Factors related to the intended use of ERP systems

ERP systems have a strong effect on the business operation of large multinational corporations as well as on small and medium enterprises. When implementing these systems, it is very important how the users in the organization will accept them and what attitude they will take towards them. This paper integrates some of the propositions of the Expectation Confirmation Theory (ECT) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to research the factors related to the intended use of the ERP system by students of Business Studies. It investigates the correlation of the perceived usefulness of the ERP system, perceived ease of using it, and computer anxiety in users to their satisfaction with the used ERP system. Additionally, the assumed positive correlation between students' satisfaction with the ERP system and their intention to use such systems in the future is justified and proved according to the EC theory. The research involved 180 third year students of the vocational program at the Faculty of Economics in Split, who may be potential users of the ERP system. During the winter semester of 2010/11, the respondents were using a concrete ERP system in the course called Information Systems. While attending the course, they got to know the basic functions of eight ERP modules. Although the research used an occasional pattern of respondents, it can be stated that the statistical significance of the obtained results points to the main factors related to the intended usage of ERP systems by business studies students as their prospective users.