Nibco Erp System

The first explanation of why NIBCO wanted to implement an ERP system is because they needed to improve their information technology knowledge and reorganize how they used their information technology. According to Carol Brown, Daniel Dehayes, Jeffery Hopper, E. Martin, and William Perkins, Authors of our textbook, Managing Information Technology Seventh Edition, NIBCO evaluated seven ERP packages to find out which one would suit their needs (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012, p. 471). Another explanation why NIBCO decided to implement an ERP system is because they needed to implement a new system quickly because their business initiatives could not be put on hold (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012). The last reason

There were new staff members who had to put more focus on handling consolidation for the organization and less focus on learning about their new ERP system and the project associated with it. (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012, p. 483). Larry Conn had a quote that summarizes the problem “The new workers who were recently hired at the facilities never had the chance to get involved in the SAP project. They never had training on the SAP project because they were focusing on the consolidation project. You cannot manage two projects at the same time. Distribution workers were not prepared for the SAP project, and we regretted our decision when we saw the consequences.” (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012, p.

The staff need to be prepared to multitask in an efficient manner. This includes keeping the project consultants around for a longer time period until they are sure they are ready to handle their project on their own (Brown, DeHayes, Hoffer, Martin, & Perkins, 2012). The way they can organize two projects is the matrix structure way. According to Thomas L. Wheelen, J. David Hunger, Alan N. Hoffman, and Charles E. Bamford, authors of Concepts In Strategic Management and Business Policy: Globalization, Innovation, and Sustainability Fourteenth Edition, the definition of a matrix structure is “A structure in which the functional forms and product forms work together at the same pace as the organization.” (Wheelen, Hunger, Hoffman, & Bamford, 2015, p. 260). The three reasons why matrix structures can be used include “Ideas need to be mixed together in projects or products, low supply of resources, and the abilities to organize information and come up with decisions need improvement.” (Wheelen, Hunger, Hoffman, & Bamford, 2015, p. 261). My second recommendation involves making sure all staff members receive the same training when it comes to handling the SAP project and the consolidation. If management handles their training appropriately, the organization will move forward. NIBCO is striving to improve, and this will help them make their organization have a bright