Critical success factors for ERP implementations in Belgian SMEs
Journal of Enterprise Information Management
ISSN: 1741-0398
Article publication date: 20 April 2010
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the critical success factors of ERP implementations in Belgian SMEs and to identify those success factors that are specific to a SME environment.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors survey the literature to discover and classify critical success factors that are potentially applicable to small and medium‐sized enterprises. Through a survey and a multiple case study within four Belgian companies, the authors investigate which of these critical success factors apply to SMEs.
Findings
The results show that most of the success factors found in the literature apply to SMEs. Nevertheless, distinct differences were found as well. Some factors, such as a clear scope definition and a standardised infrastructure, are not regarded as critical success factors for SMEs. Moreover, SMEs tend to rely relatively heavily on the input of consultants, who they use as a source of knowledge and experience. Moreover, SMEs need to be able to adjust their businesses quickly to be able to exploit their niche to the fullest extent.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to Belgian enterprises.
Originality/value
For SMEs, it is particularly important to recognise the elements for a successful ERP implementation. This paper examines the critical success factors of ERP implementations in small and medium‐sized enterprises, while the existing literature on critical success factors of ERP implementations focuses on large enterprises.
Keywords
Citation
Doom, C., Milis, K., Poelmans, S. and Bloemen, E. (2010), "Critical success factors for ERP implementations in Belgian SMEs", Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 378-406. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410391011036120
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited