Application of incomplete linguistic preference relations in predicting the success of ERP implementation

This study applies an analytic hierarchical prediction model based on Multi-Criteria Decision Making with Incomplete Linguistic Preference Relations(InLinPreRa) to help the organizations become aware of the essential factors affecting the Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP), as well as identify the actions necessary before implementing ERP. The subjectivity and vagueness in the prediction procedures are dealt with using linguistic terms quantified in an interval scale [-t, t] . Then predicted success/failure values are obtained to enable organizations to decide whether to initiate ERP, inhibit adoption or take remedial actions to increase the possibility of successful ERP. The empirical results not only demonstrate the senior manager support degree, organizational and coordination are the three most important influential factors in the ERP initiative process, but also reveal the applicability and feasibility of reciprocal Incomplete Linguistic Preference Relation(InLinPreRa) for solving complicated hierarchical multiple attribute prediction problems.