Enterprise Applications and Architecture-Dow Corning Corporation Case Study Report
Executive Summary
Dow Corning Corporation undertook a project to implement an ERP into its systems. The company under the leadership of Charlie Lacefield, the company’s Vice President and Executive Director of Business Processes and Information Technology implemented the SAP project. The main drivers for the change to an SAP systems included increased competitiveness in the business environment, financial uncertainties from the Breast Implant crisis facing the company, the need for an integrated systems among others. The SAP project had the aim of reengineering its global workflow processes and increase optimization in the company’s operations. The SAP implementation was successfully due to the support from the top management as well as involving the employees in the decision making process. It resulted to a number of impacts such as improved customer service, reduced cost, improved and ore integrated IT function as well as the need for development of employees’ capabilities for future needs of the company.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary. 2
Introduction. 3
Technical and Business Driver Analysis for ERP. 4
Technical Driver Analysis for ERP. 4
Business Driver Analysis for ERP. 5
SAP Project Analysis. 6
Technical and Organizational Impact of SAP Project 7
Technical Impact of SAP Project 7
Organizational Impact of SAP Project 8
Strategic Implementation and CSF of ERP. 8
Conclusion. 9
References. 9
References. 10
Introduction
The planning, implementations as well as application of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are critical in the operational performance as well as the survival of the firm using the system. Dow Corning Corporation in its efforts to improve its operational performance undertook SAP implementation. The following report involves an analysis of the business and technical environment Analysis of Dow Corning Corporation before its SAP implementation, a description of the SAP projects and its aims and objectives, a discussion of the technical and organisational impacts of the SAP project on Dow Corning Corporation and finally the strategic approach which Dow Corning Corporation took in implementing the SAP project. This report provides information on firms which may want to successfully implement ERP projects into its organization as well as establish existing practice on the ERP implementation in firms.
(I.C. JPS 1832)