Critical success factors for the implementation of enterprise systems: A literature review

Date01 May 2018
AuthorJohn Loonam,Amit Mitra,Azley Abd Razak,Vikas Kumar
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1002/jsc.2194
Published date01 May 2018
REVIEW ARTICLE
DOI: 10.1002/jsc.2194
Strategic Change. 2018;27(3):185–194. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jsc © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. 185
Abstract
Since their incepon into work organizaons, enterprise systems (ES) have proved challenging
for many organizaons to implement successfully. This study seeks to advance our understand-
ing of the ES success literature by focusing on Harzing Journal ranked arcles only that focus on
the issue of “crical success factors” for ES implementaon. The authors idenfy 34 key crical
success factors that can provide both scholars and praconers with a more holisc view of ES
success.
1 
|
 INTRODUCTION
This study will conduct a literature review of crical success fac-
tors as deployed for the implementaon of enterprise systems (ES).
There have been many studies over the past two decades that have
contributed to our understanding of the crical success factors for
ES implementaon. These systems oen require signicant organiza-
onal change and consequently aaining successful implementaon
remains challenging. Yet, despite the importance of understanding the
routes to success when implemenng ES, our understanding of the
crical success factors remains anecdotal and case‐based within the
extant literature.
Two key research quesons will be addressed:
1. How important is the concept of “success” within the ES literature?
2. What are the key crical success factors for ES implementaons
as cited within Harzing Quality ranked academic journals?
To address these quesons, this study will explore journal arcles
cited in Harzing’s (Harzing.com) Quality lisng (its most recent edion
is that of February 11, 2014). This arcle contributes to current knowl-
edge as it is the rst study within the crical success factors literature
on ES to focus on a review of a journal quality list. Therefore, the study
seeks to idenfy the most empirically validated and comprehensive
list of crical success factors (Figure 1) in order to support scholars in
future inquiries and provide praconers with a more holisc under-
standing of the crical factors required for ES success.
The authors will rst provide a brief historical tour of ES and their
respecve implementaon into work organizaons. The methodol-
ogy secon will then discuss the approaches deployed to conduct this
study, specically focusing on the crical success factor studies (Bingi,
Sharma, & Godla, 1999; Bradley, 2008, Koh, Lenny, & Goodman, 2011;
Mitra & Neale, 2014; Yeh & Xu, 2013). In total, 31 crical success fac-
tors are idened from the literature. The ndings will then rank the
most cited crical success factors and for illustrave purposes discuss
the top ten success factors from Journals within the Harzing Quality list.
2 
|
 EXPLORING ES SUCCESS
The introducon of informaon systems can greatly assist organi-
zaons in aaining greater eecveness and eciency. Informa-
on systems promise to increase raonalizaon, reduce duplicaon,
streamline business processes, integrate disparate systems, oer
greater compeve advantage, increase innovaon, and remove
redundant managerial tasks through disintermediaon. From a brief
historical overview of informaon systems, it becomes clear that
organizaons, and invariably informaon systems, have been looking
to create a more integrated and seamless working environment. In
parcular, ES have been heralded as systems by which such “seam-
less integraon” can be achieved (Shaul & Tauber, 2013). ES are the
internal technological hub of the enterprise allowing data from dif-
ferent business funcons, mainly from nance, human resources,
Crical success factors for the implementaon of enterprise
systems: A literature review*
John Loonam1 | Vikas Kumar2 | Amit Mitra2 | Azley Abd Razak3
1 DCU Business School, Dublin City
University, Dublin, Ireland
2 Faculty of Business and Law, Bristol
Business School, University of the West of
England, United Kingdom
3 Faculty of Business and Society, University
of South Wales, Treforest, United Kingdom
Correspondence
Vikas Kumar, Bristol Business School,
University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
Email: Vikas.Kumar@uwe.ac.uk
* JEL classicaon codes: D83, L53, L86

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT