Information Systems & Business Skills Portfolio

1.1Introduction
This report has been prepared to discuss Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems within the business environment by analysing three sources of information relating to the same area of business information systems. Sources to be analysed in this report will be as follows:
1)The usefulness of ERP systems for effective management by Spathis et. al. (2003)
2)The ABC’s of ERP: An Executive Primer by Aberdeen Group, Inc. (2004)
3)Discussion of ERP software and its various components in Wikipedia The free Encyclopaedia
1.2Authority of the sources
To analyse sources in terms of authority it is necessary to understand term “authoritative source.” It been explained following in the Informational Systems and Business Skills Module Handbook: “ ‘Authoritative’ i.e. evidence that any discussion, analysis and conclusions presented in each of them are drawn from evidenced research.”
Hickie, (2006)
To understand authority it is important to find evidence of research in above mentioned publications. To understand the validity of mentioned sources it is also necessary to find who are the people and organisations that published the following reports and articles.
Spathis et. al. report “The usefulness of ERP systems for effective management”
This is the most authoritative source in terms that are explained by Hickie (2006). Spathis and Constantinides carried out a survey compiling the data reviewed from forty five people that are or who have been in charge of ERP – systems in Greek and foreign companies operating in Greece. They performed detailed analysis and had in depth discussions based on the research and findings about ERP benefits and the potential disadvantages for the companies that have implemented ERP approxmately for 18 months. They used additional resources to perform this report.
Spathis works for Aristotel’s University in Thessaloniki and Constantinides perform University Studies in Greece. They are not paid to make a favourable / unfavourable conclusions.…