Educational ERP solutions for Higher Institutions of Learning: With an Emphasis on Human Capital Management Component

Abstract

This paper promotes for adoption of educational enterprise resource planning systems (ERP) in the higher institutions of learning (HIL). It suggests for consideration of human capital management (HCM) as a necessary component of such ERP solutions, extending the traditional Students Management Information Systems (SMIS) and standalone financial management modules in academia. The paper is an outcome of the study involving a situational analysis of the proposal stage for educational ERP implementation, conducted at a case university in Tanzania (name withheld in consideration of ethics). Using exploratory survey, the study sought to: establish a match between the university’s objectives and ERP solutions to justify for investment; understand the perception of the need among the key stakeholders; and understand the management’s readiness to adopt and support such an implementation. The paper uses a new concept of ‘extended Likert Scale’ tool for collection of ordinal and opinion based data. Among the findings is poor customer care as an undermining factor for the currently installed SMIS performance, and a gross need for electronic HCM services that are not available. The contributions the paper makes include: exposition of the technological capabilities required to improve on knowledge and HCM in universities as required in development as well as election of educational ERP packages.

Keywords: Educational ERP, Higher Institutions of Learning, Human Capital Management, Extended Likert Scale

DOI: 10.7176/IKM/11-4-12

Publication date:October 30^th 2021