Incollection,
The Enterprise System Experience - From Adoption to Success
Framing the Domains of IT-Management: Projecting the Future Through the Past, chapter 10, Pinnaflex Educational Resources, (2000)
Abstract
This chapter provides a theoretical framework for analyzing, both retrospectively and prospectively, the business value of enterprise systems. We first describe the historical context in which enterprise systems emerged. Next we identify the key characteristics of enterprise systems, discuss the reasons companies do and do not adopt them, and summarize arguments about why enterprise systems are an important topic for research. We then analyze enterprise systems in terms of the concept of success. We argue that the many facets of success create difficulties for both academics and practitioners and require a framework for understanding the “enterprise system experience.” Essential elements of this framework include phases, starting conditions, goals, plans, and quality of execution. We conclude with suggestions for future research.
