Challenges in ERP Adoption in Small-to-Mid-Sized Educational Organizations in Bangladesh: A Case Study of GlobalED

Abstract

This internship report examines the challenges of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoption in small-to-mid-sized educational organizations in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on the case study of GlobalED, a Dhaka-based education service provider. ERP systems promise efficiency, integration, and streamlined operations, yet their successful implementation often encounters significant obstacles in resource-constrained and evolving educational environments. The study highlights how GlobalED attempted to adopt an ERP solution to manage its administrative, academic, and financial processes. The findings reveal that although the organization recognized the potential benefits of ERP—such as reducing manual workload, minimizing data redundancy, and improving decision-making—its journey was hindered by a series of technological, organizational, and external challenges. The report also emphasizes broader implications for similar institutions across Bangladesh and South Asia. It suggests that ERP adoption is not only a matter of technology, but also of strategic planning, cultural readiness, and stakeholder involvement. Best practices such as phased rollouts, automated workflows for fee reminders and data validation, and stronger project management frameworks could help institutions overcome barriers. This case study contributes to the understanding of ERP adoption in resource-constrained educational organizations, offering both theoretical insights and practical recommendations. It is expected that the lessons drawn from GlobalED’s experience will assist policymakers, educational administrators, and ERP vendors in designing more sustainable and context sensitive ERP strategies for the Bangladeshi education sector.