Software Tulips
In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan asks a simple question: Did humans domesticate plants or did plants domesticate humans?
Humans being humans, we often assume that we’re at the top of Nature’s ladder and that other living beings respond to us rather than the other way round. But Pollan points out that we humans spend an awful lot of time, energy, money, and effort making sure that plants like tulips are happy, well-fed, healthy, and productive. What do we get out of the exchange? Well, tulips are pretty. Who’s managing whom?
Isn’t ERP software a lot like tulips (with the obvious exception of being pretty)? We spend a lot of time, energy, money, and effort making sure our ERP software is happy, healthy, and productive. Who’s managing whom?
The fact of the matter is that ERP software will change the nature of your business more than your business will change the ERP software. So what kind of business would you like to become? Would you like to become a business that’s fluid and responsive? Or one that’s rigid and set in its ways? Or perhaps you’d like to become a business that’s assembled from piece parts.
Your garden says a lot about you. So does your ERP system. The difference is that it’s a whole lot easier to rip out and replace your garden than your ERP system. So decide what kind of business you want to be when you grow up and choose your ERP system accordingly. We think Lawson software helps you be more supple, responsive, and innovative. If that appeals to you, it’s time to start planting.
As its name implies, The Lawson Opinionizer offers opinions. We believe we've got our facts straight but we don't guarantee it. A new Opinionizer appears every Monday. If you have an opinion, send an e-mail to Opinionizer@lawson.com
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