Users' Perceptions on the Effectiveness of Enterprise Resource Planning System in Enhancing the Performance of Accounting Information Systems of Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

The study employed a survey research design and a multinomial ordinal logistic regression analysis to establish users’ perception on the effectiveness of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system in enhancing the performance of the accounting information system (AIS) through reliability, accuracy and timeliness of information generated. The target population comprised of 56 employees drawn from the selected seven public universities which had implemented ERP systems for at least three years. Census survey was used to collect the data from heads of eight department targeted by the study. A Likert-type self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the target respondents. The study findings revealed that ERP implementation generated positive and significant effects on the performance of the AIS through enhanced accuracy and timeliness of information generated at 5 percent significance level. While the ERP system was found to have a positive effect on reliability of information generated the effect was not found to be statistically significant. The study thus concludes that implementation of an ERP system is an opportunity for public universities to implement improved controls and security of data which enhances accuracy and timeliness of information hence performance of accounting information. Future studies may be conducted on the level of ERP adoption in different departments in public universities since this has a bearing on the timeliness, accuracy and reliability of Accounting Information generated by the ERP.