Technology's role : Personified ERP system as a social actor influencing IS resistance

Abstract

This novel enterprise systems research conceptualizes the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system as a social actor. A personified ERP system is described and hypothesized as an element in the user's transactive memory system (TMS). Characteristics of this personified ERP are identified from prior research. This experimental study addresses influences on IS Resistance using a new measure of Task Interdependence on ERP, modeled on the measure of Task Interdependence on others (Sharma & Yetton, 2007). Specifically, effects of the new measure of Task Interdependence on the ERP system, Task Interdependence on team mates and Perceived Technological Complexity and their impact on IS resistance are evaluated. IS Resistance is best explained by a three-way interaction. Across all conditions, individuals with the highest task inter-dependence on teammates were generally found to have lower IS resistance. The lowest IS Resistance was found when all three independent variables are at their highest levels.