Concussion is a life-altering injury that can affect people of all ages. Event-related potentials (ERPs) extracted from electroencephalography (EEG) have proven sensitive to concussion-induced cognitive deficits. The MMN, P3a, P3b, and N2b are some ERP components of interest, assessing automatic attention, attentional resource allocation, working memory, and inhibitory executive function, respectively. These ERPs can assess some common symptoms associated with concussion at a level that cannot be attained using self-report. A reduced amplitude and potentially delayed latency of the P3a and P3b is a well-replicated result in concussion research. Furthermore, recent research suggests that an alteration in amplitude of earlier peaks such as the N2b and MMN might represent an irreversible change in cognitive processing that tends to occur in the chronic stages of concussion. Many of these studies have focused on athletes, however little research has evaluated the cognitive effects of sustaining numerous blows to the head that do not result in a clinical diagnosis of concussion, as is the case for many athletes in contact sports. These blows are often referred to as subconcussive impacts. The present study examined the cognitive and neurophysiological effects of subconcussive impacts on collegiate contact-sport athletes and compared them to noncontact athletes. The athletes completed questionnaires to evaluate their health and athletic history, as well as estimates of exposure to subconcussive impacts such as position and playing time, prior to participating in three paradigms meant to assess various cognitive processes during an EEG recording. Across two experiments we demonstrated that subconcussive impacts within a season of play can result in alterations in neurophysiological markers of cognitive health. Our findings also reveal that continued involvement in contact sports can have serious implications in one’s automatic attention, resource allocation, and working memory as demonstrated by reduced ERP amplitudes in contact as compared to non-contact athletes. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / A concussion is a devastating injury that can greatly affect how an individual functions in their day-to-day life. Concussions are often discussed in the context of contact sports because of these athletes’ exposure to repeated head impacts. That said, another cause for concern is the effects of head impacts that do not result in a concussion per se – these are known as subconcussive impacts. A brain imaging technique known as electroencephalography (EEG) involves recording brain activity from sensors on the head. Conducting this recording while individuals perform tasks known to evaluate brain function offers an opportunity to assess symptoms rather than relying on a patient’s own, subjective report of their experiences. The present study investigated the use of EEG in evaluating the effects of subconcussive impacts in collegiate athletes and found that repeated head impacts can reduce cognitive health, even if they do not result in a diagnosis of concussion.

It is well known that cultural difference could affect people’s attitude, behavior and cognitive processes. Previous studies have shown a cross-cultural difference on self-construal between Western Caucasian (WC) and East Asian (EA), as well as their culturally distinguished motivational strategies, cognitive and emotion regulation methods. “Cushion hypothesis” (Hsee & Weber 1999) has suggested that WC were more risk aversive than EA during economic decision, because of dissimilar familial-social economic supporting system between two cultures. The current study digs in depth to these differences in emotional experience associated with decision making and discovers how cultures effect people’s counterfactual emotions—the “what if” emotion—during economic decision making. There are two types of counterfactuals thoughts we are looking at: regret and relief. Regret is triggered if an alternative action would have led to a better outcome, while relief is triggered if an alternative action would lead to equal or worse outcome. WC are expected to be more self-reliance, therefore would be more conservative about financial decision, and greater vigilant at economic choices prompting WC to process prior decision that led to least undesirable economic outcome; while EA are easier to get financial help form their families, would hold a relatively more relax attitude, compare to WC, about risk-taking behavior on economic decision, and be more chilled after receive preferable outcome than WC. Current study will use electropherogram (EEG) to record different event-relative potential (P2, P3 and LPP) and both FC (frontal central lobe) and CP (central parietal lobe) regions to examined how cultural difference affects counterfactual emotions during economic decision making, at both initial spontaneous arousal stage, P2 and conscious effortful emotional appraisal stage, LPP. Additionally, self emotional rating was included in the present study to consolidate validity of the task. In our results, all subjects rated happier on Relief than Regret, and Certain than Gamble conditions, only in Relief condition WC rated happier than EA, and only WC rated happier on Certain condition than Gamble condition. The emotional effect showed at P2 in FC suggested that positive result in regret condition could lead a more intensive immediate emotion arousal. Coincidently, the main effect of emotion at LPP, in the opposite direction compared to P2, at FC, might suggest an overall convoluted counterfactual emotional processing. At P3, choices by culture interaction presented at both region, further, only EA, but not WC, had a greater arousal in gamble condition than certain. This suggested a difference in cognitive processing of choices was different between two cultures. Interestingly, a three-way interaction was found at CP during P3, indicate a complexity of culture discrepancy of emotional process. Finally, a co-relation test between LPP signal and self-emotional rating was conducted, for the coincident of result of main effect of choices plus a marginal choices by culture interaction between behavioral rating and LPP. As the result, only in EA, at both choices conditions, the rating is positively related to LPP amplitude. Overall, both at P3 and LPP we found cultural specialized results correlated with choices condition, which indicated a obscure cultural effect on cognitive process. Moreover, the marginal three-way interaction at P3, CP, may suggest a cultural effects on both economic decision-making related cognitive process and emotional response.

Due to globalization corporations have been forced, regardless line of business and geographical position, to differentiate themselves from their competitors and act upon new conditions. These conditions cause increased stress on internal functions because while corporations reduce costs, they must also increase profitability and meet customer demands. Corporations should consider the possibilities of streamlining internal functions. One possible way to do that is to select the right ERP-system.The purpose of this thesis is to identify the most crucial factors in the selection of ERP systems in manufacturing companies in China, and the problems surrounding the practice and implementation. The purpose also includes designing a framework that facilitates decision-making regarding ERP-systems for manufacturing companies in China.The purpose is achieved throughout observations of Company A's ERP department and semi-structured interviews with four employees. Collected data is combined with the theory in order to be analysed and illustrate the similarities with prior research.The result demonstrates many similarities with the theory. Indications suggest that the decisive factor in the selection of ERP systems has been to, China as a country advocating the advancement in technology. There is confusion and problems surrounding the use of the system due to it being mismatched, despite ten years after implementation, the ERP-system is still not fully operational in all of the company's functions. Furthermore, on the basis of the studied company result it is possible to imply that there is a lack of communication both vertically and horizontally.The conclusions of this thesis are, that the selection of ERP systems has not been carefully thought out. The main characteristics have been identified as basic functions. Because the ERP-system is mismatched it still has not met the requirements of Company A. Education and training from the ERP-supplier is fundamental for the ERP-system's final performance. A self-designed framework has been designed to facilitate decision-making concerning the selection of ERP-system. / Globaliseringen har tvingat företag, oavsett bransch och geografisk position, till att differentiera sig från sina konkurrenter och agera efter nya förutsättningar. Dessa förutsättningar medför ökad påfrestning på interna funktioner eftersom samtidigt som företagen reducerar kostnader, måste de även öka lönsamheten och tillgodose kundens behov. Företag bör ta ställning till huruvida effektiviseringen av interna funktioner bör gå till. Ett sätt att göra detta på är att välja rätt ERP-system. Syftet med detta arbete är att identifiera de mest avgörande faktorerna vid valet av ERP-system hos tillverkade företag i Kina samt problematiken kring användandet och implementeringen. I syftet ingår också att utforma ett ramverk som underlättar beslutsfattandet kring ERP-system för tillverkande företag i Kina. Arbetets syfte uppfylls genom observationer på företag A’s ERP-avdelning och semistrukturerade intervjuer med fyra anställda. Insamlad data sammankopplas med teorin för att på så vis analyseras och belysa likheter med tidigare forskning. Resultatet påvisar många likheter med teorin. Indikationer tyder på att den avgörande faktorn för valet av ERP-system har varit att Kina som land förespråkar avancemang inom teknologi. Det råder förvirring och problem kring användandet av systemet då det är missanpassat, detta trots tio år efter implementering, är ERP-systemet fortfarande inte är fullt operativt i företagets alla funktioner. Vidare utifrån det studerade företagets resultat går det att tyda att det råder bristande kommunikation både vertikalt och horisontellt. Slutsatserna av detta arbete är att valet av ERP-system inte varit noga genomtänkt. De viktigaste egenskaperna har identifierats som basala funktioner. På grund av att ERP-systemet är missanpassat har systemets passform ej mött de behov som företag A kräver. Utbildning och träning från ERP-leverantören är essentiellt för ERP-systemets slutgiltiga prestation i företaget. Ett egendesignat ramverket har konstruerats för att underlätta beslutsfattandet kring valet av ERP-system.

<p>Researchers and practitioners alike believe it is not until an organization expands their ERP system that they will reap the full benefits of it. The question of how to expand an ERP system beyond its core is investigated in this thesis. It is done by reviewing ERP research and comparing this with empirical data collected in a case study made at a focal company. The focal company is a member of the business network Automation Region. The case describes how the focal company moved from using an ERP system to where they now have an e-procurement system connected to their core ERP and has developed a sales process system which might become their e-commerce system in the future to take control of their supply chain as a whole. It shows how a process thinking view has aided them in putting the customer in focus and incorporating parts of the TQM philosophy. The conclusion reveals that it is crucial to understand and work with processes and there are motives and obstacles to consider when expanding an ERP system. It furthermore uncovers the importance of giving this expansion of the ERP system, the move beyond the core ERP, a proper name such as Extended ERP, eERP. It is important because then, when we understand the eERP fully, we will be ready for the next level of business which may very well be ERP2 or Second Generation ERP which incorporates entire business networks.</p>

Researchers and practitioners alike believe it is not until an organization expands their ERP system that they will reap the full benefits of it. The question of how to expand an ERP system beyond its core is investigated in this thesis. It is done by reviewing ERP research and comparing this with empirical data collected in a case study made at a focal company. The focal company is a member of the business network Automation Region. The case describes how the focal company moved from using an ERP system to where they now have an e-procurement system connected to their core ERP and has developed a sales process system which might become their e-commerce system in the future to take control of their supply chain as a whole. It shows how a process thinking view has aided them in putting the customer in focus and incorporating parts of the TQM philosophy. The conclusion reveals that it is crucial to understand and work with processes and there are motives and obstacles to consider when expanding an ERP system. It furthermore uncovers the importance of giving this expansion of the ERP system, the move beyond the core ERP, a proper name such as Extended ERP, eERP. It is important because then, when we understand the eERP fully, we will be ready for the next level of business which may very well be ERP2 or Second Generation ERP which incorporates entire business networks.

ERP-system (Enterprise Resource Planning Systems) spelar en allt större roll för organisationer och att implementeringen av dem blir framgångsrika är av stor betydelse för ett företag. Det finns exempel där en misslyckad implementeringsprocess medfört att hela företag försatts i konkurs. Följaktligen har flera studier gjorts gällande ERP-implementeringar. Ibland syftar artiklarna till att visa på rekommenderade tillvägagångssätt genom att redogöra för implementeringens kritiska framgångsfaktorer – de moment, aktiviteter eller liknande som genom studien identifierats som avgörande för en framgångsrik implementering. Majoriteten av studierna har berört organisationer i privat sektor. Författarna till denna uppsats ansåg att det fanns starka argument för att dessa studiers resultat inte med nödvändighet är applicerbara på organisationer i offentlig sektor, utan att de kritiska framgångsfaktorerna kan skilja sig åt eller ha olika prioriteringsgrad i respektive sektor. Att studera huruvida kritiska framgångsfaktorer och framgångsmått kan skiljas åt och prioriteras olika torde vara av vikt för implementeringar av ERP-system. Denna uppsats är uppstånden av denna anledning, att söka finna kritiska faktorer i implementeringen av ERP-system för organisationer i offentlig sektor.

Syfte – Syftet med denna uppsats var att genom existerande fallstudier, enkätundersökningar och annan sekundärdata identifiera vilka faktorer som ger upphov till motstånd vid implementeringen av ERP-system och hur detta motstånd kan förebyggas.Metod – Metoden som användes i denna uppsats är dokument. Dokument i denna uppsats var sekundärdata i form av artiklar och böcker från världsledande journaler inom området ERP-implementering. Uppsatsens teori, analyser och modeller bygger kring dessa artiklar och böcker.Resultat och analys – Resultaten från denna studie tyder på att alla ERP-implementeringar möter motstånd vid ERP-projekt. Det är hanteringen och förebyggandet av dessa motståndsbeteenden som avgör projektets framgång. De viktigaste faktorerna som gav upphov till motstånd var: Lågt engagemang från ledning och styrelse, otillräcklig utbildning och träning vilket resulterar i kunskapsbarriärer, projektgrupp med individer som inte har tillräckligt med erfarenhet, inflytande och kunskap, bristfällig förändringshantering med en passiv ledarstil, systemets kvalitet och pålitlighet och ingen tydlig vision och affärsstrategi. Studien kom även fram till att implementeringen består av tre stora faser: innan, under och efter implementering. Misstag som görs vid fasen innan implementering visade sig vara mest avgörande för projektens framgång. Studien presenterar även olika förebyggande åtgärder som kan användas för att minska motståndsbeteendena som uppstår. De förebyggande faktorerna är: En tydlig affärsplan och vision för projektet som slutanvändarna lätt kan ta till sig, starkt stöd från ledning så att även lägre nivåer känner stöd för projektet, förutse förändringar i affärsprocesser genom att analysera konsekvenserna av implementeringen, support och kommunikation med berörda intressenter för att tidigt upptäcka problem, en projektgrupp med inflytande och erfarenhet som jobbar heltid med projektet och träning och utbildning för att övervinna kunskapsbarriärer som kan resultera i motstånd.Originalitet – Denna studie samlar den senaste forskningen kring ERP-implementation och motståndsbeteenden. En modell som visualiserar hur motstånd påverkar implementationen har även skapats som en generell vägledande modell för organisationer som implementerar ERP-system.Nyckelord – ERP, ERP-implementation, motståndsbeteenden, ERP-implementation faser. / Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to identify factors that give rise to resistance behaviours when implementing ERP-systems. The purpose was also to find ways to prevent these resistance behaviours.Methodology – This paper was conducted through examination and use of a methodology called documents. The paper was built upon existing secondary data. The secondary data was made up of articles and books from world leading academic journals in the area of ERP-implementation.Findings and results – The findings of this paper suggests that all ERP-implementations will face human resistance of some kind and that the treatment of these resistance behaviours is crucial for a successful implementation project. The paper identified important resistance factors that need to be handled: Low commitment from top management, inadequate training and education, a project group with little influence, experience and skills, poor change management and passive management styles, system quality, system reliability, poor business vision and poor strategy plans. The paper also identified the planning phase of an ERP-implementation to be the most crucial phase in the whole project. The paper presents ways to prevent the resistance threat through some important factors: A clear business plan and vision of the project is needed and this vision must be visible to people using the system, strong support from top management and the board is needed for funding and influence on lower levels of organizations, good anticipation of changes in processes connected to the implementation, support and communication with relevant stakeholders, a strong and influential project group, training and education to overcome knowledge barriers and developed change management strategies.Originality – This paper provides an examination and summary of the most critical factors that influence resistance behaviours when implementing an ERP-system and also provides a model that can be used in organizations when facing an implementation project.Keywords – ERP, ERP-implementation, resistance behaviours, ERP-implementation phases.

När organisationer implementerar ett nytt ERP-system innebär det inte bara att en ny mjukvara skall införas utan även att en förändring sker i organisationen. Hantering av människor anses som grundläggande för att nå framgång vid förändringar. Vid en ERP-implementation när kund och konsult skall samarbeta står mycket på spel för de inblandade parterna. Det skapas ett beroende mellan dem vilket gör att förtroende spelar en viktig roll. Genom en litteraturstudie beskrivs villkoren för förtroendeskapande vid en ERP-implementation. Med en kvalitativ undersökning har empiri samlats in från kunder och konsulter för att få en förståelse för utmaningar och svårigheter med att skapa förtroende. Studiens resultat bidrar med tips för hur konsulter kan skapa kundens förtroende i kund- och konsultrelationen vid en ERP-implementation.

The goal of this research was to increase the knowledge base regarding Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software implementation, particularly in the public sector. To this end, factors regarding benefits sought through ERP system implementation and critical factors surrounding successful ERP implementation were identified. In addition, the perception of project team members’ satisfaction with modules implemented and their concerns about implementing ERP software were identified in this study. The results of this study provided recommendations for public- and private-sector organizations in order to increase their opportunity for successful ERP system implementation. The literature review and results of this study suggested that the benefits sought during ERP system implementation were consistent among public- and private-sector organizations. Benefits such as increased standardization, better reporting, and reduced operational costs were recognized as goals of ERP software implementation. Factors that attributed to successful ERP system implementations were top management support, and knowledgeable project managers and team members. The t-test analyses found differences among the two groups, public and private sector organizations, regarding some benefits sought and the level of satisfaction with some modules. The study included recommendations for organizations to fully research ERP functionality prior to implementation, implement strong change management, use other means of measuring return on investment, ensure employee buy-in and top management involvement, and avoid scope creep.

Många ERP-implementeringsprojekt går över planerad budget och planerade tidsramar. Tidigare forskning har resulterat i ett ramverk av kritiska framgångsfaktorer som bör beaktas under ett implementeringsprojekt. Hur väl stämmer denna tidigare utvecklade teoretiska bild av kritiska framgångsfaktorer överens med svenska ERP-konsulters bild av implementeringsarbetet idag? Syftet är att klargöra om ett tidigare utvecklat ramverk av kritiska framgångsfaktorer är aktuellt för dagens ERP-implementeringar. En litteraturstudie utfördes och följdes av fem kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer på fem etablerade svenska ERP-konsultfirmor. Studien noterade flera likheter mellan det teoretiska ramverket samt uppfattningarna hos de svenska affärssystemskonsulterna. Områden som projektplanering ansågs vara av yttersta vikt. Ett antal skillnader upptäcktes också. Det ansågs kritiskt att personal har möjlighet att lägga ner den tid som behövs. Vidare ansågs god kommunikation vara en grundläggande komponent. / Many ERP-implementation projects require more time and money than expected. Previous research has developed a framework consisting of several critical success factors that need to be considered during implementation projects. How well does the earlier developed theoretical picture of critical success factors align with the picture of several Swedish ERP-consultants today? The purpose is to clarify if a previously developed framework of critical success factors are applicable to current ERP-implementation projects. A literature study was performed and followed by five qualitative semi structured interviews at five established Swedish ERP-consulting firms. The study noted several similarities between the theoretical framework and the opinions of the Swedish ERP-consultants. Areas such as project planning proved to be of vast importance. A few differences were also revealed, such as the great significance of having the time necessary as well as proper communication.