Article Preview
TopIntroduction
The widespread use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for efficient and effective business functions has changed the working operations of businesses around the globe. Majority of the organizations are relying on the cutting-edge technologies that can cut down the costs and bring benefits to businesses. In this regard, business organizations are investing in the e-business option, in order to gain more benefits and to improve on how their businesses function. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are information systems (IS) used by multifunctional companies working in different regions (Umble et al., 2003). By implementing ERP, organizations will have better control over their business operations. According to Gupta (2000), the system is complex, large and difficult to implement. It requires careful planning and execution in order to ensure its successful implementation. Furthermore, the ERP system is different from other information technology implementation, therefore, they provide real opportunity for modern organizations to integrate their business processes and functions (Martin, 1998). The ERP system is becoming popular worldwide and gaining competitive and strategic advantages. In fact, adopting ERP system as the primary platform for sharing and exchanging of organizational information and providing access to it through internet technology which is considered a hall marks of leading organizations (Davenport, 2000). ERP system enjoys its present popularity because of its apparent capacity to improve operational efficiency and business efficacy (Chou and Chang, 2008). Whereas, Aydin and Tunali, (2007) suggest that ERP system is evolving and integrating many advanced applications including supply chain management (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM) and e-Procurement.
In today’s uncertain economic climate, organizations require suitable IT-enabled systems that provide significant reduction in operational costs and improvement in the efficency of business processes. ERP is a very useful integrated software that streamlines business processes and corporates functions (Wee, 2000). Broadly speaking, the business ERP comes under the domain of organizational broad base supply chain management system (SCM). In addition, ERP can be defined as an information system that is designed to improve global management of operations in accounting, financing, production, logistic, human resources, sales and supplies (Chen, 2001). It deals with better integration of different departments’ information needs (Gupta et al., 1986). In multinational companies, transactions’ data go through the entire information system of the logistics chain that includes information pertaining to suppliers and customer orders of goods or services from any place in the world (Sheu et al., 2004). ERP system facilitates the integration of information linking a set of suppliers, distributors and clients through geographic restrictions (Jacob and Whybark, 2000; Soh et al., 2000; Hammer and Stanton, 1999; Davenport, 1998). Information about the supply and the demand of products and services is shared in real time and in an accurate and homogeneous manner (Chen and Popovich, 2003). The strategic purpose of implementing an ERP system varies across companies (Willcock and Sykes, 2000). It involves perceived advantages both tangible and intangible, of this ERP system which is difficult to define (Hsu and Chen, 2004). In international systems of the logistic chain, information that is managed with ERP system provides competitive advantage (Akkermans et al., 2003). ERP system and SCM are the basis for a better oganizational performance and competative advantage (Bergstrom and Stehn, 2005).