Enterprise Systems

Subject 615-657 (2008)

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Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Lectures.

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 3 hours per week
Total Time Commitment: (8 hours per week for 12 weeks, plus study for examination). There will be one three-hour class each week during the 12 teaching weeks of semester. The classes are scheduled to commence at 5:30pm on Thursdays. You are required to attend all classes. Classes are expected to consist of lectures during the first hour followed by guest lecture or discussion of research papers in the second half of the class.

You are expected to devote a total of about 8 hours per week to this subject. This means that in addition to the three hours per week in class, you should devote roughly 5 hours each week reading and preparing for your presentations and working on the Projects.
Prerequisites: Students must have completed one year of relevant information systems work experience or 50 points of postgraduate level study in any degree to be eligible to enrol in this subject.
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable steps will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their active and safe participation in a subject are encouraged to discuss this with the relevant subject coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Peter Seddon
Subject Overview: Organizations around the world are increasingly turning to packaged enterprise application software vendors to provide computer-based applications to support their core business processes. Twenty years ago most such computer-based information systems were custom built. Today, most core systems are built around packaged software. The generic name for the suite of packaged-software-based systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) systems is Enterprise Systems.

In this subject we explore the enterprise systems phenomenon in considerable detail. Our goal is to understand the advantages and limitations of enterprise systems, how best to implement packaged enterprise application software (PEAS), and future directions that PEAS are likely to head as vendors respond to market pressures for integration between heterogenous information systems. For students who do not have first-hand experience with such packaged software, it may be possible to do some exercises from our undergraduate subject 615-260 Enterprise Systems, which provides those students with approximately 30 hours of hands-on experience with software from a leading vendor, SAP.

This subject provides students with an understanding of the nature of enterprise systems and their implementation within organizations. Topics include:

  • Introduction to Enterprise Systems
  • Implementing Enterprise Systems
  • Benefits from Enterprise Systems
  • Organizational Issues with Enterprise Systems
  • Future Issues for Enterprise Systems
Assessment: A 60-90 minute group class presentation, due date to be determined by a schedule that will be distributed in week 1 of semester (10%); a written assignment of up to 2000 words due at the end of week 3 of semester (20%); a written assignment of up to 3000 words due at the end of week 8 of semester (30%); a 3-hour written examination in the examination period (40%).
Prescribed Texts: None
Recommended Texts: Readings are in the printed Subject Notes.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

The key generic skill that students will develop through studying this subject is argument analysis. The ability to identify of arguments, and evaluate evidence that authors provide to support their arguments-use of the so-called "scientific method"-is one of the most important skills a person can develop. It is what has enabled human beings to progress from living in caves to living in the increasingly complex and prosperous world in which we live today.

At the conclusion of this subject students should have:

  • a good understanding of the role of enterprise systems (including ERP, CRM, and SCM) in the worldwide software marketplace in the year of study;
  • an appreciation of the factors that need to be managed if packaged enterprise application software (PEAS) is to be implemented on time, within budget, to specification, and produce ongoing benefits for its host organization;
  • a good understanding of the factors likely to lead to increased benefits from ES use, including the importance of organizational learning and cultural factors in achieving ES success;
  • considered opinions on the directions that the packaged enterprise application software market is likely to head in future, including the likely push to "adapative business solutions".
Links to further information: http://www.dis.unimelb.edu.au/current/postgrad/subjects/index.html
Related Course(s): Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems
Master of Information Systems (Coursework)
Master of Information Technology
Master of Information Technology

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