Organizations become more homogenous when they adapt to the external environment for survival and competitiveness. Institutional theorists call this phenomenon "isomorphism," which is a constraining process that forces organizations---through coercive, mimetic, or normative pressures---to resemble each other when facing the same set of environmental conditions. In recent years, concerns about cost-efficiency and standardization of information technology (IT) have led organizations to rely more heavily on IT to enhance their business operations. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems enable the tight integration of all necessary business functions into a single system. Typically, a database, designed to standardize organizational IT platforms and business processes, is shared throughout an organization. The high adoption rate of ERP systems among the biggest corporations has pressured other organizations to adopt ERP systems. Information system (IS) researchers call this phenomenon "technical isomorphism". / This study examines the effects of ERP implementation on organizational homogeneity from the viewpoint of institutional theory. Through mediating factors, such as the extent of ERP implementation and software adaptation, this study also investigates the effects of organizational homogeneity on the core competencies of user-organizations. It addresses four important issues: (a) whether institutional pressures lead to organizational homogenization; (b) whether institutional pressures affect the extent of ERP implementation in organizations; (c) whether the extent of ERP implementation affects software adaptation and subsequently, homogenization; and (d) whether the core competencies of organizations are ultimately affected by the adoption of technology. / This study's findings contribute to our understanding on the effects of ERP implementation in organizations, particularly on the IT and business activities. They open a whole new arena of research into the impact of technology on organizational abilities, providing a new set of constructs, relationships, antecedents, and dependent variables. Moreover, this study provides the necessary evidence on the occurrence of homogenization, its origins, and its consequences. It also provides valuable guidelines in finding a balance between conformity and retaining the uniqueness of companies, which is regarded as a source of core competencies. Thus, the research findings can help organizations redirect their focus and efforts into ERP implementation, saving millions of dollars in the process. / Liu, Kar Wai Connie. / Adviser: Vincent S. Lai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-04, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-152). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendix 8.3 and 8.4 in Chinese.

Thesis (M.A. (Business administration)) University of Limpopo, 2008 / This research report is based on an integrated approach to strategy implementation in the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport. The purpose of this research was to investigate which factors are key in the implementation of strategies and how can they be integrated to achieve the stated goals of the Limpopo Department of Roads and Transport. This report included both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The major finding of the study was that there are four key drivers of strategy implementation. These key drivers are management and leadership, organizational culture, organizational structure and organizational processes/systems. The integration of these key drivers is essential for the implementation of strategy, leading to improved service delivery to various stakeholders. The report concludes that in order to approach strategy implementation in an integrated manner, the following should take place: (1) managers who are responsible for strategy implementation should also be involved in strategy formulation processes; (2) organizational culture should be changed to create a conducive environment for the managers to be motivated; (3) leadership and management should guide the vision and mission; (4) organizational processes/systems should be coordinated and integrated for efficiency and effectiveness

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrate business processes (BPs) into one database, facilitate data sharing, and provide real time information to authorised users, leading to an increase in efficiency and effectiveness. However, the implementation of an ERP system is not always a success as some systems turn out to be misaligned with the organisation’s objectives. This misalignment can lead to inadequate controls within the system. ERP systems are designed to improve transactions within the BPs and provide a competitive advantage to organisations. However, this benefit can become a weakness if project implementation fails due to controls in the system not being aligned with the objectives. The aim of the study is to explore how audit functions can contribute to the implementation of ERP projects, and the objective is to propose a guideline that can improve the implementation processes of ERP projects. To address the aim and meet the objective of this study, two main questions are asked: 1) What are the factors to be considered when introducing audit functionality in the implementation of an ERP system? 2) How can audit functions assist organisations in ERP project implementation? A subjectivist philosophical stance is followed and the epistemology lies within the interpretivist paradigm. An inductive research approach is followed and a case study is used as research strategy to conduct the research. The unit of analysis is the Operation Finance and Information Technology departments within the selected organisation, while selected employees (14) within the organisation form the unit of observation. A non-random, purposively selected sampling technique was used. Data were collected by means of semi-structured questionnaires through interviews. Data were analysed by summarising, categorising, and applying thematic analysis. The data analysis shows that audit functions (Operation Finance department, internal and external auditors) bring objectivity and assurance to the project in terms of financial reports, checks and balances, processes, structure, and internal controls. Getting people to cooperate however is a challenge for audit functionalities, and internal and external auditors can be a challenge during project implementation because their practical skills and computer-based knowledge to deal with huge volumes of data is extremely limited. It is highly recommended that the guideline presented in this research is followed, that engagement of audit functions with business processes is introduced and adopted by other role players involved in the project implementation process, and that audit functions should not be seen as a ‘must have’ but rather as support to improve the process. Ethical requirements as requested by CPUT are fulfilled.

Introduction Some researchers believe that Business plans are critical to the development of a new business idea and thus a new venture. However, others are of the view that these documents are completely useless to the business planning process. With these conflicting views existing, and the occurrence of various factors, the process of deciding to write a business plan and actually writing one can be quite challenging for First – Time entrepreneurs (FTEs) without any influence from background, education and training. This can increase the levels of complexity experienced by many new entrepreneurs. Purpose The aim of this research study is to first investigate the task of writing a business plan experienced by FTEs, then compare the personal experiences and observations of the author to those of others who have participated in this process, and finally compare the collective results to relevant theories and the views and beliefs of experts in writing business plans or creating new ventures. Furthermore, the main aim is to identify exactly if the writing process can be considered less challenging for FTEs, given the inclusion of certain factors, and what is actually meant by the term “easy”. Method To do this, experiences and personal opinions and observations have been collected from the author and former FTEs through the use of self – observation and narrative research techniques coupled with a series of open and probing questions. These were then compared to a collection of relevant literature, and views and opinions of the experts working with the industry. Conclusions With the inclusion of knowledge, literature and expert advice, the process  of writing a business plan becomes easier for FTEs. What this means is that FTEs are more prepared to undertake the writing process due to the absence of uncertainties and increased insight, and as a result, they execute the process more efficiently and better informed as to what tends to occur. In this perspective, the writing process itself becomes “easy”

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2010. / Mode of access: Internet. Title from PDF title page; viewed on March 15, 2010. Major professor: Camille O'Bryant. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Kinesiology." "March 2010." Includes bibliographical references (p. 26-30).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-171). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

An increasing number of companies are reporting their environmental performance, impacts, and activities. The objectives of such reports are many including, in particular, reacting to external pressures from company stakeholders demanding more information about environmental performance. This might also be matched by management requiring information to better run the business - hence an internal requirement for information that would then be available for publication. Because, this environmental reporting serves multiple objectives and satisfies different needs of different readers, it varies in the type of information provided, the scope and depth of material disclosed, presentation formats used, the credibility of the information provided and its overall quality. Although richness of report content, scope of topics covered, presentation and credibility of this content have all been used to assess the quality of corporate environmental reporting (CER), to date most prior studies have looked simply at the volume of and/or the types of information when assessing the quality of CER. Studies have used two main indices to measure disclosure quality; subjective analysts' indices and semi-objective indices. Subjective indices such as the Association of Investment Management and Research (AIMR), formerly the Financial Analysts Federation (FAF) disclosure ratings, are built on corporate disclosures' ratings weighted by a panel of leading analysts in each industry. In semi-objective indices, on the other hand, a pre-determined list of items (topics of disclosure) is developed and tested for their presence (absence ) and/or the richness of their content. It is noted that most disclosure studies adopt this second approach in the form of disclosure index studies, a partial type of content analysis. Other disclosure measures have included textual analysis such as thematic content analysis, readability studies, and linguistic analysis. However, there is no consensus about the best measure for assessing reporting quality. One of the most important limitations encountered in the disclosure literature is the difficulty in assessing the quality of disclosure (Healy and Palepu, 2001; Urquiza et al., 2009). For example, these studies identify three key limitations. Firstly, there is inherent subjectivity involved in the selection of the quality measure and in the coding scheme to assess this 'quality' generally researchers choose their own methods or proxies. Secondly, there is an ignorance of the quality perceptions of preparers and users of corporate disclosure. Hammond and Miles (2004) argue that we cannot assess the quality of disclosure independently of a detailed understanding of users' need of disclosure. Thirdly, it has been common to use annual reports (ARs) to assess the extent and quality of corporate responsibility disclosure, ignoring the other reporting media such as corporate responsibility reports (CRRs), websites, home advertisings, etc (Forst et al., 2005; KPMG, 2011). Thus considering the fact that robust, reliable, and replicable quality assessment is problematic, the objectives of this research are threefold. Firstly, to build a more representative quality model based on the findings of a questionnaire ascertaining the views of both preparers and distinct categories of readers of ARs and/or CRRs. Secondly, to apply this model to FTSE 100 CER in both ARs and CRRs to ascertain whether the proxies frequently used in prior literature yield similar results to those derived from this more complex model. Thirdly, to investigate whether the common use of ARs, rather than more detailed CRRs in assessing CER quality is giving a misleading picture of the level and richness of disclosure available to stakeholders.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2001. / Adviser: Arthur Winston. Submitted to the Dept. of Interdisciplinary Studies. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 335-366). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, 1991. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 382-408).