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Archive for November, 2010

November 3rd, 2010

New Era of Open Source ERP in Project Management by eGrove Systems

ERP, the new challenging throb of project management has sneaked itself into a wide array of organizations and enterprises today. Starting from the MNCs to small scale enterprises, ERP serves to produce complete functionality in organization and processes that serve to keep the business on track. Ever since the golden days of using a computer in an organization, several packages and software have lent a helping hand toward assisting business processes in HR, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, and more.  So also, ERP has gained assistance through several measures of packages by means of vendors and related services who proclaim their product to supplement the desired features.

Whatever the benefits might be, ERP solutions are a little tedious to implement and might seem a ‘to-consider-factor” by the organization. However, when implemented, ERP can serve a mighty deal in streamlining the processes and vitalizing the business. Simplicity in performance, constant focus in implementation, and intricate planning is what it takes in implementing ERP in an organization. As easy it might sound, the issue of implementation does take time to set in stream.

Globalization, the way it has turned out to be is certainly impressive and so does ERP in businesses. The changing impact of globalization and the turn-over of economies have demanded the need for Open Source ERP Solutions these days. Demands are definitely paid away, and thus we see a number of Open source ERP Solutions penetrating the market today. The validity and the applicability are definitely questionable and it is appropriate for the client to asses the virtues of the system before it gets the final application. The robustness of the Open Source ERP Solutions depends on the threat-proof level of the client and their desire and extent to implement the solution. Though open source systems were considered a taboo by many, we now witness that permanence is not the only solution.

Implementation of an ERP in project management involves the following steps:

  • Assess the methods of practice at all levels of the organization
  • Perform simulation trials that are specific to the business
  • Evaluate the economy involved in implementing the solution
  • Make sure that all levels of management participate in understanding the ‘know-how’
  • Finally, prior to implementation, validate the process because validation not only improves compliance during performance but also brings to view the effects when the system goes null.

There are several queries racing your minds when you think about implementing an ERP solution toward project management. Whatever, the solution you adopt for, an ideal Open source ERP should focus on:

  • Management of resources in planning the economy
  • Channelize workflow and smoothen business processes
  • Aid in improvising the technical and infrastructural details
  • Help in decisive process strategies in assessing risk, other proceedings and more
  • Optimize the outcomes and bridge other activities in the organization
  • Work in frequency with business requirements
  • Help in implementing various skills and practices of TQM and more.

With respect to the following features, the question of suiting an Open Source ERP in the framework certainly needs consideration and it does have benefits and disadvantages as well.

The biggest advantage an Open Source system would posses is the lack of operating fee, which is one of the biggest relaxing aids an industry could obtain. And the very name ‘open’ implies that the integration of these systems could occur with any Operating systems such as LINUX and open databases help in the storage and retrieval of information with ease. Support and maintenance would form the least considerable factor except for situations when customizations at higher levels are required. Integration is accepted with a wide range of formats because Open Systems are expected to play well with most of the formats adopted today.

However compatible they can be, finding a support measure for these Open Systems are rather difficult. Open Systems are built with increased features that burden their compatibility with internal operating modes. Easy come and easy go! Rumors about the life of such Open Source Systems creep around thus making us wonder if the system really benefits the organization in the long run.

November 3rd, 2010

Global Economy Impact and Unemployment

‘Underemployment’ and ‘Unemployment’ are two constants hitting our minds when the very word of ‘Recession’ comes to play. The economy of 2007 saw the biggest impact, laying a severe set back on the financial crisis, where measures to curb unemployment and poverty saw their biggest thrash ever. However, estimates measure that rates may increase to an approximate of 200 million by the end of the year 2010.

An advance in economy today never seems to imply a positive trend in the growth factor. Instead rates of unemployment are more severe in the so-called ‘advance/ing economies’ of the world. And, how devastating they could be is something one can never predict, because the present scenario seems to harbor standards where even a meager living can become questionable. The International Labor Organization aptly points out that the only way to fight out would be to seek an appropriate survival that best fits the needs of a basic living.

The temporary scenario might seem bigger in the long run. Short-term discrepancies in unemployment may turn out permanent wiping away the productive environment and thus creating chaos and a loss of vital labor force. The trend only seems to be exacerbated with the addition of new labor force in the growing poverty line. The task simply continues in aggravating the existing poverty thus making it move for another couple of decades or so.

Ultimate result would be a standstill in the growth of economy coupled with an increased rate of unemployment. Negative impacts would be on global peace, terrorism, war and more. Adherence to principles and values might drain out thus gaining disorder and sucking out the binding imparted by a growing economy.

Examining the present situation, it would be ideal to analyze the changes that have caused the emergence of the global recession and the collateral effects on employment. Nevertheless, we can deduce that changes and effects of technology could be one probable cause because a change in the structure of one market globally alters the effects and returns. Trends turn the other way round, proving complete contrast for providing flexible wages. Wage-saving technology has played a prominent role in causing a decline of skill and repercussion on the sill being employed.

Price equalization, rigidities in the economy, and supply of skill are a few factors that are attributed to the worsening scenario. Whatever the situations it might attribute to, economy today definitely needs a recovery and so do the unemployment rates. A clear formulation is necessitated that cut down increasing debts, implementation of security plans, low interest rates that encourage and so on.

Unemployment though seen as the biggest outcome of the downtrend in economy should never be the focus at all times. Pondering over the situation could never yield anything better rather strategies that work towards implementing solutions in curbing unemployment should be sought over and vitalized.