Presentation
Associate Professor Chawalit Jeenanunta, with over two decades of teaching experience at Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) Thammasat University, Thailand, specializes in optimization and operations research. His educational journey spans from the University of Maryland to a PhD in Systems Engineering in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA. Chawalit's dedication to integrating practical tools like ERPsim into his curriculum has revolutionized the way operations management and ERP systems are taught in his university in Thailand.
Using ERPsim in Class
Professor Jeenanunta has seamlessly integrated ERPsim into courses like Introduction to ERP and Operations Management.
In class, Chawalit starts with the simpler Maple game to familiarize students with basic ERP functions, gradually moving to more complex simulations like the Manufacturing Introduction and Extended games. This progression allows students to understand operational and strategic aspects of business management in a simulated environment. Students also create Business Intelligence to improve their decision.
The students also get a good experience; they learn a lot. So, we can see that the student could grasp the idea of the business process.
They could grasp the idea of the SAP system, they could see the linkage between the functions, and they could see the strategic level.
Using ERPsim in Research
Chawalit's methodology is grounded in action research, observing both qualitative and quantitative changes in student behavior and performance. His findings reveal that successful teams often exhibit strong communication and leadership skills, essential components he emphasizes in his teaching.
And we could find out that, the teams who win, in every class, we could say that they always talk to each other. They always have good leadership, in the team.
All the teams that always lose in the other classes, they don't talk to each other. They don't communicate that well.
This insight from professor Chawalit Jeenanunta mirrors real-world business environments where communication and leadership are essential for operational success and distinguish winning teams from the rest.