This research aims to investigate the benefit realisation process for ERP systems
so as to develop a benefit realization road map whereby organisations can realize
the maximum potential of their ERP systems. This research covers two areas:
mechanism of implementation and the destination to change (i.e. road map). It
has been found that project management and benefits management approaches
are necessary for recouping benefits from investing in Information Technologies
(IT) projects. Thus, Project Benefits Governance Framework (PBGF) is
developed, and later tested, by combining the two approaches for the sake of
realising the expected benefits from investing in IT initiatives. Because ERP
demands radical changes in organisations, the neo-institutionalisation theory was
adopted to apply PBGF on ERP so that the ERP success is improved.
The key connecting element between PM and BM in PGBF is the blueprint
design. ERP orchestration framework is developed to show how investments in
ERP resources and organisational complementary resources shall be
orchestrated so that ERP benefits can be realised effectively. Thus, benefits are
classified into three levels (automating, planning, and innovating benefits), and
each level needs a specific blueprint. All of these blueprints constitute the ERP
benefits road map. Each blueprint consists of attitudes, skills, organisation
characteristics, technologies, and ERP department human resources
competencies. Based on these results, ERP Business Innovation framework is
developed and tested. ERP benefits maturity assessment tool is developed for
assessing organisations’ status to show weaknesses and strengths in their ability
to recoup different ERP benefits by benchmarking with the three blueprints.
This research has contributed by integrating and institutionalising benefits
management practices and project management practices. Moreover, it is novel
in adapting the orchestration theory to understand how ERP resources shall be
composed to achieve benefits efficiently. Finally, it demonstrates that ERP can
be a source of innovation if the innovating benefits are managed deliberately