Walking a mile in their shoes: user workarounds in a SAP environment
International Journal of Accounting & Information Management
ISSN: 1834-7649
Article publication date: 3 May 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine workarounds from the perspective of the users of the system, focusing on the outcomes of workarounds and their effect on the quality of accounting information.
Design/methodology/approach
Interviews were conducted with employees in the accounting functions at two international organizations using SAP for their enterprise system. Results were coded by two experienced researchers and one undergraduate student, and included a categorization of the outcomes of workarounds.
Findings
The most striking result is the difference in views of workarounds between the two organizations. While workarounds are discouraged by the accounting function at both organizations, one seeks out workarounds and enforces standards while the other has not yet achieved process standardization. Not surprisingly, users view the workarounds of others as very detrimental to the quality of accounting information, but view their own workarounds as critical to maintain quality.
Practical implications
Organizations should obtain input from system users to document the extent that workarounds are used within the organization to determine the impact on the quality of their financial reporting.
Originality/value
The focus on outcomes of workarounds is an important shift in the literature, and more work is needed to further refine the categories used in this research, particularly for the effect of workarounds on internal controls and information quality. Additionally, this research surfaced a very strong difference in the actions taken to deal with workarounds, which may be due to organizational cultures.
Keywords
Citation
Drum, D.M., Pernsteiner, A.J. and Revak, A. (2016), "Walking a mile in their shoes: user workarounds in a SAP environment", International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 185-204. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-09-2015-0059
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited