The Evolution to the Cloud – Are Process Theory Approaches for ERP Implementation Lifecycles Still Valid?

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) have been implemented for the past 15 years in both large-scale and Small & Mid-size Enterprise (SME) organizations. The implementation processes have evolved as the result of perilous attempts as organizations encountered numerous problems, financial strains, organizational difficulties, organizational cultural challenges, resulting in successful implementations but also failures to the extent of bankruptcy filings. There have been a number of process theory approaches developed to support these implementation efforts in traditional infrastructures, greatly reducing the risk of failure during the past decade. Concomitantly, a possible paradigm shift is in the evolutionary process with the emergence of Cloud ERP systems. Cloud systems are ERP operations that are hosted remotely and the vendor provides all systems software, maintenance, backup and security. This paper will examine the various process theory methodologies available to ERP implementation project teams, Champions, consultants and software vendors, as alternative approaches for a successful implementation. The paper will explore if these process theory approaches are still valid given the movement to Cloud hosting and the perceived need for acceleration in implementation processes for cost and productivity purposes