The integration of ERP into a logistics curriculum: applying a systems approach

The area of logistics and enterprise resource planning (ERP) have a natural bond in that both deal explicitly with identifying working with business processes. This also generates concerns. For example, typical education and training paradigms implementations are often task‐oriented (scientific management) not process‐oriented (systems management). This creates a paradoxical situation where those taught to work with logistics and ERP systems tend to focus only on and understand a limited role within the business. We examine the process‐oriented versus task‐oriented approach used in a high‐tech manufacturing organization to validate the conjecture. In addition, we propose that students exposed to the integration of ERP topics in their logistics coursework develop more process‐oriented thinking than do those students exposed to more traditional or functional area education. The foundations for a preferred model for ERP education and training are proposed.