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Preface

As more and more businesses around the world adopt enterprise systems, it
becomes increasingly important for students to develop a more process-centric
perspective that refl ects the realities of the modern business environment in
which they will work. Because business operations and enterprise systems are
so tightly integrated, we have designed Integrated Business Processes with ERP
Systems to refl ect the ways in which real-world business processes are man-
aged and executed in the world’s leading enterprise resource planning (ERP)
system, SAP ERP. Students, regardless of their functional discipline, will be
®
able to apply the real-world concepts discussed in this text immediately upon
entering the workforce and will be better prepared to succeed in their careers.
Integrated Business Processes with ERP Systems covers the key processes
supported by modern ERP systems. This textbook is designed for use as both
a reference guide and a conceptual resource for students taking ERP-focused
courses at schools that are members of SAP University Alliances program
(http://uac.sap.com). It examines in depth the core concepts applicable to all
ERP environments, and it explains how those concepts can be utilized to execute
business processes in SAP systems.

KEY FEATURES

INTEGRATED PROCESS APPROACH
Integrated Business Processes with ERP Systems approaches ERP topics using
an integrated process perspective of the fi rm. Each process is discussed within
the context of its execution across functional areas in the company, with special
emphasis on the role of data in managing the coordination between activities
and groups. Students will gain a deep appreciation for the role of enterprise sys-
tems in effi ciently managing processes from multiple functional perspectives.

ACTIVE LEARNING

Consistent with the focus on the process perspective of business operations,
this book and the accompanying online supplements are designed to actively
engage students through multiple learning activities. Students will be required
to apply the concepts covered in the text to real-world situations and to the
running case study used in their hands-on exercises. In this way, students can
experience what the each employee in a process must do, what data they need,
and how their actions impact other people in the company.

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