Determinants of Outsourced ERP Implementation Success: Effects of the Task-Technology Fit Theory and Partnership Quality Perspective

Abstract

Many companies are outsourcing some parts of their ERP systems drawing researchers’ attention to investigate how companies successfully outsource their ERP systems. This study integrates factors from task-technology fit theory (i.e., task characteristics, technology characteristics, utilization, and performance impacts) and partnership quality perspective (i.e., skills and knowledge, experience, responsibility, user involvement, and partnership quality) to examine their effects on the success of outsourced ERP system implementation associated with performance outcomes and user satisfaction. This study uses the survey method for data collection and the structural equation modelling (SEM) method for data analysis. The results indicate that task-technology fit (influenced by task interdependence) affects system utilization and performance outcomes which successively influence user satisfaction. Partnership quality (influenced by users’ skills and knowledge, user involvement, and vendor responsibility) affects task-technology fit, system utilization and user satisfaction. The results also show that task-technology fit and partnership quality affect the success of outsourced ERP system implementation. Specially, partnership quality has a greater effect on user satisfaction, while task-technology fit has a greater effect on performance outcomes. This study fills the gap in the system implementation success literature by integrating task-technology fit theory and partnership quality perspective to explain the success of outsourced ERP system implementation. It also provides guidance for client and vendor organizations on what should be done and managed to enhance user performance and satisfaction. The study concludes with the study limitations and the directions for future research.