Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation in a Sub-Saharan African Nation (SSA): An Empirical Test of Competing Models & Theories

jkgbeve — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 16:49:12 +0000

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation in a Sub-Saharan African Nation (SSA): An Empirical Test of Competing Models & Theories jkgbeve Sat, 04/18/2015 - 16:49

In this study, the researcher developed a modified research model to examine the antecedents and impact of extent of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems implementation on Process Management Capability, and its subsequent impact on firm performance. The existing model was extended by the addition of the following constructs: Ethical Factors, Data Culture, Organizational Integration, and Organizational Performance. In exploring ERP implementation in Ghana, a Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nation, two competing theories, the Institutional theory and the Panoptic theory, were tested using empirical data collected from a survey involving 115 respondents from organizations in Ghana that had implemented ERP systems. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling-partial least squares.

The findings indicate that the Panoptic theory explains the relationships between the constructs better and confirms the positive impact of higher extent of ERP implementation on process management capabilities. Theoretical implications of the study include (1) the emergence of the Panoptic theory as a strong predictor of ERP implementation in SSA (2) the mediating effect of the Ethical factors and Organizational Integration (3) the panoptic theory has more predictability and can be more easily generalized than institutional theory, allowing the research to have a more global impact beyond SSA and (4) Contextual factors such as industry type, employee size, and ERP type influence ERP implementations in SSA. Practical Implications are: (1) ERP systems create information visibility which checks the ethical behaviour of employees and causes them to behave in a socially responsible manner (2) Organizations can achieve greater organizational integration by increasing their extent of ERP implementation and (3) Governments and regulatory bodies must institute policies and protocols that encourage ERP adoption.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

David Asamoah

Urban Road Transportation Systems; Energy Demand, Congestion And Emission

jkgbeve — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 16:43:27 +0000

Urban Road Transportation Systems; Energy Demand, Congestion And Emission jkgbeve Fri, 04/17/2015 - 16:43

Transportation is an important part of national economy and functions as its foundation, support and service provider. However, with growing demand for transport services, largely met by the use of private cars, concern about increasing congestion, air pollution and fuel consumption is mounting. The study therefore sought to investigate how private car usage give rise to traffic congestion in major metropolitan cities under varying levels of mass transport usage propensity and the extent to which traffic congestion affects fuel consumption and productivity of public sector workers (teachers) across Ghana. Lost hours as a result of congestion were measured along some selected major highways in Kumasi and Accra. In addition, a survey-based primary data was obtained from teachers in Accra and Kumasi Metropolitan areas. With respect to the analysis of the primary data collected, the reliability and validity of the measures used to access each construct was assessed with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) while the proposed structural relationships between the constructs were assessed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique.

The study revealed that congestion reduces worker productivity by 8.21% since it reduces Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 8.21%. Again, high levels of private car usage are positively related to increases in traffic congestion and high levels in traffic congestion is positively associated with greater levels of fuel consumption. The study concludes that the impact that private car usage has on fuel consumption is through the increased traffic congestion that the increase in private car usage creates. Since urban transportation externalities are a key challenge, policy directions such as; more extensive public transport system, enforcement of emission controls, coordination of traffic signals, education of drivers on fuel economy and efficient land use and urban planning should be embraced to ensure a sustainable transportation environment.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Jonathan Annan