Integrating Process and Data Models to Aid Configuration of ERP Packages

Configuration of ERP systems is complex. Configuration uses output of Requirements Engineering (RE) phase to select relevant tables, parameters and set relationship among tables of the ERP database. Here, we prove that a gap exists between the output of RE phase and input of configuration phase. The reason for this gap is that configuration looks at a process from data perspective (data elements, their interactions and interrelationships) whereas RE techniques view a process from an activity flow perspective. To minimize this gap, data perspective should be captured in RE phase. Here, a set of required information for configuration is identified /defined. We propose to use a data modeling technique along with process modeling technique in RE phase to support configuration specific information. Widely used existing data modeling techniques do not capture data specific configuration requirements. Thus, a data modeling technique called Data Activity Model for Configuration (DAMC) is proposed.