries because they help companies improve their Information Systems (IS) which helps support their operational goals. New technology is being used in resource planning and e-commerce and a stable supply chain helps corporations integrate many basic applications. This helps facilitate smooth supplier-customer interactions while minimizing transaction costs. This project is trying to provide a way in which to implement ERP systems properly into SCM. It should result in improved business performance and client satisfaction

Information Sharing in Improving Supply Chain Performance

This thesis studies the benefits of sharing information in supply chains. The information used is transaction and forecast data, which are collected by the sharing party’s ERP systems. The research method used was literature review and the results of the thesis, building upon several academic articles and studies, suggest that information improves supply chain performance and decreases its costs. The motivation for information sharing and supply chain management (SCM) come from the ever-complicating and global business environment. Focus on core competencies has led to lengthy sup-ply chains and dependency on multiple suppliers. Subcontractors account for most of a product’s value nowadays, increasing the need for good supplier relations. Information sharing is a cooperation method, which also helps reduce supply chain costs too. Based on an empirical study, using information sharing alone can provide supply chain costs savings of 3,3 to 9,7 per cent. The thesis also presents value adding applications of information sharing, which can help reduce costs and improve performance even more. These applications include vendor managed inventory (VMI) and continuous replenishment program (CRP). In return for the benefits, deeper cooperation and absolute trust is required from the parties

ERP System Implementation in a Leading LED Manufacturing Firm in Malaysia. A Supply Chain Perspective

valuable and quality information exchange to perform their daily operations and long-term action plan. Hence, selecting and embracing the right supply chain or business management software has become essential to organization. Most Malaysian manufacturer in prefer in adopting to an enterprise resources planning (ERP) system. However, implementing ERP system successfully is costly and complex, and often shows high disappointment rates or even abandonment due to need of fit with the business or social culture. The study conducted to explore the ERP system implementation in a manufacturing-based organization from the perspective of supply chain management. The ERP system implementation could have either positive or negative affects towards organization or company in terms of performance and innovation. The empirical data were collected using in-depth interview as an instrument in a LED manufacturing company. The result confirm that data cannot be editing after done click, server down and more procedure and process are the causes of ineffective implementation of ERP system in the company. This study gives insight to all top management and supply chain practitioners in the manufacturing industry company in implementing ERP System. Furthermore, the findings of this study could also be beneficial to all ERP users as they would be able to understand the ERP system implementation in sectors apart from manufacturing industry. Finally, the outcome of this study could be useful to ERP system adopters in different developing countries. This is one of the first studies, which adequately covers the challenges faced on ERP implementation itself in a LED-manufacturing firm