The Little Geeni

Historically, ERP software solutions and ERP vendors were targeted at very large Fortune 500 companies. The “Little Guys” or SMBs, small and medium sized businesses, were left out in the cold not able to afford the complex and costly enterprise solutions of the early years. However, Software as a Service, or SaaS ERP vendors, and ERP modules are developing enterprise applications for smaller businesses (the “little guys”) and are growing dramatically in popularity. Key benefits of SaaS ERP software is its affordable price, user friendliness and fast implementation and deployment. These critical benefits, in tandem with the typical long list of benefits that ERP software applications deliver with respect to efficiency and optimization, are making SaaS ERP modules and full enterprise applications incredibly popular with businesses of all walks of life world wide as these companies battle with each other to compete in today’s tough business climate.

SMBs and midsized business have to be flexible and while adhering to growing regulatory constraints, competition pressures and internal growth initiatives associated with growing an organization. Growing companies are faced with multiple challenges that SaaS ERP vendors can be instrumental in resolving such as meeting corporate strategic goals dealing with expansion, new locations, new markets, economic downturn recovery, optimizing supply chain, financial targets, and enhanced customer support and service.

Each one of these operational activities and business processes are a significant initiatives in their own right selves, and an ERP solution that can deliver positive results in all of these areas cost effectively is critical to the success of any organization. SaaS ERP vendors provide a cost effective enterprise application to deliver these benefits. SaaS ERP applications are installed faster and integrated into the workforce more quickly than traditional on-premise applications. And the web based delivery system allows companies to try the solution before they buy to ensure that the SaaS ERP app will meet expectations.

SaaS ERP modules and other web based applications don’t require the upfront capital investments required by on-premise ERP software solutions. The pay as you go business model is quite appealing and affordable to even the smallest companies but accommodates for room to grow as the “little guys” start down the path of becoming “big guys”.

Going beyond the affordability, SaaS applications deliver the latest technologies and upgrades in real time fashion which is a key benefit of web based applications. The ongoing learning, refinements and product innovations are incorporated into the application for all subscribers of every organization to share. A major negative for on-premise ERP systems and ERP vendors is that a large percentage of companies do not have the most current version of the ERP software installed. Not utilizing all the latest features available of an on-premise ERP software solutions is one of the top cause of companies not achieving a return on their ERP software investment.

For organization looking at upgrading or implementing an ERP software application, SaaS ERP vendors should be considered, particularly for small and mid sized companies, Organizations installing SaaS ERP software applications are finding that compared to on-premise ERP software alternatives, web based ERP applications in conclusion have; significantly lower capital and operating cost requirements, faster ERP implementation timelines, easier to use apps, improved employee usage and service support from the vendor and lastly faster deployment.

ERP Businesses, Increase, Sales, Small, Software, Ways

 

ERP software training holds the key

It was discussed earlier how an ERP implementation could turn success or failure depend upon the user. There are different views expressed by Indian users towards ERP, but mostly it is based on organizational culture. The word ‘culture’ is used here to connote the average IT acquaintance of the overall users. In India, normally four different cultural transformations prevailed during ERP implementation.

1) From no system to ERP system; 2) From manual system to ERP system; 3) From computerized system to ERP system; 4) From ERP system to ERP system

In the normal circumstances at least two scenarios do exist in most of the Indian companies and sometimes all the four types exist in one organization itself. As the characteristics of the users differ in all the four cases the situation must be managed accordingly.

An assessment of ERP by the users is that ERP is a ‘job killer’; hence attempts are made to kill ERP first. Most of the users of this school of thought found successful in their mission but unsuccessful in retaining their job. ERP has nothing to do with the downsizing of employment, but it may possibility recommend redeployment of people in appropriate areas. We have to agree on certain issues like so many years the organization had built a mentality of not owning responsibility in the employees, which immediately cannot be changed within a year or so.

ERP expects boundary-less flat organization structure where every employee is a decision maker and not a mere follower. Secondly, the decision-making must be scientific than based on ‘gut feel’. Thirdly, ERP assumes that the user has an in-depth knowledge of the process he is associated with. He has to work in a team as a key resource element. The objective of the user is to pass maximum value to the customer than to create his own convenience. The user must be analytical in his thinking and be able to use information generated through data iterations for more effective and informed decisions.

ERP training part is the other important factor where eresource ERP played successfully.

The solution provider must pay attention while providing training to the user in the right manner. To become a good user, one has to get trained and trained well, and later self trained. But what is the disappointing factor is, unlike eresource ERP, most of the ERP training in India is more of software training rather than going deeply into the functionality and technicality of the ERP system. Normally the user is shown various screens of the ERP system and taught how to enter what he was doing previously.

Actually the trainer must explain to the user why he should enter there, what are the repercussions of his entries in other modules, how to use the best out of multiple settings, why a particular setting is made like that, etc. In fact, the reality that every entry is the financial entry and ultimately gets posted into General Ledger and posted in turn into Profit & Loss Account or Balance Sheet is never realized by the user during training or even after implementation. This feel of responsibility is extremely essential for the user to become a mature ERP user.

To enhance the interest of users Indian companies must make a point of user training, focusing on ERP functionalities and not merely on tools for ERP. Ideally, the training programme should be designed to cater to individual needs and hence carefully planned.

Secondly, the empowerment has to be planned slowly but positively over a period. This should include removing ridiculous and conflicting targets, thus helping the users to participate in making ERP a success.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO:-http://www.eresourceerp.com/ERP-software-training-holds-key.html

ERP India, Software, TRANING

ERP 2.0 is Helping ERP Program Initiatives Get the Spotlight

Just as Web 2.0 has been getting a lot of buzz over the past few years, ERP 2.0 is also getting its share of the spotlight particularly with ERP programs and ERP companies offering the latest enterprise systems technologies. For many IT managers responsible for ERP management and their company’s ERP program, ERP 2.0 is being described by some as being a much more advanced ERP solution while others claim that it’s just an add-on to current ERP software.

The features of ERP 2.0 are in large a revamp of ERP program applications and systems to talk to the latest technologies and delivery channels on the market (ie. wireless and web based). Keep in mind that ERP companies and ERP applications were discovered and created for the most part in the 1980s and the 1990s. These earlier systems were not easy to use nor did they have seamless connectivity with IT systems and technologies available even back then. Compounded by the fact that advancements in technology over the last years have excelled at exponential proportions, the gap to connect ERP systems with current IT, wireless, mobile, social networks, internet and computers has widened.

With the pace of the first wave of ERP solutions ignited by the Y2K frenzy, new ERP innovations seemed to stabilize somewhat entering 2000. However, 2000 was just the beginning of the intense developments in wireless mobility, internet development and hardware innovations such as the iPod and more. ERP 2.0 are enterprise solutions focused on filling this gap and making ERP solutions current with today’s technologies.

ERP 2.0 solutions are more nimble and modular than its large and bulky predecessors. ERP solutions have had a tendency to be built and the companies tended to form their operations and organizations around the ERP solution. Enterprise solutions did not vary among the different industries. ERP 2.0 solutions are industry specific with a full array of features and components.

A key to the flexibility of ERP 2.0 solutions is that they are more modular in design that allow customers to focus on components that are aligned with their specific business as well as allow for even more customization and compatibility. The innovations in ASP (application service providers), SOD (software on demand), and now SaaS (software as a service) gaining massive market share in the last few years are getting users accustomed to easy deployment and virtually zero implementation standards.

ERP 2.0 solutions are focusing on features and current technologies to help companies get up and running at unprecedented speeds and on features and solutions that help companies maximize their resources and ERP management capabilities. The new wave of solutions are enabling companies from all walks of life to focus their human and capital resources increasing sales and profits rather than spending their shrinking budgets on implementing, training, and maintaining their ERP program initiatives and software.

ERP Program

Enterprise resource planning, or ERP software solutions and ERP vendors have been around for over forty years. The landscape of enterprise applications has steadily improved throughout the last 4 decades particularly in the mid 1990′s when the YTK, year 2000 scare was starting to take hold.

At this time ERP vendors gained the spotlight as companies started scrambling to ward off potential data and information meltdowns as the new millennium with its triple zeroes wreaked havoc on databases and records ill equipped to handle the numerical roll over. Times were extremely good for enterprise systems and the industry in general. ERP software sales, ERP consulting and implementation projects reached an all time high during this five year period.

Fortunately, the database sky did not fall when the new year rolled over to 2000 and businesses pretty much continued the dotcom bubble ride through the first quarter of the new millennium. The dotcom bubble burst in the second half of 2000 along with the YTK panic subsiding caused the ERP software industry, and most all tech industries for that matter, to take a breather. Over the next 5 years, ERP systems and ERP software lost its sizzle as technology hype began to focus on mobile applications and social network technologies.

However, since 1995, an ERP 2.0 has been emerging that can be compared with the introduction of Model T Fords to the automotive industry. The automobile revolution started not with the invention of the automobile which were a luxury item made available to only the mega wealthy but rather with the introduction of an automobile that could be enjoyed by the masses, the Model T Ford.

The same analogy can be applied to ERP software solutions and ERP modules. Historically, ERP vendors developed applications for the heavy hitting Fortune 100 manufacturing corporations with a price tag to match. The benefits achieved with ERP systems gave large organizations even more of a competitive advantage over smaller companies within the same industry as information and business processes were better streamlined to maximize resources and profitability. Very few companies could afford the million dollar plus price tag just to play, and this barrier to entry remained for decades.

However, in the last decade with web based application sparked by the internet hitting the market and with the power of open source applications and communities, smaller sized businesses are now able to take advantage of ERP software and ERP application benefits with SaaS, software as a service web-based solutions that are both affordable and powerful. In a nutshell, ERP application benefits are now available to the masses and that is starting a revolution of new product innovations that fit businesses with a very customized fit regardless of size, industry and business model.

The market is heating up for ERP vendors and for small and medium sized businesses looking for enterprise solutions to better compete in the marketplace. However, this surge of new enterprise software innovations ironically come with a price. Companies have so many choices when it comes to ERP vendors and software applications that it is not a simple task to filter all the ERP software solutions on the market to find the best fitting solution for individual companies. Companies are bombarded with not only ERP software applications but with vendors specializing in ERP modules, subset applications within full ERP systems such as CRM, customer relationship management and HRMIS, human resource management information systems ERP modules, to name just a few. However, although the ERP software selection process is a longer process now, the benefits of ERP software apps are tremendous, and it’s usually better to have too many ERP vendors and ERP apps to choose from rather than too few.

ERP Profitability, Recipe, Secret, Software

Given today’s economic climate, it’s critical to do all you can for your business behind the scenes with your information technology and ERP software tools to stay ahead of the pack. The competition out there is as fiercer than ever both domestically and overseas. Businesses in this new decade are not only competing with their neighbors they are competing globally, and in many occasions with companies not traditionally in their respective industry or service.

Companies have utilized technology, particularly ERP modules and ERP software solutions for almost five decades now. Merely having an ERP system or ERP vendors at your side was enough to stay best of breed and ahead of the competition a few years ago. Now with SaaS (software as a service) ERP vendors and applications on the market, the once too pricey ERP software apps are now affordable to almost everyone. Businesses of all walks of life can now utilize and capitalize on the benefits of full scale ERP software solutions or ERP modules with a minimal budget.

The next level of enterprise systems advantage are ERP vendors and ERP software apps that help companies become even more flexible and able to adapt quickly to new information technologies and infrastructures. To meet this increasing performance demand, ERP vendors are developing ERP software applications on a service oriented architecture (SOA) foundation for their enterprise applications. Service oriented architecture enables companies to implement IT systems that meet challenging business goals faster and better than traditional approaches. With the SOA methodology of a business services perspective, enterprise systems and business processes can develop a common language for better and faster communication to address and capitalize on changing business needs.

The key benefit summary is that the SOA approach to building ERP module and enterprise systems is that by implementing ERP software with this infrastructure allows companies to leverage their existing assets to their fullest potential by reusing services to address business requirements that constantly change. SOA based ERP software apps speeds up and simplifies the automation of business processes by delivering the functionality as a service offering. The ERP software functionalities are delivered through a standards based interface which goes around the need to change any backend systems. The services can are also flexible and can be grouped in multiple combinations to automate business processes.

Open source applications are also quite effective when implementing services oriented architecture as it reduces the cost of tools and usually come with a wide range of alternative solutions from different ERP vendors and ERP modules to choose from. With Open source technologies companies can avoid the risk associated with getting trapped in with an ERP software vendor or software application and the open source community is a robust network to tap into for resources. Companies can also have the option of commercial open source tools available on the market for more choices.

Companies are looking to software oriented architecture ERP software to get information faster, easier, and at a much more cost effective manner than traditional methods. In areas of aggregating information from disparate IT systems and databases, increasing speed of information flow, or integrating disparate legacy ERP systems, companies must get a cost effective solution to their needs. SOA based ERP solutions deliver the value and return on investment companies are scrambling for in today’s business climate.

Learn More:

Learn more about ERP Modules and ERP Vendors at Erp.com

ERP Profitability, quick, Software, Solutions, Tips, Using

Any business, in any domain, irrespective of its size has one and only one thing in mind, a maximum of profit with a minimum of investment. Ask any businessman what his primary piece of advice would be to start a business, and he would say that in any business, the cost effectiveness is of paramount importance. i.e. the investment by the company in anything which would be termed as an investment, should always be at a minimum and the returns which he gets should be the maximized. As in all possible domains and business of different sizes, the ERP domain is no exception. In today’s scenario, the cost effective ERP is the one which enjoys the maximum amount of clout and success in any domain or industry. The Cost Effective ERP is an ERP which is not very expensive, is not very laborious to implement, is simplicity personified, and returns an output which leads to complete client satisfaction. This no doubt sounds like an idealistic state; however, it has been proven many a time that companies which developed a cost effective ERP, always had a winner on their hands.

A cost effective ERP is the most likely to succeed simply because people always have the mentality that they want the entire basket of mangoes for the price of one single mango. i.e. the ERP should deliver all that is required by the client, however, the investment by the client in the ERP will be at the bare minimum possible. The phenomenon of cost effective ERP demand is very much prevalent in the small to the mid-size business industry, as this is the sector which is most likely to haggle about the rates of the ERP implementation. Most of the branded ERP’s like SAP or Oracle cannot be called a cost effective ERP, simply because the volume of work that these ERP’s handle will simply not make it to be a cost effective ERP.

Also, these ERP’s have a whole lot of functionalities which simply cannot be marginalized and thus to implement these functionalities has its own cost. One more reason the branded ERP cannot be called as a cost effective ERP is that the brand name simply does not permit one to term it cost effective. Along with the name of the brand always comes the tag of price, which for a branded ERP is always going to be on the higher side. Also, these branded ERP’s are mostly restricted to multi-national conglomerates, which makes it a very niche audience to cater to. A small or mid-sized business simply cannot afford to implement a branded ERP like SAP or Oracle and thus they are left hungering for a cost effective ERP to ease their burden as far as running their business is concerned.

Companies like the Mumbai-Based Eresource ERP is one of the ERP development firms whose ERP can be called as a cost effective ERP as the ERP is suitable for most of the small as well as mid-sized business with a sincere endeavor to cater towards the multi-national and large scale business as well.

Cost Effective ERP, economy, business success, profit, return on investment, infrastructure

For more information kindly visit OR visit:http://www.eresourceerp.com/Cost-Effective-ERP.html

OR Contact us at

TMA House, 1st Floor, Road No 16, Plot No. 6, Waggle Industrial Estate, Thane (West) 400 604, Maharashtra
Tel: +91 22 25827692, +91 22 25828775,+91 22 65130234

ERP cost, effective

Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP applications are software systems that keep track of virtually every aspect of your business. ERP applications are utilized to manage everything from inventory and materials to shipping and accounting. They can even handle your invoicing, delivery and human resources management. Simplify your business life with ERP applications.

If you have been wishing that there was a way to integrate all of your company`s business applications so they work together as a cohesive whole, you are in luck. ERP applications can serve across all departments of your enterprise. Utilize ERP applications to manage every aspect of your business, from materials and inventory to accounts receivable and payable. Keeping constant track of your warehousing and distribution is simplified, with the right ERP applications. If you have employees, your ERP software can be programmed to manage your entire human resources department, as well.

ERP applications are modular in design. Utilize the applications you need, and don`t bother with modules that you don`t want. In this regard, ERP applications are remarkably flexible. For instance, if you run a manufacturing company, you will probably want to utilize ERP applications that manage materials and inventory. Transportation and shipping modules may also be quite useful to the smooth operation of your business. If you have a big customer base, you may be interested in Customer Relations Management or CRM modules.

Implementing an ERP system and migrating your data to it is a very complex task. It may well be beyond the expertise of your usual IT staff. According to some sources, full implementation of an ERP system may take more than a year, and involve one hundred or more consultants. One very good thing about ERP systems is their module nature. An ERP implementation specialist may be able to “phase in” your ERP system over time. A small company of fewer than one hundred employees may be up and running a streamlined ERP system within a few months. The time it takes to implement an ERP system depends on how much customization your system requires.

When you are considering ERP vendors, be sure to work with vendors who can provide consultation, customization and support. There are ERP vendors who will manage your data for you, while others will train your in-house IT specialists to manage your ERP applications. Yes, it may take some time for your business enterprise to make the switch to a fully implemented ERP system, but it will be entirely worth the time and effort. Once your enterprise is served by an implemented ERP applications system, you may wonder how you ever managed to do business any other way.

While you are here at our website, search our ERP Database to find out what an ERP applications system can do for you. Tell us what sort of business you are in, and how many employees you currently have. Receive results from ERP vendors such as Microsoft, NetSuite and Oracle within seconds. Manage your enterprise the 21st century way with a fully implemented ERP applications system.

ERP applications

The Most Important Reason To Change Your ERP Vendor and ERP Software System

Companies who thought implementing their first ERP system years ago and making the financially significant investment in an ERP software solution was the hard part may be in for an even harder journey ahead. What many companies with ERP systems currently in operation are finding out is that is an even bigger decision both financially, operationally and resource wise to switch to a new ERP vendor or vendors and a new ERP software app than implementing an ERP system for the first time.

The business disruption with switching enterprise systems can be much higher with ERP vendor switches. Just as with real estate, in many cases its easier to build a house on a open lot rather than trying to remodel a tear down. On top of this, a company who has been using an ERP system will most likely have a business that is humming along, and the business disruption will seem much greater than what it was when incorporating the first enterprise systems. Furthermore, the competition landscape is more competitive than ever, and any loss of productivity and service levels could lose you a lot of ground with customers and with your competitors. These risks, and the fear of the unknown has kept companies in a status quo mode when it comes to their ERP applications. Although the current ERP solution may not be the state of the art system, it still works and managers at least know what the system and ERP modules can deliver. The risk of a failed ERP implementation or new ERP modules that don’t work as anticipated keeps IT manager up at night and hinders them from trying something new.

The most important driver for taking the risk to consider new ERP vendors is to take a high level look at your organizations business processes and how they are negatively impacted by your current ERP software solution. In other words, look for your broken, inefficient business processes that are that way because they needed to work around your current ERP application. To help clarify your current system limitations, identify all of the ad hoc programs that were developed over the years by your IT staff to work around the shortcoming of your current ERP system- you may be quite surprised by what you find. If indeed you find that your business processes are broken, you should most likely entertain the notion that you need to look for new ERP vendors. Company’s looking to dramatically improve their business processes usually start by getting an ERP system implemented. The same logic should hold for your company, despite the fact that you already have an ERP system in place.

The main issue with legacy ERP systems, especially the older systems, is that they were very inflexible with respect to functionality and customization and companies had to change their business processes to accommodate particular ERP modules and features. Any customization that was critical to have required extensive programming and significant resources to implement and maintain. This may have sufficed a decade ago, but with more options available now and because business processes are changing at a much more accelerated pace in today’s market, a company has many more options and many more pressures to get the optimal ERP vendor and solution available on the market place. The decision to take on new ERP software solutions will be automatic when companies reach the point where there current enterprise solution is hurting their business, the key is to make this decision before the damage is done.

In Part 2, I will talk about another driver for going with a New ERP Software System and ERP Vendor, outdated System Technology.

ERP Change, Important, Most, Reason, Software, Vendor

Critical Success Factors of ERP Implementation for Small and Medium-Size Companies

Rana Basu, Ritanjana Adhikary

Departmant of Industrial Engineering & Management,Utech,India

Abstract

To improve productivity, quality and overall satisfaction among employee conceptual Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is one of the solutions for the small and Medium Enterprises. Small and Medium-size companies are enabling to decide upon proper implementation of commercial ERP systems. Numerous companies have tried to adopt a commercial ERP package in the world-wide. However, most of commercial ERP packages are designed for a large-scaled company so that it is difficult to adopt a commercial ERP package in terms of small and medium-size companies. By using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) small and medium-size companies, especially manufacturing companies, can afford to achieve global business process and to acquire ERP system efficiently.       

 

Keywords: Conceptual ERP, UML, OOT Model, Small and Medium-size Companies

 

1. Introduction

               

                Recently most companies use ERP system for improving core competency. American Production & Inventory Control Society defines ERP as “an accounting – oriented information system for identifying and planning the enterprise-wide resources needed to take, make, ship, and account for customer order”. Gartner Group describes ERP as “a set of application designed to bring business function into balance and represents the next generation of business system”. On the other hand, ERP is a comprehensive packaged software solution that aims for total integration of all business functional areas.The functional scope of ERP systems has further expanded to include various functions such as Electronics Commerce, Supply Chain Management, and Customer Relation Management Therefore, ERP cover all business functional areas  has became a core business system in the global companies.

Companies of all size and industries have tried to adopt ERP system in order to improve business processes. But, not all companies achieve their goals by implementing ERP systems, it’s because commercial ERP packages are very large and complicate. The implementation of an ERP system is difficult and not simple activities. It involves a complex set of tasks. For example, nearly half of the large-size companies which adopted ERP system over the past five years have experienced significant time delays and budget overruns. The ERP system is complex system. For small and medium-size companies adopting ERP system are very risky, because there is a lack of resource, including skilled human resource, budget, and time to devote to implementing ERP system.

 

2. Literature Review

2.1 Object-Oriented Technology (OOT)

               

                Object-Oriented Technology has been gained attention to overcome software crisis. Object-Oriented Technology can be used to develop business information systems. Object-Oriented modeling has proven to be an excellent technique for modeling business process in a company. Object-Oriented modeling is a new area for modeling and has generated a lot of interests among the small and Medium-size Companies.

             

Modeling a complex system is an extensive and complicate task. Only a single diagram cannot capture all information needed to describe an entire system. For modeling a system, the system can be described with a number of different aspects like: functional, nonfunctional and organizational. Therefore, ERP system may be described in several views, in which each view represents a particular aspect of the system. In UML each view is described in a number of diagrams that emphasize a particular aspect of the system.

               

UML is an industry standard modeling language adopted by Object Management Group in 1977. UML is a modeling language intended to describe models of systems-real world and software- based on object concept. UML consists of two tools: a notation and a meta-model. The notation is a set of diagramming syntax, which lets you think about and convey your analysis and design. The meta-model is the definition of the notation. UML is rich and complicated notation for describing software system. Perspectives are view of looking at systems and describe different aspects of user’s requirements.

 

2.2 Factors affecting ERP system adoption

               

                Companies of any size show a critical need for coordination and control of business activities which, in turn, is related to the complexity of the information system. ERP system is considered as the answer to manage the complexity of information flows more effectively.

The Companies whether it’s a small, medium, or large size is one of the issues increasing the need for co-ordination and control of organizational activities.

The market area (local, regional, national) working on wider market area requires the management of more differentiated legal and cultural issues. the membership an industrial group either as the holding or as a controlled firm these variable seems to be strongly related to the co-ordination of dispersed business units, in terms of alignment of processes and procedures both between the holding and the controlled companies and among controlled companies themselves.

The level of diversification in terms of products, markets, technologies operating in different product-market combinations introduces another level of complexity. An increase in the number of business adds information-processing demands by increasing business-unit interdependencies. Because of the greater need for co-ordination and control of activities, complex organizations will tend to have specialized planning departments, employ a large number of planners and consequently devote a substantially large amount of financial resources to strategic planning.

The degree of functional extension means number of activities carried out internally. Many companies prefer to outsource those activities that are not directly related to the business strategies. The degree of function extension refers to the number of strategic functions directly managed within the company, which should be the amount of information to be managed.

 

2.3 Implementation Strategies

 

                There are two distinctive ways of implementing an ERP found in the literature. These phases are termed as Phased Implementation and Big Bang approach. Depending on the organizational structure, the complexity of the organization, economical issues, strategic partners, time constraints and geographical location the appropriate implementation of should be selected. The big bang approach required simultaneous implementation of multiple modules of an ERP package, while a passed implementation consists of designing, developing, testing and installing different modules of the ERP package.

 

 

2.4 Information System

 

                An information system can be defined as a collection of subsystems defined by functional or organizational boundaries that supports decision-making and control in an organisation by utilizing information technology to capture, transmit, store, retrieve, manipulate, or display information used in one or more business process. An ERP system can be seen as a system that integrates all information that runs through an organisation and can be categorized as a large information system.

 

2.5 ERP System

 

                ERP System can be defined as comprehensive, packaged software solution that seeks to integrate the complete range of a business process and function in order to present a holistic view of the business from a single information and IT architecture. By integrating the business process across the organization and the central database, ERP differ from earlier information systems in its capacity to disseminate information in real-time and increase organizational flexibility. ERP provide the organization windows of opportunity for strategic change. However, due to the integration of large scale, ERP implementation is a complex and highly inter-dependent task.

 

2.6 Organizational Culture

 

                It can be defined in terms of the way people think, which has a direct influence on the ways in which they behave. Theoretically it can be said that it is a complex system of norms and values that is shaped over time. It is generally understood as the social glue that holds organizational member together and expresses the values and operating beliefs that members share. A firm’s culture therefore, through its values and operating beliefs, exerts commanding influences on how its employees perceive events and how they behave.

 

2.7 Leadership

 

                Leadership is defined as the use of non-coercive influences to direct and coordinate the activities of group members toward goal attainment. Bases on how leaders motivate followers, we can classify leadership into two categories transformational leadership and transactional leadership. Transactional leadership is based on the motion that the relation ship between leaders and followers is a form of transaction, with the assumption that people are basically instrumental and calculative. Transactional leader are individuals being sensitive to the needs of others, who follow them in return for the satisfaction of these needs. Thus transactional leadership is based on linking efforts to rewards in follower’s mind, setting patterns of desired behavior and keeping the followers on task throughout the process.

 

SUMMARY

 

Small and medium-size companies do not have the same organizational structure, capital, and human resource which large-size companies can effort. Commercial ERP systems like Oracle, SAP have numerous modules geared to the needs of large-size companies. There is high risk to apply a commercial ERP package to small and medium-size companies. Therefore, small and medium-size companies need a different approach to ERP systems from large-size companies. Instead of commercial ERP package small and medium-size Company can adopt Unified Modeling Language (UML). The conceptual ERP is an architectural approach to enterprise system. By using the model small and medium-size company can afford to achieve global business process and to acquire ERP system efficiently. When the features of the software application do not correctly fit the business requirement, Then Change the business processes to fit the software with minimal customization and modify the software to fit the processes.

 

 

References

 

1. A conceptual model of ERP for Small and Medium-Size Companies Based on UML

                                                                By jae-won Park and Nam-Yong Lee

 

2. Critical Success Factors for Implementing An ERP System In A University Environment:

          A  Case Study from the Australian HES.

                                                                                By Jen Laurits Nilsen BlnfTech

3. Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation in Indian SMEs: Issues and Challenges

                                                                By P.T Kale, S. S. Banwait and S. C. Laroiya

 

4. Factor’s effecting ERP system Adoption – A comparative analysis between SMEs and large

       companies.

                          By G. Buonanno, P.Faverio, F. Pigni, A. Ravarini, D. Sciuto and M. Tagliavini

5. Organizational culture and Leadership in ERP Implementation

                By weiling Ke School of Business Clarkson University

 Kwok Kee Wei Depatement of Information System City University of Hong kong                               

 

ERP Companies, Critical, Factors, Implementation, MediumSize, Small, Success

Before, awnings just served as protection from the sun and rain for houses. But now, awnings are included as part of a house’s or building’s architecture not only for its primary purpose, but also to add charm and create a statement.

If you are still unconvinced about the architectural beauty of awnings, you might want to have them installed for the following reasons:

* It protects the window frames from the rain, sun and snow. Most window frames and windowpanes are made of wood. We all know how wood responds to environmental changes. Even with sufficient wood coating and polish, wood deteriorates faster when exposed to the harshness of the weather conditions.

* Your house may have a porch or a patio and you have some furniture there, where you relax as you read a book or have a cup of coffee with your friends. Such furniture, regardless of the material, wears out faster when exposed to the sun and rain.

* When it’s raining, you normally keep your windows shut, blocking fresh air from coming in through the windows. If your house has awnings, during rain showers, you can keep your windows open and still prevent rainwater from getting in.

* When you are watching TV or using the computer, you usually have the windows shut, or the curtains or blinds down to reduce the glare. If awnings were fitted, you wouldn’t need to block natural light from the rest of the room since the awnings will reduce the glare on the monitors positioned near the windows.

* A major effect of having awnings, according to a study, is that it can reduce summer heat increase by 65% for windows facing south, and 77% for windows facing east and west.

So if you are now convinced that you would like your house or your building to have awnings, don’t just go out there and get one. There are things that you need to consider.

* Material

The most commonly used materials for awnings are outdoor fabric and aluminum. Those made of outdoor fabric come in a variety of color and shapes; however, these require more maintenance than aluminum ones.

Those made of aluminum are sturdy and require less maintenance. These awnings, however, have limited design and color options.

* Angle

It is recommended that for windows facing east or west, the size of the drop should be 65-75% for the best efficiency. For a window facing south, the drop can just be 45-60% since less coverage is needed, as the sun has a higher angle from this direction.

* Side panels

Side panels may alter the architectural feel of the awnings. Side panels are also beneficial in adding coverage in a different direction.

* Stationary, Retractable or Freestanding

Roll-up and retractable awnings allow you to permit the sun to shine into the house during winter.

Retractable awnings are also good for patios or decks. These awnings have a mechanism that allows it to be extended as far as necessary.

Retractable awnings can also have motors and switches for ease in retraction. Some also have sun and wind sensors to automate the retraction.

Retractable awnings are not for heavy rains, high winds and snow, though. So make sure these are properly protected from such weather conditions.

Freestanding awnings may also be used for patios, decks or terraces. Business establishments, as these also double as an advertisement, usually use these.

* Size

Small awnings are used for their decorative effect. If you would like to maximize the protective function of awnings, choose the bigger ones.

* Style

The most popular styles are traditional with closed sides, traditional with open sides, dome style, double bar standard, waterfall, quarter barrel, gable walkway and semi-circular entrance.

To check the most applicable style for your house design and the direction of your windows, consult an architect.

* Color

Apart from considering what color goes well with your house or establishment, if possible, choose a light-colored awning since it does not only block direct sunlight light other awnings, but this also reflects sunlight. By doing so, it lessens the amount of heat that comes in.

Also to minimize the heat that comes into the house, make sure that there is a gap between the side of the house and the top of the awning to prevent the heat on the awning to be transferred to the house.

Keep these tips in mind when consulting your architect while designing your house or business establishment.

ERP Awnings, Business, Choose, Home