An overview of teaching and research using SAP R/3

View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) Association for Information Systems AIS Electronic Library (AISeL) AMCIS 1999 Proceedings Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) December 1999 An Overview of Teaching and Research Using SAP R/3 Ed Watson Louisiana State University Michael Rosemann University of Muenster Glenn Stewart Queensland University of Technology Follow this and additional works at: http://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis1999 Recommended Citation Watson, Ed; Rosemann, Michael; and Stewart, Glenn, "An Overview of Teaching and Research Using SAP R/3" (1999). AMCIS 1999 Proceedings. 278. http://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis1999/278 This material is brought to you by the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) at AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). It has been accepted for inclusion in AMCIS 1999 Proceedings by an authorized administrator of AIS Electronic Library (AISeL). For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Overview of Teaching and Research Using SAP R/3 Ed Watson, Louisiana State University, [email protected] Michael Rosemann, University of Muenster, [email protected] Glenn Stewart, Queensland University of Technology, [email protected] Abstract 2. Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) provide comprehensive business functionality in an integrated fashion using a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure. Never before have businesses had the opportunity to integrate their applications, standardize their systems, and provide a process-centered perspective to their business. Over the past few years, some of the companies that develop and market ERP solutions have provided a special arrangement that encourages Universities to incorporate ERP concepts and technologies into the education process. In this presentation, the authors intend to share their experiences as members of the SAP University Alliance program. As members of this alliance, the authors have hands-on experience working in the SAP R/3 environment and exposing students to valuable business and business systems concepts. 3. 4. Improve Course Delivery: Experiential learning, Computer-based business simulation activity, competitive team based global Provide unique research opportunities and industry collaborations. Provide students with a competitive advantage and, therefore, increase on-campus recruiting activity. In this presentation we compare and contrast our experiences as members of the SAP University Alliance. We provide a perspective from three continents. We tend to focus on issues related to the use of the SAP R/3 System (hands-on) to support teaching and research in higher education. Our comments are based exclusively on our experiences with the Univesity Alliance program offered by SAP America. Curriculum Alliance Objectives Purpose: To discuss the resource/tools available for faculty/staff and attempt to give an idea of the many areas where R/3 could be used to enhance the curriculum. Purpose: To discuss the various objectives a school may have when joining the alliance. The first step to pursuing a University Alliance (UA) membership is agreeing upon what the objectives of the program is to be. It is often the case that multiple objectives are pursued with the common vision of ‘improving higher education’, for instance. The alliance membership may provide valuable resources to the University: business seminars, technical seminars, the ERP system and its repositories, and hands-on access for students, for instance. Below is a list of objectives common among many UA members: The University Alliance “package” may include a set number of training days for faculty & staff whereby numerous options exist for the number of training days and the type of training. This training is not necessarily designed for higher education and it may not fit directly into a particular University class. But this training can be very useful and it is up to faculty to make use of this material in their class. It may be necessary to develop the material further so that the students are able to narrow the gap between the business/concepts and the hands-on exercises. As the year 2000 approaches, many faculty have gained experience using the ERP system and developing materials. These materials are generally available to other Universities involved in the Alliance. There are significant pockets of curriculum development efforts that are making their way through to the other Universities in the alliance. For instance, a curriculum workshop is available through California State at Chico and Central Michigan Universities, a series of lectures developed by UT Austin is available through the SAP University Alliance website (www.sap.com), and by the end of this year, additional curriculum material will be available through the SAP University Alliance website. 1. Enable Certain Curriculum Improvements: Provide cross-functional (process centered) experience, introduce new enterprise systems concepts, enhance existing content with real-world application, introduce global
Cross-functional experience – process-centered concepts
Enterprise-wide integrated business systems concepts –
Enhance existing content by demonstrating application to the real-world
Provide awareness of global presence by dealing with issues related to currencies, tax laws, logistics and distribution, … Members of the alliance have access to various resources to help design and develop hands-on activities 806 
that support specific curriculum. These resources include the following:
1. On-Line Extended Help System: Serves as an encyclopedia of business terms, principals, concepts, and practice. 2. R/3 Procedure Model: The procedure model covers the lifecycle of an implementation in the following four phases: organization and conceptual design, detailed design and implementation, preparation for production, and productive operation. 3. Reference Model: The reference model illustrates the functionality and business processes provided with SAP. There are five main views: process, data, distribution model, business object model (e.g., customers, cost centers, etc.), and organization. 4. Implementation Guide (IMG): The IMG is an on-line configuration tool that lists tables and activities required to configure the system. It is a tool for documenting and controlling the configuration. 5. On-Line Support System (OSS): OSS is essentially a solution database that is utilized by all installations across the globe. 6. SAPNet: A web-based repository of technical papers, notes, and other items. 7. Technical and Functional Conference: Many conferences and seminars related to ERP/SAP are available. 8. R/3 Training Manuals and CDs: All R/3 training courses have a training manual and certain courses also have CD-rom available. 9. R/3 Training Database: The training database is based on a fictional company and is available to members for various hands-on exercises, simulation, development, and modeling exercises. 10. Publicly available trade books: The major book stores either stock or can order many different books related to all aspects of ERP and the R/3 System. 11. The R/3 System: A completely functional system is installed on a (preferably) dedicated server for educational use on campus.




Support Purpose: Discuss the ongoing challenges of dealing with a real-world system in the classroom. A commercial ERP System requires a certain level of expertise to deal with the admininstration of the operating system, database and the R/3 System. Although the system is not subjected to a real-world production process, it may support the needs of many different faculty, students, and classes. There are various ways of dealing with the administration of the system. Some schools hire full time administrators and some schools actually have students involved with the day-to-day administration and maintenance of the system. Faculty also must develop some level of comfort or expertise on the system. Technical or functional training should be provided to faculty that plan on working with the system, and developing curricula that utilizes the system. During the presentation, the authors will compare and contrast their efforts to support their systems. Cost, Benefit, Risk and Opportunity Purpose: Give an overview of the total cost of ownership associated with being a UA member. The costs associated with maintaining and growing a University Alliance include hardware (server, network, labs, workstations), software (OS, database, R/3 System and supporting tools), training for faculty and staff, and personnel to support the system. Hands-on ERP systems can be used to enhance traditional functional-based curriculum such as operations planning and execution, supply chain management, managerial accounting and cost control, financial accounting, asset management, project management, and human resource management. Also, ERP systems lend well to teaching the technical side such as enterprise application development and systems administration. Areas where the hands-on ERP system could be used to introduce new or innovative curriculum include the following:
Business Processes and Process-Centered Organizations Enterprise Modeling and Reengineering ERP Planning and Implementation ERP Audit, Security and Control Developing Business Applications for Enterprise Systems Developing Internet Applications for Enterprise Systems Systems Administration for Enterprise Systems The benefits associated with being a member of the alliance are directly tied to the alliance objectives: improved curriculum (enhancements and innovations), improved curriculum delivery (experiential, hands-on), knowledge of enterprise systems, research opportunities (technology, product development, implementation, education), industry collaboration, and recruiting. Other benefits, perhaps viewed as intangibles, such as industry and university co-sponsored events have also occurred. During the presentation the costs, benefits, risks and opportunities experienced by the authors will be compared and contrasted. Enterprise Systems and Architectures 807