A Framework for ERP Evaluation and Selection using MACBETH Technique

Purchasing an inappropriate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system may prove to be a major reason for its implementation failure. Recently, given the cost of the investment required to acquire, implement and operate an ERP system, the interest expressed by academics and practitioners concerning the selection of measures and evaluation techniques of enterprise systems is highly justifiable. Accordingly, system selection process is an important step in ERP adoption. This paper intends to elaborate a comprehensive framework for ERP selection and evaluation. It serves a threefold objective. First, it proposes a structured methodology in which strategic, functional, technical and managerial goals are considered in the selection decision. Second, it suggests a classification of the main criteria mentioned in the literature under four categories. Third, it presents an application of the Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH) that allows the quantification of criteria’s weights, the construction of utility functions related to each criterion and the evaluation of the candidate ERP solutions.