Enterprise Information Systems: Critical Review, Business Process Analysis and Evaluation of Data Pr

Critical Discussion on Business Process Management

To enable students to critically review Enterprise Information Systems, to assess business process management approaches and to evaluate legislation on data privacy and ethics for a specific business scenario

LO1 Critically assess and explain the major objectives, success factors and significant elements of Enterprise Information Systems.

LO2 Explain and assess approaches to business process management analysis and design.

LO5 Evaluate and critique current legislation on data privacy and relevant ethical issues.

The report should conform to the following structure (the word counts for each section are given below as a guide rather than an exact count):

Title page (including the module number and name, report title, your matriculation number, report word count)

Contents page (professionally formatted using the automatic ‘Table of Contents’ feature in the ‘References’ tab of Microsoft Word) 

1.0 Introduction (300 words) – a concise general introduction to the report including its aim, objectives and content.

2.0 Critical discussion on Business Process Management (750 words)

3.0 Enterprise Resource Planning systems (750 words)

4.0 Legislation and ethical considerations (750 words)

5.0 Conclusion (450 words) - a summary of the main points from your report and an overall conclusion with reference to the original report objectives. 

Your report is to be based on the following adapted business scenario.

HomesForAll are a Scottish house builder who specialise in providing affording homes. This year Home For All were appointed to manage several housing projects (totalling 1000 units) for councils across the Lothians. The programme commenced in 2019 and
it will involve creating new social housing in Edinburgh and Midlothian region. Currently the construction projects started in Dalkeith (180 buildings) and Musselburgh (120 buildings) and soon new construction works should begin in Mayfield (112 buildings).

The remaining sites will be added as they are identified and legal agreements and planning consents are put in place, over the next 15 months. The entire programme is to conclude in 2026 (i.e. all units constructed and occupied by council tenants).

The actual construction of the buildings is done on an individual site basis, built by private commercial contractors, who are selected via a competitive tender process. The construction process cannot start until appropriate sites and contractors are procured.

HomesForAll’s business is to ensure that the projects are delivered efficiently (as fast as possible and to comply with the council quality standards) in order to do that they need to compare offers from different commercial contractors. Choosing the right
contractor is not as easy as just comparing their estimated costs, any contractor needs to go through complex analysis that involve checking its reputation, previous projects and any previous cooperation’s with Homes For All.The private commercial contractors

will also hire many different sub-contractor firms (plumbers / electricians / painters /joiners etc.) to deliver the main housing component packages

• Foundations

• External works (fixtures / drainage / fittings) 

• Mechanical & Electrical Installations

• Building Frame

• Floors & walls

• Finishes (Fittings / Floors)

HomesForAll are also required to monitor the contractors and ensure that key project team members (Employees) are managing the projects through the construction process RIBA Stages 0-7 [0:Inception, 1:Preparation & Brief 2:Concept Design, 3: Developed Design, 4:Technical Design and 5: Construction, 6: Handover, 7:In Use]. As the projects develop through the RIBA Stages active management of the project risks are to be recorded, managed and mitigated using a central programme risk register.

To date, a majority of the current processes are paper based which is both inefficient and extremely labour intensive and is open to human error. A change to collating and collecting richer data will allow the contractors to better understand their actual progress, costs, risks and the significant aspects of the current projects. In addition, these need to be composed in the form of reports and sent to the clients. These reports are used to explain the current progress of the project to organisations that do not have knowledge about construction projects and highlight any areas that require their attention e.g. delay in the construction stage due extreme weather conditions.

Members of the board have highlighted inefficient business processes and suggested that Homes For All embark on process improvement through BPM.

Homes For All want to enhance their complex, out-dated IT system and would like to implement an ERP system across their organisation. It is hoped that this system will allow them to link directly with clients and replace the current manual process
for issuing the reports.

Implementing new systems, linking with external organisations and storing personal information are new high-risk areas for the company in terms of legislation and ethical considerations. This is a major concern.

• Decreasing time and costs required for the projects

• Understanding client needs and improve communication

• Improved selection process of contractors and improve cooperation