Convergence 2011 Atlanta

Microsoft Dynamics Academic Preconference

Convergence 2010 Atlanta

Microsoft Dynamics Academic Preconference

Presentation Abstracts and PowerPoint Slides

Day One: Saturday, April 9, 2011

Omni Hotel at CNN Center

North Tower, M3, Room: Walnut & Chesnut

100 CNN Center

Atlanta, GA, USA

Time	Location	Paper Abstract	PowerPoint Link	Full Paper Link
10:00 – 10:45am	Chestnut	Introduction to Dynamics; Panel Discussion Mike Canniff, Faculty, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA; Jerry Flatto, Professor, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
	Walnut	GP Simulation: Teaching Business Process and Managerial Decision-making in Classrooms Muhammad Razi, Thomas Rienzo, Bernard Han, and Shankaar Thiagarajan, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA The objective of the simulation game is to engage students in business processes such as sales, purchasing, receivables, payables, and managerial decision making. Three component; a graphic user interface, web-based economic model, and Microsoft Dynamics GP is used to perform simulation. Each student team operates a retail store to buy and sell products. Demands for products vary and are sensitive to several criteria. Students engage in critical thinking and decision-making while completing business process cycle from purchasing/selling to accounts receivable/payable while not being overwhelmed by each and every step-by-step operational procedure.
	Walnut	ERPsim BI: A Problem-based Learning Approach in Teaching Business Analytics Pierre-Majorique Léger, Jacques Robert, and Simon Bourdeau, HEC Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada This paper presents a problem-based learning (PBL) approach developed to introduce students to business intelligence. Using a simulation game approach called ERPsim, students must manage the operation of a distribution company under an ERP system. The transaction data are made available to students through a database called ERPsim BI which is updated dynamically during the game. Learners must build a dashboard using standard Microsoft Office tools in order to track in real time the operational profitability of their company. Using these dashboards, they must actualize their strategy and adjust their decision in the ERP system. This approach was used as an MIS introduction course, which was given to a large AACSB institution in Canada. More than 1,000 students were involved in this simulation game during the 2010-11 academic year.
11:00 – 11:45am	Chestnut	Moving Microsoft Dynamics to the Cloud from an On-premise Installation Doug Pitcher, Rose Business Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
	Walnut	Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step in the University Classroom: Results from the Field; Panel Discussion Mike Canniff, Faculty, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA; Jerry Flatto, Professor, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Muhammad Razi, Faculty, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA; & Todd Schultz, Professor and Associate Dean, Hull College of Business, Augusta State University, Augusta, GA, USA In a novel approach, Microsoft professionals traveled to four college campuses over the last academic year to teach Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step concepts and practice in the context of ongoing university classes. This effort developed a wealth of assets and insights for exposing university students to Sure Step. Instructors whose classes were involved in this effort make up the panel and our goal is to review what occurred, identify potentials and pitfalls of Sure Step based pedagogy, provide access to reusable assets, and provide ideas on how this pedagogy can be improved and operationalized.
1:00 – 1:40pm	Chestnut	Microsoft Dynamics Academic Advisory Council Meeting
	Walnut	Benefits of a Single Integrated ERP versus Best of Breed Systems Emma Augustin, Faculty, Southern States University, Newport Beach, CA, USA This research paper examines the options between a single integrated ERP versus best of breed systems. Several organizations will adopt different best-of-breed systems while other organizations will use relevant modules of a single integrated ERP with lesser functionality than best of breed system. The research showed that the cost of integrating different systems is higher and the one that resulted to most problems later on. The paper recommends ‘adaptable ERPs’ as the best approach that provides significant functionality that is integrated but the flexibility to easily build on any gaps in functionality. This approach provides the most value at the lowest risk and the lowest cost. As an example, Celluphone, a wireless phone distributor, had multiple best of breed systems for supply chain, financial management, warehouse and rebates management. These systems were not integrated, causing many hours of manual processing; this limited Celluphone’s ability to grow quickly into new businesses. Celluphone worked with Ignify to replace the various systems with Microsoft Dynamics AX. Microsoft Dynamics AX provided an integrated functionality for order entry, supply chain management, warehouse management. Ignify enhanced Microsoft Dynamics AX to address gaps in the Rebates functionality. Microsoft Dynamics AX is an example of an adaptable ERP with an open architecture that allows businesses to maintain unique business processes. The entire cost of the implementation was under $300K, this is lower than other relevant examples where customers had integrated external warehouse systems or used best of breed systems that were integrated with the core ERP. Celluphone was able to streamline its warehouse management operations, easily access information, eliminated over 2000 hours of manual financial reconciliation and improved its customer service.
	Walnut	Effective Education Using Information Systems as Cognitive Tools Richard Fulford, Professor, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia An Australian higher education institution is utilizing the Microsoft Dynamics AX enterprise resource planning application to help educate business students about business principles and practice. The application acts as a cognitive tool for both internal and external students whereby the students establish business processes in the enterprise resource planning application and the application demonstrates operational activities and financial transactions. A cohort of students has been surveyed and the findings demonstrate that education using an enterprise resource planning application as an interactive learning tool is both practical and beneficial. The conclusion being that the student experience is a positive one.
1:50 – 2:30pm	Chestnut	ERP Consolidation Accounting Serial Exercise Zane Swanson, Professor, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA This project develops a serial exercise in consolidation accounting. The benefit of the exercise for students is a logical building of the complexity involved with investments in subsidiaries. The exercise is portrayed with a spreadsheet (EXCEL) and with an ERP system (Great Plains Dynamics). The ERP information is entered in journal form and then aggregated with a report writer.
	Chestnut	Hyperbolic Browser For Knowledge Management Of An ERP Undergraduate Accounting Curriculum Zane Swanson, Professor, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK, USA This study introduces the application of a hyperbolic browser to ERP curriculum in the undergraduate financial accounting core courses. This application works on assumption of an ERP company organization/data integrated throughout the program. A key benefit for students is that they have a tool which provides a system view and the development of information acquisition skills. This approach facilitates knowledge management in the curriculum and the potential for graduates in the real world workplace.
1:50 – 2:30pm	Walnut	Optimizing Supply Chain and Warehousing with Microsoft Dynamics AX Sandeep Walia, eric Shuss, Ignify, Cerritos, CA, USA Ellison had seen a significant shift in its business model from a manufacturing company to a distribution business. It also needed to optimize its supply chain to be able to more tightly integrate its supply with its demand and reduce on-hand inventory with automated planned purchasing. Ellison implemented Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 that helped it - Automate the warehouse with RF using native Dynamics AX integration though AIF to the RF hardware. Dynamics AX provided the ability to do directed pick and directed put-away using the location control in Microsoft Dynamics AX - use Master planning to automate the purchasing process and reduce inventory carrying costs. - Integrate natively to customers to receive orders via EDI and process ASNs thus reducing the order processing costs.
	Walnut	How to Select a CRM System for Business Decision Makers Sandeep Walia, Ignify, Cerritos, CA, USA This paper identifies key parameters and provides a comprehensive framework and scoring model in choosing the right CRM software for a business. Budget. If you pick a CRM based on what your company can afford but end up choosing a CRM that does not fit your company, you may be throwing money at the problem without realizing the benefits that you hope to get. The alignment of the system with your business should come first. Licensing Model. Your company’s size will also influence whether your company decides to purchase traditional on-site licensed software or to use a SaaS (Software as a Service) application. The difference between the two is primarily that one is an outright purchase model with lower recurring cost while the other is a rental model with low upfront costs but higher recurring costs. The SaaS model also holds the appeal of being able to get up quickly as it eliminates hardware and operating system procurement. The paper examines the TCO of Rent Vs. Buy.
2:40 – 3:20pm	Chestnut	International Collaboration between Virtual Companies of Universities Michael Reiner, Professor, IMC Fachhochschule Krems, Krems, Austria Collaboration Project is about learning business processes with information systems in an international business context. Learning takes place in virtual practice companies that sell and buy products and services from each other. Products can be virtual (like computers, furniture) or real (like web pages, web shops). During the project, a collaboration model has been piloted between University of Applied Sciences Krems (Austria) and Avans University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands). This is developed further and curricula in the participating countries are reformed. Curricular reform enables simulation of international business activities between virtual practice companies on course level in participating universities.
	Chestnut	Managing Process Manufacturing Using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Scott Hamilton, Author, St. Paul, MN, USA Process manufacturing refers to a wide variety of industry classifications -- ranging from chemicals and lubricants to food and beverage products – and several hundred thousand firms globally. The ERP system requirements of these process manufacturing firms have been addressed by various software packages over the past four decades. More recently, Microsoft Dynamics AX has been enhanced to address many of these requirements, and several independent software vendors have developed add-on functionality for specialized niches. The process manufacturing area represents one of Microsoft's strategic markets for Dynamics AX. This presentation explains how Dynamics AX supports the unique business practices of process manufacturing, and how you can teach this topic in a graduate-level course in conjunction with the book "Managing Process Manufacturing using Microsoft Dynamics AX". The book content provides a complete walk through of functionality related to operations and supply chain management in process manufacturing, and includes 80 case studies of different types of process firms. The targeted individuals for this course consist of graduate-level students and practitioners that may be involved in system selection or implementation of Dynamics AX in a process manufacturing firm.
	Walnut	Integrating Dynamics GP into the Information Systems Audit Course Kuo Lane Chen, Associate Professor, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA, Huei Lee, Professor, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, USA, Chen-Chi Shing, Associate Professor, Radford University, VA Jiaqin Yang, Professor, Georgia College & State University, GA In recent years, decrease enrollment in information systems and computer science has forced faculty to develop a new IS curriculum. Information security and audit is a popular topic in the new curriculum. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, also known as Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act, was enacted as result of a series of corporate scandals such as Enron and WorldCom. Today accounting and financial system is an essential part of enterprises; information security and auditing is crucial in protecting the integrity of the accounting and financial systems. Information System Audit is also a core course for the examination of the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). The purpose of this paper is to discuss how to teach information systems audit using Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 in an enterprise environment. Dynamics GP is an enterprise system for small and mid-size companies, and it is also popular accounting software for professors teaching accounting information systems. Microsoft GP provides the concept of role, tasks, user/password control are excellent examples for teaching IS auditing.
	Walnut	Delivering ERP to the Classroom: Cost Comparison of Vendor Platforms and Delivery Options Joseph Latimer, Bonnie Klamm, and Limin Zhang, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA Once the decision is made to provide students with in-class, hands-on experience using an ERP system two questions must be answered: First, what ERP system should be used as the exemplar system? Second, how should the exemplar system be delivered? A major consideration in answering both of these questions is cost.

Day Two: Sunday, April 10, 2011

Omni Hotel at CNN Center

North Tower, M3

Room: Walnut

100 CNN Center

Atlanta, GA, USA

Time	Location	Paper Abstract	PowerPoint Link	Full Paper Link
8:45 – 9:15am	Walnut	Microsoft Dynamics Strategy Dan Lohmeyer, Senior Director, Microsoft Business Solutions, Redmond, WA, USA
9:15 – 10:00am	Walnut	Open Discussion Forum Sara Gjerdevig, Senior Partner Development Manager, Microsoft Dynamics, Fargo, ND, USA
	Walnut	Partner Panel Doug Pitcher, Rose Business Solutions, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA Theresa Brown, Project Manager and Customer Account Manager for Microsoft Dynamics GP, Armanino McKenna, San Ramon, CA, USA Dwight M. Specht, Chief Operating Officer, I.B.I.S. Inc, Norcross, GA, USA Rick Feterick, Chief Executive Officer, Feterick & Associates, Inc., Des Plaines, IL, USA

Presentations in blue were chosen through the call for papers and presentations process.