TAM-based external factors related to ERP solutions acceptance in organizations

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ERP solutions use, understanding of critical success factors of ERP solutions assimilation in organizations is crucial. The technology acceptance model (TAM) proposed by Davis (1989) has been the most widely used model for researching user acceptance and usage of IT/IS. The purpose of this paper is to extend the original TAM with groups of external factors which impact actual ERP system use. First, we focus on ERP system use in companies’ maturity phase. Second, we expose and examine three groups of external factors which influence ERP usage. The model was empirically tested using data collected from a survey of ERP users in 44 organizations. Survey data have been collected from ERP users who have been exposed to an ERP system which has operated for more than one year. The proposed research model was analyzed using the PLS approach

Knowing A Few Rules Doesn’t Mean You Can Play the Game : The Limits of “Best Practice” in Enterprise Systems.

We examine the common claim that "best practices" are encompassed and represented in Enterprise Systems (ES). We suggest that an ES can at best only represent the ostensive and not the performative elements of work tasks. Thus, representation of best practice in an ES does not take practical action into account. This has two important implications. First, ostensive abstractions of best practice in an ES are a sparse and superficial representation of a "good" business process, at a specific moment in time. Second, the practical understanding required for performance is often ignored in the ostensive representation of best practice in the implementation of an ES. This constrains user and business adaptability. Inflexible coding of ostensive business tasks furthermore leads to rigidity where flexibility should be sought, to keep on top of the competition. Implications and directions for further research are discussed

TAM-based external factors related to ERP solutions acceptance in organizations

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of ERP solutions use, understanding of critical success factors of ERP solutions assimilation in organizations is crucial. The technology acceptance model (TAM) proposed by Davis (1989) has been the most widely used model for researching user acceptance and usage of IT/IS. The purpose of this paper is to extend the original TAM with groups of external factors which impact actual ERP system use. First, we focus on ERP system use in companies’ maturity phase. Second, we expose and examine three groups of external factors which influence ERP usage. The model was empirically tested using data collected from a survey of ERP users in 44 organizations. Survey data have been collected from ERP users who have been exposed to an ERP system which has operated for more than one year. The proposed research model was analyzed using the PLS approach

“I’ll use IT the way I feel like it” – The influence of user emotions on ERP usage

Due to the growing importance of complex information systems (IS) such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), organizations spend millions of dollars to IS implementations. Implementation of ERP triggers a wide range of end user behaviors, which are strongly tied to ERP’s success and benefits. Despite the progress that has been made in understanding the acceptance and resistance towards voluntary IS usage, less is known about the role of end user behaviors in mandatory IS usage context. Drawing from coping theory and human-material agency perspective, this paper argues that users can show different behaviors in their ERP usage depending on how they feel about the ERP. Thus, we investigate the influence of both negative and positive emotions of users on their behaviors and how these behaviors affect usage satisfaction and frequency of the ERP. We develop a theoretical framework that classifies user behaviors into two distinct types: end user maneuver, and counterproductive work behavior. The role of these user behaviors on the relationship between both positive and negative emotions and ERP usage is studied through a survey of 271 ERP end users in the U.S. The results show that user behaviors positively mediate the relationship between emotions and ERP usage

Individuals\u27 absorptive capacity in enterprise system assimilation

The capability of an individual to absorb knowledge about enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a critical element in the development of an organisation&rsquo;s absorptive capacity (ACAP) during assimilation phase of ERP. Prior research have tended to overlook the roles that individuals play in identify external and internal knowledge, assimilate and exploit ERP knowledge. By defining ACAP at the individual level, we seek to enrich our understanding of how individual learn ERP knowledge and how such efforts facilitate the ERP assimilation within organisations. We develop a theoretical model to investigate the assimilation of enterprise systems in the post-implementation stage. Specifically, this model explains how communication climate and top management participation moderates the impact of Individuals&rsquo; ACAP on the assimilation of ERP systems.<br /

The impact of information technology resources on SMEs' innovation performance

This work aims to develop a research framework to examine the impact of information technology resources on the innovation performance of Saudi small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs innovation capability influences growth and technological progress (Bruque & Moyano, 2007). However, many developing countries exhibit moderate or even low innovation performance. For instance, Saudi Arabia is ranked 54th by the Global Innovation Index (GII 2011). Innovation systems studies focus on the alignment between the interactions of innovation actors with their constantly changing environment toward better innovation performance (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000). The dynamic capabilities of organisations have been highlighted as a crucial characteristic that helps to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage (Teece et al., 1997). The indirect impact IT resources on innovation performance represents an attractive research area (Benitez-Amado et al., 2010). Therefore, we argue that a closer look at Saudi SMEs information technology resources and their impact on the firm dynamic capabilities and innovation performance would make a significant contribution to existing knowledge. Areas such as the organisation strategies of developing countries, innovation management, dynamic capabilities, open innovation and strategic information systems are few examples of areas that might benefit from this work

Institutionalisation of Enterprise Systems through Organisational Isomorphism

The analysis of IS implementation and lifecycle management theories concludes that, ERP systems or for that matter any information system is a socio-technical system; and the social, cultural, organisational and competitive context of their implementation cannot be ignored. Various institutional pressures are exerted on ERP initiation, adoption, and routinization by organisations to achieve competitive, economic, technical, environmental and organisational legitimacy and authority. There are theoretical supports available for environmental isomorphic mechanisms; however, comparing to tremendous amount of studies on coercive, normative, and mimetic, there are little studies that actually look at other organisational and internal institutional elements which are influencing technology implementation, assimilation and institutionalisation process. This research aims to fill this gap by introducing perceptive, confirmative, and configurative mechanisms as new forms of institutional isomorphism, i.e., organisational isomorphism

Individuals\u27 Absorptive Capacity in Enterprise System Assimilation

The capability of an individual to absorb knowledge about enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a critical element in the development of an organisation’s absorptive capacity (ACAP) during assimilation phase of ERP. Prior research have tended to overlook the roles that individuals play in identify external and internal knowledge, assimilate and exploit ERP knowledge. By defining ACAP at the individual level, we seek to enrich our understanding of how individual learn ERP knowledge and how such efforts facilitate the ERP assimilation within organisations. We develop a theoretical model to investigate the assimilation of enterprise systems in the post-implementation stage. Specifically, this model explains how communication climate and top management participation moderates the impact of Individuals’ ACAP on the assimilation of ERP systems

Innovate with Complex Information Technologies: A Theoretical Model and Empirical Examination

Complex information technologies (CITs), such as ERP packages, have become the core component of modern organizations. Corporate investments in CITs have soared to a record high. Firms need to creatively apply the technologies in order to adapt to the ever-changing environments and realize the full potential of the technologies. We approach this issue from the perspective of ‘Innovate with IT’, a post-acceptance usage behavior that describes innovative use of information technologies to support individual task performances. Drawing upon the IS Continuance (ISC) model, as well as the managerial and individual factors that facilitate higher level IT use, a model is theoretically developed to understand employees’ novel use of CITs. A field study was conducted in a large manufacturing firm using ERP packages to empirically validate the model. The results suggest that the ISC model, personal propensity toward IT innovations, and management support jointly nurture employees’ creative use of complex technologies

HOW TO UNDERSTAND POST-ACCEPTANCE INFORMATION SYSTEM USAGE BEHAVIORS: PESPECTIVE FROM IS SUCCESS MODEL

The impact of information systems (IS) on organizational performance has gained enormous attention from both academics and practitioners. However, it is the post-acceptance IS use that actually help fully realize the IS potential. We identified three types of IS usage behaviors -- routine use (RU), extended use (EU) and innovative use (IU), which can coexist in the post-acceptance stage and help with the work. Drawing on the IS success model, we proposed a research model with IS characteristics as external variables toward perceived usefulness (PU) and satisfaction to explain RU, EU and IU in respective. The relationships among three dimensions of IS characteristics -- information quality, system quality and service quality were discussed further. As RU, EU and IU reflect various extent of IS use, we suggested that they are linked. Then the model was tested by a survey of 240 ERP system users. The results provided evidence that information quality and service quality influence PU and user satisfaction via system quality, and IS success model was a good basis for understanding RU, EU and IU. We also found that RU had a positive impact directly on EU but indirectly on IU via EU. This study helps bridge the gap between IS characteristics and prediction of different types of post-acceptance IS usage behaviors