Conceptual framework for ERP system implementation using pre-implementation roadmap

![CDATA[In the recent past, organizations, including Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) have moved to implementing some kind of ERP systems. In this regard, ERP systems have emerged as the core of successful data, information and knowledge management through integrated functional applications and the enterprise backbone of organizations. Further, the adoption of ERP systems are becoming more of supporting their businesses under ever changing environment of diminishing market shares, tough completion, ever increasing customer expectations and globalization. Therefore, there is a strong potential for enhancing current implementation practices and the cycle for achieving better outcomes with full awareness of problems, short comings, and their resolutions. Enhancements are two-fold: (i) improvements to the implementation cycle and (ii) supporting implementation through pre-implementation and post-implementation activities. On the subject of pre-implementation, conclude from a survey that level of involvement in pre-implementation training with consultants appeared to have little influence on attitudes toward ERP. However, there are many pre-implementation activities, which have not been considered in the past and are potential candidates for further investigation for better ERP implementation outcomes. This research focuses on developing a framework for implementation cycle and pre-implementation roadmap. The proposed framework aims to enhance the overall ERP implementation outcomes and can be a basis for a computer-aided tool, to be used by implementation project team members. Thus, this research focuses on (i) analysing the existing implementation cycle (ii) developing a pre-implementation roadmap with appropriate readiness assessment and (iii) linking the roadmap with the implementation cycle for improved implementation of ERP systems. Pre-implementation roadmap, consisting of system options, selection methods and readiness assessment, directly links with the implementation cycle for eliminating many causes for failure including lack of organizations’ readiness assessment for ERP. Apart from the pre-implementation roadmap, the other important aspect is the post-implementation. Post-implementation has often been overlooked by many organizations and involves change management, training and planning for future upgrades and system maintenance. Post-implementation is not discussed here, since it is beyond the scope for this paper. Section 2 of the paper discusses ERP systems implementation practices and issues. Section 3 presents the conceptual framework with its features and relationships with various stages of the implementation cycle. Finally, this paper concludes with research findings and recommendation for future research directions.]]