Enterprise systems coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Enterprise systems coursework - Essay Example Open source enterprise resource planning (ERP) software systems are important for small and medium enterprises in that it allows the business enterprise to an access the code hosted by the system and make it conform by the enterprise’s own information technology instead of making them pay extra costs to vendors for the customization and licensing. In the selection of ERP systems, it is important for the business enterprise to measure its success in terms of the savings made through the streamlining of the operations of a company through the increase in revenues and the increase of the share of the market. Small and medium enterprises have several possibilities in the implementation of electronic planning packages as they wish. They have an option of either selecting an ERP package that it desires and compare its capabilities with others. They can also develop the ERP system individually or integrate the best choices offered by the particular software provider that the business enterprise is dealing with. The selection of a viable ERP system involves several stages in the operation of a company or a business enterprise. This includes the concise analysis in the processes that pertain to the processes of the company and analysis of the concepts contained in the ERP packages. The pre-selection process involves selecting only companies that are in support of the company process, and thereafter the selection of the ERP package that will involve the use of workshops and evaluation of factors that affect the ERP selection process. This is followed by re-engineering and customization of the process that means the avoidance of resistance by staff of any changes in the ERP selection process and adapting the ERP process to the unique nature of a particular business process (Nah 221). The selection of a viable ERP system involves the involvement of employees in the organizational structure of the company. It is important for the company to recognize the knowledge th e employees possess in the running of the company and their input is important in the achievement of this, the company should assign an integral person in the running of its financial system known as the internal champion. This person is allocated the most difficult projects in the company who gets the job done irrespective of the difficulty of the task. This should be done at the beginning of the selection of the system so that the company knows whether the person is fully committed and agreeable to the project. It is important for the business enterprises to evaluate the risks that are likely to be met and if they may reoccur. This can be used by all interested parties to mitigate risks. Persons who are likely to make the company suffer many risks are also included in the risk management process thus avoiding the loss that could be suffered by the company in question. There is need to ensure management buy-in in the selection of an ERP system by communicating the scope of the proj ect and be updated of sign-offs at every step along the way in the financial management. It is also important for companies to select vendors who have sold more ERP systems as such vendors usually have more customers thus easier access to support and have the best practices for a specific industry and its practices. They also have the ability to come up with products according to the