Do Small Firms Implement Enterprise Systems Differently? The Case of E-Silk Route Ventures

TL;DR

This paper investigates how small firms implement enterprise systems differently, focusing on the challenges and critical success factors specific to small firms, using the case of E-Silk Route Ventures.

Contribution

It provides new insights into enterprise system implementation in small firms and re-evaluates critical success factors for this context.

Findings

Small firms face unique challenges in ES implementation.

Critical success factors need adaptation for small firms.

Case study of E-Silk Route Ventures illustrates these points.

Abstract

The cost effectiveness, ease of learning, connectedness and in-depth analytical capabilities provided through cloud computing technologies, have provided small firms the opportunity to implement enterprise systems (ES), which was reserved only for the much resourceful firms. However, it is evident that small firms are still struggling to attain purported benefits of ES and still find it difficult to manage complexities of ES implementations. Further, limited research has been conducted that discusses ES implementation in small firms. This research is an attempt to further the understanding of ES-implementation of small firms and re-evaluate the applicability of fundamental critical success factors to small firms.