This set of web based exercises is designed for students taking the Computer Literacy course designed for business majors.

SAP™ belongs to a special class of computer tools called Enterprise Resource Planning programs. The nature of these programs is quite different from other computer tools. They are unbelievably complex and not especially user friendly. However they are the preferred system for managing large enterprises. You will have to work with them in most businesses. Since they deal with all of the practical aspects of business processes they can be an excellent way to see how businesses really work. It is because of this practical detail that they are introduced early in your business education. You will return again and again to SAP in advanced courses to learn the application of more advanced techniques. There is a major in Enterprise Management Technologies in the Kania School of Management if you want to really specialize in this fast growing field.

We will not even try to explain everything that shows up on the screen in this orientation. SAP is not a watered-down version of the real business system. Because it integrates all business processes you will see many things you do not undertstand initially. Just think of these mysteries as goals to be achieved eventually.

Where SAP fits into the Scheme of Things

Computer System Functions

You need to be able to recognize the differences in these types of programs or systems. Be prepared to explain what is different about these systems and how they run on computers and networks.

1. 
   • Doom--A shoot-em-up combat game for one or more players.
   • Solitaire--A boring way to waste time.
   • Pinball--Some people are addicted to these advanced time wasters.
2. 
   • Encarta--Where to start looking things up if you can spell.
   • Netscape--Key to the internet.
3. 
   • Word--Microsoft's standard for word processing.
   • Excel--Organize your thinking with spreadsheets.
   • Access--PC oriented database software.
   • Powerpoint--Your security blanket for presentations.
   • Cakewalk--Sequencing software for musicians.
   • Fireworks--Creates graphics for web pages.
   • e-mail--How did we live without it.
   • Calendars--So everyone can see when you take the afternoon off.
4. 
   • SPSS--Professional results from statistics, assumes you know something.
   • MAPLE--Solves those nasty equations for you.
5. 
   • SAP--The standard in ERP systems.
   • Peoplesoft--Another ERP system.
6. 
   • IIS-- An example of a Business Web Server from Microsoft.

A smart business student knows about all these systems before she graduates.

Business Needs

Think of a relatively simple business where customers order things from you. It doesn't matter whether you have a store in the mall, mailorder or e-commerce operation. What do you need to control your business? You need to guide the actions you and your customers take, and, you need an accurate record of what is going on.

You need to:

• Identify who the customer is.
• know what merchandise is available.
• record the sale.
• ship the merchandise.
• send a bill.
• record customer payment.
• order merchandise for your stock.
• receive merchandise into inventory.
• receive the bill for the merchandise you ordered.
• pay the bill for the merchandise you ordered.
• know your employees.
• pay your employees.
• etc.

These are called business processes. SAP is an essential part of these business processes. Whenever one of these actions takes place the SAP system knows about it. The SAP system defnes how you will accomplish these business processes.

This tutorial covers some of the basics of the business processes defined above.

Keep these concepts in mind as you go through the exercises:

Enterprise System Functions

1. Control and Document Actions--See how the system requires specific action to complete tasks. You will be told to enter some data without an explanation of what it means. The explanation will come later. We are trying to keep it simple but SAP is not simple it is complete.
2. Analyze performance--We will do a little of this. Most of this will be accomplished through Financial and Managerial Accounting. For now just pay attention the the processes going on.
3. Plan for the future--SAP really contains a model of your business and all its relationships. You can plan for the future by seeing how it reacts to possible events in the future. This is very powerful and will be covered in some of your advanced courses.

SAP Features

1. Many users on one application. This makes SAP more like an interactive game played on the computer than like word processing or spreadsheet work. Everyone is in the game at once. What happenes is the result of everybody's moves.
2. System owns the data. Once actions happen they are recorded permanently. They cannot be erased. They can be changed but the system always remembers everything that happened. This is completely different from a PC system where you can delete anything you want.
3. Limited Authorization. Each user is only allowed to make the moves their job requires. Sort of like chess.
4. Document Principle. Each action is recorded with a unique document number. You can search back through the chain of events easily.
5. One database and system for all events.
6. Real-time--means everyone in the world that is authorized to use the system can see the effect of everyone else's work instantly.