Exploring the Influence of the Use of an ERP System on Strategy Development in German and Polish Manufacturing Enterprises: An Empirical Investigation

This article aims to explore the effects of the use of an ERP system in a manufacturing company on strategy development as described by defined factors. The work is based on a survey and data obtained from 62 Polish manufacturing enterprises from the Lubuskie region, and from 23 German manufacturing enterprises from the Brandenburg region, in which the companies were categorised as either “construction” or “automotive” – a total of 85 manufacturing enterprises. Special attention was placed on the description of understanding the usage of an ERP system within a company. Nevertheless, relatively little information has been published that focuses on the post-implementation stages of ERP usage in a manufacturing company. In particular, this study pays attention to the likely consequences and results of the use of defined functionalities of an ERP system by employees. This is followed by a discussion of the results of the empirical studies and of key supporting literature. The summary indicates potential directions for further work.