Exploring and analysing the risks and challenges of implementing ERP systems: critical system thinking

Abstract

One of the success factors in implementing ERP systems is the precise identification of risks. In this research, using the critical systems heuristics (CSHs), an attempt has been made to identify risks and gaps that are not observed and discovered by other methods of factor exploration in order to evaluate the criticisms of people involved in the system. Thus, this study analyses the risks and constraints in the successful implementation of ERP systems in Iran using the critical systems heuristics (CSHs) approach. Twelve experts were selected and interviewed using the targeted sampling method. The findings of this study indicate that the risks of ERP systems implementation are in three classes of risks: before, during and after execution. In the end, a supplementary map classifying all risks in four groups was designed for decision making and also for expanding the knowledge obtained from the results.