Business Process Integration Flashcards

In ERP systems, what is 'master data governance' and how does it support process integration?

Answer: The policies and processes ensuring shared data entities are accurate, consistent, and controlled across all modules

Master data governance defines ownership, quality standards, and change-control procedures for shared entities like customers and products, ensuring all integrated modules use reliable data.

A company wants to integrate its ERP with IoT sensors on the factory floor. Which data integration pattern is most appropriate for handling continuous sensor data streams?

Answer: Event streaming with platforms like Apache Kafka

Event streaming platforms like Kafka handle high-velocity, continuous data streams from IoT sensors, feeding real-time machine data into ERP production and maintenance modules.

Which ERP integration scenario represents a 'plan-to-produce' (P2P) business process?

Answer: Converting a production plan into work orders, material requisitions, and capacity reservations

Plan-to-produce spans demand planning through work order execution, integrating production planning, materials management, and shop floor modules to manufacture goods.

What is the significance of 'transaction atomicity' in ERP business process integration?

Answer: Ensuring a multi-step business transaction either completes fully or rolls back entirely to maintain data integrity

Atomicity guarantees that linked actions across modules (e.g., deducting inventory and creating an invoice simultaneously) either all succeed or all roll back, preventing partial updates.

In an ERP integration project, what does 'interface specification' documentation typically include?

Answer: Data fields, formats, trigger conditions, frequency, and error-handling rules for each integration point

Interface specifications define the technical contract for each integration: what data is exchanged, in what format, when, how often, and how errors are detected and handled.

Which ERP integration challenge is most likely when a company acquires a new subsidiary running a different ERP platform?

Answer: Heterogeneous system integration requiring data mapping, protocol translation, and process alignment

Merging two different ERP platforms requires mapping data structures, translating protocols, and aligning business process definitions to enable cross-company financial and operational visibility.

What is a 'composite application' in the context of ERP business process integration?

Answer: An application that combines data and services from multiple ERP modules or systems to support a cross-functional process

A composite application assembles data and services from multiple underlying ERP and non-ERP systems into a unified interface or process flow that spans functional boundaries.