Reconceptualizing knowledge networks for enterprise systems implementation: incorporating domain expertise of knowledge sources and knowledge flow intensity

Research on knowledge acquisition through informal social networks during enterprise system implementation has not accounted for the domain expertise of knowledge sources or the quality of knowledge flows. By using data collected from an enterprise resource planning system implementation, this paper reconceptualizes knowledge networks into subnetworks on the basis of the domain expertise of end users and analyzes knowledge acquisition patterns between subnetworks across workgroups having varying performance outcomes. Expertise-based knowledge patterns and their intensities had significant implications for performance outcomes, reiterating their role in the learning process and emphasizing the need to incorporate them into knowledge networking models.     

Developing a distributed knowledge model for knowledge management in collaborative development and implementation of an enterprise system

Recently, enterprise systems have been extensively adopted to boost enterprise competitiveness. The development and implementation of enterprise systems is a knowledge intensive procedure, being related to enterprise processes and involving information, system and software engineering technologies. Consequently, knowledge management is required to enhance the effectiveness of enterprise system development and implementation, thus helping to increase industrial competitiveness.This study aims to develop a distributed knowledge model for knowledge management, capable of supporting the collaborative development and implementation of enterprise systems. This objective can be obtained by performing the following tasks: (1) modeling and characterization of the collaborative development and implementation process, (2) identification, analysis and modeling of involved knowledge, and (3) development of a distributed knowledge model for knowledge management related to the collaborative development and implementation of enterprise systems.     

Perceived usefulness,user involvement and behavioral intention: an empirical study of ERP implementation

Many firms have implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in the past few years. The expensive nature of these systems requires that effective usage of these systems be attained in order for an organization to derive the expected benefits from the technology. This study looks at the influence that perceived usefulness, user involvement, argument for change, prior usage and ease of use have on the behavioral intention to use an ERP system. A mail survey was used to collect data in an organization that was implementing an ERP system. A total of 571 responses were obtained. The results indicate that users perception of the perceived usefulness, ease of use of the technology, and the users’ level of intrinsic involvement all affect their intention to use the technology. The results seem to suggest that managerial efforts aimed at increasing the users’ perceptions of the usefulness and personal relevance of the technology will contribute to implementation success, where success is defined as effectual usage of the technology. The paper ends with possible extensions to this study.     

A strategic activity model of Enterprise System implementation and use: Scaffolding fluidity

This paper builds on a Strategic Activity Framework (Jarzabkowski, 2005) and activity based theories of development (Vygotsky, 1978) to model how Enterprise Systems are used to support emerging strategy. It makes three contributions. Firstly, it links fluidity and extensiveness of system use to patterns of strategising. Fluidity – the ability to change system use as needs change – is supported by interactive strategising, where top managers communicate directly with the organisation. Extensiveness requires procedural strategising, embedding system use in structures and routines. Secondly, it relates interactive and procedural strategising to the importance of the system – procedural strategising is more likely to occur if the system is strategically important. Thirdly, using a scaffolding metaphor it identifies patterns in the activities of top managers and Enterprise System custodians, who identify process champions within the organisational community, orient them towards system goals, provide guided support, and encourage fluidity through pacing implementation with learning.     

Assessing the impact of quality determinants and user characteristics on successful enterprise resource planning project implementation

As barriers to transnational trade and investment have been lowered due to globalization, and information and communication technologies have improved, multinational firms can conduct operations with increased ease. Enterprises can also utilize cost-advantageous production resources and export products to expand their global market. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems serve the purpose and have become useful instruments for managing multinational operations. Notably, ERP systems integrate information platforms to reflect operations at each operation point in real time and generate information as a basis for decision-making and resource allocations. Thus, ERP systems are essential to global logistics management and collaboration. However, vertical and horizontal evaluations of information systems are necessary to determining the effectiveness and success of project implementation. This study examines the impact of quality determinants from literature in assessing benefits using an information systems success model. The cause-and-effect relationships between model constructs are tested using structural equation modeling. An empirical study of leading manufacturers adopting ERP systems is used to investigate corporate benefits related to information quality, system quality, service quality, system use, and user satisfaction. The analytical results can be a reference for practitioners and researchers evaluating the effectiveness of management information systems.     

ERP and SCM systems integration: The case of a valve manufacturer in China

Many modern organizations integrate enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management (SCM) systems, as they work in a complementary fashion. This often results in technical and organizational challenges. Neway, a Chinese organization, recently went through this complex process. This required efficient procurement and management of hardware, software, and human resources for successful completion. The integrated system was found to improve operations, foster a paperless environment, and provide efficient inventory tracking and picking. It also had several tangible benefits, including reduced lead time and improved inventory accuracy. ERP and SCM systems integration is still a novel concept for a Chinese manufacturing organization. Our case study details the organization's experience, identifies challenges that were faced, and describes solutions adopted to overcome them.     

Introduction to an integrated methodology for development and implementation of enterprise information systems

An integrated methodology for successful development and implementation of enterprise information systems is developed. This paper describes the methodology and defines five components and one repository which can be customized with business scenarios and patterns according to various business environments. Five components consist of information strategy planning, economic justification and measurement, enterprise information system appraisal, package software evaluation, and unified modeling tools. They characterize the methodology through its entire road map. Also, case studies are provided to prove its practical values.     

A step-by-step performance assessment and improvement method for ERP implementation: Action case studies in Chinese companies

The implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a complex process, and the failure rate remains very high. The literature has reported over 80 critical success factors for ERP implementation, but companies typically do not know to exploit them. In this article, a step-by-step assessment and improvement method for ERP implementation is proposed and applied in three companies. First, a five-stage ERP implementation model is proposed. Second, about 80 critical success factors (CSFs) from the literature are elaborated into key performance indices (KPIs), which are associated with each stage of ERP implementation by ten local ERP experts. Third, the weights of the KPIs are calculated using the Dumpster–Shafer method and the evaluation of ten experts. During the implementation process, performance is measured at each stage and remedial actions are identified if the performance is below expectation. An implementation flowchart is developed based on a five-stage model and the philosophy of continuous improvement. Three action cases in Chinese manufacturing companies are conducted to illustrate the effects of the assessment model, which is also currently being used by a consulting company specialising in ERP implementation. With further evaluation by local experts, the model has the potential to serve as a guideline for ERP implementation in other countries.     

A decision model and system for planning and adapting the configuration of enterprise information systems

The decision to invest in an enterprise information system is usually made without taking into account the different types of subsequent decisions and without understanding the hidden implications of making them. This paper presents a decision-making model named DecISIonAl used to evaluate and manage implementation risks on ERP and CRM projects before the actual investment is made. This model was implemented into a web-based system to facilitate configuring, comparing, and selecting implementation plans by evaluating their impact in terms of cost, time, benefits, human resources capabilities, and risks. We apply our decision model to investment case studies in two enterprises. The results show a level of compliance between 80% and 83% when comparing the implications estimated by simulated scenarios and the actual investments.     

Reconfigurable, component-based systems and the role of enterprise engineering concepts

General requirements of next generation enterprise systems are considered and classified. This highlights the potential importance of emerging component-based approaches that facilitate the detailed design of IT systems and their rapid implementation and ongoing development. It also highlights the need for complementary systems engineering approaches that address enterprise engineering on a broad scale, taking into account business and human aspects of large scale projects as well as technical aspects. This characterises the role that current generation enterprise engineering concepts can play in support of the conceptual design of future enterprise engineering systems and in the specification of sets of enterprise components from which large scale, change-capable enterprise systems can be constructed.     

Training as regulation and development: An exploration of the needs of enterprise systems users

The view of the organization as a system that ‘processes’ information or ‘solves’ problems is at odds with the dynamics of change associated with the development and use of IS in an organization. A significant consequence of this mismatch is in training that does not meet the needs of either the user or management communities, giving rise to sub optimal organization performance and inertia. We explored such issues by examining recent research into organizational development and training. The particular challenges presented in the development and implementation of large-scale enterprise systems were explored to reveal a discontinuity in the constructs underpinning a development. A theoretic model that bridged some of the gaps between the bodies of research was developed and a brief empirical study provided a proof of concept for the model. The paper concludes with a discussion of the model's implications for theory and practice.     

Towards a sustainable interoperability in networked enterprise information systems: Trends of knowledge and model-driven technology

In a turbulent world, global competition and the uncertainty of markets have led organizations and technology to evolve exponentially, surpassing the most imaginary scenarios predicted at the beginning of the digital manufacturing era, in the 1980s. Business paradigms have changed from a standalone vision into complex and collaborative ecosystems where enterprises break down organizational barriers to improve synergies with others and become more competitive. In this context, paired with networking and enterprise integration, enterprise information systems (EIS) interoperability gained utmost importance, ensuring an increasing productivity and efficiency thanks to a promise of more automated information exchange in networked enterprises scenarios. However, EIS are also becoming more dynamic. Interfaces that are valid today are outdated tomorrow, thus static interoperability enablers and communication software services are no longer the solution for the future. This paper is focused on the challenge of sustaining networked EIS interoperability, and takes up input from solid research initiatives in the areas of knowledge management and model driven development, to propose and discuss several research strategies and technological trends towards next EIS generation.     

Enterprise information systems state of the art: Past,present and future trends

This state-of-the-art paper is intended to set the scene for a special issue of the Computers in Industry Journal on “Future Perspectives on Next Generation Enterprise Information Systems”. It gives a brief history of Enterprise Information Systems (EISs) and discusses various aspects of EISs, including EIS design and engineering, the impact of enterprise modelling, enterprise architecture, enterprise integration and interoperability and enterprise networking on EISs before concluding.     

一种嵌入式双操作系统架构中外设资源动态迁移的研究与实现

随着嵌入式设备性能的提升和功能的不断扩展,单操作系统架构已经难以满足越来越复杂的应用需求,因此学术界和产业界提出了双操作系统架构。然而,如何合理地配置有限的外设资源是双操作系统架构面临的一个重要问题。基于华为海思Hi3559AV100 SOC双操作系统架构中外设中断与CPU核的绑定原理,提出一种外设资源在系统运行期间可以动态迁移的解决方案,并在搭载该SOC的嵌入式开发平台上进行了实验验证。实验结果表明,该方案具有较好的可行性和可靠性。     

Assessing and managing the benefits of enterprise systems: the business manager's perspective

This paper focuses on the benefits that organizations may achieve from their investment in enterprise systems (ES). It proposes an ES benefit framework for summarizing benefits in the years after ES implementation. Based on an analysis of the features of enterprise systems, on the literature on information technology (IT) value, on data from 233 enterprise systems vendor‐reported stories published on the Web and on interviews with managers of 34 organizations using ES, the framework provides a detailed list of benefits that have reportedly been acquired through ES implementation. This list of benefits is consolidated into five benefits dimensions: operational, managerial, strategic, IT infrastructure and organizational, and illustrated using perceived net benefit flow (PNBF) graphs. In a detailed example, the paper shows how the framework has been applied to the identification of benefits in a longitudinal case study of four organizations.     

Information systems use as strategy practice: A multi-dimensional view of strategic information system implementation and use

Information systems (IS) are strategic in so far as they are used to realize strategic intent. Yet, while much has been said about aligning IS functionality with the strategic intent and how to organizationally implement strategically aligned systems, less is known of how to successfully implement strategic change associated with system use – a truly critical challenge within strategic IS implementation. Drawing on a strategy-as-practice perspective we address this gap by developing a multi-dimensional view of IS strategy, conceptualizing three key challenges in the IS strategy process, to explain how and why a paper mill, despite successfully implementing a strategic production management system, failed to produce intended strategic change. We call this outcome strategy blindness: organizational incapability to realize the strategic intent of implemented, available system capabilities. Using a longitudinal case study we investigate how cognitive rigidity of key actors and fixed, interrelated practices shaped the implementation of the new production system. We also identify core components and dynamics that constitute a richer multi-dimensional view of the IS strategy implementation (alignment) process. In particular, we identify three salient factors that contribute to strategy blindness – mistranslation of intent, flexibility of the IT artifact and cognitive entrenchment – and discuss how they affect strategic implementation processes. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for IS strategy theory and practice, especially the contribution of strategy-as-practice to this stream of research.     

Information systems strategizing,organizational sub-communities,and the emergence of a sustainability strategy

The realized strategy contents of information systems (IS) strategizing are a result of both deliberate and emergent patterns of action. In this paper, we focus on emergent patterns of action by studying the formation of strategies that build on local technology-mediated practices. This is done through case study research of the emergence of a sustainability strategy at a European automaker. Studying the practices of four organizational sub-communities, we develop a process perspective of sub-communities’ activity-based production of strategy contents. The process model explains the contextual conditions that make sub-communities initiate SI strategy contents production, the activity-based process of strategy contents production, and the IS strategy outcome. The process model, which draws on Jarzabkowski’s strategy-as-practice lens and Mintzberg’s strategy typology, contributes to the growing IS strategizing literature that examines local practices in IS efforts of strategic importance.     

Unpacking the systems development process: an empirical application of the CSF concept in a research context

This paper unpacks the black box of the IS development process and, thereby, helps business and IT managers understand better its complexity. The Critical Success Factors (CSF) concept was employed for this purpose in an in-depth study of four diverse systems development projects in a large telecommunications company. Unlike previous applications of the CSF method, the approach adopted in this study facilitated the identification of both ‘generic’ and ‘collective’ CSFs in order to map the network of interrelationships between them. Thus the findings shed new light on the process by which information systems are developed by illustrating empirically its complex multidimensional nature and by providing fresh insights into the challenges facing both developers and users in their task of developing organisational IS.     

Design,implementation, and performance of an automatic configuration service for distributed component systems

Component technology promotes code reuse by enabling the construction of complex applications by assembling off‐the‐shelf components. However, components depend on certain characteristics of the environment in which they execute. They depend on other software components and on hardware resources. In existing component architectures, the application developer is left with the task of resolving those dependencies, i.e. making sure that each component has access to all the resources it needs and that all the required components are loaded. Nevertheless, according to encapsulation principles, developers should not be aware of the component internals. Thus, it may be difficult to find out what a component really needs. In complex systems, such as the ones found in modern distributed environments, this manual approach to dependency management can lead to disastrous results. Current systems rely heavily on manual configuration by users and system administrators. This is tolerable now, when users have to manage a few computers. But, in the near future, people will have to deal with thousands of computing devices and it will no longer be acceptable to require the user to configure each of them. This paper presents the results of our 6 year research (from 1998 to 2003) in the area of automatic configuration, describing an integrated architecture for managing dependencies in distributed component‐based systems. The architecture supports automatic configuration and dynamic resource management in distributed heterogeneous environments. We describe a concrete implementation of this architecture, present experimental results, and compare our approach to other works in the area. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.