1 Goal = 1 system or 1 integrated operation

ERP, CRM, CMS, LMS...What does this acronym alphabet mean for integration and sharing of knowledge? 

Integration at step 1?

Changing the view of the campus system is paramount to the success of higher-education.  We have all sat in meetings where vendors say their single product can do it all.  At this point in the conversation remember big business of the 80's & 90's. They brought in the big guns at the start, but still today look for outside products to pickup the slack.  Slack that most ofter occurs when dealing with external audiences, because ERP often place reporting over productivity.

  

In higher-ed studetns are our customers!  Admissions offices are judged on the size and quality of a class, and Academic Dean's on retention of those students.   I would be willing to bet your campus' ERP is deadly accurate on invocies and accounting, but that it is not resonably flexible to adjust with changing communcation?  Colleges need to see that a campus system is not one product, but a collection of products that places productivity and reporting on an even ground.  We all remeber one of our first childhood toys, change can be easily realized when we stop tryign to fit round pegs in a square hole. As you begin any individula alphabet purchase be sure to consider what other acronym it needs to share information with initially or potentially in the future.