1. Introduction
Enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems are large commercial
software packages that standardize business processes and integrate
business data throughout an organization [21,47,74]. These systems
codify and organize an enterprise's business data into an integrated
database, and transform the data into useful information that supports
business decisions [68]. The ability to access information from various
parts of an organization has helped firms to streamline their business
processes and reduce inefficiencies [75]. In both large and medium
size firms, ERP systems represent the largest portion of the application
budget and about one-third of their IT budgets [41,53].
Although the benefits of ERP are considerable, traditional ERP systems
that streamline and integrate internal processes improve efficiency
only within the boundaries of an enterprise [21]. Because firms' value
chains increasingly extend beyond their boundaries and include other
firms within their business ecology, it is important to improve operational
performance along the whole supply chain. Inventory turnover,
asset utilization, and profitability depend on improved processes
and information flows not only inside the focal firm, but also those
“between” firms [50]. The full potential of an ERP system cannot be realized
if its integration and coordination capabilities are confined within