Resource Update

An Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning

By
Aspen Moore
 |

Our highly successful resource, Enterprise Resource Planning, provides an introduction to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems—and a detailed overview of modernized ERP software and interfaces from an industry leader—which makes it a valuable tool for both instructors and students.

Enterprise Resource Planning integrates concepts and definitions with real-world scenarios and demonstrations to craft a picture of current information strategies for businesses in the Information Age. Operations management and IT experts Paula Yen Loubane, Eric Ice-Gipson, Stanley E. Fawcett, and Joel Erickson collaborated on this resource, and their varied specializations within the field lend it a high-quality tour of the subject.

Preparing Students for an Information-Rich World

Understanding Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

We live in a highly connected and information-rich world. What this means for businesses today is that the amount of information they need to analyze and manage is bigger than ever. ERP systems are invaluable to businesses because they integrate a business’s essential departments and provide a central location from which any information can be accessed or shared company-wide.

Decision-Making Power

More information equals better decision-making, and companies that take advantage of the information available to us today—and manage that information well—are more likely to succeed.

Learning from the Past

A good way to understand why ERP systems are valuable tools for businesses is to understand how businesses made decisions in the past. Logistics managers gathered information about logistics and then made decisions regarding logistics. Supplier managers and warehouse managers did the same. So what happened when a natural disaster affected a business’s supply of a necessary product? In these cases, logistics and warehouse managers would be left scrambling.

Businesses today face problems up and down their supply chains, but with consolidated, collaborative information, they can more quickly identify and resolve internal and external issues to maintain the level of quality and convenience consumers have come to expect.

Enterprise Resource Planning, An Overview of Information Management and ERP Systems

Functioning as a comprehensive introduction to information management and ERP systems, Enterprise Resource Planning provides an overview of the following:

  1. How ERP systems currently manage internal resources
  2. How ERP systems currently manage inbound and outbound operation processes
  3. How ERP systems currently help businesses make data-driven decisions

The authors also comment on emerging technology trends in each of these areas and the growing necessity for businesses to use ERP systems to keep up. Screenshots from SAP Fiori, an ERP system created by SAP, a leader in enterprise application software, are utilized to demonstrate the full capabilities of ERP systems without getting into the weeds.

Eleven Topics of Study

  1. Information—The Great Enabler
  2. Integrated Decision-Making
  3. Human Resources
  4. Finance and Accounting
  5. Supplier Management
  6. Operations and Manufacturing
  7. Transportation and Warehouse Management
  8. Customer Management
  9. Data-Driven Decision-Making
  10. Using ERP Outputs to Enable Data Analytics
  11. Security

This resource is complete with high-quality instructor materials and assessment questions! It is perfect for instructors, giving their students the most up-to-date information on ERP systems, the supply chain, and the operations environment. Give your students the best-quality education in ERP and data-driven decision-making for a thriving career!