Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Organizations that depend on enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are under increasing pressure to modernize, and 5G Network Technology has emerged as one of the more promising avenues for doing so, given its demonstrated impact in related domains.

Despite this potential, many existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems were not originally designed with 5G network technology in mind, resulting in persistent gaps in decision support that limit their overall effectiveness. This study examines how 5G Network Technology can be applied to help close that gap.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Current enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems in many organizations struggle with inadequate decision support, often relying on manual processes or outdated architectures that were not designed for today's operating environment. Without a structured approach to integrating 5G network technology, these limitations are likely to persist, exposing organizations to inefficiency, risk, and a poor user experience. This study is motivated by the need to design and evaluate a 5G network technology-based approach to addressing this problem.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To design and implement a 5G network technology-based approach to improving decision support in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
2. To evaluate the effectiveness of 5G Network Technology in enhancing decision support within enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
3. To identify the key requirements and constraints relevant to deploying 5G network technology in this context.
4. To assess user and stakeholder perception of the resulting system.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How can 5G network technology be applied to improve decision support in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems?
2. How effective is 5G Network Technology at enhancing decision support within enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems?
3. What requirements and constraints are relevant to deploying 5G network technology in this context?
4. How do users and stakeholders perceive the resulting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

Beyond its immediate technical contribution, this study offers value to organizations evaluating whether to invest in 5G network technology for their own enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and contributes to the broader literature on applied software technology / IT by documenting a concrete implementation and evaluation case.

1.6 Scope of the Study

As a study of this kind, its scope is confined to designing and evaluating a 5G network technology-based solution for enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, focused specifically on decision support; broader deployment considerations fall outside this scope.