Enterprise resource planning systems and implementation experiences for selected public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Implementation of enterprise systems has found widespread usage in large and mid-sized institutions
worldwide. As espoused by many scholars, there has been a rapid increase in implementation of these
systems in management and administration of institutions of higher learning. In view of this, universities
have taken up deployment of enterprise systems to replace existing management and administration
using computer systems, but there is low uptake on the implementation of enterprise resource planning
systems. To realize this end, a study was carried out on evaluation of implemented integrated enterprise
resource planning systems in selected public universities in Kenya. The study sought to investigate
implementation of enterprise resource planning systems in public university, analysis of existing
opportunities through use of these integrated information technology systems in management and
challenges to ease of use of these systems in administration and management of public universities have
been reviewed and recommendations drawn on probable ways of utilizing the enterprise systems. The
study adopted the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Information Systems Success Model. The
findings of the study showed that most of the implementation projects had been abandoned or stalled
altogether. Challenges associated with institutional connectivity and limited skilled expertise to drive
the implementation processes were highlighted as leading influencers of implementation processes in
respective public universities. The study recommends increased investments towards improvement in
institutional connectivity, blending of internal and external skilled expertise to drive implementation
initiatives and regular contribution of implementation experiences in internal and external seminars
for future studies and contribution to the body of knowledge.