Business Needs Evaluation

Generally, the management process of any organization, large or small, addresses six factors which are distinctly different yet interrelated. These factors are:

1. Environment – what management faces;
   1. Affected by:
      1. Government
      2. Competitors
      3. Customers
      4. Suppliers
      5. Employees
      6. Creditors
      7. Shareholders
      8. economy
2. Resources – what management has to use;
   1. Affected by:
      1. Personnel
      2. Facilities
      3. Equipment
      4. Material
      5. Services
      6. Finances
      7. Technology
3. Organization - along with plans & controls are the expressions of management's attempt to use those resources effectively
   1. Affected by:
      1. Structure
      2. Functions
      3. Authority
      4. Coordination
      5. Integration
      6. Committees
      7. Task forces
      8. Staffs
4. Plans –
   1. Affected by:
      1. Goals
      2. Objectives
      3. Programs
      4. Projects
      5. Policies
      6. Procedures
      7. Standards
      8. Schedules
5. Controls –
   1. Affected by:
      1. Organizational
      2. Operational
      3. Informational
      4. Data
6. Information- serves to tell management how effectively it has utilized its resources in light of the environmental conditions it has faced
   1. Affected by:
      1. Market
      2. Financial
      3. Operational
      4. Governmental

Procon consultants begin all business needs analyses with a top-level management information system evaluation such that strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats (SWOT analysis) are both identified and agreed upon as a starting point for ERP analysis. Buy in at all levels is imperative!