Last modified: 2017-09-15
Abstract
Undergraduate students have a difficult time understanding the concept of Enterprise Resource Planning systems (ERP). Participants will learn how to engage students by using a simulation game, such as Lemonade Tycoon, to teach about different modules included in ERP systems along with the concepts of CRM. This simulation or strategy game allows students to manage their own lemonade stand. Students are responsible for paying rent, hiring staff, purchasing assets and ingredients, manufacturing the product and collecting customer feedback. These tasks dovetail with several modules included within an ERP such as Manufacturing, Financials, Human Resources, and Sales and Marketing. The instructor-led discussion will illustrate how functional areas of business are interdependent and need one another for an organization to operate efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the discussion includes how customer feedback, as stored in a CRM and integrated with an ERP, can help a manager make decisions that will improve his/her operations. Finally, the discussion validates the importance of how information systems are critical to everyone within an organization, not just the IT staff. Examples of assignments will also be presented.