TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– This paper aims to present a discussion of the critical success factors (CSF) that affect the acquisition process for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.Design/methodology/approach– The research strategy was a multiple‐case design with three organizations that had recently completed the acquisition of an ERP solution. The rationale for the multiple‐case design was that, as a research strategy, the focus could be directed to understanding the dynamics and complexities present within each case, these being critical success factors of the ERP software acquisition process within the organization.Findings– This study identified ten factors critical to the successful outcome of acquiring an ERP solution. Their omission would have resulted in a less than optimal outcome for the organization. For each of the three cases, the elements that stand out the most are as follows: clear and unambiguous authority, a structured, rigorous and user‐driven process, its planning, the establishment of criteria, and the sense of partnership that the team works to establish not only with various user commitments, but also with the potential vendor.Originality/value– It is important to note that no one CSF alone is going to make an ERP acquisition successful. It is rather the combination of several critical factors that will result in its successful outcome.
VL  - 18
IS  - 6
SN  - 1741-0398
DO  - 10.1108/17410390510628373
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/17410390510628373
AU  - Verville Jacques
AU  - Bernadas Christine
AU  - Halingten Alannah
PY  - 2005
Y1  - 2005/01/01
TI  - So you're thinking of buying an ERP? Ten critical factors for successful acquisitions
T2  - Journal of Enterprise Information Management
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 665
EP  - 677
Y2  - 2024/05/06
ER  -