ERP Sand Clock Barriers and Antecedents Model: From the Lens of Task Technology Fit Theory

Abstract

The deployment of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems worldwide has become an evidence of the unprecedented movement towards integration of information technologies. The importance of continuance usage during the post implementation stage should not be neglected as to secure an optimal advantages offered by ERP system, that is achieved through minimizing ERP system usage barriers. As such, successful implementation of an ERP system does not necessarily guarantee that the system will be comprehensively used or accepted by users of the system. ERP benefits can only be realised and sustained if users continue to have favourable experiences in using the system. While many previous studies have examined ERP system during the implementation phase, only a few have revealed barriers to ERP usage as well its antecedent factors during the post-implementation phase. The purpose of this paper is to determine ERP system usage barriers and unearth the root causes to the barriers. To achieve the aim, this research was guided by the ‘soft-positivism’ paradigm, a paradigm that combines elements of positivism and interpretivism. By using this paradigm, the investigator brought certain prior expectations to the data analysis which are consistent with positivist research and which also build rich explanations from the data, consistent with the interpretive assumption. Based upon the lens of Task Technology Fit theory, this study adopts a qualitative method using multiple case studies. Three Malaysian organisations that had implemented ERP were investigated by conducting 30 semi–structured interviews and reviewing archival records and documents. The interviews were guided by the research objectives. Data were analysed by using open and thematic coding.The finding indicated four major areas of ERP usage problems: system, data, and technical infrastructure and interface problems. Besides that, several antecedent factors to the problems were identified. These factors fall into four major categories: organisation, user, task and technology, and include lack of support from either external or internal expertise, lack of individual strength and limited technology affordance. The outcome of this study was encapsulated in the form of the ERP Sand Clock Barriers and Antecedents Model.The paper contributes to post-implementation ERP system literature by stressing the complex relationships between usage barriers and antecedent factors. By identifying the underlying causes of SAP usage barriers, it could become the motivating factor for individual users to undertake reflective feedback and to achieve extended use of the implemented ERP system.