Why ERP

1
Why ERP?

• MIS 495

2
Discussion Questions Part I

• Describe McDougle Furniture Co. MFC business
  background?
• Describe the companys work force and hiring
  practices?
• Describe the current IS at MFC?

3
Discussion Questions

• What were some of the current problems in
  manufacturing and sales operations?
• What was discussed at first boardroom meeting?
• What are ERP systems?
• What are the key benefits of ERP?

4
Discussion Questions

• What are the different aspects of integration?
• Is ERP a silver bullet solution for firms?
• What were the key reasons leading to the mystery
  of the missing desk?
• Describe the IS at the trucking company?

5
Discussion Questions

• What were the key management concerns raised by
  the professor as they relate to ERP?
• What key concerns did Billy express to Mr.
  McDougle about ERP at their meeting?
• What was the key reason for implementing ERP at
  NC plant?

6
Discussion Questions

• Was Billy the right person to take the ERP
  project forward? Why or why not?
• According to the professor, what were the key
  reasons why firms implement ERP? Which one of
  these had better chances of succeeding?

7
Discussion Questions Part II

• Describe the SAP R/3 software architecture?
• What were the key SAP R/3 functionalities as
  identified by Amanda?
• As identified by Amanda, what resources can be
  managed by SAP R/3?

8
Discussion Questions

• Describe the room reservation example as
  illustrated by Amanda?
• Discuss some of the war stories of
  participants?
• What key issues were emphasized by Amanda as she
  explained how the war stories could have been
  avoided with SAP?

9
Discussion Questions

• What is ASAP approach to implementing R/3?
• Identify the phases in ASAP implementation?
• Is ASAP appropriate for all organizations? What
  are your thoughts?

10
Discussion Questions

• Describe the project preparation phase and your
  key concerns?
• Describe the business blueprint phase and your
  key concerns?
• Describe the realization phase and your key
  concerns?

11
Discussion Questions

• Describe the final preparation phase and your
  key concerns?
• Describe the go live and support phase and your
  key concerns?

12
Discussion Questions

• Summarize Billys key thoughts during the first
  day session at SAP seminar?
• Describe how R/3 views the firm?
• Describe the customer order demo using R/3? What
  are your key concerns as to how R/3 handles
  customer orders?

13
Discussion Questions

• Describe the procurement demo using R/3? What are
  your key concerns as to how R/3 handles
  procurements?
• Discuss the key advantages of the financial demo?
• What were Billys main concerns when Amanda
  demonstrated a manufacturing example?

14
Discussion Questions

• Describe the hardware architecture required to
  implement SAP?
• Describe the R/3 software architecture? What were
  Billys main concerns as they relate to the R/3
  architecture?
• What were the key issues raised in the course
  wrap-up?

15
Discussion Questions Part III

• What concerns did Billy express to the professor
  about SAP on his return?
• Discuss professors theory of ERP systems and his
  concerns about ERP vendors?
• Explain the ERP implementation matrix developed
  by the professor?

16
Discussion Questions

• Where would MFC fall in the ERP implementation
  matrix? What are their options and cost
  implications?
• Summarize Billys meeting with McDougle after his
  return from SAP school? What were the key issues
  discussed and McDougles reaction?
• What advice did the professor give Billy prior to
  his visit to the Ohio plant?

17
Discussion Questions Part IV

• Explain the operations at the Ohio plant? How did
  these differ from the NC plant?
• Compare the product, vendor, and customer
  profiles of the Ohio and NC businesses?
• What was Larrys opinion of SAP?

18
Discussion Questions

• What was Pat McDougals opinion of R/3? Summarize
  her discussion with Billy?
• How did Jerry Edward use information from R/3
  from sales point of view?
• Discuss Billys conversation on R/3
  implementation with Dan Bragg?

19
Discussion Questions

• What suggestions did Billy forward to McDougle
  about R/3 implementation after his return from
  visiting the Ohio plant? Do you agree with his
  suggestions? Why or why not?
• What did Billy find out about R/3 implementation
  from other NC furniture plants? From a
  consultant?
• Why did McDougle decide to go ahead with R/3?

20
Discussion Questions

• What was discussed at the first R/3
  implementation committee meeting? What is your
  opinion of the discussions at the meeting?
• What was discussed at the second implementation
  committee meeting?
• What concerns did Billy express at the second
  meeting? Was he justified in expressing these
  concerns?

21
Discussion Questions

• How did Billy want the R/3 implementation to
  proceed? Do you support his plan? Why or why not?
• According to consultant Billy, what contributed
  to the failure of R/3 implementation?
• What lessons had Billy learnt about ERP in
  general? About ERP implementation at Ohio and NC
  plants?