ERP Implementation Model, Research Findings, and its Applications to Government

Background

Boudreau and Robey(2005) suggest that it is important to obtain acceptance of ERP systems. Currently they note that if not successfully implemented, users may work around the system and otherwise doom the project to costly duplication of effort, or worse, system failure. A phased implementation approach is highlighted in Robey et al, (2002).

Systems development theory uses the concept of a lifecycle and stages in the lifecycle to indicate development of information systems. The waterfall model, incremental model, RAD (rapid application development) model and spiral model are some of the systems development methods prevalent in the literature (Pressman, 2004). Newer approaches to systems development address component-based development using off-the-shelf packages, agile development and the unified process for object-oriented software development (Pressman, 2004). The newer approaches have fewer stages in the development of systems. For example, the unified process model which draws upon the best practices of conventional software process models (Pressman, 2004) has inception, elaboration, construction and transition phases.