Training effectiveness in an enterprise resource planning system environment

Purpose

This study aims to examine the link between supervisor support, transfer motivation and post-training usage of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The study tested the influence of supervisor support and transfer motivation on training transfer in a complex information systems environment. Second, the study tested the mediating effect of transfer motivation in the relationship between supervisor support and training transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey method was used to collect data from 170 ERP system users, who had previously attended ERP system training. The descriptive analysis was conducted with SPSS version 24, while Hayes Process Macro was used to test the research model and the mediation analysis.

Findings

The findings from this study showed that supervisor support and transfer motivation positively influence training transfer. The additional result also confirmed that transfer motivation mediates the relationship between supervisor support and training transfer.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to training theory by specifically analysing the interactions among supervisor support, transfer motivation and training transfer in a complex information system environment. One of the limitations of this study is the cross-sectional design adopted; future studies could improve by using multiple sources of data collection.

Practical implications

The study highlights the importance of social exchanges in an ERP transfer environment.

Originality/value

This paper provides a better understanding of the influences of supervisor support and transfer motivation on the transfer of hard skills in a complex environment.

Social Support, Computer Self-Efficacy, Transfer Motivation and ERP Training Transfer

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system has been acknowledged as a major driver of seamless and integrated operations. Implementing ERP is a challenging task, requiring configuration, migration from legacy systems. Therefore, the successful assimilation of ERP within an organisation requires building the requisite skills and knowledge to support both the implementation and post-implementation challenges. This study investigates the relationships among supervisor support, computer self-efficacy, transfer motivation and training transfer in an enterprise system environment. The sequential mediating effects of computer self-efficacy and transfer motivation was assessed in this study. Data collected from 170 users who previously attended an ERP system training program were analysed in this study using the SPSS version 24 and Hayes Macro Process. Findings from the analysis revealed direct relationships among the variables, and the full mediation effects influence of computer self-efficacy and transfer motivation in the relationship between supervisory support and training transfer.

Distinct Stakeholder Roles Across the ERP Implementation Lifecycle

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is a difficult and complex decision where it involves people issues more than technological issues. In this paper, identifying stakeholders is emphasized as a key definitive step during the process of ERP implementation and if done improperly, will lead to failure of the implementation project. The impact of stakeholder's interests on the project's decisions was already highlighted as a critical issue in success of the ERP implementation. Consequently the aim of this study has been set to explore the distinct stakeholder's role on ERP implementation life cycle. Accordingly, a qualitative research was designed and through conducting a number of semi structured interviews with project stakeholders a certain amount of data on project's stakeholder lists and roles were gathered. Furthermore, the related project documents, including meeting memos, project charters and some technical reports were studied. It is seen that there is fluidity between the stakeholder roles in each stage of implementation and accordingly, it is imperative that the stakeholder issues must be addressed throughout the lifecycle, not only in the initial stages.

Three Dimensions of Business Intelligence Systems Use Behavior

In the Business Intelligence Systems (BIS) use context, the well-researched dimension of intensity of use is not broad enough to capture its meaningful use. The authors therefore investigate the whole spectrum of its use that encompasses effective utilization. The post-adoption research of Information System (IS) use is still under-researched; the study therefore brings novel insights to this area. The authors have conceptualized three dimensions of BIS use that capture the intensity of BIS use, the extent of BIS use, and BIS embeddedness. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to determine convergent and discriminant validities proving construct validities, based on survey data gathered from BIS users in medium and large sized organizations. The results of our study provide sound evidence for apprehending these three constructs as different conceptualizations. This work adds to the literature by emphasizing the role of post-adoptive behavior that can lead to greater and effective utilization in the studied BIS environment, and potentially to a better organizational performance.

The Effects of Perceived Organizational Support and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors on Continuance Intention of Enterprise Resource Planning

Although perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) have long received research attention, little is known of the effects of POS and OCBs in the IS usage context, specifically in the context of enterprise resource planning (ERP) continuance. In this study, the authors integrate three research streams, including POS, OCBs, and ERP continuance intention into one model in order to investigate whether POS and OCBs: altruism, conscientiousness, courtesy, civic virtue, and sportsmanship affect ERP users' continuance intention. Grounded on social exchange theory (SET), this study examined the influence of POS on OCBs, satisfaction, and continuance. In addition, the authors also assessed the mediating effects of OCBs between POS and continuance. A survey utilizing a questionnaire was used to collect data and a total of 250 usable responses were analyzed by using partial least squares (PLS). The authors found that POS indirectly influence continuance intention through satisfaction and OCBs. Conscientiousness, civic virtue, and sportsmanship mediated the relationship between POS and continuance intention, but altruism and courtesy do not. Also, a number of implications for both researchers and managers are proposed.

The Changing Importance of Critical Success Factors During ERP Implementation

This study examines empirical evidence from a survey conducted in Omani organizations to determine whether the importance of individual CSFs varies across the ERP implementation life-cycle. The CSFs included in the survey were derived from a structured review of literature. Purposive sampling was used to select ERP stakeholders who had both experience and knowledge of ERP implementations. The survey data are analyzed and used to evaluate four hypotheses: Individual CSFs vary in importance across the ERP implementation life-cycle; The number of CSFs that are important increases across the ERP implementation life-cycle; Categories of CSFs vary in importance across the ERP implementation life-cycle; Technical CSFs are of less importance than other CSFs for successful ERP implementation. The data support the first three, but the fourth is rejected.

User Satisfaction as the Foundation of the Success Following an ERP Adoption

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoptions keep consolidating as a critical IT initiative in developing regions. Although Latin America has exhibited lately the largest growth in terms of ERP adoption rate worldwide, there is a gap in the literature focused in examining the success and underlying causes of such adoptions there. This study develops and tests a theoretical model proposing factors that determine the success of ERP Latin American adoptions. A qualitative exploration proposes a model which is corroborated empirically with data from 49 firms using Structural Equations Modeling. The results suggest that User Satisfaction is the foundation for the success and its key role as a mediator between ERP Ease of Use capacities, Formal Communication Program, Project Implementation Success and the Success of the Adoption is also introduced. These results are compared with existing studies and the implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed.

Structural Models for E-Banking Adoption in Vietnam

E-banking is seen as the newest delivery channel for banking services in many developed countries and is believed to have a significant impact on the bank market. E-banking is providing numerous opportunities for banks and non-bank financial institutions to add a low cost distribution channel to their existent distribution channels. Little research on factors influencing the adoption of e-banking has been implemented in countries with very high economic growth rates (such as Vietnam) that are emerging as new potential markets. Thus, this study has, based on an extensive literature review on e-banking benefits for both banks and their customers and relevant theories on innovation adoption, proposed alternative models (including both moderator and mediating effects) of e-banking intention to use by customers in Vietnam. Furthermore, a set of model hypotheses presenting relationships among factors influencing e-banking intention to use have been set up. Practical implications and future studies were also discussed.

User adoption of mandatory enterprise technology

Purpose

Drawing on extant technology acceptance literature, the purpose of this paper is to critically examine the impact of mandatory enterprise technology adoption in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from a survey of stockbrokers operating on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on two occasions over a four year period. Expert forecasting (TSModel) algorithms were employed to assess attitudinal changes of users on mandatory system adoption.

Findings

The results suggest that over time, users (stockbrokers) developed an increasingly negative perception of the technology, thus emphasising the need for managers to focus on subjective imperatives that might impact the adoption of mandated technology.

Practical implications

Africa remains neglected in relation to information systems/information technology (IS/IT) research. This has driven the authors’ interest in seeking to understand how contextual peculiarities specific to Africa could play a significant role in an understanding of well‐established IS/IT models.

Originality/value

To facilitate deeper explorations of the antecedents of user adoption of mandatory enterprise technology, the authors choose to lay the theoretical foundations of this study in social theories (specifically, voluntariness and subjective norm).

A Hybrid MCDM Approach for Solving the ERP System Selection Problem with Application to Steel Industry

Selecting a proper system of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a major challenge for enterprise managers. Heavy expenses of incorrect decisions in selection of ERP systems have made academics and managers consider this phase as highly important. Several research studies proposed different approaches to selecting the ERP and many case studies of organizational experiences have been published. However, there has been less regard for simultaneous use of the findings of academic studies and judgments of industrial experts or organization mangers for making the most appropriate choice. This study proposes a combined multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach through which both previous studies and judgments of industrial experts or organization managers would be integrated in order to select the proper ERP system. Having studied the literature comprehensively and conducted interviews with experts and managers, this approach will determine the most important criteria in ERP selection using Shannon entropy technique. Then, based on the judgments obtained from experts and using DEMATEL technique, these criteria will be classified into the two groups of “Cause” and “Effect” and the most appropriate choice will be selected using Fuzzy AHP technique. Finally, a case study is conducted to demonstrate and prove the applicability of the proposed approach.

Collaborative Planning of ERP Implementation

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the process of optimizing the performance of enterprise business processes through the utilization of integrated IT-based solutions. Such systems are mostly based on best practices gained through years of software analysis, design and deployment in the competitive markets. Planning for enterprise-wide system implementation requires all of the stakeholders to integrate views on considering strategic approaches toward a unified vision on how to develop and improve the collaborative ERP implementation planning process. This paper develops a framework which critically evaluates the final implementation plan based on considerations taken in design science methodology. Using the guidelines provided in this methodology, managers gain the capability of evaluating the overall artifact of planning in the total value system, and also gain the ability to measure the progress of ERP implementation plan based on the provided indicators.