Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, students will be expert both on the functioning and on the information architecture of modern Information Systems, especially regarding the core modules and the information flows of ERP and APO systems. Also, they will understand how the integration of such systems makes it possible to practically implement the so-called “process oriented management”.
Applying knowledge and understanding
Students will develop the skills needed to compare in relative terms the capabilities of the different solutions available on the market and to prepare a detailed technical specification for the acquisition of an information system.
Making judgments
Students will be able to assess the strategic, tactic and operating impact related to the adoption of an information system.
Communication skills
Students will acquire the vocabulary and the acronyms related to the information systems (such as relational and object oriented Data Base, Data Warehouse, OLAP, ERP, SAP, SCEM, etc.). They will also be able to communicate such concepts both in conceptual terms, or making use of logical schemes, flow charts and pseudo-codes.
Learning skills
The expertise developed by the students will be enough to fully understand specialized literature and technical materials.
Prerequisites
Although there are no compulsory prerequisites, students are advised to have passed the following modules of the BsC course in Management Engineering: (i) Basic information science, (ii) Management Accounting and (iii) Production Management.
Course unit content
To be competitive in the today global marketplace, companies must overcome the traditional tradeoff in terms of Efficiency Versus Effectiveness. To this aim, internal processes must be rethought and managed in an optimized way, aiming to eliminate all non-value-added activities. In this respect, the use of Management Information System (MIS) capable not only to automatize operations, but also to support operations planning, has become a must for competitiveness.
This part of the course belongs to this area of research and introduces the conceptual architecture of MIS.
Specifically, the structure and the information flows (administration and finance, logistics and production) of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Advanced Planning and Optimizer (APO) are illustrated an analyzed in details. Next the informational systems are introduced, focusing especially on data-warehousing and data-mining.
Full programme
1. Introduction
1.1 Basic concepts on MIS
1.2 The impact of computer and information management in business management
1.3 The evolution of the MIS: from legacy systems to modern APO
2. The structure of ERP system, the SAP R/3 case
2.1. General features
2.2. Customer Order Management Module
2.3. Sales and Operations Planning Module
2.4. Material Management Module
2.5. Hints on ERP for management accounting
3. Extending ERP to the supply chain: APO and SCEM system
3.1. Limits of the sequential planning approach (MRP + CRP), the APO solution
3.2. A brief introduction of the SCC DP APS and TP/VS modules
3.3. Event Management and the concept of visibility
4. Informational Systems
4.1. The multidimensional model of data
4.2. Data-warehousing solutions
4.3. OLAP and OLTP technologies
4.4. Hints on Datamining systems
Bibliography
Pighin M., Marzona A., Sistemi Informativi Aziendali Struttura e Processi, Pearson Education, Italia, 2011
Dickersbach J.T., Keller, G. Production Planning and Control with SAP ERP, Galileo Press, Usa, 2010
Teaching methods
The topics of the course are explained by means of lectures, most of which will be based on relevant business cases.
Assessment methods and criteria
To assess the understanding and mastering of conceptual topics (on MIS), an individual horal examination (lasting around 30 minutes) is requested. Theoretical questions as well as discussions concerning the analysis of practical industrial cases will be asked to the students.
Other information
Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. However, students will be provided with studying material and printable copies of the slides projected during each lecture.
