Teaching ERP Systems: Results of a Survey at Research-Oriented Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany

1. MOTIVATION Today, standardized enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are being used in a majority of enterprises. For example, more than 92 percent of all German industrial enterprises use ERP systems (Konradin, 2009). Due to this strong demand, there are many ERP systems with different technologies and philosophies available on the market. Therefore, the ERP market is strongly fragmented, especially when focusing on systems that target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (Winkelmann, 2010; Winkelmann & Klose, 2008). The growing multitude of software manufacturers and systems is making it more and more difficult for enterprises that use or want to use ERP systems to find the "right" software and then to hire the appropriate specialists for the selected system. Also, for future investment decisions concerning the adoption, upgrade, or alteration of ERP systems, it is important to possess the appropriate, specialized knowledge and skills in the enterprise (Winkelmann & Matzner, 2009). This is essential since errors during the selection, implementation, or maintenance of ERP systems can cause financial disadvantages or disasters, leading to insolvencies of the affected enterprises (e.g., Barker & Frolick, 2003; Hsu, Sylvestre & Sayed, 2006). In order to prevent this, it is necessary for universities to transfer specialized knowledge to their students and graduates through, in particular, courses in the field of information systems (Venkatesh, 2008). Therefore, ERP systems have been used in the academic world for more than a decade. Because of the increasing importance of ERP systems and their educational value, many universities use or want to apply ERP systems practically in courses (Seethamraju, 2007) in order to teach and demonstrate different concepts and processes (Magal & Word, 2009). To support these courses, some ERP manufacturers co-operate closely with universities and offer their systems and resources for academic teaching. One of the goals of using ERP systems in courses is to prepare students for their career by giving them at least an introduction to ERP systems. A further goal, promoted by ERP manufacturers themselves (especially by making their systems available for university courses), is for students to learn about the products as early as possible since later they, as graduates, will work with these systems or will hold enterprise positions that influence ERP investment decisions. Therefore, it is necessary for universities to offer the appropriate systems, processes, and suitable courses for their students (Brehm, Haak & Peters, 2009; Fedorowicz, Gelinas, Usoff & Hachey, 2004; Winkelmann & Leyh, 2010). The need to provide this knowledge through university courses and, above all, the possibilities of using these systems themselves in courses are frequently discussed in literature (e.g., Antonucci, Corbitt, Stewart & Harris, 2004; Boyle, 2007; Boyle & Strong, 2006; Fedorowicz et al., 2004; Hawking, McCarthy & Stein, 2004; Leger, 2006; Leyh, 2010; Leyh, Strahringer & Winkelmann, 2012; Peslak, 2005; Sager, Mensching, Corbitt & Connolly, 2006; Stewart, Rosemann & Hawking, 2000; Winkelmann & Leyh, 2010). These discussions clearly point out that ERP systems are or should be an important component of university curricula in information system-related subjects and courses. However, this is not a trivial task, as Noguera & Watson (1999) discuss. Because there is no standardized approach, the choice of systems and their number, as well as the structure and number of ERP courses, differ from university to university (Seethamraju, 2007). For example, for teaching the respective systems, the lecturer has to be familiar with the system's concepts and its practical usage. Thus, the choice of one or more ERP systems for a course strongly depends on the knowledge and experience of the lecturers themselves. Additionally, the variety of ERP systems used in courses is limited by the manufacturers' willingness to provide their systems. …