We are proud to announce that we have added a new resource to our catalog: Enterprise Resource Planning. This resource 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 this field lend themselves to a high-quality tour of this subject.
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. 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.
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? Logistics and warehouse managers would be left scrambling. Businesses today face problems up and down their supply chains, but with the help of consolidated and collaborative information, businesses can more quickly identify and resolve internal and external issues to maintain the level of quality and convenience consumers have come to expect.
Functioning as a comprehensive introduction to information management and ERP systems, Enterprise Resource Planning provides an overview of how ERP systems currently (1) manage internal resources, (2) manage inbound and outbound operation processes, and (3) 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.
Students will study the following 11 topics:
- Information—The Great Enabler
- Integrated Decision-Making
- Human Resources
- Finance and Accounting
- Supplier Management
- Operations and Manufacturing
- Transportation and Warehouse Management
- Customer Management
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Using ERP Outputs to Enable Data Analytics
- Security
This resource, complete with high-quality instructor materials and assessment questions, is perfect for instructors wanting to provide their students with the most up-to-date information on ERP systems and the supply chain and operations environment in 2022. Give your students the best-quality education in ERP and data-driven decision-making for a thriving career!
