Enterprise resource planning systems and implementation experiences for selected public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Implementation of enterprise systems has found widespread usage in large and mid-sized institutionsworldwide. As espoused by many scholars, there has been a rapid increase in implementation of thesesystems in management and administration of institutions of higher learning. In view of this, universitieshave taken up deployment of enterprise systems to replace existing management and administrationusing computer systems, but there is low uptake on the implementation of enterprise resource planningsystems. To realize this end, a study was carried out on evaluation of implemented integrated enterpriseresource planning systems in selected public universities in Kenya. The study sought to investigateimplementation of enterprise resource planning systems in public university, analysis of existingopportunities through use of these integrated information technology systems in management andchallenges to ease of use of these systems in administration and management of public universities havebeen reviewed and recommendations drawn on probable ways of utilizing the enterprise systems. Thestudy adopted the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Information Systems Success Model. Thefindings of the study showed that most of the implementation projects had been abandoned or stalledaltogether. Challenges associated with institutional connectivity and limited skilled expertise to drivethe implementation processes were highlighted as leading influencers of implementation processes inrespective public universities. The study recommends increased investments towards improvement ininstitutional connectivity, blending of internal and external skilled expertise to drive implementationinitiatives and regular contribution of implementation experiences in internal and external seminarsfor future studies and contribution to the body of knowledge.