ERP Software Adoption: A Six-Step Business Decision Making Process

This article discusses the six-step business decision making process for adopting ERP software in a financial service provider company in California, United States. It also highlights the importance of employee interactive sessions for successful implementation.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Business Administration
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BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Discussion
At present I am associated with ABC Company, a financial service provider in California, United
States as an Assistant Marketing Manager. Over past six months the management was keen on
adopting ERP software for bringing ease within the workplace in terms of increased efficiency,
collaboration, scalability, integrated information, cost saving and streamlined processes etc. and
the final decision to adopt a suitable ERP module was taken last monthly meeting. The decision
was based on the six steps of business decision making owing to the involvement of different
activities. The company’s previous performance and periodical financial report was presented by
the COO to highlight the variation between expected and actual outcome for identifying the
reasons behind the differences eventually coinciding with the first step of decision making
process. This according to Allen, Cruz & Warburton (2017) was followed by analysing the cause
behind poor performances in consultation with the managers, which revealed it was the complex
business process further coinciding with the second step. Next, different solutions to address the
problem were tabled such as designing an in-house database system, implementing ERP software
or eliminate manual processes were evaluated coinciding with the third step followed by
selecting the best suitable option, which after discussions was chosen as ERP software fulfilling
all business requirements within an estimated budget coinciding with the fourth step. After
choosing the solution, its application was finalized by engaging an ERP consultant for
implementation and training thus, coinciding with the fifth step. After the project
implementation, feedbacks and performance was evaluated by all managers for measuring the
success of ERP solution adopted finally, coinciding with the sixth step.
According to Wisler (2018) for enhancing the outcome of the meeting it is highly recommended
that an employee interactive session is organized for making the aware about the impending
organizational change and educating them about the benefits they can reap from the project for
winning their trusts and resolving their queries besides immediately addressing their fears on
spot to help them willingly accept the change and significantly contribute in the accomplishment
of the company’s goals and objectives. However, facts related ethical issues, different legal and
regulatory requirements and stakeholder were not identified and discussed during the meeting
hence, failing to pursue the four steps of ethical decision making.
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BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
References
Allen, W., Cruz, J., & Warburton, B. (2017). How decision support systems can benefit from a
theory of change approach. Environmental Management, 59(6), 956-965. Retrieved from:
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0839-y [Accessed on 9 Oct. 2018]
Wisler, J. C. (2018). U.S. CEOs of SBUs in luxury goods organizations: A mixed methods
comparison of ethical decision-making profiles. Journal of Business Ethics, 149(2), 443-
518. Retrieved from: doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3069-y[Accessed on 9
Oct. 2018]
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