CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN

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Most organisations do not understand the costs associated with an ERP system when they first commence the implementation. The benefits are usually well understood. The Vendor will make sure of this. The costs do not surface until well into the implementation - and why should the Vendor talk to an organisation about the costs and difficulties when they are trying to make a sale? On the surface, there are very attractive reasons for going ERP. Benefits include: A single system to support rather than several small and different systems A single applications architecture with limited interfaces Access to management information unavailable across a mix of applications Access to best practice systems and procedures More integration hence lower costs More "automation" of tasks Generic Costs and Impacts The costs and impacts are understandably not played up by the Vendors. Some of those are: Implementation effort will be bigger then ever talked about or even imagined. We are yet to hear from an organisation who have implemented ahead of schedule and under budget. Because of the richness of functionality, the "toy box effect" can take over. Users see all the functionality available and suddenly they want it now. The scope can grow out of control. The existing environmental mix between what is done manually and what is done by the system will swing dramatically after implementation. Many more tasks will be automated. Automation will significantly reduce the flexibility of how you operate as a business. Users need to become more computer literate. Many see this as personally challenging - even beyond their ability - and will not cope, or leave the company.

Transcript of CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN

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Most organisations do not understand the costs associated with an ERP system when they first commence the implementation. The benefits are usually well understood. The Vendor will make sure of this. The costs do not surface until well into the implementation - and why should the Vendor talk to an organisation about the costs and difficulties when they are trying to make a sale?

On the surface, there are very attractive reasons for going ERP. Benefits include:

A single system to support rather than several small and different systems A single applications architecture with limited interfaces Access to management information unavailable across a mix of applications Access to best practice systems and procedures More integration hence lower costs More "automation" of tasks Generic Costs and Impacts

The costs and impacts are understandably not played up by the Vendors. Some of those are:

Implementation effort will be bigger then ever talked about or even imagined. We are yet to hear from an organisation who have implemented ahead of schedule and under budget.

Because of the richness of functionality, the "toy box effect" can take over. Users see all the functionality available and suddenly they want it now. The scope can grow out of control.

The existing environmental mix between what is done manually and what is done by the system will swing dramatically after implementation. Many more tasks will be automated. Automation will significantly reduce the flexibility of how you operate as a business.

Users need to become more computer literate. Many see this as personally challenging - even beyond their ability - and will not cope, or leave the company.

The word "Enterprise" in ERP means that whatever happens in one area has a ripple effect in other areas. Understanding the implications of actions of one area, on other areas of the company, is not something that happens overnight. Training tends to focus on how do I do my job. It should also focus on what are the impacts of my job, in other areas.

Near enough is no longer good enough. Data integrity becomes critical. The computer cannot make human judgments. If stock is moved, it is no good somebody remembering where they put it. The information needs to be put into the system or there will be a domino effect. E.g. Stock is moved from location A to location B and the information is not put into the system. The system will tell someone to get the material from A and when it is not there, they have to go looking. At the same time it is telling someone else to put new material in B, but B is full. The first person finds the original material in B and logs it into the system. We now have double the quantity in the system again and it doesn't reorder. And so it goes on and everyone is blaming the system.

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ERP systems tend to replace old systems. As such it is a quantum leap for all areas of the company. It is replacing the trusty Ford with a high performance Ferrari. This happens at a Technical level as well as a Business Level. New ways need to be learnt in a very short space of time.

Things have to be done consistently. No longer are we able to do something one way in one branch and another way in another branch. The system is going to determine how we do things in all locations. Even within one location, special treatment may not be possible any more without changing the configuration of the system. If the system says you can either have 0, 15, 30 or 60 day credit terms, you can no longer offer 45 day terms without changing configuration. If consistency can be implemented, there is good potential for cost savings as well as getting rid of special arrangements that reduce profit.

Corporate Culture

All the points above contain technical issues or business issues which can be managed if they are identified soon enough. Training can show people the impact of their actions in other areas. QA programs can focus on quality of data. What most managers who have been through an ERP implementation, will tell you, is the biggest impact is on "Corporate Culture". It is always underestimated and never overestimated.

Corporate Culture is a combination of two things.

The type of people who are employed by a company. Their personal values, skills, habits etc.

The way the organisation works. The focus, decision making process, attitude to staff, stability, etc.

Both feed off one another. Job applicants who feel aligned with the way the organisation works and comfortable with the style of person who interviews them, will likely get the job, and perpetuate the Culture.

To successfully take on an ERP system, an organisation needs to change it's "Corporate Culture". · It may need to change from being highly flexible and not paying a lot of attention to consistency or accuracy, to one of being almost obsessed with detail. · Of being prepared to have Business Practices that are actually adhered to rather than just being documented and forgotten. · People need to change from focusing on turnover to focusing on profit. ERP makes profit far more measurable down to Department, Customer and Material level. ·

Staff need to change their focus from their own job, to the whole organisation. What they do in their area has impacts in places they may never have envisaged. None of this is easy, and in many cases will be unachievable. Some people will not be prepared to make

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the change and will either leave of their own volition or be asked to leave. This is the cost of ERP.

Another dimension to "Cultural Change" is the timeframe in which the change is to be made. It basically needs to happen over a few days. One week you can bend all the rules and get away with it; next week the system will not let you. No matter how much training and preparation takes place, it cannot prepare many people for reality. That is not to say the preparation should not take place. The preparation will ease the pain, not take it all away. The more preparation the less the pain. On the positive side, some people will take to the system like the proverbial duck to water. These people tend to be (but not all are) younger, newer employees who have had experience in other organisations. They know the benefits of a good system and are frustrated with the current one. They will jump at the chance to make use of the new technology.

Change Management

Change Management is about setting expectations that lessen the pain of change. People involved in a change expect to go from A to B. Perhaps where they are actually going is to C. Change Management is about getting them used to the idea that C is the real destination.

To give an example, any new system is bound to have teething problems. If users expect that all is not going to run smoothly on day 1, and that they may be working back late for the first week because of problems bedding in the new system, they are less likely to reject the system when it does go wrong. On the other hand telling staff that this is going to be a great new system with no problems can only lead to disappointment and rejection when bugs appear. As such, change management is measurable.

Measuring attitudinal changes is not a complicated process. Properly managed, we can see how people feel about the changes over a period of time, and how they shift in their expectations. The results of money spent on change management can be seen. Not putting in the effort before implementation, will cost an organisation after implementation. What is the cost to an organisation of a system that is forced upon people, and with which they feel little ownership? They will either sink it, or ensure it never reaches it's potential. Either way, the organisation will never get the return on investment it imagined.

Other experiences.

A survey of organisations that have implemented ERP's was carried out recently. It identified "10 Common Causes of Disaster".

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Change Management and Training.

This was mentioned as the major problem with implementations. Changing work practices to fit the system is a major difficulty. Also mentioned were training across modules and starting training sooner.

To BPR or not to BPR It is difficult to draw the line between changing Business Processes to suit the

system or retaining Business Processes and paying the cost, in dollars and time, to change the system. As time and cost squeeze the implementation, the usual path is to not modify the system, but to change the way people work. This feeds back into Change Management and Training.

Poor Planning

Planning covers several areas such as having a strong Business Case, to the availability of Users to make decisions on configuration, to the investing in a plan that captures all the issues associated with implementing it.

Underestimating IT skills

As most people are upgrading from old technology, the skills of the staff need to be upgraded as well. The upgrade is also going to place significant demands on a team who are geared to maintain an old but stable environment. Usually this effort is underestimated.

Poor Project Management

Very few organisations have the experience in house to run such a complex project as implementing a large-scale integrated solution. It usually requires outside contractors to come in and manage such a major exercise. It can be a fine line between abdicating responsibility and sharing responsibility. Many consulting firms do a disservice to their clients by not sharing the responsibility.

Technology Trials

The effort to build interfaces, change reports, customize the software and convert the data is normally underestimated. To collect new data, and clean the data being converted, will also require an effort that is beyond what is normally expected.

Low Executive Buy-in

Implementation projects need Senior Executive involvement to ensure the right participation mix of Business and IT, and to resolve conflicts.

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Underestimating Resources

Most common budget blow outs are change management and user training, integration testing , process rework, report customisation and consulting fees.

Insufficient Software Evaluation

This involves the surprises that come out after the software is purchased. Organisations usually do not do enough to understand what, and how the product works before they sign on the bottom line. The Bleeding Edge ERP is so massive and integrated that reporting and linking to other systems (either your own or your customers and suppliers) can be much more difficult than you expect. Companies looking at ERP need to examine how they accept online feeds from a customer, or a customers' customer, and examine the technological enablers as well as the implications of these technologies inside of the Business.

Summary.

All this leads to a list of likely problems with an ERP system.

The cost is likely to be underestimated The time and effort to implement is likely to be underestimated The resourcing from both the Business and IT is likely to be higher than

anticipated The level of outside expertise required will be higher than anticipated The changes required to Business Processes will be higher than expected. Scope control will be more difficult than expected There will never be enough training - particularly across different modules

Most important of all, and the single biggest failure point for ERP implementations, is the need for change management. The need for change management is not likely to be recognized until it is too late. The changes required to corporate culture are likely to be grossly underestimated. It is going to be hard enough to cope with the technical issues without having to address major people issues as well.

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CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS OF ERP IMPLEMENTATION IN PAKISTAN.(A Case of Telecom, Engineering, Oil and Government Sector Organizations)Muhammad Jamil AnjumMS Scholar (Finance)Department of Management scienceShaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST)IslamabadPakistan,Email: [email protected]. Tel.: (+92)-(333)-(512-2435)Ijaz-Ur-RehmanMS Scholar (Finance), SZABIST) Islamabad-PakistanAbstractEnterprise resource planning (ERP) plays a significant role in today’s enterprise management and is foundation tobe the spine of corporation. Although enterprise resource planning (ERP) has been renowned as a helpful tool, inpractice, there are several complexities in persuasive people to execute it efficiently. The Purpose of this was to findout critical Success Factors of ERP implementation in Pakistan. In this research study six critical factors of ERPimplementation were selected on the bases of relevant literature that includes Perceived usefulness of ERP,Perceived ease of Use, Top management commitment Support, Data Accuracy, training/Vendors Support and Trustand that were considered as critical predictors of enterprise resources planning. The Survey of Oil sector, telecomsector, Engineering sector and government sector was conducted concern with ERP implementation issues. Totalone hundred and ten (N= 110, 65%) questionnaire were distributed out of that 71 questionnaire were collectedback. The result of the analysis concludes that selected critical success factors (CSF’s) are very important to ERPimplementation. The study concludes that rest of the critical success factors has a positive and significantassociation with ERP implementation except users training. The study further explore that top management supportsis deficient in government and in Oil sectors. The study concludes that critical success factors may keep theaccomplishment on time, within resources, acceptable to the user, and so on if adequate training and Top

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management support exist.Key Words: Critical successful factors (CSF’s); Enterprise resource planning (ERP); Pakistan.IntroductionEnterprise Resource Planning System, more commonly known as ERP, integrates all the departments and functionsacross onto a single computerized system. Organizations achieve enterprise resources planning (ERP) by integratingvarious software applications that serve the needs of various departments like human resource management, finance,billing and materials management. ERP connect all the departments together into single, integrated softwareapplication from a single database. Users of this application see the akin information’s and can revise it in ameticulous order. When one department finishes with a task, it is automatically retreated through the ERP system inthe next department in the order for operating their relevant tasks. The definition and measurement of enterpriseresources planning success are difficult issues. Firstly, enterprise resources planning success depends on the point ofview from which one measures it.Even within a particular business people will have dissimilar thoughts. ERP Implementation experts often describesuccess in terms of completing the job on time and within budget while the users lean to focus on the change fromold structure and stable process (jiang, 2005).Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is conceivably one of most sophisticated softwares solution offer to clientsoperating in different sector of the economy for complete automation of customer business processes. A number ofleading IT organizations in Pakistan, are providing ERP solutions.Pakistan's Small and Medium Enterprises (S.M.Es) sector and other sectors like Oil and gas, engineering, telecomand government sector are currently operating at weakness. This is primarily because a preponderance of theindustrialized and planning processes are either not programmed and automated, or, if automated, are not beingemployed to their fullest budding and potentials.In order to close this shortcoming and weakness which are currently exists in above- mentioned sectors of theeconomy, Pakistan software export board automation of domestic industry on open source systems project is inprogress for mounting entire ERP solutions to mechanize and automate the route and procedures for the SMEs.These open sources system are designed to help in Production, Inventory, HR & Payroll, finance, and sales in thoseareas of the economy that have the maximum export prospective that can be a gateway to other sector of theeconomy to operate at full potential. This research study intends to investigate the critical success factors ofenterprise resources planning implementation in Pakistani production and service industry confining the majorsector of the economy like Oil and gas sector, engineering sector, telecom sector and government sector on the bases

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of major growth and issues these sectors are confronting in the enterprise resources implementation. This study isunique has a unique aspects, firstly other studies on early critical success factors of ERP implementations have beenconducted in developed countries while this studies is particularly for developing country like Pakistan.Literature ReviewIn literature evaluation section the only confining point is on the critical success factors in ERP implementation.Most literature combines the critical success factors (CSF’s) with different ERP characteristics. Larsen and Myers(1997) found that ERP understanding and practicing could be an early achievement and later failure. This finding issupported by a case study in which they stated that business process re-engineering project implicated redesigningthe main accounting progression within single organization in the financial services business. Larsen and Myers(1997) concluded that two factors leads to ERP failures that are; improperly cutting project scope and end-usertraining. Davenport, (1998) stated that , the complexities and high collapse rate in mounting ERP systems have beenextensively cited in the literature but, investigation on critical success factors (CSFs) in ERP execution competenceis still uneven.Bancroft et al. (1998) interviewed twenty practitioners of enterprise resource planning applications and from studyof three multinational ventures implementation projects and concluded that, critical success factors for ERPimplementation include presence of a supporter, top management support, high-quality communication withshareholders, and successful project management. He further added that before implementing enterprise resourcesplanning applications it is vital to develop key IT capabilities of the end users trainings.Willcocks and Sykes, (2000) projected several situations and utilization cases to prove these situations, In contrast tothe development and enhancing of new effortless software function the main target of Enterprise resources planningis to execute business process re-engineering. Much business failed on this aspect of ERP implementation. Thisfailure and collapse was determined by the requirement for major amendment in culture, human, and organizationalrelationships. The success model of enterprise resources planning includes six dimensions of information systemssuccess: system eminence, information eminence, use, end user contentment, person impact, and managerial impact.While this approach has some drawbacks, when use of the systems is compulsory, the evaluation of systememinence, information eminence, and use become less functional. Conclusion about personal impact and managerialimpact are also hard to establish (Delone & McLean, 1992).Duchessi et al, (1989) concludes that top management commitment and adequate end user training is critical successfactors for efficient implementation. Rao (2000) choose five criteria important for selecting an enterprise resource

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package including supplier’s domain knowledge, affordability, local support level, latest technology usage and easeof software upgrades. Elisabeth et al, (2003) classified critical success factors in ten categories that included clearperceptive of strategic goals, data accuracy, education and training, competent implementation team, efficientproject management, capability of technical issues troubleshooting, top management commitment, organizationalchange commitment, performance focused measures and multisite issued resolving abilities. Literature cited userinvolvement and training as in important and significant critical success factors of enterprise resourcesimplementation. Zhang et al, (2002) stated that user involvement refers to contribution of the user in the process ofenterprise resources planning (ERP) implementation. The functions of the ERP system depends on the user to usethe system after going live, but the user is also an important factor in the implementation. ERP implementationprocess fails in the end in spite of millions of dollars due to lack of suitable training. In the majority cases, expert areincluded during implementation course, and while all the features of the system should be enlightened andtransferred the end-users, the main goal of ERP training is that the users comprehend variety of business processesfollowing the ERP application (Mashari, et al 2002).In the light of above context and literature review, researcher adopted the idea of Jiang Yingjie (2005) “CriticalSuccess Factors in Implementation of ERP in Finland” by including data accuracy during conversion phases andafter the project implementation variable considering importance based on literature. After analyzing the mentionedcritical success factors, this research study will help organizations to design and implement ERP project successfullyfor their business promotions.Conceptual framework of StudyConceptual ModelThe below visual model is based on the ideas of Yingjie (2005). The model shows six critical factors of enterpriseresources planning implementation, these success factors includes perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust onsoftware and hardware, end user trainings and vendors supporting during and after implementation of enterpriseresources planning projects data accuracy and Top management Supports, while user involvement/ Intension to useis considered as outcome.Theoretical model of critical Success factors of ERP implementationThe above first generation relationship model explain the relationship between user intentions /user involvementwith perceived usefulness of ERP, Ease of use , Trust on software and hardware, end users training, Data accuracyand Top management commitment. These are the critical success factors indentified in theoretical underpinningphase. Davis (1989) investigated the relative effects of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation source on intention to use,

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and usage of, the computer in the workplace and, they dined perceived usefulness as an extrinsic source ofmotivation and perceived enjoyment as an intrinsic source of motivation he defined perceived usefulness as theextent to which a person’s consider that using a meticulous system would augment his or her work performance anddefined perceived ease of use as the extent to which an individual consider that using a meticulous system wouldbe free of stabs.David et al, (2004) stated that to a high degree, trust decides probable utility resulting from business contact wherethe trusting party is reliant upon others, but lack power over them. In many cases, this epitomizes the associationbetween customers and an enterprise resource planning (ERP) customization vendor. User training is defined as thedegree to which a company has instructed employees in using the ERP, both in terms of quality and quantity. Thenotion of data quality was first proposed by DeLone and McLean (1992) argued that the data accuracy quality is asignificant construct to build successful information systems. Later, Lin and Lu (2000) further developed the dataaccuracy as part of a determinant of system quality and found that the data accuracy variables is useful predictors ofthe perceived ease of use and the perceived usefulness. Training users to effectively apply information technologyfor specific work problems is a major prerequisite for usage. ERP training programs will reduce ambiguity and helpdevelop knowledge for future effective usage.Wu et al, (2006) stated that the deprived accuracy of the implementation data is often seen as a frequent indicationof ineffective enterprise resources planning (ERP) implementation. Zairi and Sinclair (1995) ranked leadershipfacilitator of large transformation efforts. ERP implementation can only be accomplished when senior managementis totally committed to the initiative. Management commitment and support is the ultimate strategy that will securethe necessary conditions for successfully introducing the change brought by ERP into the organization. Thecommitment of top management should be emphasized throughout an organization. This is the first step of ERPimplementation.Significance of studyThe Significance of the study extends to broad aspects of ERP implementations and Critical success factors.The Study investigates the influencing factors and critical factors of ERP implementation. These critical factorsare critically examined in this study in order to draw a meaning full conclusion and recommendations for thepractitioner of ERP applications in service and production industry in Pakistan.Objectives of the StudyFollowing are the main objectives of the study.1. To find out level of failure of ERP implementation – Partial Failure and Fully Failure.2. To find out which Critical factors are hindrances in ERP Implementation.3. To find out, what factors should be considered of great importance for successful implementation

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of ERP.HypothesesFollowing hypotheses are formulated for the research study.1. H1: Perceived usefulness is positively correlated with ERP usage/Intention to Use ERP.2. Top management commitment is positively correlated with ERP usage3. End user training is positively correlated with ERP usage/user involvement.Data Collection and Research methods.This research study is based on survey instrument. The instrument is adopted from the study of Jiang Yingjie(2005) “Critical success factors of ERP implementations in Finland”, While the necessary amendments inindependent variables and questions are made according to the culture of organizations. Instrument consists ofthree sections, Section incorporate demographic information of respondents, Section two consists of predictorsof ERP usage /user involvement and Section three consists of outcome (User involvement /ERP usage). Thequestions asked in instrument centered on theoretical arguments discussed in literature review and theoreticalmodel to maintain the contents and construct validity of instruments. The study throughout employeeconventional likert’s Scale to indicate the degree of acceptance as one indicates strongly disagree onto five forstrongly agree. The questionnaire does not include questions which could identify the company. Extra care hasbeen taken to protect the anonymity while developing the Instruments.Total 110 questionnaires in respective organization that use diversified ERP applications in their organizationswere distributed. Out of total 150, 80 questionnaires were collected back; Out of 80 responses 71 validquestionnaires were selected for data analysis concluding the response rate to 65%. SPSS 17.0 is used for dataanalysis.Data Reliability and NormalityFor better results and generalizations to wider population data normality is consider important in academic research.In this research study normality and distributions of data was crossed checked by means of multiple methods likekurtosis, Skewness, Q-Q Plots and Kolmogorove-Smirnov test and outliers detection techniques were employed andonly one case was identified which was replaced by using “mean of nearby point” technique. Over all the data wasfound normal. Likewise consistency of response was checked by means of Cronbach alpha. On the bases thecronbach alpha results, internal consistencies of the response were found satisfactory.Results ,Analysis and DiscussionThe mean and Standard deviation of each element/ critical success factor of ERP is tabulated in table 1.Table -1 Descriptive Statistics of Critical success factors of ERP ImplementationThe results of our sample exhibit almost all factors implementation tends towards the degree of agreement except

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the trust and end user training. End users training depict more variations in response relative to trust. The abovetable 1 indicate that perceived usefulness have mean value of (_71, 3.619) with standard deviation of (0.961),perceived ease of use have mean value of (_71,3.521) with standard deviation of (0.842), trust have mean value of(_71,3.070) with standard deviation of (0.798) indicated the degree of neutrality , top management commitment havemean of (_71 ,3.549) with standard deviation of (0.841), end user training have a mean value of (_71 , 3.267) with thestandard deviation of (1.005) indicting the degree of neutrality with somehow high variations in responses, likewisedata accuracy have mean value of (_71 ,3.619) with standard deviation of (0.961) indicating degree of agreement andintention to use ERP have mean value of (_71 ,4.028) with standard deviation of (0.970) indicating the degree ofagreement towards the use of ERP applications in futures. Over the descriptive statistics have encouraged resultsexcept end user training and trust on hardware and software.Table 2 indicate analysis of variance of critical success factors of ERP across different sectors of the economynamely oil sector, government sectors, engineering sector and telecom sector for the purpose of exploring meanvariations and difference with the assumptions that that there is no significant mean difference in critical successfactors in any group of the economy . The results of table 2 indicate that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use,trust, top management commitment, training and data accuracy have significance mean difference across differentsectors of the economy as (FPU; 70, 3 =12.877), (P<0.05) ;(FPEU; 70, 3 =3.121), (P<0.05);(F trust; 70, 3 =6.756), (P<0.05); (FTMC; 70, 3 =5.795), (P<0.05); (F Training; 70, 3 =3.042), (P<0.05); (F DA; 70, 3 =16.541), (P<0.05) respectively. The table 2further reveals that government sector accounted low mean value representing degree of disagreement withperceived usefulness and trust on hardware of software. However top management in government sector iscommitment to successful implementation of “enterprise resources applications” compared to other sector topmanagement commitment. The results of table 2 further illustrate that telecom sector is more committed to end usertraining compared to other sectors of the economy.Table-2.Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of Critical Success factors of ERP Implementation with respect todifferent SectorsVariable Mean SDPerceived Usefulness 3.619 0.961Perceived ease of use 3.521 0.842Trust 3.070 0.798Top Management Commitment 3.549 0.841Training 3.267 1.055Data Accuracy 3.619 0.961Intention to use ERP 4.028 0.970Analysis of variance Means and Standard DeviationVariables

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SS df MS F Sig. SectorsGovt. Oil Telecom Engg.PU Between Groups 23.674 3 7.891 12.877 .000 Mean 2.82 4.00 3.55 4.24Within Groups 41.059 67 .613 SD 0.96 0.55 0.93 0.66Total 64.732 70PEU Between Groups 6.096 3 2.032 3.121 .032 Mean 3.091 3.714 3.818 3.647Within Groups 43.623 67 .651 SD 0.811 0.644 1.079 0.786Total 49.718 70TMC Between Groups 10.215 3 3.405 5.795 .001 Mean 3.546 2.952 3.182 2.529Within Groups 39.363 67 .588 SD 0.963 0.498 0.751 0.515Total 49.577 70Table 3 illustrates the correlation matrix among different critical success factor and outcome variable that isintentions to use ERP/ ERP usage with significance value at 0.05 and 0.01 level of significance. This correlationmatrix is produces for the purpose of checking the correlation among different variable which were discussed inhypothesis formulation phases. The results of correlation analysis are described in context of different formulatedhypotheses.Hypothesis-1 :Perceived usefulness is positively correlated with intention to use ERP.Table 3 illustrates the correlation between perceived usefulness and user involvement indicates that perceivedusefulness and intension to use ERP have moderate positive and significant correlation (39.4%). The results orclosely matched with the results of Zviran et al, (2005) and Gyampah (2005) studied the influence that perceivedusefulness, user involvement, argument for change, prior usage and ease of use have on the behavioral intention touse an ERP system. Their results indicate that users perception of the perceived usefulness, ease of use of thetechnology, and the users’ level of intrinsic involvement all affect their intention to use the technology aresignificant predictors of ERP implementations. Likewise in the study of Jiang Yingjie (2005) same conclusion wasderived.Table-3 Correlation analysis of Critical Success factors of ERP implement ion with User intention to Use ERPVariables PU PEU Trust TMC Training DA UI AlphaPU 1 0.873PEU .195 1 0.808.103Trust -.392** .051 1 0.856.001 .674TMC .209 .880** .069 1 0.878.080 .000 .567Training .243* .194 .113 .299* 1 0.77.042 .104 .348 .011Data Accuracy(DA).892** .266* -.392** .350** .271* 1 0.9230.000 .025 .001 .003 .022Intention to useERP

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.394** .226 .445** .191 -.063 .394** 1 0.967

.001 .048 .000 .111 .000 .001**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).Trust Between Groups 10.369 3 3.456 6.756 .000 Mean 2.818 3.191 3.727 3.647Within Groups 34.279 67 .512 SD 1.296 1.123 0.467 0.606Total 44.648 70Training Between Groups 9.340 3 3.113 3.042 .035 Mean 3.191 3.727 3.647 2.727Within Groups 68.575 67 1.024 SD 1.123 0.467 0.606 0.935Total 77.915 70DA Between Groups 27.543 3 9.181 16.541 .000 Mean 2.818 4.095 3.636 4.177Within Groups 37.189 67 .555 SD 1.296 0.436 0.924 0.636Total 64.732 70Hypotheses 2: Top management commitment is positively correlated with ERP usageThe above table 3 illustrate that Top management commitment and User intention are insignificant positivecorrelation with each other (19.1%). The results indicate that top management commitment is lacking in eithersector of the economy. Comparing the previous studies, most studies have found the significant positive correlationlike Zairi and Sinclair (1995) ranked leadership facilitator of large transformation efforts. ERP implementation canonly be accomplished when senior management is totally committed to the initiative. Management commitment andsupport is the ultimate strategy that will secure the necessary conditions for successfully introducing the changebrought by ERP into the organizations.Hypotheses 3: End user training is positively correlated with intention to Use ERP.Table 3 further reveals the correlation with end user training and intention to use ERP. The results reveal that thereis significant negative correlation between end user training and intentions to use ERP indicating that end userstraining lack in either sector of the economy. Comparing with previous studies, the study like Larsen and Myers(1997) in which they concluded that two factors lead to ERP failure that are; improperly cutting project scope andend-user training and Duchessi, et al. (1989) concludes that top management commitment and adequate end usertraining is critical success factors for efficient implementation.Conclusions and RecommendationsA total of 6 critical success factors for ERP implementation have been identified based on are review of the relatedliterature. Different analytical techniques were used to study critical success extensively. The results of statisticalanalysis concludes that though top management commitment is positively associated with intention to use ERP andend user training is negatively related with intention to use ERP, thus causing hindrance in ERP applicationsimplementation. All other critical factors were found significant predictors of Intentions to use and thus ERPimplementation. Based on the Findings and conclusions of this research study it is recommended Top management

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support and end user training are most serious factor which is obstacles in ERP implementation in Pakistan. Hence,it is recommended that all those organizations who are interested for High growth through increasing reliablebusiness solution must pay attention on user/employee ERP training and top management support.Limitations of the study and Further ResearchThis study have several limitations, firstly this study was limited to four sectors of economy that oil and gas sector,government sector, Engineering sector and telecom sectors. These sectors were selected particularly dueImplementations issues emerging in those sectors, although other sectors might have the ERP applicationsimplementation issues but do to time and resources constraints these sectors were selected. This study is conductedin Pakistan and recommendations have been given for organizations while implementing ERP applications in theirrespective organization. Further research can be carried out by including the contents of payback fromimplementation of ERP, Pre-implementation business process performance and Post business performance.References .Al-Mashari, M. (2002). Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems: a research agenda", IndustrialManagement & Data Systems, Vol. 102 No.3, pp.165-71.Beard, Jon W, Sumner, Mary (2004). Seeking strategic advantage in the post-net era: viewing ERPsystems from the resource-based perspective”, Journal of Strategic Information SystemsBancroft, N., Seip, H. And sprengel, A.(1998).Implementing SAP R/3, 2nd edn, (ManningPublications, Greenwich).Davenport, T.H. (1998). Putting the Enterprise into the Enterprise System, Harvard BusinessReview.David H. Browm and Susan (2007). Pattern of ERP implementation in China and someImplications, A Guide to computer literature Vol 17,pp 132-141.DeLone, W. H. and McLean, E. R. (1992). Information systems success: The quest for the dependentvariable. Information Systems Research, 3, 60-95.Duchessi, P., Schaninger, C., Hobbs, D. (1989).Implementing a manufacturing planning and controlinformation system, California Management Review, pp.75-90.DeLone, W. H. and McLean, E. R. (1992). Information systems success: The quest for the dependentvariable. Information Systems Research, 3, 60-95.F.D. Davis Jr (1989).Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of informationtechnology, MIS Quarterly13 Vol 3, pp. 319 - 340.Harley, W, Wright, C, Hall, R & Dery, K (2006).Management Reactions to Technological Change:The Example of Enterprise Resource Planning', Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, vol.42, no.1,pp.58-75.

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Lin, J.C.C., Lu, H. (2000), "Towards an understanding of the behavioral intention to use a web site",International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 20 No.3, pp.197-208.Melissa A. Larsen , Michael D. Myers (1997).BPR success or failure?: a business processreengineering project in the financial services industry, Proceedings of the eighteenth internationalconference on Information systems, p.367-382, December 14-17, 1997, Atlanta, Georgia, UnitedStatesRao, Siriginidi Subba (2000).Enterprise resource planning: business needs and technologies,Industrial Management & Data Systems 100/2, pp. 81-88.Umble, E.J., Umble, M.M. (2002). Avoiding ERP implementation failure, Industrial Management,Vol. 44 No.1, pp.25-34.Willcocks, L.P., & Sykes, R. (2000). The role of the CIO and IT function in ERP, Communicationsof the ACM, Vol 43, pp 32 – 38.Wu, J. H., & Wang, Y. M. (2006). Measuring ERP :The ultimate users’ view. International Journalof Operations & Production Management, Vol 26, 882-903.Yingjie Jiang (2005). Critical success Factors in ERP Implementation in Finland, M.Sc. Thesis inAccounting, the Swedish school of Economics and Business AdministrationZhang, L., Lee, M. K. O., Zhang, Z. and Banerjee, P. (2002). "Critical Success Factors of EnterpriseResource Planning Systems Implementation Success in China. " The 36th Hawaii InternationalConference on System Sciences, Hawaii.Zairi, M., Sinclair, D. (1995). Integrated Management through BPR and TQM: A Survey of BestPractice and Future Trends, The European Centre for TQM, University of Bradford.

ERP Solutions

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is the arrangement of how the resources of a business are obtained. It is a system that maintains all the data from various business functions in one common database.

There is a number of ERP Software solutions running in today’s leading organizations. Manufacturing Execution System MES can parse the data into information and passes it through out the chain. The data is organized in such a way that a plan can be intelligently forecasted. ERP solutions have really minimized the extra delay and unavoidable mistakes in all operations of the organization. ERP services are not only a part of bounded organization but also have a prime concern with web technologies to the reaching suppliers, vendors and even customers. Due to certain domestic organizational

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disabilities certain organizations are unable to implement ERP services in their operations this made ERP Consultants to be hired in the organization. Their primary responsibilities are to plan, train, test and implementation of customized products. All it depends on how an organization is committed to raise benefits from its ERP software application.

Rivet Solutions ERP Solutions is leading Pakistan ERP Consultants . Rivet Solutions ERP Solutions is providing the most competitive edge in the industry. Our ERP Solution enables your organizational overall needs and wants towards operations using online web based ERP Solutions. Our ERP CRM Solutions provide you the best way to utilize resources in an electronic way. Rivet Solutions ERP Solutions is having a prestigious position in Pakistan ERP Consulting. Our Consumer packaged goods solutions provide you strengthen your brand, balancing market and your organization and minimizing market costs. Our ERP Application Solutions is developed with a view to perform all the tasks as a web based ERP. Rivet Solutions ERP Experience is fabulous sofa in the market and we are hoping it to be enhanced in future.

Rivet Solutions Information Systems provides its users with web based ERP solutions and offshore software development. Our main function in the ERP is to integrate all the departments and functions of the company as one single component providing a transparent view of the entire company:

• Client-Server technology• EDI• Object oriented technology• Graphical user interface• N-Tire architecture• User defined reporting querying technology• Web based connectivity with all external stake holders with organization

We take under consideration all the tasks performed by a web based ERP Solution and provides you with these functions:

• Automate all industrial tasks especially those are essential for an effective business process• Give all the information regarding the customer’s history consisting all previous transactions countered by the customers, for e.g. the last order of the customers and his credit ratings• Provide one single and similar database for everyone to access and the data gets updated whenever any transaction is completed• The status of the transaction can be located and traced by the ERP system at any point by logging in to the ERP system

The Expertise Team provided by us offers the main software products in market to its service seekers. We offer the following products:

• Accounting software

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• CRM software• Real estate management• Consulting services

Rivet Solutions Information Systems will assist you in determining the best software option for you amongst the above disclosed list.