The effects of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) implementation on job characteristics: A study using the Hackman and Oldham job characteristics model

Many organizations have implemented Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to replace their legacy systems. ERP implementation changes the roles, responsibilities, and job characteristics of organizational participants. This study will examine two issues, firstly, to what extent does enterprise resource planning implementation lead to work redesign and secondly, what is the impact of ERP initiated work redesign on employee job satisfaction. The Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), a core group operating under the Treasury Board of Canada chose SAP R/3 software as the enterprise system to be implemented in Canadian Government organizations. Nine government organizations located in the Ottawa-Carleton area that have implemented the SAP R/3 enterprise resource system made up the sample frame for this research. The Job Characteristic model proposed by Hackman and Oldham was used to analyze the work redesign. The research found that ERP implementation brought significant structural and cultural changes to these organizations.