This paper investigates key factors from end-user perspective in the implementation and successof enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. A sample of companies in North-East Ohio were studiedon a set of constructs identified by the literature to be important in technology transfer area. Analysisindicates among other things, need for more intensive user training, development of metrics to measureERP benefits, and lack of retention plans for employees and active involvement of top management.The motivation for conducting this study springs from the corporate practices in 1990s that sawmost companies adopt enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as a means to reduce operating costs andshorten cycle times (Brown 1997). In a rage to meet the Y2K deadline, which was one of the main reasonsto restructure systems and install ERP systems, attention to human details was overlooked or postponed.Further, over two-thirds of IS projects are reported to have failed. Therefore, companies tended to choosethe path of packaged solutions over customized development. Soh et al. (2000) report that ERP systems arecostly to implement and entail risks. The mis-match between organizational business practices andreference models embedded in ERP systems can become the source of user dissatisfaction. Some of theways companies adopt to increase user acceptance (and satisfaction) of ERP solutions include modelingmethods, architectures, and tools.
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