DATABASE MANAGEMENT

[Database Management: Small Medium Enterprise]



ABSTRACT

Implementing an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is extremely challenging despite the benefits in small-to-medium-sized healthcare organizations. This qualitative case study research design will use data which will be obtained from the participants to analyze various aspects of their personal experiences. Invariant constituents were culled from the responses of participants, which will be subsequently grouped into meaning units leading to eight themes via NVivo software for qualitative data analysis. The study will conclude with recommendations for paying attention to the issues and concerns that could potentially bog down ERP implementation, such as lack of good fit between ERP implementation and business processes, lack of management support, resistance from employees, insufficient financial resources, improper planning of distribution of financial resources, improper planning on scope and timeframe of implementation, insufficient training and education, and insufficient documentation. In contrast, the factors that would facilitate ERP implementation are open lines of communication between employee and leader and among employees, involvement of employees in the decision-making, collaboration, and teamwork among employees, and effective leadership.

TABLE OF CONTENT

ABSTRACT2

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION4

Background of the Problem4

Statement of the Problem5

Purpose of the Study6

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE8

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY13

REFERENCES15

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Most organizations had built or purchased their computer applications over an extended period, creating a series of complex automated systems that work independently of each other or interoperate with one another (2006). Although these systems had high interoperability, the systems' developers often either missed or ignored business rules and data structures of the applications and business units because of independently developed applications (Wise). Different applications have application-specific methodologies for collecting and organizing data in formats that can be incompatible with each other. Wise provided an example of customers' address and name information to explain the danger of critical information loss when using different data recording methods in different formats within different business units for synchronizing customer-specific information to ensure format retention and accuracy of the content. Further, Wise argued that the key information technology (IT) management challenge is to find cost-effective ways to integrate such disparate legacy systems.

Background of the Problem

The disparity between IT management and the integration of systems in organizations is hypothesized to be related to ineffective knowledge management (KM) (Wenger, 2004). A gap exists between the theory of KM and the practice of implementing IT that creates difficulties and problems within organizations. Without effective KM, organizations are at risk of losing money, time, and the ability to conduct its business effectively in both the present and the future (Tannenbaum, 1998b; Wenger, 2004). Such losses can affect the organization's ability to compete in a rapidly changing business environment where new and innovative technology solutions makes the organization's survival possible (Yukl, 2001). Nabuco, Rosario, Silva, and Drira (2003) identified many barriers that prevent effective KM. People find it difficult to share knowledge. Lack of time is often given as the excuse, but what may be contributing to the lack of time is the inability to structure ...