Defining a Baseline Complexity Model for ERP Systems over SaaS

Abstract

Our research investigates applying the Software as a Service (SaaS) model for hosted applications to more complex business systems such as an Enterprise Resource Management System (ERP). This application of the service model is still in its infancy and we present some challenges to the technology. We will initially be defining a measure of complexity for business systems and applying this as a baseline to complex business systems within a pure SaaS model on the cloud, considering the elements making up SaaS and inter-relating these with this definition of business complexity. In this research we will be applying elements of Complex Systems Theory, Network Complexity Theory and Programmatic Complexity Models, in extending these for our own application to this service model within this complex business context.