Coordination among ERP consultants: Controlling mechanisms

Consultants are deemed critical to the success of an ERP implementation because of the breadth and complexity of the system, the management of multiple modules, and the one-time nature of the project that limits desire to increase investment in a permanent workforce. However, consultants often fail to effectively coordinate their activities, making integration of the ERP problematic. Coordination across module implementation of the ERP is essential to the overall success. Achievements of consultants are often controlled by organizations though the negotiated contract, but just how do consultants apply controls to meet their obligations and reach an effective level of integration for the system? A qualitative analysis of consultant perspectives on coordination controls will serves as the basis of the study. Grounded theory techniques will be applied to surface appropriate controls applied by consultants. Taiwan ERP consultants serve as the interview cases. We expect that the level of knowledge of the tasks and procedures could be a determinant of the choice of control mechanisms adopted by ERP consultants firms.