Change Management and ERP Implementation Success

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become an integral part of the technology infrastructure of large organizations. However, its implementation has been troublesome partly due to end-user resistance arising out of an inadequate understanding of system functionalities and related processes and fear of disruption to existing work routines. To counter this, ERP implementation teams execute user-centric change management strategies such as the establishment of an ERP help-desk, user involvement in system implementation, end-user training, and the deployment of power-users. This study analyses the impact of these change management strategies on implementation success. Analysis of empirical data indicates that an ERP help-desk and the deployment of power users influence implementation success, whereas user involvement in system design and user training has no significant impact. The study contributes to a better understanding of change management as it relates to the end-user and would aid organizations in prioritizing their strategies

Technology Diffusion - A Social Network Perspective

Information Systems (IS) research on technology acceptance has mainly explored user acceptance at the individual level, with the prominent framework being the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Research involving TAM and other similar frameworks has tended to be user-centric with primary focus on individual attributes that could influence user perceptions towards the technology. This study focuses on technology diffusion at the organizational level, in particular the process of technology related knowledge dissemination, organizational learning, and the influence of the social context in which implementation and acceptance takes place, for complex large-scale integrated systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). To address these issues and to complement the findings of the current individual-centric acceptance research, this study adopts a social network perspective towards technology diffusion within an organization. It is expected that technology diffusion within and across organizational units will be subject to and influenced by the characteristics of interpersonal relations embodied in the network structure. Thus, organizational units having close, diverse, and dense ties among its members would have rapid and efficient information flows that serve to lower knowledge barriers and facilitate organizational learning; hence, we can expect a faster, smoother and more efficient diffusion process. Data for this study will be collected at four points in time from over 1500 users spread across 200 organizational units of a large southeastern university that is currently replacing its present administrative computing systems using the SAP portfolio of ERP solutions

Knowledge Dynamics and Domain Expertise in Enterprise Information Systems Implementation: An Introductory Study

Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) have become the core information processing architecture of large businesses. This study examines the role of Knowledge Social Networks (KSN) in facilitating EIS-related knowledge acquisition accounting for the domain expertise of knowledge sources, its interplay with user task complexity, and their impact on EIS implementation. While research on KSNs has considered knowledge relationship ties, both for knowledge acquisition and dissemination, and their impact on knowledge outcomes and employee performance, it has not addressed the domain expertise of knowledge sources within KSNs and the quality of resultant knowledge flows. Data for the study was collected six months after the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning system. Preliminary results indicate that while knowledge acquisition through KSNs is important, the task complexity of users and domain expertise of knowledge sources need to be considered, especially for users dealing with complex business problems

The Dynamics of Social Learning in Distance Education

Distance education through electronic learning (e-learning) technologies has been accepted as a viable knowledge transfer tool by universities; however, it has not provided the learning benefits that were originally anticipated. This study examines the role of individual learner characteristics, goal-orientation beliefs, and social learning in influencing e-learning success. Experimental data was collected from students undergoing online courses. Preliminary results indicate that the learner characteristics of self-regulation and computer-learning self-efficacy, complemented by social learning through the electronic learning network influence e-learning success

Redefining corporate leadership through Web 2.0 technologies: An initial study

The emerging popularity of Web 2.0 technologies for organizing people and influencing them through reciprocal collaboration and communication has fostered a new leadership paradigm within organizations, that of the technology-driven leader. With recent political campaigns having embraced Web 2.0 technologies with considerable impact, businesses have started exploring its potential in redefining corporate leadership, bypassing established structural hierarchies to directly reach out to employees and engage them in creative dialogue and innovative thinking and to calibrate messaging in line with organizational objectives. Drawing upon the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this initial study examines the facilitating conditions for fostering organizational leadership through adoption of Web 2.0 technologies. The personality traits that can lead to efficient technology-driven leadership as well as the comparative efficacy of Web 2.0 technologies in fostering leadership perceptions among employees will also be examined

Website Congruity and User Satisfaction – An Initial Study

Based on the schema-congruity theory, this paper examines the impact of schemas in influencing user satisfaction in e-commerce websites. An experimental study was conducted using employees of a mid-sized organization. Results indicate that a schema-congruent website design in which product-line, color, and typeface were consistent with an existing schema engendered greater satisfaction in the user than a schema-incongruent design. The results emphasize the need for website designers to identify prior user schemas and ensure schema-congruence in their design

The Impact of User Characteristics, Instructor Availability, and Pre-training Interventions on eLearning Outcomes

Internet based e-learning courses has the potential to become a key tool for knowledge dissemination, particularly for delivering Information Technology (IT) courses. The objective of the current study is to understand whether learner characteristics, instructor availability, and pre-training intervention influence the learning outcomes of e-learning based courses on IT. Using Social Cognitive Theory as a foundation, we study the role of individual learner characteristics such as, ability to self-regulate learning, and computer self-efficacy in impacting learning outcomes. We conducted two pilot studies and found some support for our premise. Currently, data is being collected for the complete study and these results will be presented at the conference

THE ROLE OF COLOR IN INFLUENCING TRUST THE ROLE OF COLOR IN INFLUENCING TRUST IN E-COMMERCE WEB SITES

Researchers and practitioners have explored multiple techniques for enhancing user trust in e-commerce Web sites. Though these techniques have been incorporated into the design of e-commerce Web sites, recent studies have indicated that they have largely failed to engender trust in the user. This research looks at the role of color in influencing user perceptions of trust in e-commerce Web sites. Color psychology suggests that color has an influence on our perception of the world. It conveys meaning, inspires emotion, and guides the activity of people. Certain colors such as blue are capable of inspiring feelings of trust and credibility. We contend that the dominant design color used in Web site design could influence user perceptions of trust. A pilot study has confirmed these expectations with blue as dominant design color engendering maximum trust in participants. Black as the dominant design color inspired least trust in users

Who Should I Approach? Knowledge Sourcing in Enterprise System Implementation

During enterprise system implementation, organizations transfer system-related knowledge to end users through training sessions and by having them involved in the system design and implementation processes. However, during actual use of the system, end users acquire informal knowledge from co-workers through their social networks. Existing research has focused on the structural features of social networks and their impact on regulating knowledge flow between end users and across the network. The personal attributes and preferences of end users that could impact their knowledge acquisition and processing capabilities have not been considered. This paper examines the expertise level of end users, their gender, and the complexity of their job tasks in influencing system-related knowledge acquisition and its impact on performance outcomes. Data for this study was collected from active users of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that had been implemented across multiple business units of diversified business conglomerate in the United States