Modern Enterprise Information Systems

Fall Semester
6 ECTS credits, Advanced Level

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Modern Enterprise Information Systems include all the transactional level platforms and integrated software applications that enable the capturing of company data within data bases in a structured and efficient way. The most typical such system is the ERP, which incorporates functionalities that cover all business tasks, from the procurement of materials to the collection of payments from customers, and from the issue of a production order to the delivery of consolidated shipments to the customers’ warehouse, all within a single and totally integrated system. The specific course will address ERP in its whole, i.e., will cover all applications areas in enterprises of today and will also provide additional knowledge about systems that go beyond and complement  ERP’s  transactions  such  as  CRM,  WMS,  etc.  Practical sessions on widely used ERP systems will be offered on top on theoretical and applied-knowledge lectures. Lab exercises, case studies and assignments will be the basis of grading in this course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will:

Analyze a business’ enterprise activities, workflow and process to identify problems, weaknesses, strengths, threats, opportunities, stakeholders and entities interacting with the enterprise;
Propose reengineered enterprise processes that optimize the enterprise’s performance;
Design integrated organizational structures and business processes that optimize the enterprise’s performance, overcome problems and weaknesses of current processes;
Understand the scope of ERP systems and corporate motivation for implementing ERP;
Appreciate the challenge associated with implementing such large-scale systems and the dramatic impact these systems have on key business processes;
Gain an understanding of process integration inherent in ERP;
Solve optimization models for production planning and models for operations management;
Gain an appreciation of related concepts, technologies, and trends in ERP including forward, backward, and upward integration of the enterprise using supply chain management and customer relationship management;
Experience the Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Visio, Expert Choice and Microsoft Dynamics NAV software.

COURSE TOPICS

The course will cover the following topics:
Supply Chain Management Overview
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems Overview
Optimization Models for Production Planning (Microsoft Office Excel)
Models for Operations Management (Microsoft Office Excel)
Business Process Reengineering (BPR) using Microsoft Office Visio
Multi-criteria Decision Making (The Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP) using Expert Choice
Microsoft Dynamics NAV – An ERP System

COURSE METHODOLOGY

The goal of this course is to develop analytical and critical thinking skills for the development of integrative plans for enterprise-wide systems that optimize enterprise performance. Most class sessions will involve lecture and extensive discussion of ERP based on content contained in the textbooks, readings and cases. Students will be expected to make substantial contributions to the learning process through participation in class discussion. In addition, they will be responsible for several individual assignments.

To pass this course students should:

Prepare: Spend as much time needed to study the assigned topics before coming to class;
Practice: Review and practice the lab exercises at their own pace;
Present: complete the homework assignments, come to class, and deliver their work to the instructor.

COURSE PLATFORM

Students will find course lectures, assignments, useful links etc. at the following links:

E-learning portal:  https://edu.dmst.aueb.gr/
Management Science Support:  http://www.msl.aueb.gr/msupport.html

COURSE MATERIAL

Hamilton S. Managing your Supply Chain using Microsoft Navision. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2004.
Hamilton S. Maximizing your ERP System: A Practical Guide for Managers. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2003.
Presentations (Lectures)

REQUIRED SOFTWARE

• Microsoft Office Excel (to solve optimization models for production planning and operations management)
• Microsoft Office Visio (business process reengineering)
• Expert Choice (multi-criteria decision making - AHP)
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV (ERP System)

ASSIGNMENTS

The assignments are designed to familiarize students with the major challenges involved in specifying, selecting and implementing ERP. Assignments include lab exercises and cases studies related to optimization models for production planning, models for operations management, business process reengineering methodology, analytic hierarchy process and Microsoft Dynamics NAV. Students will be responsible for individual assignments.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

This class requires a consistent and substantial week to week commitment on the part of the student. Students are expected to complete reading assignments prior to class and to participate actively in class discussion. Assignments should be emailed on the specified due date. Late work will receive no credit.

Class participation is measured by student’s active involvement in discussion of the lab exercises and cases.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

In accordance with The Athens University of Economics and Business’ Academic Regulations, cheating in any form will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism or receiving inappropriate assistance on examination and/or assignments. Cheating is an extremely serious academic offence.