Teaching ERP Systems by a Multiperspective Approach

In this paper we describe how a market-leading ERP system can be used to demonstrate theoretical knowledge of Enterprise Systems. Students of business administration with a focus on information systems are taught theoretical backgrounds about modeling, technical architectures, development, and conceptions of Enterprise Systems. They know about business processes like production planning or material management. However, links between business knowledge, theoretical IT-knowledge, and practical IT-experience are not revealed to the students. To close this gap we propose an integrative ERP curriculum, which maps different theoretical IT-knowledge to Enterprise Systems. Therefore an ERP system is determined from different perspectives like end-users or IT-specialists. Using exemplary processes like purchasing or MRP, the integrative aspect of Enterprise Systems is demonstrated. The introduced concept is not about teaching a specific ERP system but illustrates concepts of ERP like data integration, data structure integration, process integration, and maps information models onto ERP systems.