Abstract
As firms try to replace outdated legacy systems and modernize their information systems, they seriously consider implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) packages. However, the firm selecting an ERP vendor is faced with several difficult issues besides the typical issues of software vendor selection, and the process is fraught with risks. Such issues include: the degree of fit of the package with existing business processes, the possible restructuring of the business, and the degree of business integration. In addition, the typical factors include vendor selection criteria as well as the management of the selection process. In this case, Custom Fabrics wrestled with many of the issues either implicitly or explicitly. The case describes many of the objective and subjective processes Custom Fabrics went through. In spite of much care and attention to the process, what is interesting is that in the end Custom Fabrics reversed its original decision.