Cisco erp implementation case study

Econ Article

Winter 2020 Case Study 2 Cisco Systems, Inc.: Implementing ERP Carefully read the Cisco Systems case study in the CSE50 Reader. Then read the following questions. After that, read the Cisco Systems case study again and note the sections of the case study that are relevant to the questions. Where appropriate, justify your answers using quotes from the case study. Write the quotes in quotation marks and refer to the page and paragraph where the quote is located. Answer the following questions and submit your response in pdf format on the canvas class website by 23:59:59 on 2/4/2020. Ensure that your name is clearly included on each page that you submit.

1) Solvik and Redfield were both opposed to deploying a company wide ERP system at Cisco. Write a paragraph (max. 150 words) that describes why they did not want to deploy an ERP. Include a description of the solution that Solvik initially wanted to deploy to deal with the problems of Cisco’s legacy system. [3 points]

2) The process Cisco applied to select an ERP supplier is an example of an intra- functional (in contrast to a cross-functional) business process. Cisco created a new business function to define and manage this process. Write a paragraph (max. 150 words) describing the process that Cisco management applied to select an ERP solution, starting with the creation of the new business function to manage the project, up to the point of securing approval from the Board to proceed with the project. [5 points]

3) In a few sentences, describe why Solvik changed his mind and agreed to deploy a new ERP system at Cisco. Justify your answer with quotations from the case study. [2 points]

4) The “Conference Room Pilots” were an early implementation of what is now

known as “agile development” in which fast iterations were implemented and reviewed by users, who can then make changes as necessary. We will discuss agile development in lecture 16. Provide a brief description of four issues that the CRP process allowed the ERP team to identify which the team did not know at the start of the project. [4 points]

5) After Cisco went live with the new ERP system, overall business performance

plummeted. Describe what was the primary cause for this plummet in

business performance. What do you think Cisco could have done differently to avoid this problem? [2 points]

6) The Oracle ERP system at Cisco did not support all critical functions needed

by Cisco – “There were huge numbers of business processes that the software could not support.”. In one paragraph (max. 150 words) describe how Cisco addressed this situation. One of the “red” modifications was a Product Configurator (see exhibit 7). Why did such a configurator not exist in the “vanilla” Oracle ERP? [4 points].