Corporations worldwide have focused on improving business processes for the past two decades. In their efforts to enable business processes by using information technology, we have seen the emergence and growth of Enterprise Systems, and more recently Extended Enterprise Systems such as Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM), and Business Intelligence. Most Fortune 500 companies have already adopted Enterprise Recourse Planning (ERP) systems and many midsize companies are planning ERP implementation. With a commitment to keep pace with these changes, the University of Missouri system joined SAP’s University alliance programs in order to continue and expand classroom capabilities of integrating ERP software into their curriculum.

ERP systems can be used to reinforce many of the concepts covered in the business discipline. ERP systems incorporate state-of-the-art technology, providing a comprehensive teaching tool for business and for information systems. Universities that have successfully incorporated a ERP system into their curricula find unprecedented student demand for those subjects. There is also an increasing demand for ERP-related research.

ERP is a combination of business management practice and technology, where Information Technology integrates with a company’s core business processes to enable the achievement of specific business objectives. This program will prepare undergraduate and graduate students for positions as both technical and business consultants in the field of ERP.

Curriculum
A graduate level student may receive an ERP Graduate Certificate from the Information Science and Technology department at UMR by completing four courses, consisting of:

• IST 346/BUS 326 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Design and Implementation
• OR BUS 420 MBA Core
• IST 446/BUS 446 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Configuration and Integration

and two of the following

• IST 345 Use of Business Intelligence
• IST 347/BUS 366 Supply Chain Management Systems
• IST 348/BUS 386 Strategic Enterprise Management
• IST 349 Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Administration

Students with a Graduate Certificate in ERP will be eligible for a Missouri S&T-SAP Certificate, authorized by the SAP Corporation.

Enterprise Resource Planning Courses

• IST 345: Use of Business Intelligence
  Application of "intelligent" techniques from CS (Al, data mining), and OR (stochastic modeling, simulation, forecasting) to business decision-making. Overview of the theory, but with a focus on the application to business problem solving. Use of SAP as a tool to access and present data, search for patterns, and identify exceptions, as well as forecast, optimize, and schedule resources. Prerequisites: Database experience and [IST 346/BUS 326 (previously or concurrently) or BUS 420]
• IST 346/BUS 326: ERP Systems Design and Implementation
  This course provides a technical overview of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems and their impact on organizations. SAP is introduced to illustrate the concepts, fundamentals, framework, general information technology context, the technological infrastructure, and integration of business enterprise-wide applications. SAP's Solution Manager will be used to illustrate the various stages of implementing an ERP solution. Prerequisite: IST 141 or equivalent or permission of the instructor
• IST 347/BUS 366: Supply Chain Management Systems
  The course studies the need for supply chain integration and the challenges of managing complex interfaces. This course focuses on the systems approach to the planning, analysis, design, development, and evaluation of supply chain management. The course discusses activities that lead to integration of information and material flows across multiple organizations in the supply chain including global supply chains. Prerequisite: IST 346/BUS 326 or BUS 420 or [IST 246 previously and IST 346/BUS 326 concurrently].
• IST 348/BUS 386: Strategic Enterprise Management Systems
  This course will study the use of information technology for the formulation and implementation of strategy in the organization. SAP's Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM) will be used to study the development of business plans, definition of key performance indicators, and evaluation of business. SEM's Business Process Simulation will be used to emphasize the role of an integrated business. Prerequisite: IST 346/Bus 326 or BUS 420 or [IST 346/BUS326 concurrently].
• IST 349: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Administration
  System administration and performance monitoring practices for an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system will be studied. Students will install an instance of an ERP system and establish user management attributes and system security. Prerequisite: IST 346/BUS 326 or BUS 420 or [IST 246 previously and IST 346/BUS 326 concurrently].
• IST 446/BUS 426: Enterprise Resource Planning Systems Configuration and Integration
  This course will look at design and implementation practices for business processes in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Course will examine and apply techniques used in SAP R/3 for system configuration and integration with a focus on finance, materials management and sales and distribution modules. Prerequisite: IST 346/BUS 326 or BUS 420 and Graduate standing.
• BUS 420: MBA Core
  This 18 credit hour course is the foundation of the MBA program in the Business Administration Department. It includes substantial ERP exposure, equivalent to the IST 346/BUS 326 course. Prerequisites: There are numerous prerequisites to the MBA program. See the Graduate Catalog.

Planned Regular Schedule

Fall Semester

• IST 346/BUS 326: ERP Design and Implementation Systems
• IST 345: Use of Business Intelligence
• IST 347/BUS 366: Supply Chain Management Systems

Spring Semester

• IST 346/BUS 326: ERP Design and Implementation Systems
• IST 348/BUS 386: Strategic Enterprise Management Systems
• IST 446/BUS 426: ERP Configuration and Integration Systems
• BUS 420: MBA Core

Summer Semester

• IST 349: ERP System Administration

Admission Requirements
A student who completes a Graduate Certificate at Missouri S&T, having earned a grade of "B" or better in each of the certificate courses, may be admitted to the master's degree program in Information Science & Technology. The normal application process will be followed, but the minimum undergraduate GPA and GRE score requirement will be waived. Normal course prerequisites still apply.

Contact
Information Science and Technology
101 Fulton Hall
1870 Miner Circle
Rolla, MO 65409
Phone: 573-341-4184
Email: ist@mst.edu