I recently took part in a SYSPRO office challenge cycle race at the Cape Argus 2014 event. If you’ve read anything about the race, you’ll know that the charitable fundraising by the UK team was for a cause very close to my heart. The cause in question is a special needs school near the K3 SYSPRO offices, where my mother has worked for over a decade.
Month: May 2014
Own ERP Best Practices, but Don’t be a Slave to Them
Some ERP companies like to say that the way their ERP does things is a best practice, and that businesses should therefore conform to their system.
The International Standards Organization (ISO) is an example of an authority on standards or best practices. Their members debate on standards for months, and not until two thirds vote in favour is the standard adopted as an ISO standard. The point being that best practice surrounding any process is a matter for thoughtful analysis of the particular practice.
Africa, ERP and the Key to Global Food Security
As population numbers continue to rise and pressure continues to mount for global food production, the world is looking to Africa to step up to the challenge.
While many may simply assume that a shift to industrial farming methods is the answer for increasing production, the inevitable resulting environmental degradation where such methods are used suggests that this is not the best way forward for a sustainable future.
ROI of ERP – Part 4 of a 4 Part Series
Managing the Change
Generally the only person who enjoys a change is a wet baby. Most others want things to remain the same, but get better.
Ask the CIO what was the hardest part of implementing the ERP solution, and the response will in all likelihood be “Getting users to commit.”
ROI of ERP – Part 3 of a 4 Part Series
Selecting the Right System and Vendor
Jim Collins, author of four international bestselling business books notes: “We tend to think that decisions are very much about ‘what.’ But when I look at my research notes or at interview transcripts from the executives we’ve interviewed, one theme that comes through is that their greatest decisions were not ‘what’ but ‘who’. They were people decisions.”
ROI of ERP – Part 2 of a 4 Part Series
Before Selecting a System
In the early 1980s “experts” on Japanese management were isolating distinctive practices that seemed to account for Japan’s remarkable economic success. The ‘Ringiseido’ decision-making practice was one of these. It offers an opportunity for equals to participate in the decisions that the executives will have to take. The purpose was to adhere to the Japanese cultural desire of harmony among people.
ROI of ERP – Part 1 of a 4 Part Series
Taking Ownership of Your ROI
In a previous blog I referred to the unpredictability of measuring the ROI of your ERP investment. One key issue relating to this is the understanding of the core functions of your business now and in the future – before you consider an ERP system, take ownership of your Return on Investment (ROI).
There is a lot of debate about who coined the phrase, “form must follow function” (or words to that effect). It is commonly attributed to the American architect, Louis Sullivan, for whom it was the rule that “shall permit of no exception”. Sullivan was talking about aesthetics, but he might as well have been talking about ERP projects. When considering whether to install an ERP system the same rule applies, and similarly “permits no exception.”
How to Assess for ERP Competency
In a previous blog post, I mentioned that having an ERP certification does not necessarily mean that someone has the required experience or soft skills to be able to perform a job effectively. In addition, I mentioned that the purpose of the certification exam is most often to assess an individual’s ability to answer knowledge-based questions, and does not extend to assessing their ability to use the ERP system to solve real world problems. This brings me to the difference between assessing for knowledge and assessing for competency.
Putting ERP in the palm of your hand
Fifteen years ago, it would have been tough to believe a little device no bigger than your palm would have enough computer power to not only render high-definition videos, but also be able to secure sensitive data with the swipe of a finger and provide access to your corporate network.
Oh, and you would also be able to make phone calls with it.
Today smartphones and mobile devices have evolved so quickly that they are now little offices that you can access anytime, anywhere. In fact, mobility is an area I am personally very interested in because I believe it’s changing society rapidly and offers many business benefits today and into the future.
