The construction industry has long been criticized as being not advance enough to use information communication technology (ICT) and slow to adopt knowledge management (KM). This research demonstrates how using an effective and efficient ICT systems can improve KM, and that an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can be one tools to help improve KM. An ERP system is also a powerful tool to help integrate business processes which has particular use in the construction industry. The principle objective of this research was to explore the drivers and inhibiters that determined successful adoption and use of an ERP system at its actual implementation stage. Secondly, it aimed to identify successful factors of a partnering strategy and its integration into the ERP system. The third objective was to investigate the appropriate leadership style that influenced the ERP system and the partnering strategy, and to identify the impact of culture on the leadership style. The research was conducted within the context of a Hong Kong construction organization. This research makes a contribution in two spheres: PM and the construction industry. The first implication for PM theory is to illustrate how knowledge has been efficiently managed within a construction organization by using ICT/ERP.

222 p. / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-01-10T17:51:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_-_texto_final3.pdf: 2841285 bytes, checksum: b1c740772931bfcd1464107905d0bcb3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-10T17:51:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_-_texto_final3.pdf: 2841285 bytes, checksum: b1c740772931bfcd1464107905d0bcb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / O objetivo deste trabalho é correlacionar a qualidade da gestão da implantação com a avaliação do impacto estratégico de um sistema do tipo Enterprise Resource System (ERP) em uma companhia do setor elétrico do Brasil. A estratégia metodológica escolhida foi o estudo de caso, tendo como objeto a implantação do SAP R/3 na Companhia de Eletricidade do Estado da Bahia (COELBA). Tendo sido adquirida pelo grupo espanhol Iberdrola, em 1997, a companhia engajou-se no processo de implantação do ERP para uniformizar os seus processos e compartilhar melhor a sua informação com a sua nova operadora; logo, porém, a implantação do sistema também se mostrou, como será visto neste trabalho, importante para melhorar o conhecimento da empresa sobre si mesma e, finalmente, alavancar a eficácia operacional, reduzindo custos. Os benefícios da implantação do sistema mostram-se especialmente relevantes considerando-se os fatores críticos de sucesso no setor. Verificou-se, porém, que a implantação da ferramenta não esgotou todo o seu potencial e buscou-se identificar quais foram as causas deste fenômeno. Transformações mais profundas podem ocorrer na organização, para além das já concretizadas, trazendo novos benefícios em diferentes dimensões estratégicas, desde que existam estruturas e iniciativas voltadas para explorá- los. O estudo baseou-se em entrevistas com membros do quadro executivo da companhia, na documentação produzida ao longo do processo de implantação e na análise das informações disponibilizadas na mídia e nos órgãos reguladores a respeito da performance da empresa e do setor elétrico como um todo no país. O framework de análise foi construído a partir de contribuições teóricas nas áreas de gestão da tecnologia da informação, estratégia empresarial e ferramentas de monitoramento e avaliação estratégica, como Balanced Scorecard. / Salvador

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Information Technology Department of Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Project Management (PM) is defined as the application of tools and techniques to direct the use of diverse resources toward the accomplishment of a task within time, cost and quality constraints. In the information age, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as an enabling tool, resource and a facilitator of the PM practice. With ICT as a major enabler of efficiencies in PM, the adoption of new ICT systems and tools have improved processes and outcomes in PM. The main argument is that cloud computing has a great potential to improve efficiencies in PM. The problem at the time of writing however, was that it was not clear whether this innovation was understood and maximally exploited by the PM community of practice in South Africa. Efficiency of PM is critical to competitiveness and growth in all sectors. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore the adoption of ICT systems and tools particularly cloud computing, to advance the practical objectives PM in the private sector. Due to the socio-technical nature of the current study, the interpretivist approach together with a qualitative research method, as well as the purposive sampling technique were adopted for the study. In essence, 8 respondents consisting of 2 academic experts, 4 technology literate project managers and 2 client service providers of cloud computing were selected. Together with the Structuration Theory (ST) as an analytical framework and the content analysis technique was used to contextualise and to analyse data. Findings show an acceptable level of awareness of cloud computing in the private sector. Nevertheless, negative perceptions that may threaten the adoption of cloud computing in PM in the private sector also emerged in the findings. Otherwise, PM has gained popularity in the sector. As the findings further reflect however, standards have tended to be compromised by cynics in the discipline. Positive developments are that the project failure rate is on the decline, which is further enhanced by the adoption of new innovative technological tools and systems. Rigid organisational norms also re-enforce resistance to change. It is, thus, recommended for project managers to review cloud-computing benefits in accordance with their requirements. In conclusion then, resources have not only proved to be a significant matter in PM, but also instrumental in advancing PM efficiencies, leading to improved PM successes. In the light of emergent shortfalls however, executive managers and project managers should keep themselves informed and be open to changes that can advance the organisational course.

This paper addresses the question of how to make use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems in companies in the process industry were there is a pervasive need of process standardization. ERP systems have the potential to contribute with standardization and integration of organizational data through an of-the-shelf solution. In practice results of ERP systems implementation has varied greatly. Considering their implications on business processes and the complexity of the systems this should not come as a surprise. ERP systems do not only imply standardization of data but also standardization of key processes in the company. The consequences on the individual organization are therefore hard to predict. Making strategic choices between different degrees of in-house developed systems, integration of solutions from many different suppliers or to only rely on the ERP systems consultants and their proposed implementation of solutions, can be a troublesome balance act. This paper describes a case study of the Swedish diary company Norrmejerier and the implementation of the ERP system IFS analyzed from a perspective of complex system and standardization. The use of IFS at Norrmejerier can be characterized as a loosely coupled integration with the ERP system as a central integration facilitator. This solution allowed the company to make use of standardization benefits, filling the need of special functionality and at the same time limiting the negative unexpected consequences such as decreased activity support and increased complexity. The key contributions of this paper are that it shows how ERP´s can contribute to standardization and integration efforts in IT environments with peculiar demands on functionality. Secondly it demonstrates how negative side effects related to implementation of ERP systems can be managed and limited.

O processo de desenvolvimento de produtos geralmente não tem sido considerado na implantação de sistemas ERP. No entanto, devido ao aumento da abrangência dos ERPs com a inclusão de novas funcionalidades, e devido à importância desses sistemas para a integração dos processos de negócio, muitas empresas passam a considerar a sua utilização para apoiar as atividades e gerenciar as informações de desenvolvimento de produtos. Este trabalho apresenta uma análise abrangente e detalhada da aplicabilidade de um sistema ERP no processo de desenvolvimento de produtos. Tal análise é subdividida em três fases. Inicialmente, é realizado um estudo exploratório da aplicabilidade do sistema ERP em um processo específico de desenvolvimento de produtos representado por um modelo de referência. Em seguida, é executado um estudo descritivo de uma aplicação piloto do ERP em um ambiente de desenvolvimento de produtos. Por fim, são realizado estudos de caso para caracterizar a utilização do ERP no desenvolvimento de produtos de três empresas. / Product development process has not been considered within ERP systems’ implementation projects. However, due to the widening of ERP systems scope, with the inclusion of new functionalities, and due to the actual importance of these systems to business process integration, many industries are considering applying ERP systems to support product development activities and to manage product development information. This research presents an extended and detailed analysis of the applicability of one ERP system in product development process. The analysis is divided in three phases: first, an exploratory study is conducted in order to verify the applicability of the ERP system in a specific product development process represented by a reference model. Second, a descriptive study of a pilot application of the ERP system in a product development environment is presented; and finally, three case studies about the use of the ERP system in product development process are discussed.

This dissertation makes the analysis of pre-sale phase during the sale and during the acquisition of ERP systems at companies of Fortaleza, researching in the clients of one of the largest brazilian software organization. These companies showed how was the commercial process, and how ERP system was implemented. This dissertation has the objective of contribution to increase knowledge about ERP Systems, and looks for an analysis of one of the main phases of selling ERP systems : the pre-sale. The companies that develop ERP systems see this commercial phase as one of the most important, because it is the phase when the client is qualified. At this moment, the developers and the clients know each other, change information, doubts, what the client needs, opportunities, problems and solutions. During the commercial process, the commercial team creates expectation in the client about the product. The small companies knowledge about this process, and the presentation capacity of commercial team showing the system as the solution for company problems, are a big step to create stress at the moment of ERP system implementation. When a company buys an ERP system, the thinking of the client is that ERP system brings the best practices making that companies give priority to buy only software and hardware. The users capacities, the management of changes, and the investment in time to people explore the potential of the ERP system stays at second plan. This dissertation looks for to explore these points and take conclusions about how to minimize these problems yet at the commercial phase, using a research at 20 companies that use this ERP system and two studies case, one with two researched companies, and one with the ERP developer. The study discovered that, after research and interviews, the data survey and sincerity at clients are the most important actions to minimize the implementation problems. This thesys take conclusion that a well done presale is very important to become easier the system implementation phase. / Esta dissertaÃÃo analisou a prÃ-venda na comercializaÃÃo e na aquisiÃÃo de Sistemas ERP nas empresas de Fortaleza, pesquisando junto aos clientes de um dos maiores fornecedores de Sistemas ERP no Brasil, como essas empresas-clientes analisavam o trabalho comercial feito pelo fornecedor e pela prÃpria empresa-cliente, e a forma como o Sistema ERP foi implantado. Essa dissertaÃÃo tem como objetivo contribuir para aumentar o conhecimento sobre sistemas ERP, e à voltado para a anÃlise de uma das principais etapas na comercializaÃÃo de sistemas ERP: a prÃ-venda. A maior parte dos fornecedores de sistemas ERP enxerga esta etapa de comercializaÃÃo como uma das mais importantes por se tratar do momento de qualificaÃÃo do cliente. Momento esse em que fornecedor e cliente se conhecem mutuamente, buscam a troca de informaÃÃes, dÃvidas, necessidades, oportunidades, problemas e soluÃÃes. Durante o processo de venda, a equipe comercial cria uma grande expectativa em relaÃÃo ao produto. A falta de conhecimento dos tomadores de decisÃo, aliada a capacidade dos vendedores de apresentar o produto como a soluÃÃo dos problemas do cliente, à um caldo fÃrtil para os desgastes comuns a um futuro processo de implantaÃÃo. Ao adquirir um sistema ERP o pensamento da empresa-cliente à de que a ferramenta traz consigo as melhores prÃticas, fazendo com que as empresas priorizem investimentos em software e hardware. A capacitaÃÃo dos usuÃrios, a gestÃo da mudanÃa, o investimento em tempo para que as pessoas possam explorar a fundo o potencial de cada ferramenta ficam em segundo plano. Essa dissertaÃÃo procura explorar esses pontos e chegar a uma conclusÃo sobre formas de minimizar esses problemas ainda na etapa de comercializaÃÃo atravÃs de pesquisa junto a 20 empresas usuÃrios desse sistema ERP, e duas entrevistas, um com duas empresas pesquisadas anteriormente, e outro com o fornecedor. A conclusÃo alcanÃada, apÃs a pesquisa e as entrevistas, mostra que o levantamento detalhado e a transparÃncia junto ao cliente sÃo as principais aÃÃes de prÃ-venda que minimizam os problemas de implantaÃÃo. Esta dissertaÃÃo leva a conclusÃo que a prÃ-venda bem realizada à muito importante para orientar e facilitar a fase de implantaÃÃo do sistema.

A partir dos anos 90, os sistemas de gestão integrados ou sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) apareceram como potencial solução para a necessidade de processamento de informação nas organizações. Os sistemas ERP são pacotes de aplicações de processos de negócios padronizados que propiciam visibilidade do negócio, ao fornecer a informação integrada e consolidada em único banco de dados, em tempo real e em diferentes áreas da organização. Por outro lado, a implantação de um ERP ocasiona profundas mudanças na maneira como os empregados de uma organização desempenham seus trabalhos. Pesquisas da literatura relacionada ao tema sugerem que os sistemas ERP são capazes de propiciar ampla visibilidade para a gerência, implicando em maior controle. Simultaneamente, podem contribuir para o empowerment do empregado através do maior acesso à informação, da mesma forma que as regras e procedimentos dos processos organizacionais do sistema ERP levam a uma maior disciplina e induzem a uma maior reflexão sobre as práticas do trabalho, tornando-os mais eficazes. Este estudo busca contribuir com um maior entendimento para as organizações que pretendem alcançar o equilíbrio entre esses efeitos. Ao mesmo tempo, busca-se compreender a relação com a , bem como melhorar a capacidade dos indivíduos de pensar de forma inovadora e pró-ativa sobre seus trabalhos, implicando em aumento da eficiência, da eficácia e em vantagem competitiva da organização. O referencial bibliográfico apresentou conceitos relacionados ao poder (sob a ótica de Foucault), ao controle organizacional e ao empowerment. O estudo foi conduzido com uma metodologia quantitativa, através de uma survey realizada em uma organização multinacional com 213 respondentes. A pesquisa revelou que apesar da visibilidade das ações proporcionada pelo sistema ERP, os respondentes não se sentem mais controlados ou monitorados pelos seus superiores ou seus pares. Os resultados indicaram também que a visibilidade da informação propiciada pelo sistema ERP impulsiona a autonomia, facilitando o empowerment. Em contraste com pesquisas anteriores, que relacionam a reflexão a melhorias nas práticas de trabalho, este estudo relaciona a reflexão a preocupação e comprometimento em executar as atividades padronizadas do sistema. / Since the 1990s integrated information systems, better known as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) really started to take off as a potential solution for the integration of all core business areas in the organizations. ERP systems are commercial software applications that support and integrate organizational processes across functional boundaries .The identifying characteristic of ERP systems is their ability to integrate these business processes by standardizing data, allowing more visibility by consolidating all the information of the different modules in one shared database, in real time. On the other hand, implementing a ERP system causes profound changes in the way employees perform their tasks. Research of the concerning literature suggests that ERP systems enable management to look vertically and horizontally across the organization, thus increasing visibility and control within the company. Simultaneously, these systems contribute to the empowerment of the employees through better access to information, in the same way that the rules and procedures of the ERP systems engage employees in greater self discipline and reflection on work practices. This study is based on the generally accepted potential of ERP systems to generate control and empowerment, and aims to contribute to a better understanding for those organizations that intend to reach a balance between those effects. In addition, the investigation focuses on the skill of individuals to think in innovative and pro-active ways about their work, resulting in increased efficiency, effectiveness and competitive advantage for the company. The literature review addresses concepts such as Foucaults view of disciplinary power, organizational control and empowerment. The study adopted a quantitative methodology through a survey conducted in a multinational organization with 213respondents. The study revealed that , despite the visibility offered by the ERP system, the respondents do not feel more controlled or monitored by their superiors or peers. Results also reveal that the information visibility granted by the system fosters autonomy, making empowerment easier. In contrast to previous research, which relates reflexion to improved working practices, the present study relates reflexion to concern with and commitment to performing the systems standardized tasks.

Nos últimos anos, a adoção de TI nas empresas tem se caracterizado pelo crescente uso dos sistemas integrados de gestão, particularmente dos sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). Devido à sua natureza integrada e abrangente, esta ferramenta traz grande potencial de crescimento às empresas que o utilizam, através da melhoria de seus processos de negócio. As pequenas e médias empresas formam um mercado atrativo para os fornecedores de tais sistemas, dado que a oferta de ERP para empresas desse porte ainda é pequena; por outro lado, a necessidade das pequenas e médias empresas por uma solução de TI que a ajude a crescer faz com que a demanda por sistemas ERP seja crescente. O presente estudo buscou entender como atua o fornecedor de sistema ERP na transformação dos processos de negócio da pequena e média empresa. Este entendimento foi viabilizado através de um estudo de caso realizado em uma empresa de médio porte do ramo de fundição. No caso estudado, o sistema ERP implantado era adequado às necessidades da empresa e sua implantação acabou por ocorrer de forma bem-sucedida, porém houve atraso e gastos maiores que os esperados. Isto ocorreu porque a empresa que implantou o ERP ainda não havia realizado implantações em empresas de menor porte, e provavelmente supôs que poderia realizar a implantação na empresa estudada como se esta fosse de grande porte. Concluiu-se que o fornecedor do sistema ERP tem papel decisivo no sucesso da implantação desses sistemas em pequenas e médias empresas, fazendo com que a empresa onde o sistema foi implantado efetue saltos qualitativos nos níveis de maturidade de seus processos de negócio e de gestão. Porém, os fornecedores precisam levar em consideração as diferenças de maturidade entre as empresas de pequeno e médio porte e as de maior porte, para as quais o ERP era normalmente ofertado; as empresas de menor porte têm processos mais simples, possuem orçamentos de TI menores e seus funcionários têm menos intimidade com ferramentas de TI e de técnicas gerenciais mais profissionais que os funcionários de empresas de grande porte. Para obter benefícios dos sistemas ERP implantados, é necessário que essas características sejam consideradas num efetivo esforço do fornecedor do sistema ERP para transformar os processos de negócio e a gestão da pequena e média empresa, de forma a possibilitar um crescimento sustentado através do uso pleno de seus recursos. / In past years the adoption of IT in companies has been marked by the growth in integrated management systems, in particular ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. Because of its integrated nature this tool has given enormous potential for growth in companies that use it and improvements in business negotiation. Small to medium business have been enticed by suppliers of such systems, given that an offer of ERP to companies of this size remains small, on the other hand, the necessities of these small and medium sized companies for an IT solution that will assist in their growth makes that the demand for such a system as ERP is on the increase. The present study brought understanding as to how the supplier of the ERP system can transform the business process in the small and medium company. This understanding was made possible through the study of a company in foundries market. In this study, the ERP system installed was adequate to the needs of the company and its implementation was well received. However there was delay and expenses were more than expected. The reason for this was that the company supplying the ERP system had not previously dealt with a company of the size and treated the company as if it were of a larger size. We conclude that the supplier of the ERP system plays a decisive role in the success and implementing of these systems in small to medium companies, meaning that they have an affect on the growth and maturity of the companies? powers of negotiation in business. However, the suppliers need to take into consideration the differences in growth and maturity between companies of small to medium size and larger companies where ERP is normally found. Small to medium sized companies have a simpler running system, their IT budgets are smaller, and their employees have less contact with IT and managerial tools than the employees in larger companies. To obtain the most benefit, it is necessary that these points be taken into consideration in a real way by the ERP supplier to make able the changes necessary in the small to medium company enabling real and sustainable growth through full use of ERP resources.

A necessidade de gestão eficiente de recursos e informações criou nas empresas a demanda por investimentos cada vez maiores em tecnologia da informação e comunicação, buscando alcançarem vantagens competitivas sobre seus concorrentes de mercado. Nesse contexto surgiram os sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning - Sistemas Integrados de Gestão), caracterizados por oferecerem diversas funcionalidades capazes de dar suporte às operações do dia-a-dia das empresas e suas tomadas de decisão. Juntamente com os benefícios advindos desses sistemas, foram necessários elevados investimentos, tanto de tempo e dinheiro, como de recursos internos da empresa. Devido à esses contrapontos, alguns estudos procuraram discutir os benefícios gerados pela adoção dos sistemas ERP em relação aos custos envolvidos no seu processo de implantação. Tais estudos aplicaram diferentes formas de valor agregado por esses sistemas às empresas, encontrando também diferentes resultados. Nesse sentido, com o crescimento da importância dos sistemas ERP para as organizações e a cobrança, cada vez maior, por justificarem os investimentos feitos em projetos de implantação de um sistema ERP, faz-se necessário entender como as empresas avaliam o valor que esses sistemas lhes proporcionam. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo de caráter descritivo e exploratório, por meio do estudo múltiplo de casos com duas empresas, buscando identificar como avaliam o valor proporcionado pelo sistema ERP. Foram encontrados durante a análise dos resultados diversos dos benefícios já relatados na literatura, apesar de não se ter identificado em nenhuma das empresas um processo formal de avaliação dos mesmos. Muitos dos benefícios identificados não puderam ser atribuídos aos sistemas ERP devido à falta de um processo de avaliação do valor desses sistemas, visto que as empresas não procuraram avaliar a situação anterior e posterior a implantação do mesmo. Em complemento, constatou-se que as empresas não identificam corretamente o valor entregue pelo sistema ERP. A partir dos resultados, conclui-se que a avaliação do valor dos sistemas ERP é um processo complexo, que exige da empresa um planejamento prévio para que possa identificar os benefícios e vantagens que espera obter do sistema, seu escopo de atuação e, que possa avaliar antes da decisão de adoção a adequação do sistema ERP à empresa e vice-versa. Em determinados casos, a subestimação do valor dos sistemas ERP ou a sua avaliação de maneira apenas informal, sem indicadores de desempenho pré-definidos, impede que a empresa realize todo o valor potencial do sistema. / The need of an efficient management of resources and information created in the companies the demand each time larger in information technology and communication searching to achieve competitive advantages over to its market competitors. On this context emerged the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, characterized for offer many features capable to give support to day-to-day companies operations and its decisions making. Along with the benefits provided from this systems were needed a high level of investment, both time and money as well as company intern resources. Due to this counterpoints some studies look to discuss the benefits generated for the ERP systems adoption in relation to the involved costs on its implementation process. These studies apply different evaluation forms for these systems to the enterprise finding also different results. On this way, with the grown of ERP systems importance to the organizations and the collection each time bigger to justify the investments made in projects and implementation of an ERP system, became necessary understand how the companies evaluate the value provided for this systems. For this, was realized a descriptive and exploratory study through multiple case study with two enterprises searching to identify how evaluate the value generated for the ERP system. It was found, during the result analysis, many benefits already related in the bibliography despise not identified in none company a formal process to evaluate these. Many of the identified benefits couldn´t be attributed to the ERP systems due to the lack of evaluate process of generated value once that companies doesn´t look to evaluate the before and after implementation moment situation. From the results, concludes that measure and evaluation of ERP system value is a complex process which demands from the company an previous planning which can be identified the benefits and advantages expected to obtain from the system, its acting focus and to evaluate before the adoption decision the adequacy of the system to the enterprise and contrariwise. In some cases the underestimated of ERP systems value or its only informal evaluate way, without performance indicators predefined, prevents the company to realize all its potential value from the system.

Web-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems deployed through theSoftware-as-a-Service (SaaS) model are a major disruptive technology in the fieldof ERP systems. The defining features of the SaaS are that they are hosted remotelyand are completely used through the web; they are subscription-payment basedand they operate on a multi-tenant fashion. This technological innovation redefinestraditional technical and economic ERP paradigms. This Bachelor’s thesis aims through interviews with vendors, users and consultants,as well as by researching various academical and professional publications onthe subject of Web-based (SaaS) ERPs to study these pehomena, and produce a listof their benefits to SMEs. It also analyses their opportunities and challenges via anumber of interesting facts, thus allowing for thought-provoking observations andspawning of stirring discussions. The benefits of Web-based ERPs were reported to be similar to the ones characteristicfor the On-premise ERPs. They furthermore included remote data access, costefficiency,flexibility, scalability, as well as the esublishment of a new customerdrivenrelationship with the ERP vendor. The major disadvantages of SaaS wereconsidered to be security, cost (in the long run), and customizability. These disadvantages,which were first reported years ago, are continuously dismissed by theadavncements and innovations made in Web-based solutions. Findings from previousstudies and trends suggest that issues of security, cost and customizabilityare gradually disappearing as technology improves and industry dynamics becomesmore customer-centric. Security, which was a major issue in 2007 slowlyfaded and is not regarded as the concern it used to be. From 2008 till now the issuesof customizability and TCO have been heavily disputed about Web-based ERPsolutions. The problem of customizability has also been found to be diminishingdue to technologically advanced capabilities of these systems; new systems haveemerged and old systems have improved enough to provide this feature. Cost hasnever been a transparent issue when it comes to IT investments and has beenshown to be higher in On-Premise solutions through the TVO approach whichlooks at other hidden and non-financial costs. All of the above sheds new light intothe once-‘static’ benefits and drawbacks of Web-based solutions, and provides afresh insight into this developing phenomenon.