COVER STORY

Augmenting the Value of ERP with an Operations Execution System

This article reviews the history behind Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) deployments, how the need to develop an ERP system evolved and why today's business requirements necessitate direct, real-time integration between corporate planning applications and the shop floor, across manufacturing operations - including production, quality and the supply chain network.

© 2007 Apriso, Inc. (www.apriso.com) All Rights Resereved. Reprinted with permission.

E-BANKING

E-Banking : Implementation and Challenges -- A Sarangapani and T Mamatha

In India, banks are increasingly using information technology for improving the quality of customer services and also for better marketing of their products. Thus, the technology has converted the traditional brick-and-mortar banking into e-banking. This article explains the concept of e-banking and highlights all the concerns and challenges while implementing the same.

© 2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved

E-SERVICE

Software as a Service : New Delivery Model -- Prof. Shweta Puneet

The emergence of Internet, e-sourcing, collaborative commerce, extranets and intranets has created a strong demand for software applications.This article focuses on a new delivery model where the software solutions are treated as a service not as a product. This is called as Software as a Service model. This article highlights the advantages of the model and redefines the delivery of software products and its handling.

© 2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved

E-ENVIRONMENT

Electronic Commerce in India : The Evolution of Revolution -- Sumanjeet Singh

The rapid growth of Information Technology (IT) has affected the business landscape significantly and its dominance over the human society is clearly visible. Businesses are increasingly using IT in their operations and today, most activities are done through electronic media. E-Commerce has created a revolution in the way businesses communicate and interact with the customers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of emergence and growth of e-commerce in India. As e-commerce technology offers both opportunities and challenges, the article also highlights the challenges faced by e-commerce in India.

© 2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved

CASE STUDY

McKinsey's Knowledge Management Practices -- Vivek Gupta and Indu P

The case describes the Knowledge Management (KM) practices at McKinsey & Company (McKinsey). Managing knowledge effectively is of prime importance, especially for consultancies like McKinsey which depends heavily on knowledge for their existence and growth. The expertise McKinsey gained over the years was put into optimal use through KM. Knowledge was shared among the firm members through training sessions, seminars, workshops, sharing of the findings of the projects. The other KM efforts that McKinsey undertook included development of centers of competence, practice information system, practice development network and knowledge resource directory. The case examines how McKinsey promoted a culture of knowledge sharing within the firm.

© 2007 The Icfai Center for Management Research. All Rights Reserved. For accessing and procuring the case study, log on to www.ecch.com or www.icmrindia.org.

BOOK REVIEW

E-Democracy Concepts and Practices -- Editor: Santap Sanhari Mishra Reviewed by G P Mrudhula

Democracy is the most healthy and participative form of government system in the world. It encourages collaboration and coordination between public and private systems, and citizens and government. This form of government can be more efficient and effective if managed through the usage of Information and communication technology tools and applications. E-Democracy is an electronic form of democracy enhancing the democratic procedures and processes using the communication technologies. It eases public participation and decision-making process. The book includes articles that describe the process and procedures while emphasizing the importance and advantages of citizen participation in e-democracy.

© 2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved

INTERVIEW

"How to stay lean while extending the supply chain."

In the interview, David Johnston, Senior Vice-President of Supply Chain at Arizona-based JDA Software explains the conflict between lean initiatives and global sourcing and how to maintain a balance between these two competing goals. He also discusses the need for modeling different optimized network strategies for lean projects and the pitfalls companies need to avoid to implement these strategies.

© 2007 Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission from the November 2007 issue of Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies, a Keller International Pubilishing Magazine.