Introduction to Enterprise Resource Planning

No precedence over other disciplines is set and no recommended knowledge base is specified.

The classes will be taught in a theoretical-practical regime and the teaching methodology will include different pedagogical methods, respectively the expository, demonstrative and project-based learning methods.

The expository method will be used to present the concepts and main contents of the curricular unit. The teacher organizes and orally presents the contents, structuring the reasoning and the result to be obtained. This exhibition will be supported by slides, which will later be made available to students. This exhibition will be complemented with some references made available.

The demonstrative method will be used to exemplify some applications of concepts and main functionalities of the ERP system used (ERP Odoo). Based on the statement of several practical sheets made available, the teacher shares his know-how and demonstrates and helps students in their execution, in the sense that they successfully carry out what is requested there, sometimes on paper and also on a computer, in particular, in terms of experimenting with various aspects of implementing an ERP system.

The project-based learning (PBL) method will be used to build knowledge through a long and continuous work of study, whose purpose is to meet a challenge/problem that basically consists of choosing an organization, which will be analyzed and used to model, evaluate, optimize and implement business processes of that organization in an ERP system with a view to a more efficient and integrated management of that organization.

The main learning objectives (AO) that are intended to be achieved are the following:

• OA1 – Understand the main concepts linked to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems
• OA2 – Deepen the concept of an organization’s value chain and its importance for ERP
• OA3 – Deepen the perception of an ERP, as a bringer of the main data and functional components of an organization
• OA4 – Understand the main advantages and problems associated with implementing an ERP system
• OA5 – Identify best practices in implementing these systems
• OA6 – Carry out business process modeling using suitable software
• OA7 – Understand the various phases relating to the life cycle of an ERP, namely decision, selection, planning, implementation and use
• OA8 – Implement an ERP system, in particular (ERP Odoo) and some of its modules, as support for the management of some business processes in an organization

The main skills (C) that are intended to be developed are the following:

• C01 – Ability to convert an organization’s business requirements into ERP system requirements
• C02 – Ability to model an “As-Is” business process
• C03 – Ability to model an “Ought To-Be” business process
• C04 – Ability to model a “To-Be” business process
• C05 – Ability to identify ERP modules, their characteristics and their suitability for organizational needs
• C06 – Competence to implement an ERP solution, instantiate some of an organization’s business processes and their respective configuration

1. Overview of ERP systems
2. Organization value chain
3. Proprietary and open source vendors
4. Business process management
5. Odoo ERP System
6. Life cycle of an ERP system
    6.1 Decision, selection and planning
    6.2 Implementation and use

NAO

Main bibliography

• Amado, A., & Belfo, F. P. (2021). Maintenance and support model within the ERP Systems lifecycle: Action research in an implementer company. Procedia Computer Science, 181, 580-588.
• Estébanez, R., Trigo, A., & Belfo, F. (2016). ERP systems adoption evolution in Iberian companies during the global financial crisis and recession (2007-2014). IEEE Conference Publications. 2nd International Conference on Information Management (ICIM), 116 – 120. doi: 10.1109/INFOMAN.2016.7477544.
• Harwood, S. (2003), ERP: The Implementation Cycle”, Elsevier Science.
• Hossain, L., Patrick, J.D. and Rashid, M.A. (2002), Enterprise Resource Planning: Global Opportunities & Challenges, Idea Group Publishing.
• Moller, Charles. (2005). ERP II: a conceptual framework for next-generation enterprise systems? Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 18(4), 483-497.
• O’Leary, D.E. (2000), Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, Cambridge University Press.
• Rashid, M.A., Hossain, L., & Patrick, J.D. (2002). The evolution of ERP Systems: A historical perspective. In L. Hossain, J.D. Patrick & M.A. Rashid (Eds.), Enterprise Resource Planning: Global opportunities & challenges (pp. 1-16). Hershey, USA: Idea Group Publishing.
• Scheer, W. (1994), Business Process Modelling, SpringerVerlag.
• Weske, M., (2012). Business process management: concepts, languages, architectures. Berlin, Germany: Springer.

Complementary bibliography

• Amaral, L. e Varajão, J., (2000), Planeamento de Sistemas de Informação, FCA Editora de Informática.
• Bradford, Marianne. (2010). Modern ERP: Select, Implement and Use Today’s Advanced Business Systems (second ed.): Lulu Press, Inc.
• Khosrowpour, M. (2001), Managing Information Tecnology in a Global Economy, Idea Group Publishing.
• Lucas, H., (1994). Information Systems Concepts. MacGraw-Hill International Editions.
• Oz, E. (2000), Management Information Systems, Thomson Learning.
• Shields, M.G. (2001), EBusiness and ERP: Rapid Implementation and Project Planning, John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Silva, F., et al. (2000), ERP e CRM, Centro Atlântico.