Erp Northern Digital

Henri Tapio Inkinen
Saint-Petersburg State University
Graduate School of Management
MITIM 2010

Turban E., et al. Information Technology for Management:
Transforming Organizations in theDigital Economy. Wiley; 6th Edition. 2007.
Minicase studies, Chapter 8, #1 & 2 pp. 340-342


#1. ERP Helps Productivity at Northern Digital Inc.

1. Q: For a small company like NDI, why is an ERPbetter than SCM applications?
A: Because the problem was in the internal processes and the customer relations. A small company naturally can easier control its internal than external matters.
2. Q:Identify the supply chain segments that the ERP supports; be specific.
A: Inventories, delivery timing and flow of materials and cash.
3. Q: Relate this case to Porter's value chain and to itscompetitive model. Show the ERP's contribution.
A: ERP helps to deal with bargaining power of suppliers and customers.
4. Q: Enter intuitivemfg.com and report on the capabilities of the company's ERPproduct.
A: By organizing information and automating business processes the ERP software is capable to influence on ERP, CRM, supplier collaboration, business intelligence, e-commerce, extendedenterprise, technology infrastructure.
5. Q: Relate this case to business planning and strategy.
A: Business planning-wise this case shows that ERP really enabled the company to plan their activities withless uncertainties. This is due to better data transfer and communication internally and externally. ERP suports also strategy through improved opearational performance.

#2. QVC Provides Improved CRM1. Q: Enter qvc.com and identify the actions that the company takes to increase trust in its e-business. Also, look at all customer-service activities. List as many you can find.
A: QVC increasestrust in its e-business by allowing every customer to create a pesonal account to their Web system and via that do shopping and track the orders until they are delivered. Further, the Web page is...