Architecting for enterprise resource planning

Issue title: Work, Workflow, Information Systems and Enterprise Transformation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Stephenson, Stephen V. | Sage, Andrew P.

Affiliations: Dell Computer Corporation, Austin, TX, USA | Department of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: asage@gmu.edu

Abstract: We introduce an enterprise resource-planning architecture that helps ensure organizational success through operational velocity attainment. Operational velocity is a measure of effectiveness defined as speed in delivering products or services to market meeting all customer expectations in a timely manner, and decreasing time for the appearance of a positive revenue stream as much as possible. This new architectural model, the evolutionary Enterprise Resource Planning Architecture Framework, may be used to enable an enterprise to tailor its organizational process lifecycles by addressing the operational environment throughout its evolution. Operational velocity attainment requires an evolutionary approach to address the operational challenges that will be associated with a new emerging enterprise which is launching new technologies into the marketplace, or with an established mature enterprise seeking to transform itself. The enterprise resource-planning model will vary between organizations and organizational units, since it will need to be tailored to address the specific operational situation extant. The enterprise resource planning model may be used to define the organizational structure of the enterprise and its complementary enterprise resource planning architecture in order to address the operational needs of the enterprise. We focus on five key areas in this effort: operational velocity attainment needs, evolutionary enterprise resource planning model, enterprise resource planning architectures, organizational process lifecycle, and the associated measures of effectiveness.

Journal: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 6, no. 1-2, pp. 81-121, 2007