This study investigates to what extent "e"-communication is used successfully by Zimbabwean commercial banks. The study was done using the literature survey method and the questionnaire. The closed and open-ended questionnaires used for gathering data were administered personally by the researcher leading to 99% return rate of questionnaires. The major conclusions from this study are that "e"-communication is widely adopted by the commercial banks in Zimbabwe, examples being the use of email, statement enquiries or bill payment services. Recommendations drawn from this research are that commercial banks' top management should be committed to the establishment of more effective information systems programmes and invest substantially more in Information Technology to meet the demanding needs and expectations of customers. The study could be replicated in other sectors of business in order to strengthen the reliability and validity of the results revealed here. / Financial Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)

Since the late eighties, BPR has established itself as one of the attractive radical change management option for coping and adapting to the new competitive market environment and become popular both in the public and private organisations throughout the world . Cognizant of this fact, all Ethiopian public (government owned) institutions including the public financial institutions have embarked on large-scale change projects since 2004 in which Business process re-engineering(BPR) is a central element . This research examined whether implementation of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) projects have improved operational performance of the selected case public commercial banks in Ethiopia by collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative comprehensive data set, using mixed research approach through questionnaires, interviews, observations and review of secondary sources of information. The operational performance measures utilized in this study are cost reduction, speed of service delivery, service quality, customer satisfaction as well as innovation. A total of 837 (84% response rate) questionnaires were returned from respondents of the selected branches and head offices. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight senior managers of the respective banks, who were also members of their respective banks reform team and were involved in the design and implementation of BPR. The third method that was used to collect qualitative data was personal observation of the selected bank branches in order to measure the speed of service delivery and convenience of the waiting places. The researcher measured the service delivery time of selected busy bank branches for five consecutive days, for half an hour spent in each branch. This study found that the introduction of BPR in the case banks was met with mixed reactions from employees and some managers. The main achievements of BPR were: service delivery time reduced dramatically as a result of the new process redesign and introduction of information and communication technology services(introduction of e-banking); introducing a single customer contact point through employee empowerment to make all the necessary decisions at that point of contact which resulted in improving the satisfaction of employees and customers. The challenge was that resistance from employees and some managers (labelled the initiative as “Blood pressure raiser” due to their assumptions it will result in employee lay off or the change brings increased workloads for some remaining employees without compatible rewards following the new process redesign. The study also revealed that telecom infrastructure and power interruption considered as main problem areas in providing banking services efficiently and effectively through branch net workings. The researcher recommends that for a better BPR design and implementation as well as sustainability of improvement gains in the banking sector, a forum should be established to discuss and share good practices and technology in the banking sector ; establish strong change management offices to continuously assist and monitor results; and continuously involve and communicate key stakeholders in the design and implementation of change initiatives. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Modern companies need to compete on a global level to obtain sufficient capital from investors. That is why it is becoming increasingly important for companies to concentrate particularly on fulfilling the expectations of the investment community. With this in mind, companies have begun to optimise their operational business processes in order to gain a greater degree of efficiency and in doing so greater security. This movement started in the early nineties with intensive Business Process Reengineering (BPR) exercises. A key enabler for increased efficiency through Business Process Reengineering was the infrastructure provided by the development of integrated software packages called Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. BPR exercises are normally part and parcel of an ERP implementation project. After the implementation of an ERP system in any business, management will also be in a vastly better position to control the business operations through better information delivery. Most companies are still controlled and managed on the basis of historical financial figures such as profit. Traditional financial statements are increasingly being viewed with distrust due to the perceived ease with which they can be manipulated. As many investors value companies and their performance on the basis of expected "future free cash flows" (excess cash after investment in all positive NPV projects), many companies are now switching from profit-based management to the more comprehensive Value Based Management principles, that takes this into account. A key enabler of the Value Based Management approach is the development of a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) that contains the measures whereby the business should be controlled and measured. With the BSC, a business strategy is translated into a strategic measurement system that focuses on more than just the traditional financial aspects by including measures in other areas of a business, such as customer satisfaction or internal efficiencies. In the BSC financial view the primary indicator of business success is Economic Value Created (EVe). Eve is a true indicator of shareholder wealth created and takes the cost of capital into account. EVC performance becomes the ultimate barometer of business success. Value Based Management companies that invested heavily in the implementation of ERP systems want a good return but normally don't know how best to achieve this. They are wondering how to best make use of the wealth of information that is suddenly at their disposal. In driving shareholder value they are faced by the following questions: • How to translate investor expectations into business strategy and how to link this strategy to day to day operations. • How to use the acquired ERP system in support of this Value Based Management approach to enable maximum return on the investment. In this study project a real South African company, XX Automotive (fictitious name), that recently implemented SAP R/3 as an ERP system is covered as an example to illustrate how these questions can be answered. In Part I, this study project begins by describing all the elements and basic principles of a Value Based Management System such as a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) with EVC as prime measure. Part II illustrates how the XX Automotive financial strategy is translated into a Balanced Scorecard with Economic Value Created (EVC) as main financial measure and how these defined measures were represented by SAP reports that were specifically developed for this purpose. The Balanced Scorecard represented by the SAP reports serves only as a one way measurement system. The next critical step is to determine how to influence the results. The information that populates the SAP reports in XX Automotive's Balanced Scorecard is generated all over the business by the end users in their respective departments. The influence on EVC through business actions by these individual units is discussed in depth as it provides the keys that illustrate how the value of EVC can be impacted positive or negatively by each. Giving individuals the power to influence EVC through incentive schemes is crucial for long term success. It is illustrated how improving EVC became the new business focus at XX Automotive and how each individual employee can visually see his role in influencing the outcome. Meeting the value-based "Expected EVC Improvement" targets will generate target level bonus payments. Each XX Automotive employee is encouraged to think and act like an owner because he is going to be paid like one. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Moderne maatskappye moet op globale skaal kompeteer vir genoegsame kapitaal vanaf beleggers. Daarom word dit al hoe meer belangrik vir maatskappye om te konsentreer daarop om aan die verwagtinge van die beleggers gemeenskap te voldoen. Met dit in gedagte, het maatskappye begin om hulle operasionele besigheidsprossesse te optimeer om sodoende 'n beter vlak van effektiwiteit te bereik en daardeur groter sekuriteit aangaande hul eie voorbestaan te verseker. Hierdie beweging het in die negentigerjare begin met intensiewe besigheidsherontwerp, die sogenaamde 'Business Process Reengineering' (BPR) oefeninge. 'n Belangrike katalisator vir verbeterde effektiwiteit deur BPR is die infrastruktuur wat voorsien is deur die ontwikkeling van geintegreerde besigheidssagtewarepakkette nl. 'Enterprise Resource Planning' (ERP) stelsels. Met 'n ERP implementeringsprojek word gewoonlik intensiewe BPR gedoen. Nadat 'n ERP pakket geimplimenteer is behoort bestuur ook in 'n baie beter posisie te wees om besigheidsoperasies te beheer deur die verbeterde inligting verkry uit die ERP sagteware. Dit word ook duidelik dat die meerderheid van maatskappye steeds beheer en bestuur word op die basis van historiese finansiële maatstawwe soos wins in die inkomstestaat. Weens die feit dat baie beleggers maatskappye waardeer op grond van hul sogenaamde "future free cash flows" (oorblywende kontant na investering in alle NPV positiewe projekte), skakel maatskappye oor van 'n winsgebaseerdebestuurstelsel na die meer omvattende' Value Based Management' stelsel, waarvan 'Economic Value Created' (EVC) die hoofkomponent is. 'n Belangrike skakel in die 'Value Based Management' initiatief is die ontwikkeling van 'n 'Balanced Scorecard', 'n bestuurskonsep waarin die maatstawwe opgesluit lê waarmee die besigheid beheer en bestuur moet word. 'Value Based Management' gedrewe maatskappye wat groot investerings gemaak het in die implementering van ERP sagteware wil 'n goeie opbrengs op die belegging hê maar weet gewoonlik nie wat die beste manier is om dit te doen nie. Hulle wonder hoe om die maksimum voordeel te trek uit die skatkis van besigheidsinligting wat skielik tot hulle beskikking is. In 'n strewe om beleggers waarde te verbeter kom hulle voor die volgende vraagstukke te staan: • Hoe om beleggers verwagtinge om te skakel in besigheids strategie en hoe om hierdie strategie te skakel met daaglikse besigheids operasies. • Hoe om die ERP stelsel te gebruik ter ondersteuning van die 'Value Based Management' prinsiep om die maksimum opbrengs op belegging te kry. In hierdie studieprojek word 'n Suid Afrikaanse maatskappy, XX Automotive (fiktiewe naam), gedek wat onlangs SAP R/3 as 'n ERP stelsel geimplimenteer het as 'n voorbeeld gebruik om te illustreer hoe hierdie vrae in die praktyk beantwoord kan word. In Deel I van hierdie studieprojek word al die elemente en basiese beginsels van die 'Value Based Management' sisteem bespreek. Deel II illustreer hoe die XX Automotive finansiële strategie omgesit is in 'n 'Balanced Scorecard' met Economic Value Created (EVC) as die hoof maatstaf en hoe al die finansiële maatstawwe in die Balanced Scorecard deur middel van SAP verslae, wat spesifiek vir hierdie doel ontwikkel is, weergegee word. Die 'Balanced Scorecard', soos voorgestel deur die verslae in SAP, vorm net 'n metings instrument. Wat van groter belang is, is om te bepaal hoe die resultate beinvloed kan word. Die bestuursinligting waaruit die SAP verslae in die XX Automotive 'Balanced Scorecard' bestaan word gevorm deur die besigheidseindgebruiker op die SAP stelsel elke keer wanneer 'n besigheidstransaksie uitgevoer word. Die invloed op EVC deur individuele besigheidseenhede word in diepte bespreek aangesien dit deurslaggewend is ter illustrasie van hoe die EVC waarde positief of negatief geraak word deur hul besigheids aksies. Om individue die mag te gee om die waarde van EVC te beinvloed deur middel van 'n aansporingstelsel is kritiek vir lang termyn sukses. Elke XX Automotive werknemer word aangespoor deur 'n bonus stelsel om soos 'n aandeelhouer op te tree aangesien hy soos een vergoed sal word.

by Chak Siu Choi. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references. / ABSTRACT / TABLE OF CONTENTS / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Hong Kong as a Financial Hub --- p.1 / Reengineering Defined --- p.2 / Bank Reengineering at a First Glance --- p.3 / Objectives --- p.4 / Methodology --- p.4 / Secondary Data --- p.4 / Questionnaires --- p.5 / Chapter II. --- THE DEVELOPMENT OF REENGINEERING IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY --- p.6 / The Rule of Regulated Oligopolies (1960-1981) --- p.6 / The Rise of Disintermediation and Excess Credit Risk (1981-1991) --- p.8 / The Reengineering Imperative (1990s) --- p.10 / Chapter III. --- THE TIMING CONCERN OF THE REENGINEERING BANK --- p.12 / Languishing Stock Price --- p.13 / Strategic Directions Conflict with Market Valuation --- p.13 / Sub-Par Efficiency Ratios --- p.13 / Perceived Process Redundancy --- p.14 / Senior Management's Will and Skill --- p.14 / Chapter IV. --- THE STRATEGIES OF THE REENGINEERING BANK --- p.15 / Preparing for Change --- p.17 / Understanding Current Costs --- p.17 / Understanding Current Pricing --- p.17 / Generating Reengineering Options --- p.18 / Refining Options --- p.18 / Creating the New Bank --- p.18 / Chapter V. --- BANK REENGINEERING OVERSEAS --- p.20 / "NationsBank, Charlotte" --- p.20 / "Norwest Corp., Minneapolis" --- p.21 / "First Commerce Corp., New Orleans" --- p.21 / "Premier Bank, Louisiana" --- p.21 / "Merchants Bank, Vermont" --- p.22 / "Texas Commerce Bank, Texas" --- p.22 / Chapter VI. --- BANK REENGINEERING IN HONG KONG --- p.24 / Shifting Demographics --- p.24 / Increasing Customer Sophistication --- p.24 / Intensifying Competition --- p.25 / Growing Use of Technology --- p.25 / Standard Chartered Bank --- p.26 / Dah Sing Bank --- p.27 / Citibank --- p.28 / Bank of East Asia --- p.28 / Chapter VII. --- THE DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS FACED BY THE REENGINEERING BANK --- p.33 / Chapter VIII. --- IMPLICATIONS TO THE BANKING INDUSTRY --- p.36 / APPENDICES / BIBLIOGRAPHY

by Chiu Yuk Ling Sandy, Tam Yin Yi Gloria. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 54-58). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.v / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.3 / Chapter III. --- THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK --- p.4 / Michael Hammer : Reengineering --- p.5 / Thomas Davenport: Process Innovation --- p.7 / N. Venkatraman: IT- Enabled Business Transformation --- p.12 / Joseph Lung : A Management Perspective for BPR --- p.16 / Chapter IV. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.20 / Chapter V. --- CASE STUDIES --- p.27 / Case Study I: A Telecom Operator --- p.27 / Case Study II: A Computer Systems Provider --- p.34 / Other Issues of Concern for BPR Exercises of Company X and Company Y --- p.41 / Chapter VI. --- SUMMARY & CONCLUSION --- p.45 / Chapter APPENDIX - --- Interview Questionnaire --- p.50 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.54

This study investigates to what extent "e"-communication is used successfully by Zimbabwean commercial banks. The study was done using the literature survey method and the questionnaire. The closed and open-ended questionnaires used for gathering data were administered personally by the researcher leading to 99% return rate of questionnaires. The major conclusions from this study are that "e"-communication is widely adopted by the commercial banks in Zimbabwe, examples being the use of email, statement enquiries or bill payment services. Recommendations drawn from this research are that commercial banks' top management should be committed to the establishment of more effective information systems programmes and invest substantially more in Information Technology to meet the demanding needs and expectations of customers. The study could be replicated in other sectors of business in order to strengthen the reliability and validity of the results revealed here. / Financial Accounting / M. Com. (Accounting)

Since the late eighties, BPR has established itself as one of the attractive radical change management option for coping and adapting to the new competitive market environment and become popular both in the public and private organisations throughout the world . Cognizant of this fact, all Ethiopian public (government owned) institutions including the public financial institutions have embarked on large-scale change projects since 2004 in which Business process re-engineering(BPR) is a central element . This research examined whether implementation of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) projects have improved operational performance of the selected case public commercial banks in Ethiopia by collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative comprehensive data set, using mixed research approach through questionnaires, interviews, observations and review of secondary sources of information. The operational performance measures utilized in this study are cost reduction, speed of service delivery, service quality, customer satisfaction as well as innovation. A total of 837 (84% response rate) questionnaires were returned from respondents of the selected branches and head offices. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight senior managers of the respective banks, who were also members of their respective banks reform team and were involved in the design and implementation of BPR. The third method that was used to collect qualitative data was personal observation of the selected bank branches in order to measure the speed of service delivery and convenience of the waiting places. The researcher measured the service delivery time of selected busy bank branches for five consecutive days, for half an hour spent in each branch. This study found that the introduction of BPR in the case banks was met with mixed reactions from employees and some managers. The main achievements of BPR were: service delivery time reduced dramatically as a result of the new process redesign and introduction of information and communication technology services(introduction of e-banking); introducing a single customer contact point through employee empowerment to make all the necessary decisions at that point of contact which resulted in improving the satisfaction of employees and customers. The challenge was that resistance from employees and some managers (labelled the initiative as “Blood pressure raiser” due to their assumptions it will result in employee lay off or the change brings increased workloads for some remaining employees without compatible rewards following the new process redesign. The study also revealed that telecom infrastructure and power interruption considered as main problem areas in providing banking services efficiently and effectively through branch net workings. The researcher recommends that for a better BPR design and implementation as well as sustainability of improvement gains in the banking sector, a forum should be established to discuss and share good practices and technology in the banking sector ; establish strong change management offices to continuously assist and monitor results; and continuously involve and communicate key stakeholders in the design and implementation of change initiatives. / Business Management / D.B.L.

The thesis deals with the development of an information system in terms of small and medium-sized process-driven organizations. The main objectives of the study is to analyze the requirements of IS process-driven SMEs, further analyze the problems in the creation of this IS, generalize the obtained conclusions and formulate methodical recommendations for the creation of the information process-driven SMEs. The thesis consists of the first, more theoretical part and the second more practical part, which is based on the knowledge formulated in the first part. The thesis builds on experience gained by author in the project of reengineering processes and information system design in a small process-driven organization. All procedures are illustrated for better understanding and verified on specific company from the project. The thesis is written in sufficiently general, however, that its conclusions and recommendations are applicable to the greatest number of process-driven SMEs. The first part presents the basic principles of process management, improvement and reengineering business processes and examines the relationship of information system and business of organization. The contribution of this part is mainly to clarify the role of IS in the process-driven organization, which must be respected in the development of IS. The second part of the thesis analyze the requirements of the IS process-driven SMEs which are necessary to ensure support of business described in the previous section. It also describes ways to acquire and formulate requirements. Then lists the problems that accompany the creation of the IS in an effort to meet the previous requirements. The thesis ends with the formulation of methodological recommendations for each phase of the creating IS and summary conclusions. Especially is accented the importance of BPR and SOA for the final form of the IS.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att identifiera vilka uppfattningar som har identifierats efter införandet av RPA i förhållande till de förväntningar som fanns hos medarbetarna. För att undersöka det har följande frågeställning utformats; vilka skillnader, om några, finns mellan medarbetarnas uppfattningar efter införandet och deras förväntningar före? Vilka uppfattningar har medarbetarna om RPA-s nytta? och vilka lärdomar kan man ta med sig till framtida RPA-projekt? Undersökningen gjordes genom en kvalitativ datainsamlingsmetod där det förekom att undersökningsdeltagarna fick svara på formulär som sedan följdes upp med en form av diskussion med personen i fråga. Intervjufrågorna är byggda på den analysmodell som är gjord utifrån den litteratur som ligger till grund för mitt arbete. I undersökningen deltog det fem personer som på något sätt kommer i regelbunden kontakt med RPA på sin arbetsplats. Resultatet visar att undersökningsdeltagarna, inför införandet, var positiva till att RPA skulle införas, men också att de var positiva till RPA efter införandet. Resultatet visar också att undersökningsdeltagarna ser värdet i att använda RPA. Slutsatserna från undersökningen visar att de förväntningarna som medarbetarna har på RPA, inte har förändrats efter att RPA har införts. Undersökningsdeltagarna var positiva före införandet och efter införandet är de fortsatt positiva. En annan slutsats visar att undersökningsdeltagarnas uppfattningar om RPA är positiva. Undersökningsdeltagarna ser att RPA tar bort en viss arbetsbelastning. Den sista slutsatsen visar att tydlig och bra information från ledningen och att användarmedverkan krävs för att lyckas bra med kommande projekt

The thesis studied the theory of business process management, which allowed on the basis of the results to the author's definition of the business process and give an extended treatment of business process reengineering. Copyright definition of reengineering business processes enables more efficient use of the existing potential of the company for innovation in the business process using the authors' proposal the indicators characterizing the efficiency of business processes. The author of the classified performance of the business process steps for the implementation of the business process that will allow time to exercise control over the course of a business process, and if necessary to carry out the adjustment elements included in the business process as a system. An author algorithm reengineering of key business processes, including the twelve stages of the implementation of innovative technologies, which determines the sequence of actions to prepare for the re-engineering of the problem of the business process model based on its improvement. / В диссертационной работе проведено исследование теории управления бизнес-процессами, которое позволило на основании полученных результатов дать авторское определение бизнес-процесса и дать расширенную трактовку реинжиниринга бизнес-процессов. Авторское определение реинжениринга бизнес-процессов позволяет более эффективно использовать имеющийся потенциал предприятия для внедрения инноваций в бизнес-процесс, используя предложенные автором показатели, характеризующие эффективность бизнес-процесса. Автором классифицированы показатели бизнес-процесса по этапам реализации бизнес-процесса, что позволит своевременно осуществлять контроль над ходом бизнес-процесса и при необходимости осуществлять корректировку элементов, входящих в бизнес-процесс как систему. Разработан авторский алгоритм реинжиниринга основного бизнес-процессов, включающий двенадцать этапов внедрения инновационной технологии, который определяет последовательность действий по подготовке к реинжинирингу проблемного бизнес-процесса на основе модели его совершенствования.