Enterprise resource planning can be termed as an approach adopted by organizations that seeks to consolidate the departments and functions of a company into one computer system that is able to serve the needs of each department. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) usually involves convergence of software, hardware and people to form an effective and efficient service, production and delivery system that result to profits for the organization. .
The various functions and departments of the companies are tasked with their own duties where the human resource department is responsible for managing the employees' records and other employee related. The financial department is responsible for financial data. The manufacturing side is responsible for production of the products offered by the company, whereas the marketing department is responsible for sales and other customer relations. The aim of the enterprise resource planning is therefore to ensure that all the functions and departments of the organization are in sync so as to facilitate decision-making in the organization. With the enterprise resource planning, each department in the institution has its own mode of working but they are glued together by one system. .
Assignment Question 1.
Why did Tektronix implement ERP in stages? How should a company decide between implementing in stages or going big-bang?.
Response.
Implementation of ERP in stages. The implementation of the enterprise resource planning took place in 'waves' where each wave had a set of functions that were to be performed by the specific divisions. The implementation of the system in stages enabled the managers in the organization to have some flexibility in scheduling. This was an advantage to the company as it was possible to conduct an upgrade of the software before implementation to the next stage. Tektronix's resource enterprise planning system was conducted in five stages.