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have higher expectations regarding the reliability
of ERP system than in small companies.
The importance of business process improve-
ment criterion depends on implemented infor-
mation strategy in the company and turnover
growth. Importance is higher in companies with
implemented information strategy (4.34) than in
companies without one (4.05). Companies with
implemented information strategy seem to pay
more attention to business process improvement
in the company, especially enabled by ERP system
implementation. Importance of business process
improvement criterion also depends on growth of
the company. Importance is lower in companies
with stable turnover (3.77) than in companies with
growth of 5-10% (4.45) and with growth of more
than 10 percent (4.30). It seems that companies
with higher growth are more aware about the
need of business process improvement to achieve
higher efficiency.
The importance of the advanced technology
criterion depends on the representation of the IT
department on the board level. The importance is
lower in companies without a CIO or similar (3.73)
than in companies with one (4.17). The advanced
technology criterion also depends on implemented
formal information strategy. The importance is
lower in companies without a formal information
strategy (3.79) than in companies with one (4.11).
It seems that companies with a CIO represented
on the board level and an implemented formal
information strategy have greater understandings
at a higher management level of the importance of
advanced technology usage for achieving lower
costs of business operation and higher efficiency.
The importance of system interoperability
criterion depends on implemented information
strategy in the company. The importance is lower
in companies without implemented formal infor-
mation strategy (3.85) than in companies with
implemented information strategy (4.24). Formal
information strategy defines the role and impor-
tance of information systems and technologies in
the company. The information is also better com-
municated and accepted in the whole company.
Compared to other research (Bernroider &
Koch, 2001; Bernroider & Leseure, 2005) ex-
amined criteria confirms importance of the fol-
lowing ERP criteria: system reliability, vendor
support, functionality of the system, business
process improvement, improved service levels,
and integrated and better quality of information.
These criteria are perceived as most important ERP
system selection criteria in companies of all size.
According to the study of Bernroider & Leseure
(2005), we have also identified some differences
of the importance of e-business enablement of
ERP selection criteria, which was in our case
more important ERP selection criterion than in the
previously mentioned research study. E-business
enablement is becoming an increasing important
ERP system selection criterion as the need for
better business integration, supported by ICT of
all partners in supply chain is urgent to achieve
competitive advantage in the market.
concLusion
This chapter provides a possible model for ERP
system selection. The model consists of four
groups of criteria: the ERP systems benefits crite-
ria, the system quality criteria, the vendor related
criteria and the ERP system package criteria. Re-
search results have confirmed internal consistency
of ERP selection criteria in each group. For each
criterion the importance is evaluated by small,
medium-sized and large companies. Beside that
also company size, implemented information
strategy, position of CIO or similar position on
the board level in the company and company
revenue impact on importance of each criterion
is evaluated and presented.
The results have shown sensitivity of some
criteria. Company size significantly impact on
importance of e-business enablement, increased
organizational flexibility, system reliability and
operating system independency criteria. Imple-
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