Enterprise Resource Planning

Computer Standards & Interfaces 24 (2002) 337 – 346 www.elsevier.com/locate/csi

A synergic analysis for Web-based enterprise resources planning systems
David C. Yen a,1, David C. Chou b,*, Jane Chang a,1 b a Department of Decision Sciences and MIS, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA Department of Computer Information Systems, Eastern Michigan University, 412 Owen Building, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA

Received 8 October 2001; received in revised form 3 December 2001; accepted 12 December 2001

Abstract As the central nervous system for managing an organization’s mission and critical business data, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system has evolved to become the backbone of e-business implementation. Since an ERP system is multimodule application software that helps a company manage its important business functions, it should be versatile enough to automate every aspect of business processes, including e-business. D 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Enterprise resource planning (ERP); E-business; Customer relationship management (CRM)

1. Introduction Enterprise resources planning (ERP) has been used in major business applications, such as finance, human resources and manufacturing. ERP’s financial applications furnish corporate financial management. Its human resources applications handle employee benefit programs, payroll management, and other human resource management. Finally, its manufacturing applications cover areas such as inventory control and production management. ERP systems are software that can be used to integrate information across all functions of an organization to automate corporate business processes. In other word, an ERP system is a

Corresponding author. Tel.: [phone]. E-mail addresses: [e-mail] (D.C. Yen), [e-mail] (D.C. Chou). 1 Tel.: + 1-513-529-4826.

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business management system that integrates all facets of the business, including planning, marketing and

References: [1] AMR Research, Enterprise Resource Planning Software Report: 1997 – 2002, at http://www.lionhrtpub.com/orms/orms-6-99/ erp.html. [2] AMR Research, at http://www.amr.com. [3] J. Bridges, at http://www.sunservermagazine.com/sun0600/ erpÀinet.htm. [4] M. Brown, at http://students.depaul.edu/~mbrown4/erptrends. htm. [5] E. Callaway, at http://www.managingautomation.com/ BuyersGuide/bgÀeÀspec-complexity-grows.htm. [6] CIO.com, at http://www.cio.com/analyst/070199Àyankee. html. [7] City University (London), at http://www.city.ac.uk/~ds626/ enterpriseÀresourceÀplanning.html. [8] Garner Group, at http://www.garnergroup.com. [9] S. Hill, at http://www.manufacturingsystems.com/archives/ 1996/ms960602.asp. [10] Internet.com, at http://webopedia.internet.com/TERM/E/ ERP.html. [11] P.J. Jakovljevic, R. Cundiff, at http://www.xonitek.com/news/ IndustryÀNews/essentialÀerp.htm. [12] M. Martin, An ERP strategy, Fortune 137 (1998) 149 – 151, Feb. 2. David C. Yen is a professor of MIS and chair of the Department of Decision Sciences and Management Information Systems at Miami University. He received a PhD in MIS and Master of Sciences in Computer Science from the University of Nebraska. Professor Yen is active in research, he has published two books and over 70 articles, which have appeared in Communications of the ACM, Information & Management, International Journal of Information Management, Journal of Computer Information Systems, Interface, Telematics and Informatics, Computer Standards and Interface, Internet Research, among others. He was also one of the corecipients for a number of grants such as Cleveland Foundation (1987 – 1988), GE Foundation (1989), and Microsoft Foundation (1996 – 1997). David C. Chou is a professor of Computer Information Systems at Eastern Michigan University. He received his MS and PhD degrees from Georgia State University. Professor Chou has published more than 140 articles and papers in the fields of software engineering, systems design, telecommunications, the Internet, and electronic commerce. His articles appeared in journals such as Technology in Society, Computer Standards and Interfaces, Information Systems Management, Total Quality Management, Internet Research, Industrial Management and Data Systems, International Journal of Technology Management, Interfaces, Information Management and Computer Security, Journal of Education for Business, and Information Executive, The Executive Journal, and others. Jane Chang received her Master degree in Accountancy on May 2000 from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio and is currently working as an information consultant in the Eli Lily Company. Her research interests include ERP, Internet, CRM, and electronic commerce.