Why Erp? A Primer On SAP Implementation

Why ERP? is not a traditional text book designed for a specified course. It is patterned after the wildly successful "The Goal" by Goldratt.
"The Goal" is currently required reading in many undergraduate, MBA and executive courses. Like "The Goal", Why ERP? is a short novel
about a manager in a furniture manufacturing business who is charged with learning about and implementing a new ERP system-particularly
SAP R/3. The story tells of his experience learning about it, his considering other installations as examples, and then his deciding the key
issues and how to proceed. Incorporated into the story is a concise introduction to the basic concepts and architecture of ERP systems,
including actual screen shots of R/3 modules. Though this is NOT a programming book, it is a quick read overview, and it can be assigned
even for `systems' majors, as a background reading to lay-out the managerial issues and build a basic understanding of the concepts-prior to
doing actual technical programming or hands-on R/3 projects. Through the eyes of the hero in the novel, the reader is presented with all the
related implementation and business issues. Intended to provide a non-technical, non-programming introduction, this book can stand alone as
a quick-read or self-study introduction for any manager or business student. The text is also great for schools who do NOT have any SAP,
Oracle, PeopleSoft, or other ERP system on campus, and who have no access to online or hands on samples or examples. This book can
provide the needed literacy and awareness of what ERP is and why it matters.