1. Prepared by James Shruga
Prepared for Aaron Anderson
For WRI115
8/2/2014

2.  ERP ,or Enterprise Resource Planning,
systems are computer enabled systems that
allow for full intercompany integration of all
business requirements - this includes
purchasing, finance, manufacturing, and
strategic HR in a single operating system for
seamless and instant communication to all
business centers (Stevenson, W. 2012,
p.530).

3.  "ERP provides a system to capture and make
data available to decision makers and users
throughout the system (Stevenson, W. 2012,
p.530-531).“
 EDI is a commonly deployed tool within the
structure of an a ERP that uses ANSI
standards to communicate across networked
computer systems from organization to
supplier facilitating supply chain tasks like
ordering materials.

4.  ERP systems typically make use of cloud servers
so the organization implementing it does not
take on additional cost of dedicated servers or
mainframes and the IT team required to manage
them is significantly reduced.
 Time and resources for purchasing are
considerably reduced when deploying an EDI
system, the benefits are amplified when coupled
with an ERP system because the entire
procurement process becomes automated based
on the MRP (Material resource planning) settings
in the ERP operating system.

5.  Legacy systems are outdated tools; these
systems are maintained within "individual silos",
and make the large amount of data generated by
today's business awkward to handle and require
an "inordinate amount of physical and electronic
resources“ to maintain (ERP with INFOR 2013).
 ERP systems can dramatically improve operations
by removing communication barriers that are
unavoidable in Legacy systems, simplifying
reporting and transmission of data, and reduce
costs by making administrative tools easy to
maintain (ERP with INFOR 2013).

6.  In many cases, the context of user roles from
Legacy to ERP are significantly different because
of the myriad differences in context of
automation.
 Operational users are likely the most common
individual interfacing with an ERP system, it is
quite possible that these users are the most
alienated and suffer the largest culture shock of
all users because of the common interaction and
change of operating systems.
 These issues must be addressed in thoughtful
training and role redefinition during prelaunch
and transition.

7.  The overall conclusion : ERP systems have
many benefits for the communication of
large organizations.
 ERP systems are designed in such a way that
they make collection and flow of data more
meaningful and less hindered than that of
Legacy systems.
 Training and role assignments through
transition to ERPs are a pivotal point of
success or failure for end user acceptance.

8.  Stevenson, W. J. (2012). Operations management (11th ed.). New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. (Original work published 1982)
 Laframboise, K., & Reyes, F. (2005). Gaining Competitive
Advantage From Integrating Enterprise Resource Planning and
Total Quality Management. Journal Of Supply Chain Management,
41(3), 49-64.
 Arunachalam, V. (1995). EDI: an analysis of adoption, uses,
benefits and barriers. Journal Of Systems Management, 4660-64.
 ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING WITH INFOR. (2013).
Governing, 26(5), 1-4.
 Murphy, G. D., Chang, A., & Unsworth, K. (2012). Differential
effects of ERP systems on user outcomes-a longitudinal
investigation. New Technology, Work & Employment, 27(2), 147-
162. doi:10.1111/j.1468-005X.2012.00282.x