Library Discipline

There are a number of definitions of Business Process Management (BPM) available on the Web, and many of these can be found, for instance, by doing a web search on "What is business process management?"  The most common definitions of BPM typically incorporate a concept known either as 'muti-functional' or 'multi-step'.

Most business processes involve a number of people, departments, or functions. A sales order for instance, is not simply a sales function. Rather, the complete processing of a sales order involves many organizational functions and process steps - the sales function itself to register the order; the logistical function to execute the picking, packing, shipping and billing of the order; the finance function to register the receivable, collect the payment, and reconcile the book entries; and perhaps the purchasing and manufacturing functions to buy materials and create the product being sold in the first place. Depending on the product and organization, this order-to-cash business process can be quite extensive, and Business Process Management revolves around business functions managing and improving the many steps involved in day-to-day processes.

The discipline of BPM offers member campuses the opportunity to cut across academic boundaries and to develop cross-discipline approaches to education, and we are confident that you will find our curriculum content useful in this regard. But you don't have to create a cross-discipline course to make use of the content here -- much of it is readily adaptable to courses you already have in place!

Developer(s):
California State University Chico: Ray Boykin
The Rushmore Group: Steve Tracy

Description
This introductory course is designed to teach students about business process integration using SAP ERP. Students execute the core business processes within sales, purchasing, production, human resources, financial and managerial accounting. Students are introduced to the same scenario as is used in the Business Process Integration I and II courses (BPI I and BPI II).

Description
This is an intense semester-long course designed to teach students about business process integration and to configure a hypothetical company from the ground up using SAP ERP. The hypothetical company does not have a production facility; rather, it buys completed products and sells them to its customers. Throughout the semester, students create the organizational structure, master data and business rules to support the core business buy, sell and track (accounting) processes of the company. Testing is completed to ensure that the processes function as anticipated.

Country-specific versions for Columbia, Peru, and Venezuela are available.

Description
This is an intense semester-long course designed to teach students about business process integration and to configure a hypothetical company from the ground up using SAP ERP. The hypothetical company does not have a production facility; rather, it buys completed products and sells them to its customers. Throughout the semester, students create the organizational structure, master data and business rules to support the core business buy, sell and track (accounting) processes of the company. Testing is completed to ensure that the processes function as anticipated.

Description
This course builds upon the exercises and experiences completed in BPI I. In this expanded scenario, management has made the decision to expand its operations to include a production facility. Commencing with the hypothetical firm configured through the exercises in the BPI I course (if desired), the necessary configuration and testing is done to add production planning processes and functionality to SAP ERP.

Description
The Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) course is designed to support an introductory class in Information Systems and/or ERP. Materials are purposed to provide students their first experience with SAP ERP and an introduction to the integrated nature of business processes. The 'low impact' PowerPoint lecture slides, exercises and reference materials are intended to provide step-by-step directions (via menu paths and print screens), allowing for students to complete excersises outside, as well as, inside the classroom. Through these materials, students will get exposure to Accounting, Sales, Purchasing, Production Planning, Human Resources, and Credit & Receivables Management.

Developer:
SAP:  Gail Corbitt

Description:
This course introduces students to ERP configuration and simulates an implementation project. Depending on course requirements and professor comfort level, these materials can be taught in a more or less structured format. This course can be taught like a more structured configuration class (without point and click) by adding a new company to IDES. In this format (see German materials included) students form teams and each team completes a configuration project using Solution Manager. In the less structured format (original ERP as a Project) each student takes on a role within a fictitious company and the whole class configures the system as a Global Implementation Team. The latter simulates a corporate implementation project and uses Solution Manager to execute the project. Both models emphasize the project management aspects of solution manager to initiate the project, develop the business blueprint, configure the system and test the configuration.

Developer(s):

HEC Montreal: Pierre-Majorique Léger
HEC Montreal: Gilbert Babin
HEC Montreal: Jacques Robert
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal: Robert Pellerin
Western Michigan University: Bret Wagner

Description:

The ERP Simulation Game is an innovative "learning-by-doing" approach to teaching ERP concepts. Using a continuous-time simulation, students are put in a situation in which they have to run their business with a real-life ERP (SAP ERP) system. Teams of five to six students operate a firm in a make-to stock manufacturing supply chain and must interact with suppliers and customers by sending and receiving orders, delivering their products and completing the whole cash-to-cash cycle. A simulation program (ERPsim) was developed to automate (i) the sales process, so that every firm receives a large number of orders in each period of the simulation, (ii) part of the production process in order to account for production capacity, and (iii) part of the procurement process to account for delay in delivery and payment. Using standard and customized reports in SAP, students must analyze their transactional data to make business decisions and ensure the profitability of their operations.

The learning objectives of the ERP Simulation Game are threefold: i) to develop a hands-on understanding of the concepts underlying enterprise systems, ii) to experience the benefits of enterprise integration firsthand and iii) to develop technical skills at using ERP software. ERPsim is now used in more than 35 universities worldwide and many Fortune 1000 organizations.

See how ERPsim is changing the way we teach and learn ERP concepts: http://erpsim.hec.ca.  Visit also the YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/erpsim2. 

Developer(s):

HEC Montreal: Pierre-Majorique Léger, Gilbert Babin, Jacques Robert
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal: Robert Pellerin
Western Michigan University: Bret Wagner

Description:

The ERP Simulation Game is an innovative "learning-by-doing" approach to teaching ERP concepts. Using a continuous-time simulation, students are put in a situation in which they have to run their business with a real-life ERP (SAP ERP) system. The manufacturing game consists of producing and selling Muesli breakfast cereals to the German market. This game is designed for teams of four to six students and scale to run up to 26 simultaneous teams. Teams of students operate a firm in a make-to stock manufacturing supply chain and must interact with suppliers and customers by sending and receiving orders, delivering their products and completing the whole cash-to-cash cycle. A simulation program (ERPsim) was developed to automate (i) the sales process, so that every firm receives a large number of orders in each period of the simulation, (ii) part of the production process in order to account for production capacity, and (iii) part of the procurement process to account for delay in delivery and payment. Using standard and customized reports in SAP, students must analyze their transactional data to make business decisions and ensure the profitability of their operations.

See how ERPsim is changing the way we teach and learn ERP concepts: http://erpsim.hec.ca. Visit also the YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/erpsim2.

Developer(s):

HEC Montreal: Pierre-Majorique Léger, Gilbert Babin, Jacques Robert
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal: Robert Pellerin
Western Michigan University: Bret Wagner

Description:

In this game, participants will buy and sell bottled water to small corner stores in the German market. Using a continuous-time simulation, students are put in a situation in which they have to run their business with a real-life ERP (SAP ERP) system. The distribution game consists of 60 simulated days split into three rounds of 20 days each. This game is designed to be played in two to three hours and is perfectly suited for single lecture use in courses such as Introduction to MIS. The distribution game is design to be played by teams of two to four students each, and supports up to 26 simultaneous teams in play, for a potential total of over a hundred students.

See how ERPsim is changing the way we teach and learn ERP concepts: http://erpsim.hec.ca. Visit also the YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/erpsim2.

Description
This configuration class uses the Fitter Snacker Client. It consists of instructions written with significant screen-shot detail so that students can learn configuration with a limited amount of input from the instructor. The Fitter Snacker configuration materials have been successfully used in distance learning environments. In addition to the detailed configuration materials, PowerPoint slides, WebCT quizzes and exams, and a project have also been developed.

Developer(s):
Sam Houston State University: Ross Quarles and Fawzi Noman


Description
Flya Kite is a series of introductory level cases with exercises that allow participants to execute business processes in five key areas: sales logistics, production logistics, procurement logistics, accounting/controlling, and human resources. Additionally students are introduced to SAP navigation, and master data use and creation. The cases are preconfigured with all control/configuration data and master data necessary to process the unique transactions arising in each area as well as transactions involving integration across functions. Each of the cases will accommodate 999 users per client.

Each of the five cases in the series of Independent Module Versions allows each module to be addressed independently where only one or more particular business processes or support areas are of concern with each of the cases being completed as a stand alone case or in combination of one or more of the other cases. The integrated version requires three to four weeks class time. The independent module versions take approximately one week per case. The Instructor Text for each case includes a test bank, suggested grading schemes, instructional suggestions, and a troubleshooting guide to help diagnose and correct common student errors and mistakes. Also included are PowerPoint lecture slides for the cases.

Description
Flya Kite is a series of introductory level cases and exercises that allow participants to execute business processes in five key areas: sales logistics, production logistics, procurement logistics, accounting/controlling, and human resources. Additionally, students are introduced to SAP navigation, and master data creation and use. The cases are preconfigured with all control/configuration data and master data necessary to process the unique transactions arising in each area as well as transactions involving integration across functions. Each of the cases will accommodate 999 users per client.

The Fully Integrated Version case can be used in its entirety (Five modules: Materials Management, Production Planning, Sales and Distribution, Financials/Controlling and Human Resources) where the objective is to address all primary business processes and support areas to demonstrate integration across the functional areas and modules. The integrated version requires three to four weeks class time. The Instructor Text for each case includes a test bank, suggested grading schemes, instructional suggestions, and a troubleshooting guide to help diagnose and correct common student errors and mistakes. Also included are PowerPoint lecture slides for the cases.

Developer(s): 
Western Michigan University: Bret Wagner
Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg: Stefan Weidner
The Rushmore Group: Steve Tracy

Description:
This course is intended to explain how the fundamental business processes interact with SAP ERP in the functional areas of Sales and Distribution, Materials Management, Production Planning, Financial Accounting, Controlling, and Human Capital Management. Materials provided include an introductory navigation exercise to acquaint students with getting around within SAP ERP, presentation materials and exercises / solutions.

Developer(s):

Javeriana University: Santiago Aguirre
Javeriana University: Carlos Fuquene
Javeriana University: Gabriel Zambrano

Description:

This course that is designed to simulate value chain processes. Participants work in teams such as Research and Development, Production, Procurement, Sales and distribution and Quality Control Team. The course starts with product design and analysis of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), followed by Sales and Operating Planning in order to determine the sales forecast, production plan and the capacity planning of the CIM plant. Finally, the execution of all value chain processes, including product manufacturing in a real CIM facility, is performed. With this course students will be able to simulate the entire value chain processes in a fully automated environment, playing a role game that enhances their teamwork abilities and put them in a real work situation.

Description
These exercises, used in the beginning of a configuration course, provide students with a review of SAP ERP transaction process knowledge and key integration points between the processes.

Description
These exercises are used for introductory reviews of SAP ERP transaction processing knowledge and key integration points between various processes. The SAP ERP transaction processing knowledge includes the understanding of different functionalities including customer order management, purchasing process, travel management of new employees, production planning and management.

Developer(s):
Widener University: Yvonne Lederer-Antonucci

Description
These labs walk the student through creating a simple workflow in SAP. Workflow in SAP integrates people, process and technology. These labs demonstrate the underlying process logic for business practices in SAP. Business Processes in SAP are represented based on a company's organization structure. In defining the organization, the people and roles are identified. Therefore the organization structure must be defined first. The process is represented by a set of tasks integrated with organizational objects such as roles, technologies, data, methods, forms, etc... After the organizational plan has been created, the student is instructed on how to create the standard tasks needed for the workflow in addition to assigning appropriate organizational agents and technologies to each task. Once the tasks are created, then these tasks are integrated to create the workflow definition. Process logic is stressed within the labs. The final lab shows the student how to test a workflow that has already been completed and introduces the student to various methods of reporting and analyzing a workflow instance.

SAP has a large library of materials that are relevant to Business Process Management and Information Technology.  We've gathered a number of them here for your use.  We encourage you to explore materials available from the entire SCN Community that organized and available in the SCN article repository.

Timeless Software

SAP ERP Solution Map 

Enterprise Knowledg Workers: Understanding Risks and Opportunities

Business Network Transformation: Rethinking Relationships in a Global Economy

Making Life Cycle Assessment Practical for Business

Getting Serious About Collaboration: How Companies Are Tranforming Their Business Networks

We have created a bibliography of academic articles that are relevant to both Business Process Management and Information Technology. The first few of these articles are listed below. The complete list can be accessed by clicking here.  

It is our intention to keep this bibliography current, and we would welcome your suggestions for articles that should be included. You can post your suggestions in the UA Library Reference Desk Forum.

Implementing BPM systems: The role of process orientation. (2006). Business Process Management Journal, 12(4), 389-409.

A unified product structure management for enterprise business process integration throughout the product lifecycle. (2006). International Journal of Production Research (Vol. 44, pp. 3159-3159): Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Allen, D. (2007). Cost/benefit analysis for implementing ECM, BPM systems. Information Management Journal, 41(3), 34-41.

Angelov, S., & Grefen, P. (2008). Supporting the diversity of B2B e-contracting processes. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 12(4), 39-70.

Anthony, Y. K. Y., Michael, F. S. C., & Walter, W. C. C. (2007). Networked enterprise: A case study of implementing an information network system for global product development. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 14(3), 369-386.

View the full bibliography by clicking here.