With growing competition, there is greater need for firms to become customer focused. More than ever before, we see even small companies employing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems for the smooth functioning of the organization. However, these firms still face resistance from the users to these systems. The objective of this research is to identify the factors that influence the users' resistance to change from a technology adoption perspective.Particularly, it is found that perceived usefulness and self-efficacy determine the users' attitude toward their resistant behavior.
Accordingly, firms must pay attention to see that the users feel sufficiently empowered to use the system. At the same time the ERP system must show tangible improvement in the bottom line indicators of firm's performance, such as lead time reduction, greater sales, and better customer service. The paper also discusses the implications for practice and theory.
Human beings are likely to accept any situation as they find it-provided it is not unduly troublesome or uncomfortable. At the same time, they are the most adaptable creatures on the earth, for example, sitting next to noisy, high pressure pump and promptly falling asleep, totally unconcerned about the heat and noise. In other words, it is very easy for some employees to become accustomed to what might appear to be an uncomfortable situation. Once they are accustomed to the situation, they will strongly resist any suggestions for changing it. In the same way, employees who work manually are comfortable in their situation.
As they get accustomed to this situation, they strongly resist any change.
However, changes are an important part of organizational life. Firms are undergoing radical changes with the implementation of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). Strong competitive forces are forcing the organizations to become customer-focused rather than focus on economies of scale. Consequently, they are implementing ERP packages. However, the crux of the problem is that the firms are finding tremendous resistance to change amongst the employees given to bureaucratic life. However, the responsibility for implementing change lies with the managers. |
