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How Can You Use This Book? Preface xvii
This fourth edition continues our goal of keeping the text at an introductory level.
The book can be used in a number of ways:
• The book, or selected chapters, could be used for a three-week ERP treat-
ment in undergraduate Management Information Systems, Accounting
Information Systems, or Operations Management courses.
• Similarly, the book or selected chapters could be used in MBA courses, such
as foundation Information Systems or Operations Management courses.
Although the concepts presented here are basic, the astute instructor can
build on them with more sophisticated material to challenge the advanced
MBA student. Many of the exercises in the book require research for their
solution, and the MBA student could do these in some depth.
• The book could serve as an introductory text in a course devoted wholly to ERP.
It would provide the student with a basis in how ERP systems help companies to
integrate different business functions. The instructor might use Chapter 8 as
the starting point for teaching the higher-level strategic implications of ERP and
related topics. The instructor can pursue these and related topics using his or
her own resources, such as case studies and current articles.
• Because of the focus on fundamental business issues and business processes,
the book can also be used in a sophomore-level Introduction to Business course.
Except for a computer literacy course, we assume no particular educational or
business background. Chapters 1 and 2 lay out most of the needed business and
computing groundwork, and the rest of the chapters build on that base.

Features of This Text
To bring ERP concepts to life (and down to earth) this book uses sales, manufactur-
ing, purchasing, human resources, and accounting examples for the Fitter Snacker
company. Thus, the student can see problems, not just at an abstract level, but within
the context of a company’s operations. We believe this approach makes business pro-
blems and the role ERP can play in solving them easier to understand.
The book’s exercises have the student analyze aspects of Fitter Snacker’s infor-
mation systems in various ways. The exercises vary in their difficulty; some can be
solved in a straightforward way, and others require some research. Not all exercises
need to be assigned. This gives the instructor flexibility in choosing which concepts to
emphasize and how to assess students’ knowledge. Some exercises explore Fitter
Snacker’s problems, and some ask the student to go beyond what is taught in the
book and to research a subject. A solution might require the student to generate a
spreadsheet, perform calculations, document higher-level reasoning, present the
results of research in writing, or participate in a debate.
The book includes an additional element designed to bring ERP concepts to life:
Another Look features, which are short, detailed case studies that focus on problems
faced by real-world companies.
We have illustrated ERP concepts and applications by showing how SAP ERP
would handle the problems discussed in the book. Screen shots of key SAP ERP tools
are shown throughout to illustrate ERP concepts. Many of the book’s exercises ask the
student to think about how a problem would be addressed using ERP software.

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