Enterprise Resource Planning - Essay Example

Enterprise Resource Planning The essay aims to discuss relevant topics presented in the chapter on resource planning; to specifically include ideas and procedures (MRP, CRP, ERP, CRM and SCM) found most intriguing and to give the reasons why. Resource Planning From among the major topics discussed under Resource Planning, one finds the concepts, theories and applications for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) most intriguing and challenging.

Although the concepts and intricate details discussed under Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) and Capacity Requirements Planning (CRP) are equally crucial in ensuring that the operations of an organization are managed at the most cost efficient manner, the last three concepts identified in the chapter were deemed more challenging because these software programs solicit relevant data and information that affect an organization’s operations both from internal and external sources. ERP, for instance, was revealed to organize and manage the organization’s processes through the sharing of relevant and crucial information across functional areas (Russell and Taylor, 2009, 668).

CRM, on the other hand, is an application of ERP that focuses on customer interaction thereby require expertise and professionalism in managing clientele. This is most challenging because when customers are taken into consideration, there is a need to closely evaluate the profile of the organization’s clients including needs, purchase behavior, buying capacities, among others. There is no exact and constant customer profile as this element changes over time depending on other external factors in the environment that influence it (including the economic status, competition, the 4Ps).

Finally, SCM, which was discussed in detail in Chapter 10 considers a wider perspective from raw materials, to end users including information that influences and affects the activities in the supply chain management. When external factors from the environment need to be continually scanned, reviewed and evaluated in the light of determining how these influence and impact the internal resources of the organization, the operations process becomes more intricate, complex, dynamic, and challenging.

References Russell, R. S., Tech, V. and Taylor, B.W. (2009). “Resource Planning.” Operations Management: Creating Value Along the Supply Chain. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.