Training Issues in ERP Implementations

One of the critical success factors (CSF) of an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation project is user training. In consequence, in this paper we focus our attention on compiling a list of CSFs that affect the ERP implementation training phase. Then we analyzed the training methods used in ERP implementations in order to provide better solutions than the ones identified in the IS literature. We studied the documentation of several implementation projects conducted at a Romanian ERP system vendor targeting SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) and identified a series of problems concerning the way the training activity was conducted and monitored. Thus, we proposed a framework for a system that resolves the identified problems and provides several other features that significantly diminish the resource consumption (time and money) associated with the training activity, by integrating a computer based training method (CBT) that enables more personalized, effective and less expensive training sessions. We believe that several ideas that we used in developing this system can also be applied in other ERP environments.