Q&A: Software in Supply Chains
Here is a diagram (sap scm) showing the different software modules used in supply chain management (per a leading I/T supplier – SAP).
Based on this, do you think MIS professionals need to understand supply chains? Why or why not?
Based on the diagram, I believe that MIS professionals do indeed need to understand supply chains, because by understanding the supply chains of a company, you can create ERP’s and information systems more accurately to suit a company’s needs. As Professor Shafer told our class last semester, MIS professionals should know all aspects of a supply chain, as by understanding the products network to get to where it needs to be, it makes for MIS professionals to become accurate and efficient in doing their jobs.
It is crucial for MIS professionals to understand SC. As in the diagram, you can see that all the functions needed to be understood in order to design software improving the SC. Many processes with the SC are affected by the SAP so if MIS professionals can have a thorough understanding of SC, it will help them to create a better solution. At the end of the day, you need to understand how things work (technologies behind it) to implement a solution to improve and resolve problems.
After reviewing the article, it is obvious that MIS professionals need to understand and be involved in the supply chain. The software systems, such as SAP, used within a supply chain, is technical and important to the efficient functioning of the business. MIS professional can help implement a well-fitting program to assist with the supply chain responsibilities. Each department or step of the supply chain is crucial to the flow of the product/service and having control and knowledge is key.
MIS professionals need to understand the supply chain that they are a part of because properly formatting SAP with data that is the best fit for the supply chain that it is for. The more MIS professionals know about what and how the product’s process from start to finish, the better off they are at finding solutions that may be presented. A successful ERP system creates a comprehensible flow of information that can be read by someone that is outside of the MIS department with the full understanding that an MIS professional would have about the business per the system. The importance of the ease of understanding is paramount and understanding the supply chain is an important step in creating the system that satisfies that is an important step.
In the modern world of supply chain, many systems are involved to track the several components throughout. MIS professionals need to be able to understand the process of creating a product from start to finish in order to have a better scope of problems that they could potentially face. Included in the diagram is SAP’s supply chain system. The four main steps of supply chain are included at the top. The different components of SAP’s SC system are assigned according to these basic SC processes. So having rigid knowledge of queries and systems will not allow an MIS professional to effectively evaluate problems on a broader scale. A person in MIS with this type of knowledge must combine supply chain knowledge to become a fully rounded professional.
After looking at the diagram provided, I believe that it is crucial for MIS professionals to understand the supply chain. The supply chain is complex; events take place in every stage that provide necessary and useful data. By understanding the way a supply chain flows and what data is produced, we have a better understanding of how a IT system for the supply chain should be configured. Without the knowledge of supply chain operations, it would be difficult for the MIS professional to determine what data needs to be captured in the ERP system. Obtaining the right data will be useful once it comes to analyzing and creating insights around the companies operations.
MIS professionals need to understand supply-chain solutions because there are many different models and methods to adapt to the type of organization (or task at hand). An MIS professional must also understand how the supply chain adapts to the I.T. system and be able to visualize the order of operations needed to plan the correct supply chain for the organization. For example, with Crocs, they needed a different supply chain method than a competitor like Nike, due to their organizational culture differences. From this, an I.T. system could be designed to adapt to that organization’s culture, which requires an understanding of the supply chain system.
MIS professionals absolutely need to understand SC solutions of the company they work for. Supply Chain is an essential part in today’s businesses and how effective they are. The 5 circled modules in SAP’s solution model says it all. Supply network planning, production planning, demand and transportation planning, detailed scheduling, and global ATP are all crucial parts of SAP’s business and how they create profits. MIS and Supply Chain are very similar so if a MIS professional doesn’t understand this module than they are going to have an extremely hard time providing the company with useful analysis. An MIS professional will not be able to do his job correctly if this solution is foreign to him.
It is important that MIS professionals understand the different aspects of supply chains because of their deep level of integration. A company’s supply chain and various IT systems have a symbiotic relationship. Both business components have affects on one another, and professionals specializing in each function need to understand this in order to maintain smooth and efficient business operations. An IT can enable more efficient supply chain management and monitoring, while a supply chain influences the accuracy and structure of an IT system.
After examining the diagram, it is clear that MIS professionals need to understand supply chain solutions. Supply chain systems like SAP contribute to the successfulness and efficiency of many aspects of a company. SAP is well-known for its data management and ERP systems. MIS professionals regularly use ERPs to improve business operations and are able to see what is happening within the company in real time. Time is a very important part of supply chain. With an effective ERP, the supply chain can be much more proficient, which will help the company overall.
It is absolutely essential for MIS professionals to understand the supply chain. IT professionals need to know how to transfer the information from module to module. There are several parts of the supply chains such as procurement, distribution, and sales. Each of these sectors need to know the same information to make sure they are all on the same page and accurate. The IT professionals are in charge of making sure the transfer of information is correct and efficient. Without IT systems, the inventory systems would not be accurate which is necessary for customers to understand if they can make a purchase or not.
Based on the diagram, it is crucial for MIS professionals to understand supply chains. To understand information and the systems involved with a company, an MIS professional has to understand where the information fits in the company. By understanding the supply chain and the moving parts, there is a greater understanding for the entire workspace as a whole process. From Procurement to Sales, the process is vital for any professional in the company to understand. For example, if there is a problem in Distribution, by understanding the entire supply chain you are at an advantage to see the entire picture instead of a one piece to the problem.
It is absolutely a must for MIS professionals to understand supply chain concepts and how they operate. According to the diagram, we see how every single piece of a supply chain is somehow connected to other pieces. By understanding the dynamic that takes place with supply chains, a MIS professional is better equipped to make decisions regarding the SAP design and performance. The importance of a MIS professional to understand supply chains is higher now that most processes are somehow dependent on technology and on its performance.
MIS professionals must understand supply chains when they design the SAP SCM solutions. Without a deep understanding of a firm’s supply chain, it will be impossible for the MIS professionals to design the SAP system because SAP system needs to build various tables and it is hard to build right table without talking to employees who work in their particular part of the supply chain. Also, if the MIS professionals do not have a great understanding of SCM, they are most likely to make some mistakes in designing or implementing SAP. When this happens, it is very expensive and time-consuming to go back and fix it.
As an MIS professional, you need to understand, collectively, the information technology and business operations. As is evident in the SAP supply chain management module, all of the aspects in the diagram require information technology to run smoothly. MIS professionals design, operate, and maintain software that manages all of the incoming and outgoing essential data. In order to be successful, it is critical that they understand the supply chain of the company. MIS professionals also use the aid of swim lane diagrams and entity relationship diagrams to gain a better understanding of the flow of the business’s operations.
It is very important for MIS professionals to understand the supply chain of their client’s business. So they can build an efficient information system for their clients. The developer and others involved must understand the goals and how their clients share information within the company supply chain operation. Technology is what brings a whole organization together to help make the business efficient. The better a MIS professional understands the business, the better the technology solution.
MIS professionals must have full knowledge of supply chains of the business they support. The software modules aim to promote information flow through business processes for better decision makings by providing critical data in each stage and all aspects that need attention. For the SAP SCM modules, understandings of supply chains improves the systemic thinking when MIS professionals design and update. Dynamics in each parts are interactive and impacting the system as a whole. MIS professionals should thoroughly understand where business needs help with to be able to well balance the system.
Based on the diagram showing the different software modules used in supply chain management, I strongly believe that MIS professionals need to understand supply chains. MIS professionals can create ERP and information systems more accurately to suit a company’s needs by understanding the supply chain of a company. These MIS professionals use ERP to improve business operations. Without the knowledge of supply chain operations, it would be difficult for the MIS professional to determine what data needs to be captured in the ERP system. If the MIS professional does not have a great understanding of supply chains, mistakes will most likely be made in the design and/or implementation of the system. If this were to happen, the company can expect to spend lots of time and money to fix it.
MIS professionals definitely need to know about the Supply Chain. Someone creating a program like an ERP system has to be proficient in the area that they are creating the software for. Without SC knowledge, they would be relying on research only rather than research and experience.