Small Business ERP Software Development

This document details the development of an ERP software solution specifically designed for small businesses. It outlines the process of addressing data quality issues through user surveys and database modifications. The assignment highlights the use of a local server-based database for cost-effectiveness and collaboration within a team environment. It also summarizes project achievements, contributions made by the author, and lessons learned during development.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 3
AMIR FAGHIH LARIJANI

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Small Scale ERP Engine Design
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The basic idea was to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. I had
set up the idea to use the project with the idea of it to be low in cost for the consumers, dynamic
for the users and to have a simple user interface to make it user friendly. These are the three
major attributes for the implementation of a good ERP software system. With the addition of
being dynamic and user friendly the system should also have the capacity of financial
capabilities in it. The project had been implemented with the use of rapid prototyping procedure.
This helped in the development of the best quality project in the form of an ERP software. The
idea of the project had been taken into concern due to the reason of high demand of a low cost
ERP software in the market.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
For the development of the project I had set out the following set of objectives for the
delivery of the best quality project:
 To make it low cost, dynamic and user friendly in nature.
 To make it usable for small business users
 To make it simple for the use in universities as a tool for teaching students.
 To implement the use of rapid prototypic procedures
 To use relational data base in a local data server for the software.
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
For the project I had worked on the implementation of design structure for the software. I
had helped in the designing of the complete data base module of the software which is to store
the important data of the software. As the software is targeted for the use in small businesses the
software makes use of a local data base. This would help in the management of the data easily
and sharing over the local network among the users of the software. I had also helped in the
compilation of the project documentation at the end of the project completion.

CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: Team Member associated in this project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had helped in the development of the data base schema and the complete data base for
the project. I had also helped in the designing of the user interface for the project. The designing
had to be made simple so as to make it user friendly in nature. I had taken care of the data base to
make it local based. This has been decided because of the software to be used in a small business
environment. At the end I had also helped in the compilation of the documentation of the project
report consisting of research and the process use for the implementation of the project.

CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
I had divided the complete software implementation into different modules. This helped
in the completion of the work step by step. The modules which I had used are Login & Multiple
User Types, MRP Table Outputs, Financial Reporting, Engineering Changes of Product
Structure, and Advisory System for Past Due Orders, Ergonomics and User-Friendliness, Data
Input and Maintenance and Platform Switch. These modules were assessed in the form of first
design and then followed with the making of complete project. I had followed the process of
rapid proto typing phases which helped in the making of the project in a better way.
CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had applied the skills of industrial engineering which I had gained from my experience
in different field of work. I had also done some of the research on the aspect of the
implementation of an ERP system for small scale business model. This helped me to understand
the specifics which I needed to consider into my system for the following of the project
objectives. For the development of the project system four major Industrial Engineering topics
needed to be followed. The topics which I had followed were Knowledge of the MRPII Business
Model, Microsoft Access coding skills, financial analysis techniques, and highly user-friendly
GUI.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
I had worked on the project designing phase. I had created the different forms and data
base tables. I had slowly worked into the complete system of the project. I had followed the
module system which I had devised for the completion of the designing and the data base

connection phase of the project. Along with these I had also implemented the use of rapid proto
typing process into the system. I had used this system because each of the modules being
developed were both intricate as well as complex. This helped in the assessment of all the
elements that is to be required for the system to be working properly.
Figure 2: the basic diagram which had been followed for the development of the project
I had also conducted survey from different ERP software users to understand the best
possible modules for the development of the software. I had also conducted research on the use
of the financial qualities which needs to be assessed based on the data that is being inserted and
stored into the system.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
The issue which I had faced during the testing phase of the system project was the
problem with the data base connectivity. Another problem which I had faced was the problem
with the quality of the data being used and what would be the important data to store in to the
data base for the system to process.

3.3.4.2 Solutions
The solution to the problem in the testing phase of project was due to not using the
correct login credentials for the connectivity of the software with the data base. The solution for
the data quality issue was easily found. I had conducted a survey of different small scale business
of what are the best details to store in the data base. Based on this research I had changed the
data base and the forms which were being used in the software.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had applied the use of a local server based data base. This had been used because the
software has been targeted for the use in small business and incur a low amount of cost. If these
are to be followed the best process is to use a local server based data base storage. The data base
can be connected from different system computers and store the data into one single data server.
CE 3.3.6 Collaborative work
I had collaborated with my team members to complete the project within the given
deadline. I had helped in the following of the objectives of the project in correct order. I had also
received help from our project supervisor. I had initiated most of the team meetings with my
supervisor for the discussion about the progress of the project. I had also taken the initiative to
discuss about the issues which I was facing during the implementation of the project.
CE 3.4 Project Review
CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
At the end of the project I was able to share with my team members a simple and user
friendly in nature. During our research it has been found that many of the ERP software

implementation fails. This has been found due to the selection of a wrong business environment
choice. It has been found that there are no ERP software’s which would be able to provide the
objectives which we had set forward for our project. All the objective which had been set
forward during the initiation of the project had been met. Many techniques had been learned in
the course of the development of the project. The project had been completed within the given
deadline and had followed the working timeline. The team for the project was able to learn
effective teaching tools and was able to expand into different domains.
CE 3.4.2 My contribution to work
I had contributed to the working of the project with help in the designing phase of the
project. I had worked on the implementation of the data base of the project. I had applied the
knowledge which I had gained from my previous two project experience. I had used a local data
base storing option where the data can be collected from different sources and stored in one
location. This would make the management of the data base better and as the system is to be
made for the use in small business, the local server usage would help in cost management.