Enterprise Systems for Management

Book Preface

Enterprise Systems includes enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM), customer resource management (CRM), and other enterprise-level systems that are critical to all dynamic, globally aware companies. ERPS are important factors in the success of corporations today. With a diversified global market, technology is utilized to overcome distance, language, and culture. Today’s information systems have permeated well beyond the traditional functional applications, and even the more technologically current client-server applications, to mission-focused enterprise systems.

This first edition of this book describes the components of an ERP system and provides an introduction into the process of implementing a successful system in today’s organizations. B ecause ERP systems are complex, they often require a large investment of money and time. An ERP implementation impacts a large n umber of people, both inside and outside the organization. It also requires both carefully crafted business needs and a comprehensive change management strategy. Enterprise systems extend from the back-end supply chain operations to front-end customer-facing services that extend beyond the boundaries of the enterprise. As such, the implementation process is increasingly expensive, intense, and prone to failure than were traditional information system implementations.

Organizations considering an investment in enterprise systems should be educated on enterprise systems components and architecture, as well as both their short- and long-term impacts on the organizational business processes. Management needs to be prepared to address the technology issues of enterprise systems and, more importantly, the business processes, corporate policies, change management, and people expectations. The goal of this book is to educate students on these issues and on the value that enterprise systems add to today’s companies. Students will learn how enterprise systems can remove structural and functional barriers to make organizations more cross-functional and productive. Students will also learn about the enterprise system’s technology and implementation life cycle, and develop an understanding of the impact on processes and people in an organization. This book places major importance on the strategic role of ERP systems in providing a platform for improved business operations and productivity.