Abstract
The article revolves around Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and its importance in organizations. Additionally, the article presents the components that make up the ERP system and the methodology that organizations can use to implement it.
From the article, change management, process flow, customer mindset, and software are components of ERP that need integration with its methodology for successful implementation of the system.
Overview of the Article
‘A Conceptual Model for Enterprise Resource Planning’ is an article that focuses on the importance of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in organizations. The article highlights the importance of using the model in the success of an enterprise.
Moreover, the article clarifies the essence of the ERP model and its productivity when organizations use it effectively. To substantiate its argument, the article presents a set of four components that are important in implementation of the system.
According to Rahman and Sousa (2014), software, change management, process flow and customer mindset are ERP components that can lead to a momentous implementation of an ERP system.
Therefore, by presenting the components, the article gives organizations a set of simplified components that are useful in their daily operations.
In the article, a methodology must integrate and connect the components in order to ensure that all the concerned parties to the ERP undertake their responsibilities efficiently. The article states that the software is the first component that dictates the procedures and performances of an organization.
In the assertion of Leon (2008), ERP software represents all the segments of organizations such as the human resource, suppliers, customers, and finances. As a result, the component stresses on the management of suppliers, customers, human resources, and finances of organizations.
Moreover, the article outlines the essence of a systematic and smooth flow of information within and outside the organization in its second component, known as the process flow.
From the article, it is fundamental for the flow of information to take place at the right time and to the right set of individuals. The third component, which is vital in implementation of an ERP system, is the customer mindset (Sharp, 2002).
Remarkably, the component champions for the incorporation of customers into the system and their participation in its implementation. The changes introduced by implementation of the ERP system, require a component, which is change management.
Principally, the article highlights that change management, the fourth component, addresses the changes that transpire from implementation of the ERP system.
Strengths
Some of the strengths that are evident in the article include definition of ERP, its components, and provision of a systematic methodology that governs its implementation. Essentially, the presence of a statement that defines ERP is one of the strengths as it facilitates a clear understanding of the subject that the article intends to discuss.
Moreover, by presenting the components entailed by the system, the article displays one of the strengths because the components are easy to understand and apply. The components of the ERP simplify the implementation of the system, and thus, increase the chances of achieving rewarding outcomes (Rahman & Sousa, 2014).
Another strength that is present in the article comprise the systematic and predefined methodology, which explains the various phases that organizations can follow in their quest to successfully implement the ERP system.
Weaknesses
Some of the weaknesses present in the article include limited presentation of arguments, overemphasis on ERP, and absence of linkage between organizational framework and the system.
In the article, the arguments concerning ERP, its components, and the methodology are insufficient, a factor that makes understanding of the concepts challenging. Additionally, the article overemphasises ERP and pays little focus on its application in contemporary societies.
In the article, the concept of ERP occupies the larger part of the article, whereas application and methodology takes a little space towards the end.
Consequently, absence of a link between the organizational framework and the system proves to be another weakness since organizations require a system that they can conveniently harmonise with their established programs.
Contributions
The article has a number of contributions that can help organizations advance their operations. Some of the contributions advanced by the article include its comprehensive elaboration on ERP and its implementation, application of the system, and the systematic methodology that governs ERP implementation.
Concerning its contribution on comprehensive elaboration on ERP and its implementation, the article helps organizations and concerned parties to successfully employ the system and use it to enhance their operations.
To facilitate effective application of the system, the article breaks it down into four components and simplifies them into easy and practical concepts. Esser (2010) explains that the components of ERP are easy to understand and implement.
By providing a comprehensive set of procedures that organizations can undertake in implementing the system, the article proves to be very practical in implementation of ERP.
Another significant contribution that the article presents to organization and business entities is the systematic methodology that governs implementation of the ERP system.
From the article, the methodology, which organizations can use, encompasses five steps that if applied in a systematic process can yield productive and rewarding results. Patel and Vij (2013) assert that ERP has five significant phases, which are pre-implementation, analysis, design, construction, and implementation.
The ability of the article to provide a systematic methodology on how to integrate the components of the system and implement ERP boosts its importance in organizations. Therefore, the article is very important in organizations because it helps them to implement the conceptual ERP system effectively.
Possible Future Work in the Paper
The article is very important for organizations as it helps them understand the components of the ERP system and their effective integration into a systematic methodology. Conversely, the article requires some possible future work so that it becomes more productive and useful to several organizations globally.
Increased discussion on ERP, its components, and methodology are some of the possible future work that can boost the magnitude of the article. Presently, the article does not provide an in-depth definition of ERP and scholars using it may not easily understand its concepts.
As a result, some scholars and businesspeople opt for other articles that provide a range of all-inclusive ERP definitions. Additionally, the article has to increase its discussion on the components of ERP since the current discussion is minimal.
Use of practical and authentic examples can be one of the ways that the article can employ to increase its significance in the dynamic and ever changing business environment.
Other possible future works that the article needs to incorporate include increased in-depth elaboration on the integration of the components with the methodology.
Apparently, the article does not provide a succinct explanation on how organizations can integrate the components with the ERP system, and thus, organizations can encounter challenges during its implementation.
Although the article provides a systematic description on how to implement the ERP system, it should offer comprehensive explanation on the phases and the mode of implementation in the contemporary business environment.
As such, the article needs a range of possible future work to advance its importance in the modern business environment characterised by dynamic and trendy consumers.
References
Esser, M. (2010). IT Change In Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Human Resource and Change Management Approach. Bochum: Projektverl.
Leon, A. (2008). Enterprise Resource Planning. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.
Patel, K., & Vij, S. (2013). Enterprise Resource Planning Models for the Education Sector: Applications and Methodologies. Hershey : Information Science Reference.
Rahman, H., & Sousa, R. (2014). Information Systems and Technology for Organizational Agility, Intelligence, and Resilience. Hershey : Information Science Reference.
Sharp, D. (2002). Customer Relationship Management Systems Handbook. Florida: CRC Press.