Complex intuitionistic fuzzy soft SWARA - COPRAS approach: An application of ERP software selection

<abstract><p>In this manuscript, we propose an integrated framework based on COmplex PRoportional ASsessment and Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis approach within the complex intuitionistic fuzzy soft (CIFS) context. This context is an ideal technique with complex fuzzy foundation that means to denote multi-dimensional data in a concise. In this framework, criteria weights are evaluated by the SWARA technique, and the ranking of alternatives is determined by the COPRAS method using CIFSs. Further, to illustrate the applicability of the presented technique, an empirical case study of ERP software selection problem is taken. A comparative study and sensitivity analysis is presented to verify the strength of the presented methodology.</p></abstract>

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Iran

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software packages have been widely implemented in the developed world since they first appeared on the market in the late 1970s. In the developing world, however, the lack of the human and financial resources needed for such projects, and the non-availability of sales and support offices for western-based ERP vendors, has limited the uptake of ERP software. However, in Iran, there has been significant recent growth in the development of homegrown ERP software solutions. These products are usually more customizable than western-based ERP products and can thus be adapted more readily to specific user requirements. Using a case study approach, this article examines the origins and development of one of these companies – the Behko software company, and assesses its main product, and how it has been implemented in a typical end-user company. The article concludes that the homegrown ERP sector in Iran is making a significant contribution to the provision of information systems in the country, and is competing successfully with western-based alternatives.

ERP software selection using intuitionistic fuzzy and interval grey number-based MACBETH method

PurposeEnterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software which is a knowledge-based design on the interconnective communication of business units and information share, ensures that business processes such as finance, production, purchasing, sales, logistics and human resources, are integrated and gathered under one roof. This integrated system allows the company to make fast and accurate decisions and increases its competitiveness. Therefore, for an enterprise, choosing the suitable ERP software is extremely important. The aim of this study is to present new research on the ERP software selection process by clarifying the uncertainties and find suitable software in a computational way.Design/methodology/approachERP selection problem design includes uncertainties on the expert opinions and the criteria values using intuitionistic fuzzy set theory and interval grey-numbers to MACBETH multi criteria decision making method. In this paper, a new interval grey MACBETH method approach is proposed, and the degree of greyness approach is used for clarifying the uncertainties. Using this new approach in which grey numbers are used, it is aimed to observe the changes in the importance of the alternatives. Moreover, the intuitionistic fuzzy set method is applied by considering the importance of expert opinions separately.FindingsThe proposed method is based on quantitative decision making derived from qualitative judgments. The results given under uncertain conditions are compared with the results obtained under crisp conditions of the same methods. With the qualitative levels of experts reflected in the decision process, it is clearly seen that ERP software selection problem area has more effective alternative decision solutions to the uncertain environment, and decision makers should not undervalue the unsteadiness of criteria during ERP software selection process.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the relevant literature by (1) utilizing the MACBETH method in the selection of the ERP software by optimization, and (2) validating the importance of expert opinions with uncertainties on a proper ERP software selection procedure. So, the findings of this study can help the decision-makers to evaluate the ERP selection in uncertain conditions.

Contract Guidelines and Scope Building for Digital Transformation and ERP Projects

When an organization decides that it is time to invest in a digital transformation journey or even in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, it is going to make a big decision. This will significantly impact most elements that contribute to its success and growth. Organized and structured planning and preparation will be required from different aspects. This chapter describes the key success—or failure—factors in implementation focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs usually have limited time, resources, skills, and budget compared to large firms. Throughout the journey of transformation, they need to focus on scoping and contracting phases distinguishing between digital transformation and regular information technology contracts. This chapter defines the building blocks to have a successful transformation. Contracting and scoping are considered at the heart of managing the complete digital transformation journey.

Inadequate Flexibility and Resistance to Change Hindering Effectiveness of ERP System in Accounting

The Enterprise Management Planning (ERP) software applications allow companies to integrate key daily activities such as procurements, financial, production, human resources, and project activities and helps organizational stakeholders to facilitate efficient decision making based on integrated data from various departments. Many accountants have not been able to realize the effectiveness of the ERP system due to its inadequate flexibility to adapt to change and resistance among some accountants that use the system. This research aims at showing the role that the inadequate flexibility of the system plays in impeding the ERP software from guaranteeing effectiveness and depicts how resistance to change among different stakeholders in an organization hinders the effectiveness of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in accounting. It uses a qualitative research method entailing semi-structured interviews with multiple employees working in the accounts department in different organizations. The study revealed that many accountants are driven by fear of new technology, making them resist the ERP system. Participants also affirmed that ERP does not readily adapt to organizational changes in the accounting departments. The major limitation of this study is that it focused on a small sample population because of the limited funds to cater to many participants.

A hesitant fuzzy linguistic terms set-based AHP-TOPSIS approach to evaluate ERP software packages

PurposeIn this paper, two popular multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods with hesitant fuzzy logic approach; hesitant fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (hesitant F-AHP) and hesitant fuzzy the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (HF-TOPSIS) are integrated as HF-AHP-TOPSIS to evaluating a set of enterprise resource planning (ERP) alternatives and rank them by weight to reach to the ultimate one that satisfies the needs and expectations of a company.Design/methodology/approachSelecting the best ERP software package among the rising number of the options in market has been a critical problem for most companies for a long time because of the reason that an improper ERP software package might lead to many issues (i.e. time loss, increased costs and a loss of market share). On the other hand, finding the best ERP alternative is a comprehensive MCDM problem in the presence of a set of alternatives and several potentially competing quantitative and qualitative criteria.FindingsIn this integrated approach, the hesitant F-AHP is used to determine the criteria weights, as the hesitant F-TOPSIS is utilized to rank ERP package alternatives. The proposed approach was also validated in a numerical example that has five ERP package alternatives and 12 criteria by three decision-makers in order to show its applicability to potential readers and practitioners.Research limitations/implicationsIf the number of the alternatives and criteria are dramatically increased beyond reasonable numbers, the reaching to final solution will be so difficult because of the great deal of fuzzy based calculations. Therefore, the number of criteria and alternatives should be at reasonable numbers.Practical implicationsThe proposed approach was also validated in a illustrated example with the five ERP package options and 12 criteria by the three decision-makers in order to show its applicability to potential readers and practitioners.Originality/valueFurthermore, in literature, to the best of our knowledge, the authors did not come cross any work that integrates the HF-AHP with the HF-TOPSIS for ERP software package selection problem.

A Research Study on the ERP System Implementation and Current Trends in ERP

The ERP archive found from long back years may be in 1970, and it had been initiated with the aim of business processes integration. The Gartner Group coined the name ERP, and it had implemented at the start of the year 1990. Software firms such as SAP had initiated to deploy ERP at the start of the 1990s. SAP further delivered the R/3 version in the year 1992. The SAP R/3 had been equipped with the addition of customer-server hardware construction to work on many stages at a time. The year 2000 had seen the solution over the problem of Y2K by all major ERP software system providers. Over the last 10 years, the ERP software market has to spread immensely with service providers are catering business-wide application with a complete range of application and functions.This paper tried to study the detailed ERP system implementation process and current trends in ERP software. Further, we found out some problems or gaps in an ERP system application process and tried to answer it with proposed solutions.We conclude this study as “an ERP system integrates all the functions in an organization like finance, marketing, manufacturing, and human resource with an advance real-time data collection, processing, and communication with very fast speed and allowing the organization for a quick decision on the real-time issues to control the complete business process day today.”