Technology As Innovator

The Dilemma

When designing screens for enterprise systems, I frequently face an issue. There are too many fields to present for a user to complete an action (i.e. manage an order transaction). In terms of cohesion, since these fields serve one purpose, they should be put in one screen. But again, too many!

Too many of them clustering in one screen makes it look like a mess with texts, numbers and boxes. Not nice at all!

New design trends pushes this even further

The new design standard introduces alternating colored grids, text boxes with strong borders. All of these increase to size of elements, thus will make the screen narrower.

So we face a dilemma: should we put all relating fields in one screen, or break an action into multiple screens?

Put all in one screen
or
Break the information into multiple screens?

What’s your Focus?

There are a couple of things you can do:

• Review GUI Design Guidelines
• Review a high level document (i.e. Vision) to determine what the system is for and what it should look like in general
• Create different prototypes and propose them to the customers

The most important factors

Some factors to look into when composing your own solutions:

Number of clicks

Because user’s interaction with system is done chiefly through mouse motions, number of clicks is considered one of the most important factor of GUI design.

Most of the cases, my experience is that with a little twist in design, number of clicks can be reduced from 3 to 2. Not so frequently it can be cut down dramatically. 1 click seems trivial. However, a user may perform that action a thousand times per day, thus makes it worth the effort.

Efforts users have to spend to learn how to use the system

If a screen has too many fields, it would be confusing for first-time users to know how to locate information.

If it takes quite some screens to accomplish a task, it would be confusing for first-time users.

In the long run, the first solution would prove to be better when user has memorized the location of information sections.

3. ERP System Characteristics

• Modular design comprising many distinct business modules such as financial, manufacturing, accounting, distribution, etc.
• Use centralized common database management system (DBMS)
• The modules are integrated and provide seamless data flow among the modules, increasing operational transparency through standard interfaces
• Flexible and offer best business practices
• Require time-consuming tailoring and configuration setups for integrating with the company’s business functions
• Modules work in real time with online and batch processing capabilities
• Internet-enabled
• Financial and business information is often generated automatically by ERP systems based on data previously entered, without further human instructions
• ERP provides business intelligence tools like Decision Support Systems, Executive Information System, Reporting, Data Mining and Easy Warning Systems for enabling people to make better decision and thus improve their business processes

ERP Series Previous Posts

ERP Series vol 1: ERP Definition & Advantages

Free & Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning Software

1. Definition

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems are software systems for business management, encompassing modules supporting functional areas such as

• Planning
• Manufacturing
• Sales
• Marketing
• Distribution
• Accounting
• Financial
• Human Resource Management
• Project Management
• Inventory Management
• Service and Maintenance
• Transportation, logistics and e-Business

The architecture of the software facilitates transparent integration of modules, providing flow of information between all functions within the enterprise in a consistently visible manner. Corporate computing with ERPs allows companies to implement a single integrated system by replacing or re-engineering their mostly incompatible legacy information systems.

2. Advantages of ERP

ERP Series Previous Posts

Free & Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning Software