Read the article, “The Battle to Streamline Business Software’’ in the December 4, 2002, edition of Business Week. (This book’s Website provides a free link.)

Required 1. What functions are integrated by enteiprise resource planning, or ERP, software?
2. How long does Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland think it will take for it to earn a return on its $25 million dollar investment in Oracle software?
3. Which companies are identified in the article as the large (likely long-standing) names in the busi¬ ness software market?
4. In dollar terms, what is the current size of the ERP software market? What annual growth rate is predicted for this market through 2006?