Study of an Enterprise Resource Planning Design and Implementation

Abstract

This study focuses on the presentation and analysis of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) of the organization, which aims to optimally use these resources. The researcher presents an exhaustive definition for Enterprise Resource Planning System. On the other hand the study illustrates features, benefits and structure of the Enterprise Resource Planning and how different systems in different levels of a single enterprise interact with each other. The thesis includes a comparative study between ERP and Non-ERP in some features: such as reliability, structure, and cost. The study also includes the design of Enterprise Resources Planning system in Meheireeba Technical College, where it implemented the first stage of establishing a common database for the college systems. This illustrates idea that when a set of systems integrate with each other, it can play the same role of the ERP system. However, the use of such techniques is surrounded by risks and challenges. So the study includes a number of risks facing the techniques of systems development, problems such as infrastructure failure, user errors, software problems and the weakness of the technical culture of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems. The study also presents the phases of implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning system and the success factors of these phases. Furthermore, an ERP software Compiere has been used to illustrate the installation, and definition of the basic windows. Finally, the study presents some recommendations for the organizations in Sudan to use Enterprise Resources Planning to develop systems because it provides several advantages. The most important of these advantages is the upgrade of data integration in and outside the organization. The study provides some recommendations to the competent authorities such as Ministry of Higher Education to introduce the Enterprise Resource Planning systems into the academic curricula in order to raise the understanding level in this field.