ERP, Learning Communities, and Curriculum Integration

Several colleges have joined the “SAP Education Alliance” for implementing SAP R/3 in the curriculum. Due to substantial investments in time and resources, this strategy has substantial risks. In addition, volatility and change has been the hallmark of technology, and Enterprise Resource Planning [ERP] may not be immune from such challenges. These factors notwithstanding, ERP has certain features that make it an excellent vehicle for the learning process. Specifically, ERP has the promise to address some challenges facing business education. ERP systems can provide a framework through which learning communities can be developed to inject change into the educational environment. ERP enables integration of curriculums through developing connecting points and providing a nervous system for integration, while removing redundancies between disciplines. In the process, they refine our understanding of the nature of knowledge in areas of business, while optimizing use of technology in the campus setting. This paper, therefore, argues that ERP can be viewed as more than just another technology; rather it has the potential to bring about more effective pedagogy.