A business process modeling-enabled requirements engineering framework for ERP implementation

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the benefits of the application of a requirements engineering framework to assist Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) development. This framework combines the technology-driven and the process-driven approaches for requirements analysis and implementation. Specific business process modeling methods enhance the framework and assist the formulation of the functional specifications of the ERP system and the management of requirements. Design/methodology/approach -A case study strategy was chosen as the most appropriate method to answer the research question and test the theoretical propositions. The case study's unit of analysis is a Greek manufacturing company and its ERP implementation project. A requirements engineering framework enhanced with business process modeling methods was applied and the results were evaluated using metrics for ERP implementation success. Data were collected using multiple sources of evidences, including interviews with various stakeholders, structured questionnaires, direct observations, vendors' functionality papers and company's documentation.Findings -This study proves that the configuration of ERP's reference models together with the adjustments of organization's processes, provided through a structured requirements engineering framework can lead to reliable functional specifications, a smooth transition to an ERP system and, eventually, to successful ERP implementation, concerning its alignment with requirements. Research limitations/implications -A single case study is conducted in a typical manufacturing company, providing opportunities for further research in other industries, testing in parallel well-defined requirements and other success factors for ERP implementation. Originality/value -The paper fulfils the identified needs for applied methodologies and frameworks for requirements engineering which can assist successful ERP implementations.

An Exploration of BPM Adoption Factors: Initial Steps for Model Development

“…The adoption of BPM can also be affected by other relationships between processes and information technology (IT), such as Business-IT alignment [22], [42] or the adoption of ERP systems, where a process-driven approach is commonly used in system implementations [27], [13]. Reference [9] note that the satisfaction level with existing IT systems plays a significant role in the shaping of motivations to change.…”

“…Previous research on BPM indicates that not only are resources within an organization important for BPM adoption, but also in the broadly understood context and external environment [44]. There is also strong evidencebased research showing a relationship between Information Systems (and general Information Technology) and BPM in organizations [1], [22], [27], [13]. These arguments led to the use of the TOE framework within a technological, organizational, and environmental context as the theoretical lens of BPM adoption's determinants.…”

A New Framework for Classifying Information Systems Modelling Languages

“…The high-level of abstraction models hide technical detail and use terminology close to the problem domain, rather than solution domain. It is also known as requirements models [57]. A clear example of this kind of models, is those models used at requirement elicitation and specification phase during the development lifecycle (e.g.…”

Impact and Challenges of Requirements Management in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) via ERP Thesaurus

“…It will systematically schedule distribution and arrange to ship and deliver, thus observing in transit through convoy supervision and even replenish that product all inevitably. If there"s something missed there is not a problem, it can be added or removed because ERP has a feature of customization [2]. ERP is advanced it can be controlled over the mobile phone at very affordable cost.…”

“…In [2], the authors describe that productive implementation of an ERP framework strongly relies upon the precise meaning of primary functional requirements. The following paper also discusses a case study that portrays and dissects the advantages of the use of a prerequisites designing system to help Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) advancement.…”