UNDERSTANDING ORGANIZATION--ENTERPRISE SYSTEM FIT: A PATH TO THEORIZING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARTIFACT.

Author List: Strong, Diane M.; Volkoff, Olga;
MIS Quarterly, 2010, Volume 34, Issue 4, Page 731-756.
Packaged software applications such as enterprise systems are designed to support generic rather than specific requirements, and hence are likely to be an imperfect fit in any particular instance. Using critical realism as our philosophical perspective, we conducted a three-year qualitative study of misfits that arose from an enterprise system (ES) implementation. A detailed analysis of the observed misfits resulted in a richer understanding of the concept of fit and of the ES artifact itself. Specifically, we found six misfit domains (functionality, data, usability, role, control and organizational culture) and within each, two types of misfit (deficiencies and impositions). These misfit types correspond to two newly defined types of fit: fit as coverage and fit as enablement. Our analysis of fit also revealed a new conceptualization of the ES artifact, with implications for IT artifacts in general.
Keywords: critical realism; enterprise systems; fit; misfits
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List of Topics

#295 0.221 task fit tasks performance cognitive theory using support type comprehension tools tool effects effect matching types theories modification working time
#127 0.153 systems information research theory implications practice discussed findings field paper practitioners role general important key grounded researchers domain new identified
#231 0.096 information management data processing systems corporate article communications organization control distributed department capacity departments major user hardware cost applications expansion
#251 0.095 implementation erp enterprise systems resource planning outcomes support business associated understanding benefits implemented advice key implementing scope functional post-implementation implementations
#163 0.086 critical realism theory case study context affordances activity causal key identifies evolutionary history generative paper events lead mechanisms evolution change
#0 0.075 information types different type sources analysis develop used behavior specific conditions consider improve using alternative understanding data available main target
#207 0.064 design artifacts alternative method artifact generation approaches alternatives tool science generate set promising requirements evaluation problem designed incentives components addressing
#232 0.051 software development product functionality period upgrade sampling examines extent suggests factors considered useful uncertainty previous called complementarities greater cost present
#35 0.050 technology organizational information organizations organization new work perspective innovation processes used technological understanding technologies transformation consequences perspectives use administrative economic