{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,26]],"date-time":"2026-03-26T14:12:33Z","timestamp":1774534353204,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,24]],"date-time":"2007-04-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1177372800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,24]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on enterprise resource planning (ERP) system adoption by investigating the relationship of enterprise size to the objectives and constraints of ERP adoption.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>In the paper, survey data, based on the responses of 44 companies, are analyzed, by dividing the companies into small, medium\u2010sized, and large enterprises; and comparing these groups, using statistical methods.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper finds significant differences exist between small, medium\u2010sized and large enterprises regarding the objectives and constraints of ERP system adoption. While small enterprises experience more knowledge constraints, large enterprises are challenged by the changes imposed by ERP adoption. Further, large and medium\u2010sized enterprises are more outward\u2010oriented in ERP adoption than small enterprises. Business development, as opposed to mere efficiency improvement, while being the most prevalent objective for ERP adoption in all the company groups, is considered especially important by medium\u2010sized enterprises. Finally, the findings suggest that, instead of considering small and medium\u2010sized enterprises as one homogeneous group of smaller enterprises, differences between these two groups of companies should be acknowledged in information system adoption.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper shows that the Finnish context and the sample size should be taken into consideration when generalizing the findings.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The paper points out the differences in objectives and constraints between companies of different sizes that should be acknowledged in ERP adoption.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Instead of resorting to the customary approach of considering small and medium\u2010sized enterprises as a homogeneous group of smaller enterprises, this study acknowledges the differences between these two groups of companies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/17410390710740763","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,5]],"date-time":"2007-04-05T09:23:28Z","timestamp":1175765008000},"page":"319-334","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":104,"title":["Enterprise size matters: objectives and constraints of ERP adoption"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"20","author":[{"given":"Sanna","family":"Laukkanen","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sami","family":"Sarpola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Petri","family":"Hallikainen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b1","unstructured":"Baker, W.H. (1987), \u201cStatus of information management in small businesses\u201d, Journal of Systems Management, Vol. 38 No. 4, pp. 10\u201015."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ballantine, J., Levy, M. and Powell, P. (1998), \u201cEvaluating information systems in small and medium enterprises\u201d, European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 241\u201051.","DOI":"10.1057\/palgrave.ejis.3000307"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bernroider, E. and Koch, S. (2001), \u201cERP selection process in midsize and large organizations\u201d, Business Process Management Journal, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 251\u20107.","DOI":"10.1108\/14637150110392746"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bilili, S. and Raymond, L. (1993), \u201cInformation technology: threats and opportunities for small and medium\u2010sized enterprises\u201d, International Journal of Information Management, Vol. 13 No. 6, pp. 439\u201048.","DOI":"10.1016\/0268-4012(93)90060-H"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Buonanno, G., Faverio, P., Pigni, F., Ravarini, A., Sciuto, D. and Tagliavini, M. (2005), \u201cFactors affecting ERP system adoption: a comparative analysis between SMEs and large companies\u201d, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 18 No. 4, pp. 384\u2010426.","DOI":"10.1108\/17410390510609572"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chau, P.Y.K. (1994), \u201cSelection of packaged software in small businesses\u201d, European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 292\u2010302.","DOI":"10.1057\/ejis.1994.34"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chau, P.Y.K. (1995), \u201cFactors used in the selection of packaged software in small businesses: views of owners and managers\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 71\u20108.","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-7206(95)00016-P"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cragg, P.B. and King, M. (1993), \u201cSmall\u2010firm computing: motivators and inhibitors\u201d, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 47\u201060.","DOI":"10.2307\/249509"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cragg, P.B. and Zinatelli, N. (1995), \u201cThe evolution of information systems in small firms\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 1\u20108.","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-7206(95)00012-L"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"d'Amboise, G. and Muldowney, M. (1988), \u201cManagement theory for small business: attempts and requirements\u201d, The Academy of Management Review, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 226\u201040.","DOI":"10.5465\/amr.1988.4306873"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b11","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H. (1998), \u201cPutting the enterprise into the enterprise system\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 76 No. 4, pp. 121\u201031."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H. (2000a), \u201cThe future of enterprise system\u2010enabled organizations\u201d, Information Systems Frontiers, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 163\u201080.","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1026591822284"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b13","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H. (2000b), Mission Critical: Realizing the Promise of Enterprise Systems, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Davenport, T.H. and Brooks, J.D. (2004), \u201cEnterprise systems and the supply chain\u201d, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 8\u201019.","DOI":"10.1108\/09576050410510917"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DiMaggio, P.J. and Powell, W.W. (1983), \u201cThe iron cage revisited: institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields\u201d, American Sociological Review, Vol. 48 No. 2, pp. 147\u201060.","DOI":"10.2307\/2095101"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Doukidis, G.I., Lybereas, P. and Galliers, R.D. (1996), \u201cInformation systems planning in small businesses: a stage of growth analysis\u201d, Journal of Systems and Software, Vol. 33 No. 2, pp. 189\u2010201.","DOI":"10.1016\/0164-1212(95)00183-2"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Everdingen, Y., Hillegersberg, J. and Waarts, E. (2000), \u201cERP adoption by European midsize companies\u201d, Communications of the ACM, Vol. 43 No. 4, pp. 27\u201031.","DOI":"10.1145\/332051.332064"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b18","unstructured":"Gable, G. and Stewart, G. (1999), \u201cSAP R\/3 implementation issues for small to medium enterprises\u201d, paper presented at The 5th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Milwaukee, WI."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hasmi, M.S. and Cuddy, J. (1990), \u201cStrategic initiatives for introducing CIM technologies in Irish SMEs\u201d, The 6th CIM\u2010Europe Annual Conference, Springer Verlag, Lisboa.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4471-1786-5_8"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hayman, L. (2000), \u201cERP in the internet economy\u201d, Information Systems Frontiers, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 137\u20109.","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1026595923192"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Iacovou, C.L., Benbasat, I. and Dexter, A.S. (1995), \u201cElectronic data interchange and small organizations, adoption and impact of technology\u201d, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 465\u201085.","DOI":"10.2307\/249629"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Irani, Z., Themistocleous, M. and Loveb, P.E.D. (2003), \u201cThe impact of enterprise application integration on information system lifecycles\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 41 No. 2, pp. 177\u201087.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-7206(03)00046-6"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klaus, H., Rosemann, M. and Gable, G.G. (2000), \u201cWhat is ERP?\u201d, Information Systems Frontiers, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 141\u201062.","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1026543906354"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kremers, M. and Dissel, H. (2000), \u201cERP system migrations \u2013 a provider's versus a customer's perspective\u201d, Communications of the ACM, Vol. 43 No. 4, pp. 53\u20106.","DOI":"10.1145\/332051.332072"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kumar, K. and Hillegersberg, J.V. (2000), \u201cERP experiences and evolution\u201d, Communications of the ACM, Vol. 43 No. 4, pp. 23\u20106.","DOI":"10.1145\/332051.332063"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Larsen, M.A. and Myers, M.D. (1999), \u201cWhen success turns into failure: a package\u2010driven business process re\u2010engineering project in the financial services industry\u201d, The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 395\u2010417.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0963-8687(00)00025-1"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Levy, M. and Powell, P. (1998), \u201cSME flexibility and the role of information systems\u201d, Small Business Economics, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 183\u201096.","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1007912714741"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Levy, M., Powell, P. and Galliers, R. (1999), \u201cAssessing information systems strategy development frameworks in SMEs\u201d, Information and Management, Vol. 36 No. 5, pp. 247\u201061.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-7206(99)00020-8"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b29","unstructured":"Mabert, V.A., Ashok, S. and Venkataramanan, M.A. (2000), \u201cEnterprise resource planning survey of US manufacturing firms\u201d, Production and Inventory Management Journal, Vol. 41 No. 2, pp. 52\u20108."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b30","unstructured":"Malone, S.C. (1985), \u201cComputerizing small business information systems\u201d, Journal of Small Business Management, Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 10\u201016."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b31","unstructured":"Markus, M.L., Petrie, D. and Axline, S. (2000), \u201cBucking the trends: what future may hold for ERP packages\u201d, Information Systems Frontiers, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 181\u201093."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b32","unstructured":"Martin, M.H. (1998), \u201cAn ERP strategy\u201d, Fortune, Vol. 137, February 2, pp. 149\u201051."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mitev, N.N. and Marsh, A.E. (1998), \u201cSmall businesses and information technology: risk, planning and change\u201d, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 228\u201045.","DOI":"10.1108\/EUM0000000006784"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Proudlock, M.J., Phelps, B. and Gamble, P.R. (1998), \u201cIS decision\u2010making: a study in information\u2010intensive firms\u201d, Journal of Information Technology, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 55\u201066.","DOI":"10.1177\/026839629801300104"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Proudlock, M.J., Phelps, B. and Gamble, P. (1999), \u201cIT adoption strategies: best practice guidelines for professional SMEs\u201d, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 240\u201052.","DOI":"10.1108\/EUM0000000006678"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b36","unstructured":"Schneider, P. (2000), \u201cAnother trip to hell\u201d, CIO Magazine, February 15."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b37","unstructured":"Scott, J.E. (1999), \u201cThe FoxMeyer Drugs bankruptcy: was it a failure of ERP?\u201d, paper presented at The 5th Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Milwaukee, WI."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b38","unstructured":"Shang, S. and Seddon, P.B. (2000), \u201cA comprehensive framework for classifying the benefits of ERP systems\u201d, paper presented at The 6th America's Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), Milwaukee, WI."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stefansson, G. (2002), \u201cBusiness\u2010to\u2010business data sharing: a source for integration of supply chain\u201d, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 75 Nos 1\u20102, pp. 135\u201046.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0925-5273(01)00187-6"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b40","unstructured":"Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1990), Basics of Qualitative Research, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thong, J.Y.L. (2001), \u201cResource constraints and information systems implementation in Singaporean small business\u201d, Omega, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 143\u201056.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0305-0483(00)00035-9"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thong, J.Y.L., Yap, C.S. and Raman, K.S. (1996), \u201cTop management support, external expertise and information systems implementation in small business\u201d, Information Systems Research, pp. 248\u201067.","DOI":"10.1287\/isre.7.2.248"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tingling, P. and Parent, M. (2002), \u201cMimetic isomorphism and technology evaluation: does imitation transcend judgment?\u201d, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, Vol. 3 No. 5, pp. 113\u201043.","DOI":"10.17705\/1jais.00025"},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b44","unstructured":"Trunick, P.A. (1999), \u201cERP: promise or pipe dream?\u201d, Transportation and Distribution, Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 23\u20106."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b45","unstructured":"Welsh, J.A. and White, J.F. (1981), \u201cA amall business is not a little big business\u201d, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 59 No. 4, pp. 18\u201032."},{"key":"key2022031020300505300_b46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yusuf, Y., Gunasekaran, A. and Abthorpe, M.S. (2004), \u201cEnterprise information systems project implementation: a case study of ERP in Rolls\u2010Royce\u201d, International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 87 No. 3, pp. 251\u201066.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2003.10.004"}],"container-title":["Journal of Enterprise Information Management"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/17410390710740763","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/17410390710740763\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/17410390710740763\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,25]],"date-time":"2025-07-25T00:19:08Z","timestamp":1753402748000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/jeim\/article\/20\/3\/319-334\/226914"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,24]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,24]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/17410390710740763"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/17410390710740763","relation":{},"ISSN":["1741-0398"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1741-0398","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,4,24]]}}}