Enterprise Systems Adoption and Analysis: Microsoft Case Study

This report examines Microsoft's implementation of enterprise systems, focusing on the challenges, successes, and metrics used to evaluate the adoption. The report begins with an executive summary and an introduction to enterprise systems and their significance for Microsoft. It then provides a description of the organization and the problems it faced during the ERP implementation, including issues related to training, project management, time management, and costs. The nature of the enterprise systems adopted by Microsoft is discussed, along with the reasons for their selection, highlighting aspects such as modular design, central database, open design, and automated information generation. The report also analyzes the difficulties Microsoft encountered, such as vendor-related issues and employee retention. Finally, it assesses the success of the ERP implementation, discussing key success metrics and their impact on the company's performance. The report concludes with a summary of the findings and references used.

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Enterprise Systems

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Executive Summary
This assignment relates with the enterprise systems in Microsoft who is a multinational
technology company, which works in manufacturing of computer software and several other
electronic systems. The enterprise system adopted by the selected company is discussed in this
report. This is the large-scale software packages that are used to maintain and control all the
operations of the business. The report defines the enterprise system and several other aspects
related to this system. The system is very important for the company and it creates many
opportunities for the business in the market. This report includes several processes used by the
company in the implementation of an enterprise system.

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Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................5
Description of organization and problem faced in the ERP implementation..................................6
Nature of Enterprise systems and the reason for selection..............................................................8
Difficulties faced by the organization in adopting system............................................................10
Successful adoption of the Enterprise systems and various success metrics.................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
This report included the Microsoft aspects that include a brief description of the Enterprise
system. The enterprise system is a type of software that is used by the business to manage and
control the several operations of the business. This is treated as the command hub in the business
and helps in taking several decisions relates to the growth of the business. This system is made of
the business management and manages all the systems and operations of the business. The
Microsoft is used in this report to define the implementation of an enterprise system. The
Microsoft is based on the manufacturing of the software and types of personal computers at the
multinational level. This report includes a description of the company and the problems faced by
the company in the implementation of enterprise systems. This software satisfies the needs of the
organization. The report discussed the proper nature of the enterprise system and the process to
implement them in the organization. The several difficulties faced by the Microsoft are included
in this report. The successful adoption of the system is included in this assessment. The
enterprise software is very beneficial for Microsoft as it provides the business-oriented tools for
the proper management of the business. The collection of computer programs is included in this
software of Enterprise System. This system includes various components like enterprise resource
planning systems, enterprise planning systems and customer relationship management. The
report includes all the information related to the ERP software implementation in the Microsoft

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Description of organization and problem faced in the ERP implementation
Microsoft organization is the multinational company works in computer technology and
increases the overall development of the technology. The organization works in the computer
software and the manufacturing of personal computers. The software-related services are also
used in a particular organization. Microsoft organization founded by Bill Gates in the year 1975.
The best-known software products increase the overall growth of information technology in the
organization. Microsoft is a market-dominant company that works in the manufacturing process
of the computers and laptops (Ann Sykes, 2015). It is a compatible operating system market and
it works in the overall operating system process. The company produces the consumers and
enterprise software for the desktops and laptops. The enterprise system is mostly used in all over
the companies and it increases the ERP process of implementation in the business. Business
process management software manages the financials of the company and includes supply chain
activities (Shatat, 2015).ERP manages the business software and increases the overall
development of the business.
The ERP system faces several challenges in the overall organization and the Microsoft
organization faces many problems in the enterprise systems. This problem can mismanage the
overall system of the business and create many mistakes in the overall enterprise system. The
business becomes more productive by suing ERP systems and it is all about the entrepreneur
process (Chang, et al., 2015). The problems and challenges occurred in the Microsoft due to
enterprise system are discussed below:
 Adequate Training
This is an important challenge faced by the Microsoft in the implementation of ERP
systems. This process degrades the overall productivity of the business. In the process of
the implementation, special training and motivation are important. Microsoft decreases
the profits by the process of the adequate training.
 Proper management of the project
The management of the project is very important to challenge that create many mistakes
in the overall business process (Tarhini, et al., 2015). The implement of the ERP system

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assign the best employees for proper management. This is all related to the employees of
the organization. Microsoft faces the problem related to the proper management of the
project. The proper management used to manage several difficulties in the organization.
 Time implementation
The companies do not understand the value of time in the implementation of ERP system
so the time issues are created in the business. The ERP system needs proper time and
uses a systematic approach in the implementation process and it creates many problems.
Microsoft ERP process faces many issues related to the time management in the overall
business.
 Cost of the implementation in the ERP system
The entire cost of the implementation is related to the overall Enterprise system and the
entire implementation is much greater than the initial costs (Conteh and Akhtar, 2015). If
the customization is greater, the higher will be the cost of the implementation. Microsoft
faces lot of issues related to the cost of ERP system as the cost of ERP create many
difficulties
 Retention of Employees
The employee retention is also a common challenge in the ERP implementation and it is
observed that despite training, the employee leaves the organization and it create the
biggest challenge in the Enterprise systems. The enterprise system used by Microsoft
create many difficulties for the employees and it hampers the overall process of the
company.
 Proper Testing
After the making of the ERP system, the testing is also important and it creates problems
in the overall system. The performance of the system is increased by using proper testing
in the system. Microsoft gives the proper time in the process of testing and it create much
process simple in the business.

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Nature of Enterprise systems and the reason for selection
ERP system is the software, which is very dedicated in the company as it helps in collecting,
coordination and managing the information. It helps in integrating the data of the Microsoft,
which flows across the company, which makes the working of the company easy. In the
Microsoft, there are several activities, which are performed every day so the ERP system helps in
performing those activities in the modular manner (Ajer and Hustad, 2015). ERP system
performs several nature in the company, which is stated below:
Modular design: ERP system has the modular design, which helps in the various distinct actions
such as financial, accounting, manufacturing and distribution. Every department has a different
module, which helps the company in integrating with the proper flow of information (Purohit, et
al., 2012). This modular design provides a high level of transparency in the departments and the
company. Microsoft also follows the modular design, which helps in the several process of the
company.
Central common database: DBMS is essential for the good ERP system as all the departments
of the company use this system. The different modules can also use this as it helps in eliminating
the inherent flaws, which are related to the distributed database. Any risk or the duplicity and
redundancy in the company can be eliminated through DBMS. Microsoft uses the better DBMS
to manage the overall data of the business. The ERP system manages by the Microsoft with the
help of the DBMS.
The open design and flexible: The business environment of the dynamic companies is very
dynamic so the system of the ERP helps in offering flexibility. In the dynamic business nature,
the ERP system helps in responding to the changing needs (Qutaishat, et al, 2012). It helps in
connecting with the other business also and internet-enabled so confined outside the boundaries
of the company. The flexibility in the company creates many differences in the overall process
and Microsoft maintains it environment by providing flexibility to the employees.
Automatic generation of the information: The enhancement of the Microsoft can be done as it
helps in taking the effective decision. This system provides the business intelligence tool in the

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company such as easy warning system, data mining, decision support system, executive
information system, etc. The ERP system increases the overall process of the Microsoft and
improves the profits of the company. If the ERP system is good in the company then it has the
collection of all the business practices (Ranjan, et al., 2016).
There are several reasons behind using the system of the ERP in the Microsoft, which are stated
below:
Integration financial information: All the financial information of Microsoft are integrated
with this system so helps the financial department on relying the separate system such as sales,
finance, etc. the revenues and the expenses of the different departments are easily integrated
through this system (Elraga land Haddara, 2012).
Providing insight from customer information: The tool ERP that includes the customer
relationship management tracks the customer interaction. The needs and the behavior of the
customers analyzed through this system as the things related to the deliveries, orders, service
request, etc. The Microsoft Company mainly uses the customer information improved by the
ERP system and it.
Efficiency level increases: ERP platform was integrated into one by the different business
processes such as marketing, production, sales, accounting and inventory. With the help of the
ERP system, it bacons easier to access the data and collect the data across the company of
Microsoft and workflows also streamlined across the cross- departmental.
Data security also increases: The Company Microsoft also uses this ERP system as it helps in
increasing data security. The data breach in the company can be protected through the ERP
solution as they have restrictions control and the firewalls, which guard.
Forecasting also becomes easier: It helps in forecasting regarding the future and helps in
enhancing the data integrity as ERP gives the solution to the company regarding the disparate
business-standard solutions (Leonard and Higson, 2014). The sensible range of outcomes is
estimated regarding the future through this system so the company Microsoft uses this system.
Helps in reducing the operational costs: The cost in the Microsoft can be cut down when the
process is properly monitored ad streamlined. The things are properly managed in the company

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and they are monitored properly so that boost can be cut down and the disruptions can be
managed in a better way.
Complete customization: Modular makeup is one of the greatest advantages of the ERP system,
through which the company uses this system in the company. As per the needs of the business,
several applications are implemented in the Microsoft, which was offered by the ERP vendor.
Customer service: Many customers do not know about the ERP system but still they receive the
benefits of the ERP system. This system helps in maintain the customer relationship as it is
streamlined and centralized. The retention of the customers and the acquisition of the customers
are also by the ERP system.
Supply chain management also improves: The supply chain management of the Microsoft also
boos up thorough this ERP system as it helps in moving the inventory and production in the
effective way (Lokuge and Sedera, 2014). The deliveries are made on time and demand
forecasting can be improved which also enhances in improving the performance of the company.

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Difficulties faced by the organization in adopting a system
There are certain challenges, which were faced by the Microsoft while implementing the ERP
system in the company. If the implementation is not effective in the company then it results in
declining the performance. So certain challenges faced by the company are stated below:
ERP vendors: If the Microsoft wants to achieve higher growth then they have to productive
gains so that they can compete in the competitive environment. It is important to evaluate the
previous projects of the vendors so that while implementing the ERP application in the market
the Microsoft does not has to face many problems (de Vries, et al., 2014).
Adequate training: Resentment of the employees is very common in Microsoft to implementing
of the ERP system so the productivity of the process gets affected and the company can lead to
degradation. Before implementing the ERP system, it is important to give the proper training to
the employees so that they could remain in the company.
Implementation Time: The time of the implementation of a system is very essential in the
Enterprise system. Several companies do not even realize the time consumption of an ERP
system. Microsoft also faces difficulties regarding the time of the implementation and it creates
many problems in the overall organization. The handling of the process is very important. Time
is a very essential part of the ERP system (Eden, et al., 2014). The company needs are related to
the overall organization. The implementation time is one of the main difficulties occurred in the
process of the implementation time of Enterprise system so the organization needs to manage
them properly.
Employee Retention: The employee retention also occurs in the process of the enterprise system
as the implementation of an enterprise system is very important but it shows too many
difficulties for the employees. Due to this process, employee retention is continuously increased
and creates many problems in a specific organization. All the process of the enterprise system is
necessary for the employee itself and it creates several hurdles in the organizational process,
therefore, the employee retention is increased in the process and implements several problems in
the organization (Venkatraman and Fahd, 2016).

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Proper Testing: The testing is the essential process in the enterprise system because it is
essential to check that the system is properly working or not. However, the testing is a very
difficult task and it is included in one of the main difficulties of the enterprise system. The
testing is very important as without testing no one can process the overall system. The testing of
any software is an important process (Elmonem, et al., 2016). Microsoft needs to do proper
testing of the enterprise system before implementing the system in the business to get rid of any
types of difficulty occurred in the business.