This study tests a theoretical model developed to investigate the impact of assimilation of commercial open source enterprise resource planning software (COSES) in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, the model explains how the top management team’s (TMT’s) information technology (IT) knowledge and experience impact both assimilation and firm performance. The hypotheses were tested using survey data from SMEs that have implemented COSES. Results from structural equation modeling suggest that SMEs benefit, through higher levels of assimilation and performance, from adopting innovative enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems such as COSES when they have a TMT that has experience with and is knowledgeable about technology. The study also highlights the importance of the TMT in facilitating IT assimilation.

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Open Source ERP is considered as a viable alternative of proprietary ERP paradigm. Open Source ERP is getting more and more acceptance among Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) recently. Majority of Proprietary ERP vendors are changing their strategy nowadays and extend their focus on SMEs, even though SMEs are not that interested in Proprietary ERP systems. The factors that may motivate SMEs to select an Open Source ERP over proprietary ERP are not identified empirically in previous researches. Few researches raised the issue of cost and thus proposed that Open Source ERP is appropriate for SMEs. The other factors than cost involved in the selection process are yet to investigate empirically.</p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The overall purpose of this thesis work is to contribute in knowledge domain of Open Source ERP. Open Source ERP is an emergent area but it has the potential to attract many organizations to implement this kind of ERP Systems. The issue under investigation throughout this research will be the selection process of Open Source ERP in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The focus will be to identify mutually most important factors, from the perspective of SMEs and Suppliers that may motivate the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to select OS ERP.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> Data obtained from the respondents is quantified in the research. Information gathered from the SMEs who have implemented Open Source ERP and from the Suppliers through web based survey. Two separate questionnaires comprised of various questions related to different factors in selecting of Open Source ERP solutions were made and sent to both SMEs and Suppliers of Open Source ERP. Opinion from an Open Source ERP expert is obtained regarding different factors motivate SMEs to select Open Source ERP. The results obtained from respondents through empirical findings were analyzed thereafter.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> SMEs were investigated regarding the importance of various rationales when they were selecting Open Source ERP solutions. The degree of importance of various factors in selection process might be diverse from organization to organization. It might be dependent on the size, geographical location of the organization or many other issues. Despite all this, there might be some common factors that may be always considered as foremost factors which influence SMEs to select an Open Source ERP over proprietary ERP.</p>

Introduction: Open Source ERP is considered as a viable alternative of proprietary ERP paradigm. Open Source ERP is getting more and more acceptance among Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) recently. Majority of Proprietary ERP vendors are changing their strategy nowadays and extend their focus on SMEs, even though SMEs are not that interested in Proprietary ERP systems. The factors that may motivate SMEs to select an Open Source ERP over proprietary ERP are not identified empirically in previous researches. Few researches raised the issue of cost and thus proposed that Open Source ERP is appropriate for SMEs. The other factors than cost involved in the selection process are yet to investigate empirically. Purpose: The overall purpose of this thesis work is to contribute in knowledge domain of Open Source ERP. Open Source ERP is an emergent area but it has the potential to attract many organizations to implement this kind of ERP Systems. The issue under investigation throughout this research will be the selection process of Open Source ERP in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). The focus will be to identify mutually most important factors, from the perspective of SMEs and Suppliers that may motivate the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to select OS ERP. Method: Data obtained from the respondents is quantified in the research. Information gathered from the SMEs who have implemented Open Source ERP and from the Suppliers through web based survey. Two separate questionnaires comprised of various questions related to different factors in selecting of Open Source ERP solutions were made and sent to both SMEs and Suppliers of Open Source ERP. Opinion from an Open Source ERP expert is obtained regarding different factors motivate SMEs to select Open Source ERP. The results obtained from respondents through empirical findings were analyzed thereafter. Conclusions: SMEs were investigated regarding the importance of various rationales when they were selecting Open Source ERP solutions. The degree of importance of various factors in selection process might be diverse from organization to organization. It might be dependent on the size, geographical location of the organization or many other issues. Despite all this, there might be some common factors that may be always considered as foremost factors which influence SMEs to select an Open Source ERP over proprietary ERP.

Inserted in a highly competitive market scenario, the micro and small enterprises are facing difficulties in competing with large and medium-sized organizations, offering a higher level of resources and supply information about your business. The controls on monthly revenues, production costs, overhead, taxes, payroll, interest paid among others, support the decision-making process, making this essential information in the management of an organization. But in the reality of small businesses, these data are not always clear and available in real time. In this sense, information systems help companies in the information management and can represent a competitive advantage for organizations that adopt them. The research is classified as action research with qualitative approach exploratory, with the procedure a case study. The objective is to implement a free ERP system in a small business with a focus on improving production performance indicators. We sought to determine whether the implanted system helped in improving the performance indicators, checking them before and after implementation. A free ERP was chosen, seeking to reduce the cost of buying and maintaining software, and does not use paid consultants for implementation, since the process was carried out by company employees. It was concluded that the implementation of ERP has brought progress to the company because there have been improvements in the performance indicators of production after accession to the software. The implementation of a free ERP system promoted a bolder management in a small enterprise, opening the potential for improving the results of this company. / Inseridas em um cenário mercadológico altamente competitivo, as micro e pequenas empresas defrontam-se com dificuldades em concorrer com organizações de médio e grande porte, que dispõe de um maior nível de recursos e suprimento de informações sobre o seu negócio. Os controles sobre faturamento mensal, custos de produção, despesas gerais, impostos, folha de pagamento, juros pagos entre outros, dão suporte ao processo decisório, tornando estas informações essenciais na administração de uma organização. Porém, na realidade das empresas de pequeno porte, nem sempre estes dados estão claros e disponíveis em tempo real. Neste sentido, sistemas de informação auxiliam as empresas na gestão de informações e podem representar um diferencial competitivo para as organizações que os adotam. A pesquisa classifica-se como pesquisa-ação, com abordagem qualitativa de caráter exploratório, tendo como procedimento um estudo de caso. O objetivo do estudo é implantar um sistema de ERP gratuito em uma empresa de pequeno porte com foco na melhoria de indicadores de desempenho da produção. Buscou-se averiguar se o sistema implantado auxiliou na melhoria dos indicadores de desempenho, verificando-os antes e depois da implementação. Foi escolhido um ERP gratuito, procurando-se reduzir dos custos com a aquisição e manutenção de software, além de não utilizar consultorias pagas para a implantação, pois o processo foi realizado pelos colaboradores da empresa. Concluiu-se que a implantação do ERP trouxe progressos à empresa, pois houve melhorias nos indicadores de desempenho da produção após à adesão ao software. A implantação de um sistema ERP gratuito promoveu uma gestão mais arrojada em um pequeno empreendimento, abrindo a possibilidade de melhoria dos resultados desta empresa.