from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Enterprise Resource Planning
ERP
<application, business> (ERP) Any {software} system designed
to support and automate the business processes of medium and
large businesses. This may include manufacturing,
distribution, personnel, project management, payroll, and
financials.
ERP systems are accounting-oriented information systems for
identifying and planning the {enterprise}-wide resources
needed to take, make, distribute, and account for customer
orders. ERP systems were originally extensions of {MRP II}
systems, but have since widened their scope. An ERP system
also differs from the typical MRP II system in technical
requirements such as {relational database}, use of {object
oriented programming} language, {computer aided software
engineering} tools in development, {client/server}
{architecture}, and {open system} {portability}.
{JBOPS} are the major producers of ERP software.
"ERP Systems - Using IT to gain a competitive advantage",
Shankarnarayanan S.
(http://expressindia.com/newads/bsl/advant.htm).
(1999-07-27)