Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Higher Education Context: Functionalities and Characteristics

Abstract

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) vendors in Higher EducationInstitutions (HEIs) rapidly get a new market opportunity as a result of computerized business activities. Enhancements or mere adaptations of these solutions, which derived from business sector experience were not continuously effective. The article focuses on the field of ERP systems and their use in HEIs covering universities, faculties and independent institutions of higher education. Furthermore, new technological advances have placed HEIs into challenging competition while their financing concurrently has been repeatedly declined. As a result of these increasing pressures, there has been a necessity for HEIs to improve operational efficiency and to decrease resources reduplication by applying advanced information systems that span the institution and develop their practices. Accordingly, HEIs have concentrated their efforts to adopt and implement ERP systems. The purpose of this paper is to enhance the discussion on the meaning of ERP systems especially in higher education context by focusing on the characteristics generally attributed to ERP and indicates how ERP is in Business and Its Characteristics as compared to ERP system in Higher Education. Finally, the paper tries to shed light on ERP functional and non-Functional requirements in the higher education context.