SUMMARY

The transition to an ERP environment involves more than just work process decisions and technical configuration. It also requires an organization to take a broader, longer-term, and more detailed look at how to create a permanent program to promote the development of a true learning environment. This need must be detailed at the transaction level, as well as at the expert level, where functional knowledge is based. The organization must include the use of higher education to continue to increase understanding in its business leaders, from managers to executives (including those who aspire to be part of this group). Initially, participation in business process integration education (possibly to include certification simply as confirmation of achieving the goals) was a good start in the development of a cadre of individuals in the organization who could discuss business performance issues in terms of the underlying support systems. Now, this role is no longer deferred to technical teams, and it provides the opportunity to create business partnerships between business and IT.

After initial cross-functional business process training, continued entrenchment of this understanding can be pursued through the support of individual university programs. Just as with the introduction of other technologies and approaches over the years, achieving an understanding of how to harness the power of ERP systems to gain maximum benefits requires a lifetime commitment to organizational and ...

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