Enterprise Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

200 hours

Students who are enrolled in the two year 200 point Master of Information Systems must have completed 50 points of study to enrol in this subject.

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For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Aims

This subject is intended to help students understand (a) what in packaged enterprise application software (PEAS) is, (b) how such software is implemented, and (c) how organizations can maximize benefits from their often-large investments in packaged-software-based systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and Business-Intelligence (BI) systems. These systems are important because most organizations around the world today rely on such systems to support their core business processes.

This subject is offered as an elective subject primarily for students in the final year of the Masters in Information Systems.

Indicative Content

The subject discusses (a) what enterprise-systems software is, (b) claimed advantages and limitations of enterprise systems, (c) how best to implement packaged enterprise application software (PEAS), (d) future directions that PEAS are likely to head as vendors respond to market pressures for integration between heterogeneous information systems, cloud computing, greater access from mobile devices, and demand for more information faster than ever before, and (e) what organizations need to do to maximize benefits from their often-large investments in packaged enterprise application software (PEAS). Students will normally undertake approximately 10-15 hours of hands-on exercises with software from a leading vendor, SAP.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

On completion of this subject the student is expected to:

1. Have a good understanding of the capabilities of enterprise-wide ICT-based application software, e.g., enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM);
2. Have an appreciation of the factors that need to be managed if enterprise-wide software is to be implemented on time, within budget, and produce on-going benefits for its host organization;
3. Have an understanding of the likely direction and impact of PEAS-related technological innovations such as in-memory databases, mobile computing, and business intelligence on future enterprise-system architectures;
4. Gain hands-on experience in using SAP ERP system, the most popular enterprise application software packages to support business processes.

• One group based critical review and presentation (10%) with 5 group members, requiring 13-15 hours of work per student. Intended Learning Outcome (ILO) 2 is addressed in the critical review and presentation.
• One individual assignment (15%) of approximately 750 words due at the start of week 8, requiring 20-25 hours. ILOs 1 and 4 are addressed in the individual assignment.
• One group assignment (15%) with 3 group members of approximately 1500 words due at the start of week 12, requiring 20-25 hours per student. ILO 2 is addressed in the group assignment.
• One written 2 hour closed book end of semester examination (60%). ILOs 1 to 3 are addressed in the examination. The examination is a hurdle and must be passed to pass the subject.

Hurdle Requirements: To pass the subject, students must:

• participate in at least 50% of the workshops throughout the semester and produce the required deliverables
• obtain at least 50% of the marks available in the examination.

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Readings are listed in the Subject Notes and available online.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed or enchanced the following generic skills:

• Argument analysis, i.e. the ability to identify arguments and evaluate the evidence that authors provide to support their arguments. Argument analysis is one of the most important skills a person can develop
• Oral and written communications
• Ability to collaborate with different individuals through group work and discussion

Learning and Teaching Methods

The subject is delivered in 3-hour classes, with each class containing two lectures on theoretical concepts, and a class discussion or student presentations on a research paper related to the current lecture topic. Outside class, students will study theory and complete exercises designed to increase understanding of what enterprise systems are, and the way that they can contribute value to organizations.

Indicative Key Learning Resources

The key subject “handout”, including details of assignment and questions for discussion, will be available online from LMS. Key articles will be available online via the university library. Exercises for hands-on use of SAP ERP will be available online. Students will be provided with an account on an SAP ERP system sourced from the SAP-supported University Competency Centre at QUT. Lectures will be audio recorded via Lecture Capture and made available online.

Careers/Industry Links

This subject is relevant to careers as business analysts, IT managers, and consultants. Since almost all large organizations today have implemented enterprise systems, and such systems are constantly being upgraded, there is a large on-going demand for people with knowledge of this topic from both consulting and user organizations. Students will work on real-world cases of organisations attempting to maximize benefits from their use of enterprise systems. There will be one or two lectures from invited practitioners from industry.