TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding information systems infrastructure in engineering SMEs: A case study
AU - Hicks, Ben J
AU - Culley, Stephen J
AU - McMahon, Christopher A
AU - Powell, P
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - The benefits of Integrated enterprise-wide information systems (IS), such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, are widely accepted The implementation of such systems in large organisations is established with many in their second or third generation. However, in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the maturity and extent of their IS infrastructure is less clear. In engineering SMEs, this infrastructure needs to support not only business processes but also the activities of design and manufacture. In this case study, our goal is to provide a better understanding of current IS infrastructure, the functional elements of IS infrastructure, integration and expenditures are explored in ten engineering SMEs. A model of IS functionality is developed and used to identify and classify functional elements within the firms and to compare and contrast the IS infrastructures. The findings are contrasted with the SME literature and conclusions and implications developed.
AB - The benefits of Integrated enterprise-wide information systems (IS), such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, are widely accepted The implementation of such systems in large organisations is established with many in their second or third generation. However, in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the maturity and extent of their IS infrastructure is less clear. In engineering SMEs, this infrastructure needs to support not only business processes but also the activities of design and manufacture. In this case study, our goal is to provide a better understanding of current IS infrastructure, the functional elements of IS infrastructure, integration and expenditures are explored in ten engineering SMEs. A model of IS functionality is developed and used to identify and classify functional elements within the firms and to compare and contrast the IS infrastructures. The findings are contrasted with the SME literature and conclusions and implications developed.
KW - integration
KW - engineering SMEs
KW - information systems
KW - information dependencies
KW - functional elements
KW - investment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953290927&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2010.03.004
U2 - 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2010.03.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jengtecman.2010.03.004
M3 - Article
SN - 0923-4748
VL - 27
SP - 52
EP - 73
JO - Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
JF - Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
IS - 1-2
ER -