Despite a limited number of implemented
integral programme solutions in higher education
institutions, some cases of unsuccessful
implementation can be found in practice [11]:
• At Cleveland State University they were
almost forced to take legal action against
the ERP vendor, after they had found out
that only half of student requests can be
dealt with in 1998. The University
continued with the implementation of ERP
system despite rising costs (the planned
amount was exceeded by $10.8m and
amounted to more than $15m).
• Similarly, the planned cost of the
implementation of integral information
solution at Ohio State University rose from
the initial $53m to $85m.
• The University of Minnesota had a similar
experience, when the planned cost of $38m
rose to $53m, and finally reached $60m.
Risks related to the implementation of ERP
systems in higher education institutions are
relatively high, with the institutions not always
being aware of them, and not anticipating all or
at least the majority of eventual problems. Being
aware of the advantages and threats involved in
the implementation of ERP systems, PMFISHE
(Project Management for Information Systems in
Higher Education) initiative was presented at the
University of Newcastle. The initiative aimed at
preparing a document which would provide the
guidelines for all higher education institutions
faced with the problems surrounding the
implementation of ERP systems in their business
activities [4].
In order to improve the share of successfully
implemented ERP projects in higher education
environment, the initiators of PMFISCHE
initiative wanted to create the conditions for a
successful communication and cooperation
between two completely different groups of
people: the management of a higher education
institution, who is not familiar with information
systems and their implementation and
development on one side, and IT experts, who
usually do not have or lack experience related to
the implementation of information solutions
adopted to special needs of academia on the
other hand [4].