The effect of enterprise resource planning (ERP) on implication of competitive intelligence (CI) in SMEs

In recent years entrance of "resources planning organization" (ERP) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been considered by Iranian companies. The growing need for this tool and challenges in the course of implementation, make necessary study, identify and evaluate managerial aspects of these systems. Also the competitive intelligence as one of modern management concepts accelerates the exchange of information and knowledge in the organization and improve effectiveness of strategic thinking and decision making systems. This study investigates the relationship between the benefits of enterprise resource planning systems with competitive intelligence and decision making support activities in the field of small and medium sized businesses. Agents of Moallem Insurance Company in Tehran were chosen as case studies, and with using statistical analysis, the hypothesis of existence and extent of the relationship between the components of ERP benefits and competitive intelligence were reviewed and approved. The results of this study have provided some scales to the model of effect of ERP benefits and CI capacities.