Competitive advantage of enterprise resource planning vendors in Iran

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) has become one of the competitive advantages for companies around the globe and the dynamic force driving the process of global integration through information. Governmental organizations are increasing their adoption of these systems for various benefits such as integrated real-time information, better administration, and result-based management. Reaching the standard level of being a global company, organizations are concerned about this application and invest in this project for many years and, as a result, help the company reduce the cost and increase the efficiency and effectiveness. Iranian organizations, along with multi-national companies, attempt to be a good player in the flow of this change. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate and determine the competitive environment of ERP vendors implementing their product in Iranian context. The authors investigated the activities of both international and local ERP vendors established in the country and analyzed them by their advantages and potentials.     

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.     

A multilevel explanation of end-user computing satisfaction with an enterprise resource planning system within an international manufacturing organization

The present research results assume that end-user computing satisfaction (EUCS) of an enterprise resource planning system (ERP system) depends on users’ positive perception of determinants on multiple organizational levels. Hence, rather than investigating a precise theory of narrow focus, this research addresses the users’ view of the impact of major project and organizational issues on EUCS. This requires a multilevel approach to research. A hierarchical regression analysis based on data from 123 middle managers and super-users from a single company with operating units in 10 western European countries confirmed this theory. Still, a path analysis suggests that determinants representing the near user environment (communication and decision-making patterns between users and experts locally during the ERP system implementation process, and communication with peers in organizational units other than that of the respondent) contribute more consistently to EUCS than determinants on other organizational levels. User training plays a role in helping users understand the relevance of ERP system project business objectives, but training does not help in explaining EUCS. The study points to future research in the areas of instrument development as well as an increased understanding of stakeholders’ views, determinant definitions, relationships among determinants, and measures of ERP system outcome.     

Advanced resource planning as a decision support module for ERP

The planning and decision support capabilities of the manufacturing planning and control system, which provides the core of any enterprise resource planning package, can be enhanced substantively by the inclusion of a decision support module as an add-on at the midterm planning level. This module, called advanced resource planning (ARP), provides a parameter-setting process, with the ultimate goal of yielding realistic information about production lead times for scheduling purposes, sales and marketing, strategic and operational decision making, and suppliers and customers. This article illustrates the ARP approach with reports from several real-life implementations by large industrial companies.     

过度规划、部分可满足规划及简单偏好综述*

智能规划是人工智能的重要分支,它从某个特定问题的初始状态出发,寻找达到解决该问题的目标状态的动作序列,但是在许多真实问题中,往往没有足够的资源来实现所有目标。因此,智能规划中对软目标的研究包括过度规划、部分可满足规划和简单偏好,已成为近年来的热点。将对过度规划、部分可满足规划和简单偏好的主要研究成果进行综述,包括这几类问题的差异比较、主要解决方案以及对将来的展望。     

The effect of computer self-efficacy on enterprise resource planning usage

Global competition has impelled numerous organisations to employ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, although quite frequently without success. Studies have demonstrated that a major factor for failure is employee resistance in organisations using these systems. Exactly the factors that facilitate ERP adoption among users have seldom been identified. This study examines the usage behaviour of a sample of users of the new technology of ERP system using a technology acceptance model (TAM). Furthermore, this paper incorporates an additional behavioural construct, computer self-efficacy (CSE), to improve the predictive value of the original TAM model, named revised TAM. Additionally, the structural equation model (SEM) is used to verify the causal relationships between variables. Analytical results confirm that not only is the TAM appropriate for explaining the use of ERP, but that incorporating CSE enhances the power of the model.     

The effect of computer self-efficacy on enterprise resource planning usage

Global competition has impelled numerous organisations to employ enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, although quite frequently without success. Studies have demonstrated that a major factor for failure is employee resistance in organisations using these systems. Exactly the factors that facilitate ERP adoption among users have seldom been identified. This study examines the usage behaviour of a sample of users of the new technology of ERP system using a technology acceptance model (TAM). Furthermore, this paper incorporates an additional behavioural construct, computer self-efficacy (CSE), to improve the predictive value of the original TAM model, named revised TAM. Additionally, the structural equation model (SEM) is used to verify the causal relationships between variables. Analytical results confirm that not only is the TAM appropriate for explaining the use of ERP, but that incorporating CSE enhances the power of the model.     

A study of enterprise resource planning (ERP) system performance measurement using the quantitative balanced scorecard approach

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been used in integrating information and accelerating its distribution across functions and departments with the aim to increase organizations’ operational performance. Thus, it is worth measuring ERP system performance based on its impact to critical performance of an organization: this requires a systematic method that bridges ERP performance measurement and key organizational performance. The hierarchical balanced scorecard (HBSC) model with respect to multiple criteria decision-making is such a systematic approach to ERP performance measurement. An ERP evaluation framework that integrates the balanced scorecard dimensions, linguistic variables, and non-additive fuzzy integral provides an objective approach to measuring both the performance level of the ERP system and its contribution to the strategic objectives of high-tech firms. Taking Taiwan’s high-tech firms as an example, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of this integrated approach to measure the performance of ERP systems at the post-implementation stage under evaluators’ subjective, uncertainty, and vagueness judgments.     

Intranet satisfaction questionnaire: Development and validationof a questionnaire to measure user satisfaction with the Intranet

In recent years, Intranets have become increasingly important to their companies. Substantial investments have been made to provide crucial information and workflows to employees. In this context the question of quality assurance arises: how can user satisfaction with the Intranet be measured? This article presents the development of a questionnaire to measure user satisfaction with the Intranet. After a first validation of the instrument (18 items) in an international insurance company (_N1=881)$N_1=881)$, a final set of 13 items remained. These were tested with the Intranet of a national retail company (_N2=1350)$N_2=1350)$. The final version showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach α)$\alpha )$ of .89, good item difficulties (.36–.73) and discriminatory power coefficients (.48–.73), as well as a moderate average homogeneity of .44. An exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors, “Content Quality” and “Intranet Usability”, explaining 56.54% of the variance. Meanwhile, the survey was translated into 10 languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovenian, and Spanish.     

基于企业资源管理的物料供应链管理

为有效解决目前企业中物料供应存在的计划周期长、收货速度慢、准确性差等问题，对企业资源管理（Enterprise Resource Planning，ERP）进行介绍，基于一个ERP项目——企业-供应商关系管理（Electronic-Supplier Relationship Management，e-SRM）描述物料供应链管理系统解决方案的设计思想、整体采构、业务流程、关键技术和系统特点等，可解决供需双方信息沟通不畅和物料供应困难等问题。     

基于ERP的卷烟制造企业智能信息系统

结合卷烟制造企业的背景和需求,分析了该行业的特点,应用ERP原理,设计并实现了适应烟厂管理特殊要求的智能信息系统;并依照系统总体设计日标和原则,给出了相应的系统结构与功能模块;系统可提供支持用户决策和全面管理的强大功能,实现企业组织流程的整体优化。     

An empirical investigation of six levels of enterprise resource planning integration

The purpose of this research is to propose a six-level ERP integration model and to empirically investigate if each of the six levels exists. The six levels are system-specification, system–user, islands-of-technology, organizational, socio-organizational, and global integration. Empirical data were collected by using a large-scale survey of ERP professionals. We conducted various validity and reliability tests to confirm the proposed theoretical framework. Using partial least squares (PLSs) analysis, the results of the investigation confirmed the existence of the six levels of ERP integration. The results of the investigation have implications for research and practice.     

Exploring determinants of adoption intentions towards Enterprise 2.0 applications: an empirical study

Enterprise 2.0 is identified as one of the most promising technological innovations in the business domain, with immense potential for enriching communication, enabling collaboration and facilitating learning. Although organisations are increasingly implementing Enterprise 2.0 as a useful means of knowledge sharing and collaboration, no empirical research has been performed to identify individuals’ motivations to participate in Enterprise 2.0 activities. The high practical relevance and dearth of research indicate the importance of the present study. This study aims to apply the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to propose a research model that incorporates context-specific variables as enhancing constructs to predict individuals’ adoption intentions towards Enterprise 2.0 applications. We also categorise Enterprise 2.0 users into silent and social users and conduct a comparative analysis to examine whether differences exist in factors predicting users’ adoption intentions towards Enterprise 2.0 applications. To test the model, structural equation modelling is employed to analyse data collected from respondents working in seven Chinese companies conducting trial operations of an Enterprise 2.0 platform. The findings of this research provide managers with effective methods to promote individuals’ participation in Enterprise 2.0 activities. This research also provides a theoretical foundation for academics and practical implications for the development of Enterprise 2.0.     

A cross-cultural analysis of the end-user computing satisfaction instrument: A multi-group invariance analysis

IT managers in global firms often rely on user evaluations to guide their decision-making in adopting, implementing, and monitoring the effectiveness of enterprise systems across national cultures. In these decisions, managers need instruments that provide valid comparisons across cultures. Using samples representing five nations/world regions including the US, Western Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and Taiwan, we used multi-group invariance analysis to evaluate whether the end-user computing satisfaction (EUCS) instrument (12-item summed scale and five factors) provided equivalent measurement across cultures. The results provided evidence that the EUCS instrument's 12-item scale and the five factors were equivalent across the cultures we examined. The implications of this for the global management of technology are discussed. Knowledge of the equivalence of MIS instruments across national cultures can enhance the MIS cross-cultural research agenda.     

A comprehensive study of the relationship between enterprise resource planning selection criteria and enterprise resource planning system success

We developed a conceptual framework for investigating how ERP selection criteria are linked to system quality and the service provided by suppliers and consultants, and thus how these influenced ERP implementation success. Through a cross-sectional survey of the top 5000 largest companies in Taiwan, using a balanced scorecard concept and path analysis, we showed that four system selection criteria (consultant's suggestion, a certified high-stability system, compatibility between the system and the business process, and the provision of best practices) were positively related to system quality. Three supplier selection criteria (international market position, training support by the supplier and supplier technical support and experience) had a significant influence on supplier service quality, and two consultant selection criteria (consultant's ERP implementation experience in a similar industry and consultant's support after going live) were related to consultant service quality. However, we found that most organizations did not consider all these criteria when implementing ERP systems. Our study also suggested that enhanced system quality and service quality could increase user perspective and ERP success.     

制造资源计划中的物料清单系统

对制造资源计划(Manufacture Resource Planning,MRP Ⅱ)系统的物料清单(Bill of Materials,BOM)设计与实现过程中BOM的生成方法、多视图映射、数据结构及多层次通用件处理等关键问题进行深入研究.结合某机械加工厂的具体工作实例,给出单层BOM数据结构、多视图映射及低层码处理多层次通用件问题等方案,实现企业BOM管理的信息化,提高工作效率及质量.     

面向中小型企业计划管理系统的研究与开发

通过对ERP(企业资源管理计划)的研究,结合现阶段我国中小型企业的特点,采用ERP中先进的企业计划管理理念,开发出适用于中小型企业的计划管理系统.该系统既能适合中小型企业的管理特点,又能大大减少实施的费用和风险.     

基于SOA的校园资源规划CRP模型研究*

为了有效提高校园资源的利用率及减少信息化建设的成本,在清华大学提出的URP “1+N+1”模型基础上,结合面向服务架构（SOA）集成框架,给出一种可实现校园遗产系统的无缝集成模型。对现有的URP模型进行了抽象描述,但是现有模型在数据层和校园信息化系统业务组件层中的集成和互操作上都无法同时实现集成,因此提出一种“1+1+N+1+1+N”模型。通过高校课件资源规划分析、设计和实现证明该模型可以有效解决现有模型存在的不完全集成问题。     

Drivers and effects of enterprise resource planning post-implementation learning

The use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems has grown enormously since 1990, but the failure to completely learn how to use them continues to produce disappointing results. Today's rapidly changing business environment and the integrative applications of ERP systems force users to continuously learn new skills after ERP implementation. This study explores the effects of post-implementation learning on ERP usage and ERP impact and identifies the factors that can impact post-implementation learning, such as social capital and post-training self-efficacy. This study employs a survey method to examine the perceptions of ERP users. The theoretical model is tested by using structural equation modelling on a dataset of 812 users. This study finds that post-implementation learning has a significant positive effect on ERP usage and ERP impact, and that social capital and post-training self-efficacy are important antecedent factors of post-implementation learning. Post-training self-efficacy also significantly affects ERP usage and ERP impact. The implications for research, practice and future research directions are discussed.