Maximizing Return on Investment Using ERP Applications

A PLAN FOR ACTION

So, how do we do all of this? In order to be successful in producing improved business results, all of these components must be evaluated. Business process knowledge doesn’t just happen, and knowledge of how work processes and IT applications work together to produce business results is rarely part of current business education programs, but it is integral to our learning experience. There are many tools to assist us in developing this knowledge, from simple (but thorough) business process mapping approaches to complex business process management (BPM) tools that may incorporate many other technologies (Six Sigma, lean manufacturing or “lean whatever,” statistical quality control, and others). For knowledge of business processes in SAP, a leading ERP program, for example, there is Business Process Integration Certification (TERP 10), which teaches cross-functional business processes that are defined across all of the ERP functions in the product, both functional and technical. Other ERP providers have courses that address the same need. When dealing with enterprise platforms (remember that we defined this as the collection of business applications that the corporation operates on) that consist of more than one package, this need becomes even greater. Mapping business processes across multiple platforms is also valuable when making a decision on which software packages to use.

Whatever the approach, it is important to manage this formally with a program to collect ...