User-Centered Design in ERP Implementation Requirements Analysis

Companies adopt Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in order to streamline their business processes and to integrate their information systems. ERP implementations have reported failures e.g. because of a lack of integration into existing legacy systems or insufficient training and support for the business processes. User-Centred Design (UCD) aims at improving the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction of the system to be designed. In a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) - type ERP system implementation, the user requirements are not used for designing an ERP system. Instead, the existing functionality of an ERP system is matched with the user requirements. Either the organisation adapts to the ERP system functionality or the ERP system is modified according to organisational requirements. This book provides a model of how UCD can be applied in the ERP implementation process. The focus is on how UCD can be applied in ERP implementation requirements analysis, with the aim to improve the success of ERP implementation.

Autorentext

Inka Vilpola, D.Sc., has long research experience in implementation of large enterprise systems. Her specialties include applying usability and user-centred design methods when designing software systems in industrial context. Currently, as enterprise architect, she contributes to enterprise architecture for a large international company.