A research model to improve understanding of the extent of usage of enterprise resource planning systems in a university

Abstract

This study reports on the development of a model for the improvement of understanding the extent of Enterprise Resource Planning system usage at the Durban University of Technology. Previous research revealed that university ERP systems are not fully utilized by end-users, resulting in low usage and institutional inefficiencies. Consequently this leads to stakeholders (particularly students and government) pressurizing universities to improve their efficiency and performance. To address the problem, this study developed a research model by adapting the TAM2 theoretical model with additional IT usage factors of training, management support, perceived behavioural control and technical support. A dataset of 312 full time academics was generated by a survey method. Partial Least Square (PLS) technique was used to determine the predictive power of the developed research model which was then compared to other adoption and usage models to determine its superiority. The model was empirically tested and the findings demonstrated an improvement on the model predictive power as a result of the additional IT usage factors and the interaction effect of gender, age and experience. The predictive power comparison shows that the research model better explained 23% of the variability in ERP system usage compared to the original TAM2 model of 3.6% and the original TPB model of 5.2%. With the exception of management support, the additional IT usage factors of training, technical support and perceived behavioural control were found to have a significant relationship with ERP system usage. The test of gender, experience and age interaction effect revealed that gender and experience moderated the relationship between the independent factors of technical support and management support on the dependent factor of ERP system usage. In addition gender moderated the effect of perceived behavioural control on ERP system usage but not the effect of training which was however moderated by experience. Age did not moderate the relationship between the additional IT usage factors and ERP system usage. Consequently, the Durban University of Technology will have to address these additional IT usage factors and gender and experience interaction effect more precisely in its attempt to improve ERP system usage.