Successful ERP Systems: A Guide for Businesses and Executives

This book brings a unique combination of years of experience in academics research and studies in regards to "ERP systems" with years of experience from a practitioner's perspective. Each year billions of dollars are spend by organizations to implement, manage, and maintain ERP systems. A simple browse through the Internet will demonstrate how challenging ERP implementations can be. Success rates are seen as quite low with time, costs, and effort typically being above planned and often significantly. Law firms make a living from ERP's gone badly. Academia is investing more and more time and research into developing success models that not only attempt to objectively determine ERP success or failure but also attempt to be a proactive in that effort. But why? If ERP systems (and all their inherent functionality) can bring a true ROI to business, why are they so challenging? Why do they often deliver as advertised? And, why are they often seen as failing?

Jack Gerald Nestell III is a board member, CIO, executive director of IT, vice president of IT, IT security officer, IT business advisor and consultant, and ERP speaker. He has 27 years ERP implementation and integration experience across many industries and is an expert in ERP and IT merger and acquisition due diligence. Multiple private equity firms have recruited Jack as CIO to drive ERP optimization in portfolio companies. He is also skilled in developing strategic, scalable, and lean information technology teams, procedures, and technology that position companies for future growth and success. Mr. Nestell is currently a doctorate student at the University of Southern California where he is studying models for successful ERP implementations.

David Louis Olson is the James & H.K. Stuart Professor Chancellor's distinguished chair at the University of Nebraska since 2001.