Enterprise Information Systems Change, Adaptation and Adoption: A Qualitative Study and Conceptualization Framework

Abstract

This article introduces and discusses the process and system conceptualization framework for adoption and ongoing evaluation of enterprise information systems, based on the series of recursive high and base-level conceptualizations of organization’s existing (as-is) and desired (to-be) processes and systems. The motivation for the framework is provided by a qualitative study that reveals two distinct approaches to the organizations’ systems adoption and change. The approaches are labeled as systems view and process view, centered on organizations’ processes and systems respectively; where process oriented approach is more likely to result in better fit between the adopted systems and corporate needs. Consistent with this finding, the purpose of the introduced framework is to guide organizations toward embracing the process-centric approach to the adoption of enterprise information systems, by placing particular emphasis on processes’ and supporting systems’ fit with organization’s strategic goals.