BUS4700

Integrated business systems - SAP R/3

S B Huxford

6 points
* One 2-hour lecture and one 1-hour tutorial per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: None
* Prohibitions: None

Objectives At the completion of this subject students should be familiar with the discrete business units and processes present in most service/product supplying organisations; be familiar with the discrete business systems that support these processes; be able to enumerate and understand the advantages of integrating these discrete systems into an integrated business systems; become proficient (able to operate with minimal supervision) as a user in such an integrated environment through familiarity with a particular environment (SAP R/3); become proficient (able to develop with supervision) as a configuring developer in such an integrated environment through familiarity with a particular environment (SAP R/3); become knowledgeable (understand the main issues and concepts) as a coding developer in such an integrated environment through familiarity with a particular environment (SAP R/3).

Synopsis Some initial discussion will provide background, context and motivation for a more thorough examination of monolithic, off-the-shelf, fully integrated business systems. This discussion will involve enumerating and examining; the business units of a typical product/service provider, the business processes performed by these units and the required interaction between these processes. Typical ad hoc integration of legacy systems will also be described and contrasted with a monolithic, off-the-shelf solution. In order to extend and deepen the discussion of the later type of system the market leader in this area, SAP R/3, will be introduced. The discussion of SAP R/3 will have two benefits. The most immediate will be the acquisition of specific SAP R/3 user and developer skills. At the same time students should accrue a detailed appreciation of the underlying business processes being performed. The examination of SAP R/3 from a user's perspective will proceed along two complementary fronts. First, the functionality of existing application modules (financial, logistical, human resources and workflow) will be detailed. Second, a walkthrough of the most common business processes as they are implemented across several application modules in SAP R/3 will be conducted. The examination of SAP R/3 from a developer's perspective will involve three main topics: the `reference model', development by configuration and development by coding (via the ABAP/4 development workbench). The subject will end with a discussion of planning and implementation issues involved in developing and installing an integrated business system. During lectures extended lecturer/student interaction will be encouraged. Application of subject material to specific industries or companies that the students have been, or are, involved with will bring an increased relevance and depth to the subject.

Assessment One examination: 70%
* One assignment involving a major development task and a research report: 15%
* Three exercises involving minor development tasks (5% each): 15%

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