Authors:
Tommi Kähkönen
;
Andrey Maglyas
and
Kari Smolander
Affiliation:
Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland
Keyword(s):
Information Systems, Enterprise Systems, Enterprise Resource Planning, ERP, Integration, ERP Development Network, Stakeholders, Affecting Factors, Moderating Factors, Grounded Theory.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Databases and Information Systems Integration
;
Enterprise Information Systems
;
Enterprise Resource Planning
;
Enterprise Software Technologies
;
Organisational Issues on Systems Integration
;
Simulation and Modeling
;
Simulation Tools and Platforms
;
Software Engineering
Abstract:
The first wave of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrated the core internal business processes and provided operational benefits for companies. The second wave of ERPs introduced additional challenges due to the need for ERPs to interact also with various other systems beyond organizational boundaries, highlighting integration as a critical activity during the ERP system development. This paper takes a Grounded Theory approach to investigate ERP system integration. A model of four groups of factors affecting on ERP system integration was created. Challenged by the domain, organizational landscape, ERP development network partners and system characteristics, ERP system integration is a continuous and cooperative effort during the ERP development, conducted by the dynamic ERP development network. It struggles through forced-marriage relationships, political games and organizational changes and aims at an integrated business engine that makes the business more competitive.
The model creates a base for further research to investigate how integration issues are solved in ERP development networks.
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