ERP implementation methodologies and frameworks: a literature review

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is a complex and vibrant process, one that involves a combination of technological and organizational interactions. Often an ERP implementation project is the single largest IT project that an organization has ever launched and requires a mutual fit of system and organization. Also the concept of an ERP implementation supporting business processes across many different departments is not a generic, rigid and uniform concept and depends on variety of factors. As a result, the issues addressing the ERP implementation process have been one of the major concerns in industry. Therefore ERP implementation receives attention from practitioners and scholars and both, business as well as academic literature is abundant and not always very conclusive or coherent. However, research on ERP systems so far has been mainly focused on diffusion, use and impact issues. Less attention has been given to the methods used during the configuration and the implementation of ERP systems, even though they are commonly used in practice, they still remain largely unexplored and undocumented in Information Systems research. So, the academic relevance of this research is the contribution to the existing body of scientific knowledge. An annotated brief literature review is done in order to evaluate the current state of the existing academic literature. The purpose is to present a systematic overview of relevant ERP implementation methodologies and frameworks as a desire for achieving a better taxonomy of ERP implementation methodologies. This paper is useful to researchers who are interested in ERP implementation methodologies and frameworks. Results will serve as an input for a classification of the existing ERP implementation methodologies and frameworks. Also, this paper aims also at the professional ERP community involved in the process of ERP implementation by promoting a better understanding of ERP implementation methodologies and frameworks, its variety and history

Strategies for Managing Critical Success Factors of BPM Initiatives in Brazilian Public Organizations: A Qualitative Empirical Study

Business Process Management involves theoretical and operational elements from areas such as Production Engineering, Management and Informatics. In previous studies, we identified critical success factors of BPM initiatives in Brazilian Public Organizations through two multiple case studies. In this work, we intend to investigate how to manage these factors. To achieve this goal, we conducted two focus groups. Five professionals group with experience (specialists) in BPM initiatives in the public sector attended the first focus. The second was performed in a public organization that is conducting a three-year old BPM initiative. It was evidenced that many strategies suggested by specialists are being applied by the public organization investigated in the second focus group. In addition, other strategies were cited to manage the FCS. The main contribution of this study is to investigate from a practical perspective the critical success factors for BPM initiatives in public organizations

Critical success factors of business process management:investigating the coverage of business process (management) maturity models

Business Process Management (BPM) aims to improve the quality of business processes by consolidating the concepts of modelling, reengineering, automation, management, and innovation. Tailoring multi-faceted BPM to specific contexts of organizations on the ground of fast-growing information technology is the challenge of the current decade. A considerable number of critical success factors (CSFs) for BPM has been proposed by various studies in the scientific literature to provide insight into the process of achieving BPM. However, only few of these studies propose guidelines/practices for addressing the CSFs. This study is intended to provide a state-of-the-art of CSFs of BPM by a systematic review of scientific literature and to investigate content coverage of business process maturity models as a potential enabler of realization of these CSFs. We searched the studies between the years 2000 and 2015 in established digital libraries and identified 14 CSF categories from 18 studies out of 242 studies retrieved initially. Following that, we searched for evidence on the existence of each CSF category in five maturity models, namely Business Process Management Capability Framework (BPM-CF), Business Process Orientation Maturity Model (BPO-MM), Business Process Orientation Maturity Framework (BPO-MF), Business Process Maturity Model (OMG-BPMM), and Process and Enterprise Maturity Model (PEMM). The findings from our investigation show that, despite the variance in degree of coverage of CSF categories by selected BPMMs, maturity models stand as a promising reference for organizations to start their BPM efforts.\u3cbr/\u3

Um modelo de benchmarking de gestão de processos para instituições de ensino superior

Purpose: This research presents a multicriteria benchmarking participatory model able to classify Federal Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) into three levels of process management maturity. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted into three stages: (i) assessment model development using the Delphi technique, (ii) data collection through a self-assessment process, and (iii) classification of the FHEIs using PROMSORT. Findings: The results showed that, regardless of the adoption of an optimistic or pessimistic perspective, most FHEIs (51.6% in the optimistic perspective and 54.8% in the pessimistic one) were classified as regular. It is also noteworthy that approximately 80% of the research participating FHEIs maintained their classifications in the sensitivity analysis. Among the six alternatives that presented classification variations, only three varied significantly, confirming the results obtained stability. Research limitations/implications: The use of a participatory approach promotes a consistent benchmark in terms of indicators and metrics to measure performances. Practical implications: PROMSORT provided flexibility to the model, since it is possible to modify the parameters and thresholds in order to adjust the model strictness. Originality/value: The development of a model through which the Federal Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) can be continually evaluate their process management maturity level.Objetivo: Esta pesquisa apresenta um modelo participativo de benchmarking multicritério capaz de classificar as Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior (IFES) em três níveis de maturidade de gestão de processos. Desenho/metodologia/abordagem: A pesquisa foi conduzida em três estágios: (i) construção do modelo de avaliação utilizando a técnica Delphi, (ii) coleta de dados através de um processo de autoavaliação, e (iii) classificação das IFES utilizando o PROMSORT. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que, independentemente da adoção de uma perspectiva otimista ou pessimista, a maioria das IFES (51,6% na perspectiva otimista e 54,8% na pessimista) foram classificadas como regulares. Também é notável que aproximadamente 80% das IFES participantes da pesquisa mantiveram suas classificações na análise de sensibilidade. Entre as seis alternativas que apresentaram variações de classificação, apenas três variaram significativamente, confirmando os resultados obtidos em termos de estabilidade. Limitações/implicações da pesquisa: O uso de uma abordagem participativa promove uma referência consistente em termos de indicadores e métricas para medir o desempenho. Implicações práticas: O PROMSORT proporcionou flexibilidade ao modelo, uma vez que é possível modificar os parâmetros e limiares a fim de ajustar o rigor do modelo. Originalidade/valor: Desenvolvimento de um modelo através do qual as Instituições Federais de Ensino Superior (IFES) podem avaliar continuamente seu nível de maturidade em gestão de processo

An investigation of Business Process maturity: a case study in a South African parastatal

Business Process Management (BPM) has become one of the management approaches adopted by many organisations that strive to survive in a turbulent and competitive environment. BPM offers the means to manage and optimize business processes with the objective of improved efficiency and effectiveness; thereby improving the potential of business success. However, the extent to which BPM influences business success is a matter of debate with diverse schools of thought finding it difficult to reach consensus regarding the critical success factors of BPM and the extent at which processes and people influence business success. The capability of an organisation or enterprise is the ability to deliver on a desired outcome. In this dissertation, the enterprise capabilities of BPM are investigated. The research sets out to investigate the BPM maturity level of a South African parastatal. The intention is to identify and improve on those factors that influence maturity of the enterprise capabilities and may have negative impact on stakeholders. The approach taken to address the research objectives drew on case study methodology. Fieldwork was conducted using company documents, observation, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. The questionnaire responses were qualitatively analysed using the categories of Hammer's model of enterprise capability. The research findings identified weaknesses in all categories of enterprise capability though expertise appeared to be thriving. The findings further suggest that weaknesses in leadership and the leadership style in particular impact on the effectiveness of business processes. The leadership style was seen as the major driver to impede process effectiveness. The following themes describing leadership style were derived from interviews: creation of sense of belonging, degree of approachability and extent of collaboration. In order to improve the BPM in the case company, the following recommendations were made: communication sessions, awareness training and process remodelling. The research study also provides the opportunity to understand BPM in a broader context, thus having potential for transferability to other organisations

Business process modelling in ERP implementation literature review

Business processes are the backbone of any Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation. Business process modelling (BPM) has become essential for modern, process driven enterprises due to the vibrant business environments. As a consequence enterprises are dealing with a substantial rate of organizational and business processes change. Business process modelling enables a common understanding and analysis of the business processes, which is the first step in every ERP implementation methodology (blueprint phase). In order to represent enterprise processes models in an accurate manner, it is paramount to choose a right business process modeling technique and tool. The problem of many ERP projects rated as unsuccessful is directly connected to a lack of use of business process models and notations during the blueprint phase. Also, blueprint implementation phase is crucial in order to fit planned processes in an organization with processes implemented in the solution. However, business analysts and ERP implementation professionals have substantial difficulties to navigate through a large number of theoretical models and representational notations that have been proposed for business process modeling (BPM). As the availability of different business process modeling references is huge, it is time consuming to make review and classification of all modeling techniques. Therefor, in reality majority of ERP implementations blueprint documents have no business process modeling included in generating blueprint documents. Choosing the right model comprise the purpose of the analysis and acquaintance of the available process modelling techniques and tools. The number of references on business modelling is quit large, so it is very hard to make a decision which modeling notation or technique to use. The main purpose of this paper is to make a review of business process modelling literature and describe the key process modelling techniques. The focus will be on all business process modeling that could be used in ERP implementations, specifically during the blueprint phase of the implementation process. Detailed review of BPM (Business process modeling) theoretical models and representational notations, should assist decision makers and ERP integrators in comparatively evaluating and selecting suitable modeling approaches

Meeting point of strategy and operations: tactical management sense and response framework enhancement

We recognize a problem of work overload in every managerial position nowadays. This is complemented with data overload, and still somehow, information inadequacy. We recognize the problem of rather clear strategic or business plan expectations and inability to meet them. We also recognize the problem of complexity of issues every manager has to deal with in all of their diversity. All of these elements persisting in an uncertain and unpredictable environment of today's business, technology and economy, where planning is trading places with structuring, modularizing and preparing oneself in being adaptive to any given circumstances, especially in terms of tactics, denote longing for multidimensional support. There are various efforts and products to automatize and enrich the data in order to give basis for better decision-making and problem solving. Also, there are frameworks to formalize and verbalize the strategic or business plan expectations and targets with respective performance measurement in order to point out the direction where a business unit/company should be headed. And quite a lot is being done on a subject-specific areas such as: Alignment of IT and Strategy, Business Operations and Strategy,. But the perceived "boiling" zone of tactical management is somehow un-addressed, both in theory and with feasible artifacts. Tactical Management as the managerial function that implements strategies and deploys and utilizes specific resources from the operational level in order to gain that specific advantage prescribed in the strategy has both differentiating and uniting characteristics when compared to operations and strategy. Furthermore, if standing in the shoes of a tactical manager, what one will see as work description, will be overwhelming crossroads of unmatched information flows in structure, depths, sources, manners, complexity, timings, and expectations. How to perceive, organize, handle and utilize all that landscape with what is given, and be able to handle it dynamically, appropriately and with least expenditures, is what we are aiming for. It's neither straightforward, nor an easy, automated task. For anyone. It is both company-and person-dependent task. This research focuses on tactical management, from the perspective of the individual manager. We believe that by Enhancing the Sense-and-Respond Framework on a tactical level we will assist the individual tactical manager with increased adaptability and handling complexity

A conceptual framework for capability sourcing modeling

Companies need to acquire the right capabilities from the right source, and the right shore, at the right cost to improve their competitive position. Capability sourcing is an organizing process to gain access to best-in-class capabilities for all activities in a firm's value chain to ensure long-term competitive advantage. Capability sourcing modeling is a technique that helps investigating sourcing alternative solutions to facilitate strategic sourcing decision making. Our position is applying conceptual models as intermediate artifacts which are schematic descriptions of sourcing alternatives based on organization's capabilities. The contribution of this paper is introducing a conceptual framework in the form of five views (to organize all perspectives) and a conceptualisation (to formulate a language) for capability sourcing modelling