SMEs are related to cost. Since ERP implementation
involves ongoing costs, such as those that result from
system upgrades and maintenance, companies found
themselves spending more than they have planned.
However this is necessary to ensure the system
achieves its desired results.
7 CONCLUSIONS
This study focused on activities and players in the
ERP post implementation phase. We have observed
that there are some activities that take place in the
studied SMEs more than in LEs, such as performance
evaluation. There were also some practices such as in
house training that have been observed to take place
in LEs but not in SMEs. There is a need to have
tailored training for SMEs based on their
implemented system, in order to cut costs for bringing
in a consultant, since they do not have the in-house
technical man-power. Their training usually takes
place before the system go live and this is not
efficient.
We have also found differences in the decision
making process regarding ERP between companies of
different sizes. The study has found that the main
reasons why activities take place differently in SMEs
and LEs is because of the differences in company
structures, sizes, cost constraints and decision making
processes.
SMEs can learn from LEs to involve more
employees in the requirement specification process,
in order to allow them to state their processes better
and to have satisfactory systems.
The grounded theory method undertaken in this
study has allowed us to build theory from our
findings. However our findings need more
observation in more companies, also looking at small,
medium and micro companies as separate entities.
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