A Simulation Model for Decision Support in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for ERP Systems Implementation

Small medium enterprises face considerable challenges in implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems however due to their benefits ERP systems are becoming an essential and integral part of SMEs business strategy. This study investigates the implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in small medium enterprises (SMEs) and the role played by certain critical success factors (CSFs) in its successful implementation. Based on extensive literature review and list of critical success factors is established. A questionnaire survey in carried out to assess the role played and weight each CSF carries towards the implementation. The primary data collected is analysed and based on result of the analysis a simulation model is proposed. This simulation model can assist in running implementation scenarios under different constraints and variables. By drawing upon this model, we can re-late to how SME can better utilise and prioritise different CSFs and resources by choosing the best implementation strategy before real life implementation