Upgrading to a New Version of an ERP System: A Multilevel Analysis of Influencing Factors in a Software Ecosystem

This paper presents research findings about the process of upgrading from an old to a new version of a pre-packaged enterprise system in a software ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) and value added resellers (VARs). Empirical data was collected from documents, observations and interviews with practitioners. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data. The resulting theory illustrates the upgrade decision process from the perspective of ISVs and VARs respectively and from the perspective of the software ecosystem as a whole. The findings suggest that the interdependence of the actors in the ecosystem may cause inertia in the diffusion of new versions.