Migrating to a Standardized ERP System in a Cloud Computing Environment at ABC Corporation

Barbara Ferneyhough
Managerial Applications of Information Technology – IS535 (ON) Section B
DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management
December 11, 2011

Course Project Example used with permission from student
Migrating to a Standardized ERP System in a Cloud Computing Environment at ABC Corporation
Proposal
Topic
This proposal discusses the use of multiple financial systems throughout ABC Corporation (ABC), the impact that this has upon effective corporate operations and proposes a solution. ABC maintains four different ERP systems (BaaN, PeopleSoft, SAP and Deltek) and a financial consolidation system (Hyperion) across all of its divisions leading to increased IT costs as individual systems must be procured, maintained, and manipulated to provide financial data in a format that is meaningful to the home office for reporting and strategic management purposes. Not only is this a potentially inefficient use of technology, the use of a non-standardized system impacts the ability of management to obtain, manipulate and interpret critical data elements for strategic planning purposes and regular performance monitoring.
Problem
The business problem to be solved is how to improve operational efficiencies, reduce IT costs, and improve insight into the financial management aspects of the company for improved strategic planning and performance monitoring.
Approach
Determine if a single ERP platform set in a cloud computing environment will effectively reduce IT costs, improve the financial reporting process, and improve strategic planning and performance monitoring efficiencies across an international, professional services company that has over 52,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

Methodology
Through the use of subject matter experts