Learning SAP on ITMOC
Published 19 July 2007
Martin Gollogly, UK Head of University Alliances at SAP, visited Lancaster’s MSc IT, Management and Organisational Change (ITMOC) programme recently to deliver a presentation on implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
SAP's Martin Gollogly describing SAP implementation issues
Martin's visit marked the end of ITMOC's redesigned Systems Analysis and Design module. He talked to students about a number of previous SAP implementations, and described some of the key issues to consider when introducing SAP in organisations. He also gave his views on how the Enterprise Resource Planning market place would develop inthe future. Following the Q&A session that concluded his presentation, Martin remarked on how impressed he was with the quality of the questions put by the ITMOC students.
As part of the Systems Analysis and Design module, students were introduced to SAP software. In one of Lancaster’s newly refurbished computer laboratories, ITMOC students were taught how to use and configure SAP software. SAP is the third largest software vendor in the world and SAP knowledge and experience is highly sought after by both users of SAP and by large professional services and consulting firms such as Accenture. Since SAP experience is usually extremely difficult to obtain prior to graduation, ITMOC students gain a significant advantage in the job market.
ITMOC students learning SAP on the Systems Analysis and Design module
Lectures on the module examined many well-known and exotic approaches to systems analysis and design. A review of both is important, given how IS and IT have become an integral part of organisational activities. Yet only 15% of systems succeed – the remaining are technical failures (20%) or "socially challenged" (65%).
The module introduced the key approaches to analysis and design. Case studies were used to exemplify and reinforce both the strengths and weakness of various approaches. In relation to ERP systems such as SAP, the module helped students to appreciate the nature and malleability of external software systems as an important part of the high risk and high return of application-driven approaches to systems analysis and design.
