Re: Help requested from developers, implementers, and end users....

[su...@trentend.com]

Just a quick thank you to the few people from the community who have  
taken the time to fill in my survey. I think it's fair to say that the  
response has been a little disappointing overall, but not entirely  
unexpected.

There is just a day left, for anyone who wishes to contribute.

Thank you for your patience and tolerance, and good luck with the  
development of your project and businesses.

I will circulate distribution details of the finished report in due  
course to those who requested it.

Thanks
Paul Chambers

Quoting survey@trentend.com:

> Firstly let me say that I hope that this is not considered an intrusive
> approach.  Please feel free to contact me at: survey at trentend dot
> com  if you wish to discuss any aspect of this with me.
>
> I am undertaking academic research into the application of open source
> ERP systems into the small and medium enterprise.  The intention is to
> consider the suitability of such systems, and compare them with similar
> proprietary systems.  I am a proponent of Open Source business systems
> in general, and ERP in particular.  I believe it has a substantial, and
> increasing, role to play in the enterprise, and I wish to explore and
> promote that view.
>
> I have prepared a short survey, which will hopefully provide a valuable
> insight into the perception and preparedness for Open Source systems to
> take on the more established proprietary systems.
>
> It would be of significant assistance to me, if as many people as
> possible would be able to take the very short time required to fill in
> this anonymous survey.  Ultimately it is hoped the research will
> benefit the community, in return, by increased profile and increased
> formal recognition.
>
>
> The survey can be found at:
> [url]http://trentend.com/phpESP/public/survey.php?name=OSERP[/url]
>
> or via the tiny url of: [url]http://tinyurl.com/3dptnp[/url]
>
> The tiny url can be previewed at:
>
>     [url]http://preview.tinyurl.com/3dptnp[/url]
>
>
> Please feel free to circulate this request to anyone who may have an
> involvement with ERP systems, and who would be prepared to fill out the
> survey.  The more respondents, the more valuable the information which
> can be drawn from it.  The survey will run for approximately one week
> from this posting.
>
>
> Background
> -------------
>
> Currently the author is involved in academic research, as part of a
> higher degree in Business Management, into the use of Open Source ERP
> systems in the enterprise. He is responsible for implementation and
> maintenance of a proprietary Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP)
> system, which is licensed on a monthly cycle.  It is the intention to
> replace this system with an Open Source Enterprise Resource Planning
> (ERP) system in the mid to long term.    The author is a proponent of
> Open Source in general, and Open Source ERP systems in particular.  It
> is hoped that this research will provide some insight into the position
> of Open Source ERP's in the market place, and the perception of it's
> suitability.  It is also hoped to raise the formal profile of ERP
> systems as serious tools in the Enterprise.
>
> This research can be made available to interested members of the
> community, as a .pdf file, after publication.  Please apply to the
> author at survey at trentend dot com, and your email address will be
> retained, and a link to the completed paper distributed to those
> interested parties.  This is the only purpose for which such email
> addresses would be used. The survey itself is anonymous, and does not
> require email validation.  There is no need to provide any such
> details, if you prefer not to.
>
> Completing this survey will take you little time - it's seven simple
> questions, does not require you to write anything (the required
> elements are check box, or radio button, questions) - genuinely no more
> than five minutes of your time.  It will be of an enormous assistance
> to me, and ultimately will ensure that your views are represented in
> the completed research.  I hope you will consider this valuable
> contribution, an insignificant hardship.
>
> In the meantime, keep up the good work.  Open Source business systems
> are held in very high regard, and are extremely valuable to those of us
> who believe organisations (particularly the small and medium sized
> enterprise) should remain free from limitations imposed by proprietary
> licensing.
>
> By completing this survey, you may help a wider audience consider the
> value of this approach on a wider scale.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Paul Chambers