Abstract:
Despite the large number of publications addressing ‘critical success factors’ of ERP
software implementations, very little is actually known about the impact of organizational fit of
ERP systems on ERP implementation success (in terms of increased organizational
performance). Our objective is to investigate the role of ERP fit in the implementation and
operation of ERPS; we do so by developing and testing a model which (a) identifies the
determinants of ERP fit and (b) links ERP fit to organizational performance. Our research
builds on data which was collected through a large-scale mail survey and telephone
interviews in an earlier research project in 2001. Our key findings suggest that the adoption
and use of ERPS does lead to firm performance increases already within one year after the
go-live date, and is then sustained over a period of at least another two years. One of the key
determinants of sustained performance increases is the organizational fit of the ERPS, which
is again driven by software quality and the quality of the integration (adaptation)
mechanisms.
