Original scientific paper

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ERP SYSTEM: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND OPERATIONALIZATION

Sylvestre Uwizeyemungu ; Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada
Louis Raymond ; Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada

Abstract

The interest of firms in ERP systems has been echoed in both the scientific and professional literature. It is worth noting however that while this literature has become increasingly abundant, there does not yet exist an operational definition of the ERP concept that is, if not unanimously, at least widely accepted. This constitutes a handicap for both the research and practice communities. The present study outlines what could be considered as an ERP by first determining the essentially required characteristics of such a system: integration, flexibility and transversality. Indicators are then provided in order to operationalise these three characteristics. The study concludes by proposing a research framework on the impact of an ERP’s key characteristics upon the performance of the system in a given organisational setting.

Keywords

ERP; enterprise systems; integration; flexibility; process orientation; transversality; information system

Hrčak ID:

78280

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/78280

Publication date:

21.12.2005.

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