Supply chain management (SCM) offers business benefits but is a difficult concept to master without the right software support. This dissertation is aimed at academic and IT professionals and SCM decision makers or consultants as it provides insights into SCM software and the leading concepts behind it. A qualitative approach was chosen for answering the research questions which focus on general SCM software principles but also enquire benefits, functionalities and the software architecture of SAP’s SCM 4.1 solution. In addition to that, the differences between what decision makers request and what mySAP SCM 4.1 offers are addressed with the research questions. To answer these research questions, the structure of the dissertation contains a general introduction to SCM software and includes a SCM software market overview. After this part, one major part of the dissertation contains an analysis of the dominant SCM software solution mySAP SCM (Release 4.1). The examination of mySAP SCM 4.1 focuses first on technological aspects (software architecture, technological platform and programming language) before the business benefits and functionalities of this SCM software are examined. After that, the functionalities, business benefits and the architecture of mySAP SCM 4.1 are compared with the SCM software requirements obtained from ten SCM professionals from different industries (automotive, logistics, retail, consumer packaged goods, consulting and education). The analysis of the requirements from SCM decision makers (gathered using a questionnaire) shows that an increase in SCM transparency and a reduction of SCM costs were the main requirements articulated by decision makers. The comparison of the questionnaire with the functionalities, business benefits and the architecture of mySAP SCM 4.1 then illustrates that these requirements can be realised with SAP’s SCM 4.1. Concerning future research in the field of SCM software, it was found out that SCM software will be influenced by the following developments: increasing globalisation together with the internationalisation of SCM, the trend of services oriented architecture and the integration of corporate information systems.
Keywords:
Supply Chain Management (SCM), Supply Chain Management Software, mySAP SCM 4.1, Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Model, Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA), Netweaver
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Problem Relevance
1.2 Problem Definition
1.3 Structure of the Dissertation
2. Literature Review
2.1 Literature in the Field of Supply Chain Management and Logistics
2.2 Literature in the Field of Supply Chain Management Software
2.3 Literature in the Field of General Business and Management
2.4 Literature in the Field of Research Methodologies and Research Design
2.5 Literature Map
3. Research Questions
4. Research Methodology and Methods of Data Collection
4.1 Methodology
4.2 Questionnaire Design
4.3 Data Collection and Analysis
5. Introduction to Supply Chain Management Software
5.1 The Need for Supply Chain Management Software
5.2 The Business Benefits of Using Supply Chain Management Software
5.3 Supply Chain Management Software Design
5.4 Market Overview over Supply Chain Management Software Solutions
6. Analysis of the mySAP SCM 4.1 Software Solution
6.1 Company Profile SAP
6.2 Technological Aspects of mySAP SCM 4.1
6.2.1 Software Architecture
6.2.2 Enterprise Services Architecture
6.2.3 Technological Platform SAP Netweaver
6.2.4 Programming Language behind mySAP SCM 4.1
6.3 Functionalities and Business Benefits of mySAP SCM 4.1
6.3.1 SCM Processes and Business Scenarios
6.3.2 SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization
6.3.3 SAP Inventory Collaboration Hub
6.3.4 SAP Event Management
6.3.5 SAP Business Intelligence
6.3.6 SCM Basis
7. Supply Chain Management Software Requests from Decision Makers
7.1 General Information and Demographic Analysis
7.2 Functionalities offered by mySAP SCM 4.1 and what Decision Makers request
7.2.1 The Use of Standard Supply Chain Management Models and the Acquaintance of Supply Chain Management Software Vendors
7.2.2 Requirements for Supply Chain Functionalities and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.2.3 Requests for Internet related Technology in Supply Chain Management Software and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.3 Business Benefits of mySAP SCM 4.1 and what Decision Makers request
7.3.1 Areas of Business Benefits for Supply Chain Management Software and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.3.2 Business Benefits of SCM software and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.4 Requests for SCM Software Architecture and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.4.1 The Requests and Impacts of Software Architecture on Supply Chain Management and mySAP SCM 4.1
7.4.2 The Impacts of Enterprise Services Architecture on Supply Chain Management and mySAP SCM 4.1
8. Discussion and Interpretation of Results
9. Conclusion
9.1 Summary
9.2 The Future of Supply Chain Management Software
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation investigates the role of supply chain management (SCM) software, with a specific focus on SAP's mySAP SCM 4.1, by comparing the solution's functionalities, architecture, and business benefits against the requirements of SCM decision makers, consultants, and IT professionals.
- General principles and market overview of SCM software.
- Technological analysis of the mySAP SCM 4.1 platform.
- Qualitative research on user requirements via questionnaires.
- Comparison between market-leading software capabilities and industry requests.
- Future trends in SCM software, including global sourcing and service-oriented architectures.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1 The Need for Supply Chain Management Software
As Lau (2005) illustrates, there is a need to react quickly to changes in the business environment and integrate these changes in the SC. Monitoring the SC and the changes in the environment is one of the main functionalities of SCM software. Lau describes this ability to integrate changes as agility which can be measured with four agility characteristics: cooperation to increase competitiveness, enriching the customer, master modifications and uncertainty and influencing the impact of people and information (Lau, 2005). Agility and a high performance SCM are difficult concepts to master but when they are implemented, they are a competitive advantage (White et al, 2003).
Because of that, SCM software is one of the key drivers for success in SCM implementations as SCM complexity cannot be mastered without the right software support. Nevertheless, it must be determined, in which area of the supply chain software that support is needed because SCM software can be categorised into different segments: SCM software solutions supporting supply chain planning (SCP) including demand planning, forecasting, production scheduling and other long term planning activities and SCM software solutions for supply chain execution (SCE) including management of transportation, warehousing, inventory management and order management (Foster, 2002).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the relevance of SCM, the growing market for SCM software, and defines the research scope regarding mySAP SCM 4.1.
2. Literature Review: Provides an overview of existing academic publications concerning SCM, logistics, software, and research methodologies.
3. Research Questions: Outlines the eight central research questions guiding the dissertation.
4. Research Methodology and Methods of Data Collection: Details the qualitative approach, questionnaire design, and data analysis framework used in the research.
5. Introduction to Supply Chain Management Software: Discusses the necessity of SCM software, business benefits, design principles, and provides a market overview.
6. Analysis of the mySAP SCM 4.1 Software Solution: Examines the technological architecture, programming languages, and specific functionalities of SAP's SCM solution.
7. Supply Chain Management Software Requests from Decision Makers: Analyzes the questionnaire data and compares user requirements with the actual features of mySAP SCM 4.1.
8. Discussion and Interpretation of Results: Discusses the findings relative to the research questions while acknowledging the study's limitations.
9. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings and offers insights into future developments in SCM software.
Keywords
Supply Chain Management, SCM Software, mySAP SCM 4.1, Supply Chain Operations Reference Model, SCOR Model, Enterprise Services Architecture, ESA, SAP Netweaver, Supply Chain Planning, Supply Chain Execution, Business Intelligence, Questionnaire, Software Architecture, IT Infrastructure, Globalisation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The work focuses on analyzing SCM software, specifically the mySAP SCM 4.1 solution, by evaluating its technical architecture, business benefits, and alignment with the requirements of industry decision makers.
What are the primary themes of the research?
Key themes include SCM software principles, technical software architecture, data analysis based on professional questionnaires, and the strategic alignment between vendor offerings and market needs.
What is the main objective of this study?
The primary goal is to determine if mySAP SCM 4.1 effectively meets the functional and architectural requirements of SCM professionals and to understand the market success of this solution.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The research adopts a qualitative approach, combining an extensive literature review with the collection and interpretation of primary data gathered through a questionnaire directed at SCM professionals.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main part covers the need for SCM software, SCM design, market trends, and a detailed technical and functional analysis of SAP's SCM solution, including its integration capabilities.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Supply Chain Management, SCOR Model, Enterprise Services Architecture, SAP Netweaver, and Supply Chain Planning.
How does Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) influence SCM?
ESA provides a framework for integrating relatively autonomous software units, enhancing connectivity and reducing total costs of ownership by leveraging internet standards like XML and SOAP.
Why is the SCOR model used as a framework?
The SCOR model is used because it serves as the international standard for defining supply chain processes (plan, source, make, deliver, return), allowing for a standardized analysis of software functionality.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Andreas Weth (Autor:in), 2005, Supply Chain Management Software Requirements and mySAP SCM, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/42920
