1.1 Introduction

Define connectedness and discuss the pros and cons of living in an information-enabled world.

Define enterprise resource planning and describe how a basic ERP system works. Explain how an ERP system functions as a business’s central nervous system.

Define IT enablement and discuss the four critical capabilities that comprise the IT-enablement hierarchy. Be sure to describe how ERP systems enable each capability.

Identify and discuss each route marker in the proven path to IT adoption and implementation. Discuss how these guidelines help you avoid the black holes of IT implementation.

Identify and discuss the game-changing technologies that are going to revolutionize supply chain management over the next decade. Discuss how each will influence how ERP systems are used—they are either contributing data to or pulling data from your ERP’s relational data base.