No abstract

Data quality is a critical issue during the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Data quality problems can have a significant impact on an organisation’s information system. Therefore, it is essential to understand data quality issues to ensure success in implementing ERP systems. This paper uses SAP as an example of an ERP system and describes a study, which explores data quality problems with existing systems, and identifies critical success factors that impact data quality. The study resulted in the development of a framework for understanding data quality issues in implementing an ERP, and application of this framework in a case study in two large Australian organisations. The findings of the study suggest that the importance of data quality needs to be widely understood in implementing an ERP, as well as providing recommendations that may be useful to practitioners.

Information is the key resource of today’s organizations, and therefore, quality information is critical to organizations’ success. Accounting information systems (AIS) in particular, requires high quality information. This chapter discusses critical success factors for data quality in accounting information systems. A model for factors that impact on data quality in AIS was proposed, and then examined in seven Australian case studies. The detailed discussion of each factor was included, and it was found that education and training, nature of AIS, and top management commitment are the most critical factors. The findings of the study would help organizations to focus on important factors to obtain better benefit from less effort. Top management, IT and accounting professionals should be able to gain the better understanding of accounting information systems’ data quality management from the discussion of this chapter.