04
alerts
Great works are performed not by strength but
by perseverance
SAMUEL JOHNSON, BRITISH AUTHOR
HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 08, 2010
Game changers
ERP implementers bring the competitive edge to
companies by making information flow
seamlessly, says Pankaj Mullick
I
f a large company could
be likened to a human
body, an enterprise
resource planning (ERP)
system would be akin to
the nervous system, carrying
information up and down the
entire body, aiding decision-
making. So, in case the hand
is reaching out for a hot
plate, and the brain is aware
of that, it takes the tactile
shock out of the sensation
INDIA WILL NEED 50,000 ERP EXPERTS
An IIM Kozhikode professor talks about
the scope of ERP in India
What is the current acceptability of
ERP among corporates in India?
ERP acceptability stands at
almost 99 per cent. No corpo-
rate can survive today without
some form of ERP.
Are there any reputable courses to
learn ERP implementation skills?
Yes. Lithan Genovate (with
seven offices in India) offers
an educational pathway
beginning with a Bachelor
and Master of business in
ERP Systems to certification
courses via the SAP
Know the ‘why’ of your desire
It’s our focus on how to get things done that hinders our
progress. Instead, focus on why you want to do something. It
encourages you to achieve your goals, says Chitra Jha
A
nyone who wishes to
improve his/her lot
has to be very clear on
what does s/he want from
life. This clarity of intention
is the most important step in
manifesting your desires.
Writing all your wants on a
piece of paper helps further
in giving absolute clarity to
your thoughts. But what
actually clinches the deal is a
simple three letter question
word, ‘WHY’.
We have to be absolutely
clear on why we want what
we want. Why do you want
more money? Why do you
want to become an IAS offi-
and instructs the hand to,
well, handle the plate with
care. Similarly, through a
well-implemented ERP pack-
age, a large corporation
would know early enough if
raw materials are running
out of one production unit
while they lie idle at another.
Then, instead of blocking
money by buying more, it
could move the raw materials
to the unit that needs it. Of
Academy. These are comple-
mented by career services
including job internship and
placement support. Also,
NIIT offers training in Oracle
ERP.
How many ERP experts would be
required in India in the next five
years?
As of today, we have about
27,648 companies in India, of
which more than 20,000 are
very good companies, and
many of them are running
ERP solutions. They cannot
cer? Why do you want to get
95 per cent marks? Why do
you want to write a book?
Why do you want to build a
house? Why? Why? Why?
Keep your focus on why you
are doing what you are doing.
If your focus is not right, you
will give up your dreams at
the first possible obstacle
that comes in your way. Ever
wondered why 90 per cent of
people fail at improving their
lot in life? This is the reason;
they don’t keep their focus on
the ‘why’. They are not clear
why they want what they
want. They don’t know the
real benefits. They are just
admission
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course, this is the simplest of
problems that an ERP sys-
tem or package can handle.
Such systems aid strategic
thinking, if implemented suc-
cessfully. But it does illus-
trate one way in which it can
help companies save money,
which is just one resource to
watch while running an
enterprise – materials,
human resources and tangi-
ble assets being the others.
remain competitive in the
long run without an ERP
solution.
More and more Indian com-
panies are now opting for
ERP (in-house or out-
sourced). On the average, a
team of 10 experts will spend
about three months for an
implementation (without
customisation). For the next
five years, the numbers of
ERP experts (development/
implementation/ mainte-
nance) needed would be
more than 50,000.
What kind of competitive advan-
tage does successful ERP imple-
mentation give a company?
subscribingt to herd mentali-
ty. Are you one of them?
Our problem is that we get
stuck in ‘how’. How will I
study? How will I clear the
entrance exam? How will I
get there? How will I get a
job? How will I get a promo-
tion? Etc. We keep asking,
“How will I do this? How will
I do that?” These ‘hows’
make us anxious. They keep
us worried. They make us
waste our energy in trying to
figure out how we will
accomplish things. All this
wasted and ill-focused ener-
gy only pushes away our
desires and dreams further.
LAST
DATE
Nov
30
Implementing an ERP sys-
tem – comprising various
components such as finan-
cials, customer relationship
management, human
resources, supply chain man-
agement, warehouse manage-
ment and management dash-
board – is no mean feat. The
decision involves crores of
rupees, and a significant
effort from everyone in the
company. Part of this effort is
required to set work process-
es, or change them, to suit
the software package chosen
(SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle
are some companies that
make ERP systems). This is
commonly referred to as
business process re-engi-
It allows for simplification of
business processes,
enhanced productivity, flexi-
bility and customer respon-
siveness, compliance and
control, efficiency improve-
ments, and enables new busi-
ness and growth strategies.
It also allows companies to
be more agile in managing
changes in the business envi-
ronment and at the same
time save on costs and elimi-
nate inefficiencies. It allows
for continuous improvement
and lets you delve deeper
into business data
What are the challenges of ERP
implementations in service
industries?
ERP implementations in
service industries may face
challenges due to inadequate
We feel disheartened when
we don’t get any answers to
our hows.
Our subconscious mind is
very literal. It needs to be
convinced that what you
dream about is what you
really want. It needs to be
told about it in unambiguous
terms. So, what is it that you
truly want? Not what you
think you ‘should’ want or
what others want for you. If
you are still talking about, “I
have to do this. I should do
this. This is the done thing.
This is in vogue now. I must
do this. This is the only way
to achieve success. My par-
ents want me to do this. This
was my father’s dream. Etc”,
your subconscious will resist
you. It will give you all the
logical reasons as to why you
can’t do this. But if your
focus has been on ‘why’ you
desire something and you are
very clear about it, your sub-
conscious will work as a will-
ing partner in bringing your
dreams to fruition.
Your focus on why you
want something will keep you
motivated to work towards
your goal. Temporary set-
back will not bother you. You
will remain committed until
you achieve your goal. This
strategy has worked for thou-
sands of people and it will
work for you. You may have a
different desire than others
do but the underlying princi-
ples remain the same for all.
So, tell me, “Why do you
want what you want?”
The author is a life-skills coach,
time-line therapist, and new con-
sciousness writer. Contact:
chitrajhaa@gmail.com
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Forest Management,
Bhopal
Course: Postgraduate diploma in
forestry management
Eligibility: Selection on the basis of CAT
How to apply: Visit www.iifm.ac.in/admis-
sion for details
Connecting it all:
Vijendra Singh implements
ERP software that aids
strategic and tactical
decision-making by linking
all business functions
PHOTOS: THINKSTOCK
neering and it is just that –
re-engineering processes so
that the process facilitates
information flow as required
by the ERP package.
Awareness of power struc-
tures within a company is cru-
cial during the re-engineering
process because these struc-
tures are shaken up when the
implementation process is
rolled out, reducing or taking
away the decision-making
powers of the people in ques-
tion as the functioning of the
company gets streamlined.
“There is resistance from
various individuals as well as
business units who see the
new processes as a threat to
their position in the organisa-
requirements definition,
resistance to change, or
inability to achieve organisa-
tional understanding. Other
challenges include assigning
inadequate resources, lack of
top management support,
lack of organisational readi-
Companies cannot
remain competitive in
the long run without an
ERP solution. More and
more Indian companies
are now opting for ERP
Prof M P Sebastian, professor of
information technology and systems,
Indian Institute of Management,
Kozhikode
success mantra dr sarvepalli radhakrishnan
Journey from a hut to the
president’s residence
Born into a poor family in Tamil Nadu,
Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan rose to
become a professor at Oxford
University and later, the president of
India, by the strength of his erudition
S
arvepalli
Radhakrishnan was
born on September 5,
1888, into a poor Telugu
Brahmin family at Tamil
Nadu’s Tiruttani, a town in
the then-Madras
Presidency.
A brilliant student, he
was awarded scholarships
throughout his academic
life. Dr Radhakrishnan
joined the Voorhee’s College
in Vellore though he later
moved to the Madras
Christian College at the age
of 17. There, he studied phi-
losophy. However, this was
not by choice. Being poor, he
didn’t have enough money
to buy books. So, when his
cousin, who had graduated
in philosophy from the same
college, passed on his books,
the choice was made for
Dr Radhakrishnan.
He, however, surpassed all
expectations and his thesis,
on Vedanta philosophy, pub-
lished when he was just 20,
was hailed as one of the best.
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(a) Nursery Teacher Training (b)
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Eligibility: 10+2
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details
tion,” says Manu Rana, who
has spent more than a decade
in the ERP and supply chain
management business in San
Francisco.
However, this sort of resist-
ance is usually encountered
by the professional involved in
the functional aspects of the
implementation.
“Functional roles will be
required to interact with busi-
ness users, managers and
super-users of an organisation
to map their daily tasks to
ERP functionality. A technical
consultant, on other hand,
configures system architec-
ture, which can range from
deciding the networking,
hardware requirement, soft-
ware requirements and then
also taking into consideration
the scaling of systems for
expansion in future,” says
Vijendra Singh, project man-
ager, Metlife, New York.
Sounds interesting but
complex? It is. Be prepared to
work long hours, and even
nights, to meet deadlines.
Also, ascertain the amount of
patience and negotiation skills
you possess. Add technical
skills, domain knowledge and
resilience to attributes you
need to succeed in this career.
“While starting off in your
career, technical skills are
very important. Although
ERP-specific knowledge is
usually imparted as part of
the training program at your
employer, previous knowledge
of database concepts (all
ERPs have a database back-
end), some programming
skills, and basic familiarity
with computers is a must. As
you rise up in the hierarchy,
soft skills (how to deal with
people) become more impor-
tant. People with better soft
skills rise higher and faster,”
says Rana.
pankaj.mullick@hindustantimes.com
ness, inadequate training and
education, and unrealistic
expectations, among many
others, including long period
of time required for return
on investment.
As told to Pankaj Mullick
Later in life, he served as
the vice chancellor of the
Andhra University after
which he took over Benaras
Hindu University in a simi-
lar position. He also served
as the Spalding Professor of
Eastern Religions and
Ethics at Oxford University.
It was his ambition that
led him to success in his
various endeavours. He had
once said, “The greatest gift
of life is the dream of a high-
er life.”
Teacher’s Day
Dr Radhakrishnan was
elected as the first Vice
President of India in 1952
and was elected as the sec-
ond President of India
(1962-1967). When he
became president, some of
his students requested him
to allow them to celebrate
his birthday. He replied,
“Instead of celebrating my
birthday, it would be my
proud privilege if
September 5 is observed as
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cut out and keep
ERP
IMPLEMENTER
career
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software connects all
departments and functions in a company through a common
interface, facilitating the management of key internal and external
resources. Processes are mapped and information flow set according
to them. ERP requires implementation by trained and experienced
professionals, both in the technical and functional domain. On the
technical side, knowledge of ERP packages and database
management, including working with different types of data and their
migration, is imperative. On the functional end, in-depth knowledge
of the industry in which the company operates is necessary
CLOCK WORK
For mid-level team leader 4 pm: Conference call with a
8.30 am: Meeting with client to team at another client site
discuss implementation 5.30 pm: Meet software vendor
10.30 am: Document minutes of to discuss integration issues
the meeting and send out to 6.30 pm: Check data migration
client and my team reports
12.30 pm: Working lunch with 7.30 pm: Call hardware vendor
CEO of client company to report to discuss delivery schedule
progress 8 pm: Study process maps
1.30 pm: Meet individual created by team member
members of team for discussions 10.30 pm: Head home
on specific issues
THE PAYOFF
Functional consultant (1-3 years - $60,000-$80,000 per annum,
3-5 years $70,000-$90,000 per annum, 5-8 years $80,000-
$110,000 per annum, 8-12 years - $90,000- $1, 30,000 per
annum, 10-18 years $90,000-$1,60,000 per annum)
Technical consultants (1-3 Years - $60,000- $80,000 per annum,
3-5 years $70,000-$90,000 per annum, 5-8 years $80,000-
$100,000 per annum, 8-12 years - $90,000-US$100,000 per
annum, 10-18 years $90,000-$130,000 per annum)
SKILLS
■ Programming skills ■ Documentations skills
■ Understanding business ■ Negotiation and people skills
processes ■ Tenacity
■ Innovative thinking ability
HOW DO I GET THERE?
For entry-level positions: Functional consultants should have worked
in an industry in a management position for at least three years and
used an ERP system for at least a year.
Technical consultants can be programmers in any one of the major
programming languages with at least one year’s experience.
As you rise, requirements become more specific to the industry
vertical, e.g. electronic data interchange for the banking industry on
the technical side, (or in languages such as advanced business
application programming, or ABAP) and banking management issues,
laws and industry trends on the functional side. Most ERP
implementations are done by consulting firms. You can get hired into
an entry-level position there. There are also some openings at the
software vendors themselves
INSTITUTES & URLS
■ Edith Cowan University,
Australia - www.ecu.edu.au
■ Oracle University -
education.oracle.com
■ IIM, Calcutta -
www.iimcal.ac.in
■ ERP World, Jabalpur -
www.guruerp.com
■ NIIT - www.niit.com/sap
■ Siemens Information
■ Lithan Genovate -
www.genovate.com
Systems - www.siemens.co.in
■
PROS & CONS
Delivering real value to clients ■ High level of stress
■
■
Lucrative career
Highly skilled job
■ Each successful
implementation furthers your
■ You will work with top career
management ■ Have to stay away from home
■ Long work hours for months at end
THE INFORMATION IS INDICATIVE
Teachers’ Day.” His birthday
has since been marked as a
he used to say.
He said that reading a
day to commemorate the
contribution of teachers to
book gives us true enjoy-
ment and they (books) are
our lives. It also reminds us the means by which we can
of the great ideals of this
true humanitarian.
build bridges between cul-
tures. Dr Radhakrishnan’s
Lessons from life
definition of education tran-
scended professional qualifi-
He propagated non-violence cation. He valued greatness
and affirmed the virtues of of spirit over technical effi-
love over hatred. “All our ciency of students.
world organisations will
prove ineffective if the truth
that love is stronger than
hate does not inspire them,”
he said. As the president of
India, he rested his faith in
human nature rather than
in economic or political
reforms to ensure peace in
the society.
He loved all individuals
and believed in the power of
education, a power that can
be wielded to trounce evil.
“Human nature is funda-
mentally good, and the
spread of enlightenment will
abolish all wrong,” he said.
His belief lay in the fact
that education opens
new doors of happi-
ness and success.
“Life of joy and
happiness is pos-
sible only on the
basis of
knowledge
and sci-
ence,”