The GAP between promise and reality: ERP systems in an academic environment

摘要

Over the last five years Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become highly visible. Studies indicate that 70percent of Fortune 1000 firms have or will soom implement ERP systems. While ERPs realize the benefits associated with software packages in general, they also have the additional benefits of providing easier access to reliable information, eliminating redundant data and operations, and are Year 2000 enabled. Their biggest promise is that by allowing faster access to accurate, consistent and comparable data, they will facilitate more informed decision making, thereby increasing efficiency and decreasing costs. Often however, the performance of the ERP does not match its promise. In December of 1998, GWU implemented the newest release of SCT's ERP for higher-education, Banner2000. Banner2000 is used by almost 50percent of all colleges and universities with more than 2,000 students (SCT). Using Banner2000 and the GWU, Department of Engineering Management as an example, the paper will discuss the effects that design and implementation have on the gap between performance promise and reality.