Research Project: Prepare a report evaluating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. You are the Chief Operations Officer of Grem Wif University (GWU), a medium sized, regional university has experienced a 2% growth in enrolments every year for the last decade. The university has 20,000 students, 2000 staff, over $1 billion in revenues and operates over three campuses. The university has significantly and positively impacted the regions where it is located. In your role you are responsible for ICT services. The number of legacy systems across campus has adequately served GWU in the past, but with growth in enrolments and the number of courses offered, the university has significantly increased the number of faculty, support staff and services. Currently, the core applications of moodle, excel, web self service and legacy administration systems are used. In recent meetings with the Vice Chancellor (VC), you and your staff have responded to a number of concerns and problems from Deans, heads of divisions, staff and students. As you have pointed out, universities have unique technology challenges, such as an open technology environment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You have also mentioned that GWU have other factor4s that impact the effectiveness of IT services – such as the regional location, the rapid growth, and the changing political landscape. You reminded the VC that your ICT staff were working on a number of major technology initiatives including advanced media technology for incorporation into student education systems, email and networking consolidation and streamlining help-desk and customer care services. Last week the VC arranged to have a meeting with you as she wanted to ask your opinion about technology. In the discussion, the VC reflected on the growth of GWU and wondered out loud if the university might be at a stage of maturity where it should consolidate the entire technology infrastructure of the university. In particular, she asked whether GWU should purchase an ERP system. You weren't prepared to discuss this question in great depth and agreed to do some research that you would present in a couple of weeks. When you returned to your office you scheduled a meeting with your staff to discuss and to assign different parts of the research project. You reminded your staff that you had limited time in which to prepare the executive summary. Required: a. Search the Internet and find ERP solutions that might be suitable for a university such as Grem Wif University (GWU). What are the primary modules for this type of ERP? Briefly describe the functions of each module. b. What business processes would most likely be affected if GWU implemented an ERP? c. There is an expectation that costs and benefits (both tangible and intangible) will be outlined. Although you don't have any dollar amounts, identify some typical costs and benefits that you should include in your executive summary. d. Should you use consultants? If so, what type of support should you expect from them? e. Search the internet – can you find an expected timeline for implementation of an ERP at a university? Do you think you should include a possible timeline in your report to the VC? Why or why not? f. Write down the executive summary which include the costs and benefits Question Two (5 marks) MargB is a regional manufacturer and wholesaler of high-quality chocolate candies. The company's sales and collection process is as follows. MargB makes use of an enterprisewide information system with electronic data interchange (EDI) capability. No paper documents are exchanged in the sales and collection process. The company receives sales orders from customers electronically. Upon receipt of a sales order, shipping department personnel prepare goods for shipment and input shipping data into the information system. The system sends an electronic shipping notice and invoice to the customer at the time of shipment. Terms are net 30. When payment is due, the customer makes an electronic funds transfer for the amount owed. The customer's information system sends remittance (payment) data to MargB. MargB's information system updates accounts receivable information at that time.