BROYLES, C - CHAPTER 1 - QUESTION 4 1
Chapter 1 – Question 4
Christin Broyles
Enterprise Models
BMIS 510-B02 LUO
Dr. John Delano
January 19, 2017
BROYLES, C - CHAPTER 1 - QUESTION 4 2
Chapter 1 – Question 4
ERP was a very new to me but as I began to read I started to understand how it comes in
to play in a business setting. I work at a help desk we do support for hospitals across the US. So,
per the ERP process it consists of 5 components; the hardware, software, database, information
process and people. [Mot12] Ascension information system is a central hub for all the hospitals,
which we call ministries to call in to get 1st level of support. I understood what we did as a
company but now I can see the mechanics behind how we operate and why a ERP is important to
many business and essential for a company like mines.
The component of the hardware is servers and backup systems that we use is Windows 7.
The operating system that are used hospital wide are windows 7 which is what we use on the
service desk. All our programs are made to run off the OS W7. The ERP is the end users
(medical staff), help desk staff, level 2 support (on site field service) hardware like our laptops,
desktops, tables and phones. Because Ascension is its own entity we have our own servers. The
way Ascension servers work is each ministry have a set of servers that essentially tie into the
central hub (the help desk and local server staff).
Software used is so complex with Ascension because we are dealing with over 26
different ministries (Hospital entities). What is used at the service desk is not what is used in the
facilities. Some software that ERP deals with our ticketing and document software that is used
ministry wide for all IT staff. It’s called Service Now when we document at the service desk
other IT staff can see what we did to begin to process of moving forward to a full resolution. We
also have software that allow each ministry to chart on their patients that’s whole other ball game
of software. All ministries pull together using PeopleSoft software.
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The database factor with Ascension I am not entirely sure about due to the fact its
handled by a whole other centralized department calls The Ascension Ministry Service Center.
They house database system as well as all HR related processes. The MSC has a specially trained
staff that handles all outages for all ministries including ours AIS (Ascension Information
systems). Which bring me in to another component of the ERP which is process and information
process and procedure. With processes and procedures its handled in each ministry but it ripples
down to two of the central hubs the MSC and the AIS who handles different components of the
procedure and policies. All HR, payroll and benefit related processes are handles through the
MSC and all IT related processed are handled through AIS for all ministries that we service.
The last component is the people. Without the people, it’s no way Ascension would be as
successful. The MSC house the accounting, and HR staff along with many other staff that run the
internal business portion. The MSC hold all internal needs for each ministry that falls under the
Ascension umbrella. AIS handles all IT needs for all internal facility staff (physicians, nurse,
security staff, telecom staff etc.) users as well as IT needs for MSC employees. Our end users
are our ministries staff personnel and our internal IT staff.
Ascensions primary goal was to be a central hub for all the ministries like a one stop
shop. When you think about how everything works they did a excellent job at accomplishing that
because AIS handles all IT related issue no matter what city or state your ministry is in they
follow the same process in calling the same location. Then MSC handles all other issues the
same exactly way a one stop shop for all employee under the Ascension umbrella. “ERP systems
consist of computer application that support and connects all aspects of a business organizations
and offers a link to customers (end users) and suppliers.” [Mot12] Which is what essentially, we
are doing at the central locations (AIS and MSC). The implantation of ERP at Ascension makes
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being centralized a smooth process not just for the staff but for the end users as well it stops
redundancy and allow staff to gain a positive resolution at one location.
References List
Motiwalla, L. F., & Thompson, J. (2012). Enterprise Systems For Management (2 ed.). Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
