A systemic framework for Enterprise Resource Planning systems: A bibliometric networking analysis

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been considered by numerous organizations as a key part of their strategy to support the optimization of their processes and enhancement of their business performance. However, managing business processes through ERP systems and their integration with other systems and data sources is complicated. Part of this difficulty comes from the lack that managers, executives, and implementers have of an integrated and holistic view of ERP systems. This article presents a systemic framework for ERP systems based on many publications as a data sources. It derives from a bibliometric network analysis previously made based on a systematic literature review on ERP major concerns. The methodology used to do the systematic literature review was PRISMA 2020, and the software used to do the bibliometric networking analysis was VOSViewer. The bibliometric analysis was based on the network built based on the previous systematic review and on the clusters that emerged from it. Fifty-nine terms with the highest occurrence were chosen to support six clusters that were found. The data obtained from the bibliometric map, specifically the meaning of each identified cluster, was analysed. These clusters were used as the pillars of the systemic framework proposal. The clusters were used as core areas of the ERP systems field, respectively: (1) infrastructure & technology, (2) leadership & people, (3) processes & performance, (4) implementation & adoption, (5) supplier & implementer, and (6) enterprise & application architecture. The six different clusters and their main relationships were analysed and discussed.