The development of technology has made the world a smaller place where communicating instantaneously irrespective of the geographical location is a way of life. Electronic Forms (E-FORMS) are an easy way to communicate efficiently with students. At present, universities are still using old systems for communication where efforts to improve the system is a lethargic process. As most of these universities are still using student forms manually, the introduction of E-FORMS will speed up the whole process and positively impact in communicating efficiency. In addition, the inconvenience of making numerous visits to the university is sometimes seen as a hassle but due to lack of Information Technology (IT) development in universities, this is the usual pattern still seen at most universities. In this study, the use of E-FORMS at universities is proposed to help students and university staff to communicate effectively and efficiently. As it is still a fairly new concept, the study proposes the many features involved in E-FORMS communication. The Researcher has chosen California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) to do this study. This study consists of the detailed design of the proposed E-FORMS Application System at CSUSB. The design provides a more efficient and supportive system that is easy to use while maintaining student privacy and flexibility. The solution is designed taking into consideration the use of PeopleSoft Enterprise. This proposed system upgrades the existing CSUSB form management system. It is a step forward to a more efficient and the operative system.

This thesis consists of three chapters. The first chapter is sole-authored and is titled `Cross-border merger waves.' The second chapter is coauthored work with Professor David Mauer and Kyeong Hun Lee and is titled `Human capital relatedness and corporate mergers and acquisitions.' The third chapter is coauthored work with Professor Amrita Nain and Kyeong Hun Lee and is titled `Repetitive cross-border mergers and acquisitions.' First chapter examines the valuation effects of cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) waves that occurred during 1990 and 2010. I document that, like domestic mergers, cross-border mergers cluster by industry and time. Cross-border M&A waves create value overall: acquirer announcement returns as well as combined acquirer and target announcement returns within waves are positive and significantly higher than those outside of waves. Post-merger operating performance is also better for within-wave cross-border deals. In stark contrast to domestic merger waves, deals undertaken later in cross-border merger waves tend to outperform those earlier in waves within a given industry. The late entrant's outperformance is stronger if the target country is different from the acquirer country in terms of culture, financial development, and legal system. Firms' acquisition decisions in cross-border merger waves depend on the stock market reaction to recent deals undertaken by industry peers in the same country. Overall, my results suggest that cross-border acquisitions promote efficient redeployment of corporate assets. Further, information asymmetry stemming from differences between acquirer and target countries plays an important role in the timing and performance of reallocation of corporate assets across national borders. Second chapter studies the effects of human capital relatedness on the likelihood of a merger pairing and on the valuation consequences of deals. Using comprehensive and unique occupation data, we propose a novel measure to quantify the relatedness of firms' human capital. We find that a firm is more likely to acquire a target with related human capital. Mergers between firms closely related in terms of human capital achieve greater synergies. The results are robust to other pairwise relatedness measures that may affect merger likelihood and synergy, such as product market synergies. Overall, the evidence suggests that human capital relatedness is an important factor in mergers and acquisitions. Third chapter examines repetitive deals in the same target country. We find that as acquirers repeat cross-border deals in the same country, (i) the time between successive deals declines, (ii) the percentage of ownership stake acquired increases, and (iii) the percentage of consideration paid in cash increases. To further distinguish whether such patterns are consistent with learning or hubris, we examine repetitive cross-border deals at two different stages of learning: experience-building versus memory-loss periods (as in Hayward (2002)). We find that as the acquirer makes more deals in the country, the time between deals decreases and the abnormal announcement return increases in experience-building periods, whereas such patterns do not exist or are reversed in memory-loss periods. Our results suggest that firms gain by learning as they repeat acquisitions in the same country.

Applications of computer and telecommunications technology have been increasingly being employed within organizations to perform an expanding variety of business functions. Yet, while this information technology has been shown to affect work environments, resulting in changes to both formal and informal organizational relationships, few systematic impacts have been identified. This dissertation attempted to uncover systematic impacts of information technology on organizations by combining prior theory concerning the organizational impacts of information technology with that of how organizations are thought to be shaped and changed. Specifically, the information technology examined was electronic data interchange (EDI) although data concerning related information technology applications was also obtained. A theoretical model relating resources, technology, EDI usage, interaction patterns, efficiency, power relationships and organizational structure was examined using a comparative case analysis. The study involved collecting interview and archival data from 24 value transfer process functions from 7 divisions in 4 organizations. / Using Social Interactionist Theory as theoretical foundation, the following relationships were indicated by the findings. Generally, the organizational environment (strategy, culture, management intention, and stakeholder aims), determined the resources allotted (time, technology, information, labor) and the subgroup intentions (users, designers) for an application. These subgroup intentions and resources then determine the level of EDI usage (depth, diversity, volume) within an organization. EDI usage directly reconfigures organizational structure (e.g. departmentalization, specialization, integration, autonomy, and professionalism) such that efficiency (time, cost), effectiveness (quality, service) and work role (skill, ability, knowledge) changes occur. Role changes further serve to alter levels of influence for value transfer process functions involved in EDI. Feedback relationships were also noted between several of the constructs. In addition, the dissertation helped resolve prior conflict within the literature concerning competing theoretical arguments while providing managers a means to examine the technology applications within their organizations to better control their impacts. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-11, Section: A, page: 3999. / Major Professor: Robert Zmud. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

This research addresses the factors which contribute to the ease of use of decision support systems and the impact of ease of use on decision effectiveness. Using a stochastic, multi-product inventory environment, complexity, and interface modes were manipulated, and an array of individual differences were taken into account in the development of a predictive model of ease of use of Decision Support Systems. Ease of use was developed as a canonical variate comprised of elements of creativity, dependence, and user perception. Multi-variate analysis of covariance was employed to determine which combinations of individual user, problem, and system traits impacted on ease of use. Subsequently, regression analysis was employed to determine if easy to use systems yield more effective decisions. / Previous computer coursework and typing speed were found to be positively related to ease of use, while age was a detriment to ease of use. Menu and choice systems were found to be easier to use than command based interfaces, and interaction was detected between cognitive congruence and problem complexity as they impact on ease of use. / Regression analysis showed that systems which are easier to use also yielded more effective decisions. Various ease of use constructs were tested with strikingly similar results. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: A, page: 0884. / Major Professor: Thomas D. Clark. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

This dissertation examines labor scheduling in a tour environment. The impetus for this research lies in the lack of improvement in service sector productivity compared to manufacturing productivity since 1960. A contributing factor in this lack of productivity improvement is the inability of service delivery systems to stockpile product during periods of low demand for use in periods of high demand. This inability means that service delivery systems must often have large amounts of overcapacity during periods of low demand in order to meet requirements during periods of high demand. Thus, any increase in the efficiency with which labor is scheduled will lead to an increase in labor utilization and subsequently productivity. / This dissertation examines four scheduling flexibility factors, shift length, meal-break window, start-time interval, and tour length, which were found in previous research to have an effect on labor utilization. These factors were examined in an environment that is typical of service systems such as department stores, restaurants, amusement parks, etc. / The results of the analysis indicated that shift length and meal-break window are the important factors in determining labor utilization for the environment used in this dissertation. The analysis also indicated that ILP solutions to labor scheduling problems may have undesirable characteristics. The implications of these findings are that (1) efforts to improve labor utilization should concentrate on labor policies affecting shift length and meal-break window and (2) labor scheduling approaches which rely on optimal solutions should examine the surplus labor that is scheduled. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-03, Section: B, page: 1588. / Major Professor: William A. Shrode. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Three research questions were studied across three distinct societies--The United States of America, The People's Republic of China, and Venezuela. First, do cultural values and work beliefs differ across the three countries? Second, what is the relationship between cultural values and work beliefs across the three countries? And third, is there a relationship between cultural values and work beliefs on the one hand, and attitudes towards relevant business issues on the other? / A 250 item questionnaire was used to measure: cultural values of individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, paternalism; work beliefs including the work ethic, humanism, Marxist beliefs, organizational beliefs, and the leisure ethic; and attitudes toward selected national and international business issues. The questionnaire was administered to approximately 1,000 students and managers/professionals in each of the three countries in their native languages (English, Chinese, and Spanish). These two groups were targeted because they represent current and future decision makers and persons of authority in their respective countries. / Significant differences in cultural values and work beliefs were revealed through Multiple Analyses of Variance (MANOVAs). Multiple Regressions revealed several cultural values to be significant predictors of work beliefs. Finally, and most importantly, regression analyses revealed that different combinations of cultural values and work beliefs combined to explain a great deal of variance in attitudes towards socioeconomic issues of importance to international business. Implications for current theory and practice were discussed and directions for future research were given. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-05, Section: A, page: 1816. / Major Professor: Lee P. Stepina. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.

This research extensively reviews and integrates what is currently known about post-adoption implementation behavior to explain information technology (IT) infusion at the organizational level. Three dimensions of IT infusion (extended, integrative and emergent use) are conceptualized and defined at a general level and then, operationalized within a small business context. Determinants of (organizational) IT infusion are explored within 404 veterinary practices using multiple respondent design via structural equation modeling. Multiple indicators are derived for each latent construct in the structural model at the general level. Then, context-specific measures are developed for this particular research project. The data collected is used to demonstrate reliability and validity for the study's measures, as well as, support for many relationships proposed in the structural model. Finally, a secondary analysis involving hierarchical regression explores differences in the contextual determinants of extended, integrative and emergent use, as well as, interrelationships between these three variables. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-12, Section: A, page: 3918. / Major Professor: Robert W. Zmud. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

Using performance management techniques in business and industry has been a proven method for increasing desired behaviors under study. Casey (1990) and Wolf (1978) have both suggested additional outcome measures which need to be addressed if continued research is to be conducted in an effective manner. These include measures of social validity, cost of intervention, and measuring the correlation of both sales volume and sales-related behavior. This research project attempts to take into consideration all of the variables suggested above by conducting an applied study using performance management techniques and measuring the additional outcome measures. / To test these suggestions, an applied research project was conducted in which employees of a national restaurant chain from the state of Florida were presented with a series of interventions designed to increase sales volume and sales-related behavior. Consumers were also polled as to their reactions about the behaviors which the employees were now practicing. / The results are a study which has attempted to measure all areas of responsible applied research as promoted by Casey (1990) and Wolf (1978). It is hoped that this research project will demonstrate that these standards should be adhered to by all researchers while conducting current and future research. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-03, Section: A, page: 0761. / Major Professors: Jon Bailey; Barry Sapolsky. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.

This research examined the effects of (1) business-related and strategic IT-related knowledge of the chief information officer (CIO) and the top management team (TMT) and (2) engagements between the CIO and members of the top management team on the firm's success in the use of information technology (IT) to support its business strategies and value-chain activities. Further, the study examined how the background characteristics of the CIO and top management team members affected their strategic IT and business-related knowledge. / Using a cross-sectional field study, the study found that CIOs with high strategic IT and business-related knowledge exhibited significantly greater participation in top management teams. Further, firms that were best able to use IT to support their business strategies and value-chain activities were those where their CIO possessed a high level of business and strategic IT knowledge and participated more extensively in the top management team. The strength of these relationships was most prominent where firms viewed the role of information technology as fundamentally transforming their conduct or their industry structure. It is this synergistic combination of CIOs with high strategic IT and business-related knowledge, high extent of participation in the top management team, and firms that view IT as the basis for transforming the organization that provides the greatest impact on the firm's ability to effectively utilize its IT resources. In addition, the study found that CIOs who possessed the highest level of strategic IT-related knowledge were those whose professional backgrounds were mostly within the IS area, but who still had some exposure to other business areas. This suggests that a strategic understanding of the potential and limitations of IT requires more than strictly a technical perspective. Rather, it requires a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of IT tempered by an understanding of how IT can facilitate the organization's effectiveness. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-06, Section: A, page: 2312. / Major Professor: V. Sambamurthy. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

During their December 1993 meeting, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners's (NAIC) adopted risk-based capital standards for property/casualty insurance companies to become effective in 1995 based upon the 1994 annual statement. The NAIC's two major objectives in adopting risk-based capital standards are: (1) to develop a standard of capital adequacy that is standard among all states and related to the risk inherent in the business of insurance; and (2) to provide regulatory authority to act when actual capital falls below standard. / This study examines the ability of the NAIC's Risk-Based Capital system to predict property and casualty insurers which will have financial difficulties. The effectiveness of risk-based capital is compared with the NAIC's Insurance Regulatory Information System. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-11, Section: A, page: 3563. / Major Professor: Claude C. Lilly, III. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.