The decision-support characteristics of ERP systems

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been widely adopted in large organizations. These systems store critical knowledge used to make the decisions that drive an organization's performance. However, ERP systems are known primarily for their transactional rather than their decision-support characteristics. This study examines the extent to which adopters of ERP systems perceive characteristics typically associated with decision-support systems. It also examines the importance that adopters place on such characteristics. The major findings are that ERP adopters perceive substantial levels of decision-support characteristics in their ERP systems and that they consider such characteristics to be important. The study also examines differences in decision-support perceptions among demographic groups. By delineating the current state of ERP systems as they pertain to decision support, the results establish areas that vendors and adopters can focus on to improve the level of decision support provided by their ERP systems.