The case study research methodology has been highly recommended by many
researchers as an ideal tool for improving conceptual and descriptive
understanding of complex phenomena (Flynn et al., 1990; McCutcheon and
Meredith, 1993; Yin, 1994). ERP implementation is an expensive and extensive
undertaking involving activities related to planning, justifying, installing and
commissioning of the installed system. An ERP system extends across the entire
organization and sometimes even beyond to cover integral partners in the supply
Implementing
ERP systems
853chain. Furthermore, ERP projects can take two or more years to fully implement
(Bradley et al., 1999; Parker, 1999). All the above factors contribute to the
complexity of ERP installations, and make snap-shot cross-sectional approaches
unsuitable for investigating the ERP implementation process.