|
SAP experience gives many
CMU students significant advantage in job market
Students learn SAP software
in simulation of international business
A Central Michigan University alliance with a German-based company continues to place College of Business Administration students at the forefront among professionals knowledgeable in the primary business management software program used by companies such as Dow Chemical, DaimlerChrysler, IBM, Coca-Cola, and, most recently, the U.S. Postal Service.
Many CBA students get exceptionally realistic experience using SAP - Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, the market leader in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software - while running a mock international company, Motor Sports International.
"The concept is that students can step into this fictitious company and experience firsthand the integration of the business functions," said Frank Andera, director of SAP University Alliance Program. "All these different components can be seen in real-time, so students can see all aspects of running a business."
Courses taught in supply-chain management, human resources, finance, marketing, information systems, and accounting use the SAP software and database provided by SAP America to run the company. Anytime a transaction takes place within the company, it is made available to all areas - and in the classroom to all students - allowing them to see how the decisions of one division within a company affect another division within the same company.
"It's fun for students because instead of cold textbook examples, they get a real environment running on computers," Andera said. "It's like a medical student. The student doesn't just talk about MRI scans but gets to perform and analyze an MRI scan."
CMU's SAP program, which began in 1997 with eight faculty members, now boasts 20 faculty members from various disciplines with SAP expertise.
Chosen as one of the first of five universities in the nation to begin educating students about SAP, CMU has since become one of only three universities selected to offer the SAP Process Integration Certification Academy, a multiple-week academy or boot camp certification program for students in the SAP University Alliance Program. SAP America has chosen CMU to host the academy since 2000.
"That was our vision from the beginning," Andera said. "We've been a leader for our students, and many students have been successful in the industry, not just from knowing SAP but from understanding the concepts of integration."
CMU graduates
credit SAP for thriving careers
Greg Boehmer, '03, began learning SAP in 2000 as part of his business administration program and dual majors in management information systems and operations management.
"I thought it would give me an edge in the business world, an extra tool in my tool kit," Boehmer said. And he was right.
After interning for Deloitte & Touche, Boehmer accepted a position there after graduating from CMU. Today, 90 percent of his work involves SAP, and the reasons are simple: SAP allows businesses to share information in real-time with employees, suppliers, and distributors, no matter what size the organization. This kind of streamlining has a direct and positive effect on productivity, customer service, overall quality, and profitability.
"It's a hot commodity in our profession," Boehmer said. "People with SAP proficiency are definitely in demand."
|
