Enterprise resource planning success : An exploratory study of the financial executive perspective

Purpose – To explore the views of top corporate financial executives on the success of implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as well as the variables associated with ERP project success. Specifically, relationships between dependent variables cost and budget performance on the independent variable overall project success are studied. Variables influencing cost and time performance are also explored. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of secondary data obtained from the 2003 financial executives international comprehensive survey‐based research on technology issues for financial executives. Multiple regression analysis and other statistical methods are used. Findings – The findings indicate that ERP implementations are generally viewed as moderately successful by top financial executives. In addition, both cost and time were significantly correlated with an overall view of success with cost performance holding higher influence. Several variables were found to significantly correlate with cost and time performance. Research limitations/implications – The study can be used as a basis for further exploration on the influences on ERP success as well as serve as a preliminary model to analyze any IT project success. Practical implications – The findings can be used to guide management teams in emphasizing control of the important variables in implementing ERP that influence project success. Originality/value – The paper provides a large sample set which empirically reviews major ERP implementations and their success perception. In addition, it begins to explore the variables influencing overall ERP project success perception.