Issues and challenges of cross-functional integration: introducing ERP in MBA courses

An increasing number of universities have entered or are contemplating entering into alliances with leading vendors of ERP software and are redesigning both undergraduate and graduate curricula to help students understand the requirements and the design of enterprise-wide systems solutions through the use of an ERP system. Ball State University joined the SAP alliance program in spring 2002 and has been offering ERP courses both at graduate (MBA) and undergraduate levels since then. Different approaches have been used by various schools to introduce SAP to the curriculum. Ball State University's approach is to deliver a set of modules by a team of faculty from six different departments. This paper articulates our approach for teaching ERP courses to understand cross-functional integration at the MBA level. The paper also highlights various technology, pedagogical and human resource issues and challenges.