Empirically Testing User Characteristics and Fitness Factors in Enterprise Resource Planning Success

Abstract

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for supporting inter- and intracompany business processes are reaching maturity in many organizations. However, ERP systems are complex and expensive, and the decision to install an ERP system necessitates a choice of mechanisms for determining whether the ERP is needed and, once implemented, whether it is successful. User satisfaction is one evaluation mechanism for gauging system success. In this study, the efficacy of user characteristics and fitness factors as determinants of ERP success was empirically evaluated. The findings indicate that the fitness factors (i.e., compatibility and task relevance) have significant positive influences on ERP satisfaction. As for user characteristics, higher educated users have greater user satisfaction and managers have greater satisfaction than nonmanagement users. However, the study finds that user age, information experience, and package localization have no significant effect on ERP user satisfaction. The study offers insights that adopters and consultants can focus on to improve the level of ERP user satisfaction.