ERP implementation in manufacturing SMEs: Lessons from the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme

This article examines how the experience gained from two Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects in the UK can usefully benefit companies faced with similar challenges in a developing world context. Specifically, it addresses the issues faced by manufacturing SMEs intent on replacement of their information systems with one integrated software suite – an Enterprise Resource Planning package. After exploring relevant literature, the article focusses on how the key change elements of process, technology and people can feature in assessing the readiness of such companies for the major upheaval involved in these major change projects. Through further analysis of the projects, it is concluded that the three change components must be kept in balance when implementing these major software suites, both in developed and developing world contexts

The moderating effect of environmental regulation and policy on the relationship between total quality management (TQM) and organizational performance in the Malaysian food and beverage companies

There have been inconsistent findings in the literature concerning the relationships between TQM and organizational performance. Hence this research has prompted further investigation on the effect of other variables that may better explain the nature of these links. In the related literatures, many theories have suggested that the compatibility between strategies, resources, and capabilities are the keys for organizational success. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effects of environmental regulation and policy (ERP) on the relationship between total quality management (TQM) and organizational performance (OP). Quality assurance (QA) and continuous process improvement (CPI) as TQM elements considered in this study were moderated with their respective relationships with organizational performance. Therefore, to achieve this purpose, this study has integrated different theories such as the contingency and the institutional theories in order to provide the effect of QA and CPI on successful strategy implementation. Questionnaires were distributed to 250 Malaysian food and beverages companies. 71 questionnaires were returned and used in the analysis using the PLS-SEM. Studies revealed that TQM can be divided into the management or soft aspects (management concepts and principles) of TQM and the technical or hard aspects (management tools and techniques) of TQM . This study is exclusively based on the soft elements of TQM. The results of this study revealed that QA and CPI have always been significant predictors of organizational performance by following the regulations and policy related to environment. More importantly, the results have also confirmed the moderating effect of environmental regulation and policy on the relationships between TQM and organizational performance. This study also supported the premises of the contingency theory and the institutional theory by reaffirming the importance of the supportive ERP for any successful strategy implementation in enhancing organizational performance through the implementation of innovative practices. However, this result cannot be generalized as data were collected through a cross-sectional approach. Future research can extend it to longitudinal researc

Information Technology Based Competencies For Professional Accountants In Malaysian Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SMES)

Nowadays, professional accountants have to deal with a range of information technologies in a variety of ways throughout their professional lives. An all emphasising skills based competency for accountants is, therefore, required, which not only caters for technical skills, but also requires organisational, human, and conceptual skills to take optimum advantage of IT for the benefit of the entire organisation. This research seeks to investigate IT competencies among professional accountants in Malaysian SMEs. This study takes a comprehensive view of IT competence for professional accountants, and investigates the issue at hand in technical, organisational, human, and conceptual dimensions. In doing so, it employs a qualitative interpretive research methodology with exploratory case study method. It uses diverse data collection strategies including, and relies on triangulation of evidence to resolve the research questions in this study. This research, thus, makes significant contribution to academic and professional bodies and provide theoretical base for developing IT related competencies for knowledge workers in general and professional accountants in particular

Antecedents and Impacts of E-Business Aligment Amongst Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

E-business has great potentials for firms to extend their business efficiency. Nevertheless, due to various problems and constraints, the e-business deployment within SMEs sector has been reported as not effective. To ensure effective e-business deployment, necessary measures are needed to assess how firms align diverse ebusiness capabilities in support of their business operation. This study therefore aims to investigate the extent firms align diverse e-business capabilities across business processes (e-business alignment). Using a strategic fit perspective, this study has observed two major propositions. First, firms‟ ability to align e-business to support the most crucial business processes has potentially led to better realisation of ebusiness values. Secondly, certain managerial and environmental conditions have explained the differing characteristics of e-business alignment amongst firms. This study employs quantitative research approach using survey method to collect and collate evidences from 140 owner/managers of SMEs. Preliminary analysis has indicated e-business alignment/misalignment patterns across business functions. The cluster analysis further reveals three distinct profiles with different characteristics of e-business alignment. These profiles are labelled as 'highly fit', 'moderately fit' and 'low fit' based on their e-business fit characteristics. This result confirms the first proposition where highly aligned firms will report greater and wider e-business impacts. The second proposition reveals that environmental uncertainty, IT sophistication, owner/manager knowledge on advanced IT/IS, e-business deployment status, and support network are significant predictors to different e-business alignment characteristics among firms. This study suggests that firms relatively have different priority over e-business solutions to support their business. These findings have demonstrated why some firms do not progress to a higher e-business ladder. It further justifies unequal deployment of e-business solutions to support functions across firms

Implementing Integrated Software Solutions in Iranian SMEs

There has been little research on information systems in Iranian companies, and this paper helps to address this by examining the implementation and functioning of integrated software solutions in two small to medium sized enterprises in Iran. This is of particular interest now that the sanctions on trade with Iran have been removed, which will inevitably lead to increased sales opportunities for western technology companies in the country. This study uses a process mapping and systems profiling approach to establish the current status of software implementation in these manufacturing companies. It investigates the underlying information systems strategy and examines how this has been implemented in the core process areas of these companies. The outcome of these major systems projects is assessed, and comparisons are drawn between these Iranian based “Total Systems” software products and similar products more widely available in the developed world