<p>IT executives face nowadays a theme that underlies for all questions in today's business – the change! The main factor that accelerates the “pace of change” is globalization. Globalization conducts to severe competition; it conducts also to shorter product life cycles that are necessary aspects for companies in order to increase competitive advan-tage. A good alternative to be more efficient and gain access to better information is to implement an ERP system that will allow companies to improve efficiency and be more proactive. The main benefits of an ERP system are that it gives more controls over the company's assets, and business processes such as financial supply chain management and profitability assessments of employees, departments and customers. Most of the companies after implementing the system choose to end their relationship with the ERP system supplier and believe that they have the capacity to maintain and develop the sys-tem by themselves. The post-implementation represents the use and operation after the ERP system is put into use.</p><p>The definite purpose is to investigate why some companies choose to reject the perma-nent external support concerning the maintenance and further development of the ERP post-implementation stage. The paper will present the diverse reasons to why the re-spondents choose to not use permanent external support.</p><p>In order to find accurate information we have interviewed companies within the Jönköping's county that are in the post-implementation stage. Our purpose was to un-derstand the reason to why some companies reject permanent consulting and how they are developing and maintaining the used ERP system. To make this study more accurate we have used theories about ERP systems and the post-implementation stage that will help us to support and give value to our results.</p><p>One of the main results of this research were that companies have only personal moti-vation concerning the consulting activity choices and they affirmed that the result of the implemented ERP system would be the same no matter which alternative they choose for maintaining and developing the ERP system. The overall impression concerning consulting activities is quite positive among the interviewed companies.</p>

This dissertation consists of a review of the N2 component of the ERP and five experiments investigating the role of complex visual object categorization in modulating the N2 and two other ERP components: the P300, and a late prefrontal positivity. In the review, we focus on paradigms that elicit N2 components with an anterior scalp distribution, namely cognitive control, novelty, and sequential matching, arguing that the anterior N2 should be divided into separate control- and mismatch-related subcomponents. The experiments manipulated categorical typicality and the presence of conflicting information as participants categorized multi-featured artificial animals. In Experiments 1 and 2, rule-irrelevant features were correlated with particular categories during training. During transfer, participants applied a one- dimensional rule to stimuli with category-congruent, category-incongruent, or novel rule-irrelevant features. Category-incongruent and novel features delayed RT and P300 latency, but had no effect on the N2. Experiment 3 used a two-dimensional rule to create conflict between rule-relevant features. Conflict resulted in prolonged RTs, P300 latency, and larger amplitudes of a prefrontal positive component, but had no impact on the N2. Novel features did enhance the N2 relative to frequent features. In Experiments 4 and 5, participants categorized stimuli using a more complex three dimensional rule. Conflicting stimuli shared two features with one prototype and one feature with a second prototype while prototypes contained no conflicting information. A third category contained stimuli with either common or novel features. Again, perceptual novelty, but not conflict, increased the amplitude of the N2. Compared to prototypes, stimuli with conflicting information slowed reaction times but had no effect on P300 latency, instead enhancing a late prefrontal positive component. These results suggest limitations on the generality of the N2's sensitivity to conflicting information, while confirming its sensitivity to attended visual novelty. We suggest that, while P300 latency tracks stimulus evaluation time, application of a complex categorization rule requires a later stage of evaluation involving prefrontal cortex. In very complex rules, computations indexed by the P3 may be terminated early in favor of computations in PFC.

Varje företag har sitt eget sätt att ta fram sin budget. Controllern har ofta en central roll vid budgetarbetet och ser till att budgeten sammanfaller efter de mål som företaget satt upp. Företag använder sig av olika IT-system i sina verksamheter och dessa kan vara till hjälp vid framtagningen av budgeten. Syftet med denna studie är att studera hur företag framställer sin budget ur controllerns synvinkel. Vi kommer även att se hur IT-system kan stödja controllern och medarbetarnas verksamhet. För att få en djupare förståelse av ämnet har vi valt att genomföra en kvalitativ studie med en abduktiv ansats. I vår teoretiska referensram sker en genomgång av studiens centrala begrepp, controllern, budgeten, informationssystemet samt ERP-systemet. Vi har genomfört tre besöksintervjuer för att studera hur dessa genomför sin budgetprocess och hur IT-systemen kan vara till stöd. Varje intervju spelades in och gjordes på respondentens arbetsplats. Resultatet av denna studie visar att företag arbetar på likartade sätt i budgetprocessen genom en iterativmetod. Företag använder IT-systemen för att finna historiken från tidigare år samt för att skapa budgeten. De tar hjälp från analysverktyg som Excel och skapar revideringar av budgeten genom prognoser.

Enterprise Resource planning has gained prominence in the field of IS literature and is a significant phenomenon in practice in organizations and now also in higher educational institutions. These Institutions have their own unique method of operation and infrastructural facilities; and one of the biggest single most expenditure made by them is in their Enterprise Resource Planning Systems. The drive towards ERP is based on a desire to rationalize and streamline information systems across the whole organization seeking both improvement and business benefits. The ERP systems combine all discrete information into a single, integrated, real-time database. In the HEI context the ERP systems are seen as software solutions that address the diverse needs by tightly integrating all departments and functions within a single computer system configuration to serve particular needs such as students systems which manage all the student records/data and VLE systems like Blackboard which is a course management system. ERP addresses the institutions needs by providing a better service to its various users. The aim of this research study is to explore the quality, impact, benefits, utility and challenges of ERP systems specifically the student systems and VLE Blackboard in a Higher Educational Institution and analyse these ERP systems from a multiple perspective. The ERP systems have been applied by many Educational Institutions around the world as a key part of their organizational infrastructure and these systems tend to have a long life cycle in organizational use. The requirement is for the smooth functioning and utilization of these ERP systems while taking into consideration the changing demands as universities operate in a dynamic environment where there is a rapid change in technology. Millions of pounds and extensive deliberation is made on the implementation of the ERP system on the basis of expectations to align the institution objectives with business needs. This presents a huge challenge, if not properly addressed may lead to heavy investment without the corresponding institution efficiency.

El presente trabajo toma como punto de inicio el crecimiento de la empresa ST S.A. Para los próximos cinco años ST S.A. se ha planteado importar mayor cantidad de maquinarias debido a la gran demanda en la compra de maquinarias que se ha experimentado en los últimos años en nuestro país; para ello tendrá que ampliar su línea de crédito con la matriz fábrica New Holland. Dos de los principales requerimientos de fábrica es de tener los EEFF de ST S.A. auditados por una firma internacional y que éstos sean emitidos mensualmente. Para poder cumplir con dicho requerimiento, STSA ha decidido optar por la implementación de un sistema ERP SAP Business One. Esta herramienta le permitirá principalmente a la empresa: Contar con información oportuna y segura, para emitir los EEFF y consultas de Stocks. Como consecuencia de este crecimiento, ST S.A. debe tomar decisiones importantes que le permitan mantener: - Mayor crecimiento del negocio y participación de mercado - Mejorar el enfoque de sus recursos en el CORE de su negocio - Contar con herramientas tecnológicas de costo accesible que le permitan mejorar su competitividad en el mercado y contar con información oportuna - Implementar plataformas de conectividad y comunicación en tiempo real las mismas que sirvan de ventaja competitiva a la empresa En tal sentido se ha considerado la presentación de la empresa ST S.A en un primer momento de crecimiento con sus recursos actuales, y la propuesta que el plan de tesis contempla es sustentar la implementación de un sistema ERP por medio de Cloud Computing, el mismo que de soporte a la mejora de transmisión de información; haciendo notar las ventajas competitivas y costos que serán logrados por ST S.A. El contar con un sistema alojado en Cloud Computing nos brindará mayor seguridad, respaldo de la información, eficiencia en costos y concentrarnos en el core del negocio.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are complex and comprehensive software packages designed to integrate business processes and functions. Despite the difficulties and risks of implementing such a system, the last decade has seen a remarkable global diffusion of such systems. To cope with technical developments, the Saudi Arabian government is starting to implement them in both private and public organisations, including the higher education (HE). HE in Saudi Arabia applies integrated solutions to replace existing systems, supporting all its business functions and improving effectiveness and efficiency. Evaluating the impact of ERP adoption on stakeholders’ performance is complex and no single existing model was considered adequate. To overcome their various weaknesses, this study integrates three models (Task Technology Fit, the Information Systems Success Model and End User Computing Satisfaction) to produce a new model which offers a comprehensive view of the most important factors affecting stakeholders’ performance. This integration results in a theoretical framework that is used as model for empirical investigations of the impact of ERP systems on HE stakeholders. The aim of this research is to assess the impact of ERP systems on Saudi academic institutions, focusing on stakeholders’ post-implementation performance. Three case studies are examined, using mixed methods of interviews and questionnaires to collect quantitative and qualitative data. SPSS 20 and analytical techniques were undertaken to analyse case studies data. While the results varied according to the circumstances of each case, the overall quantitative findings were that there were six significant factors in the system quality dimension (timeliness, flexibility, ease of use, content, currency and authorisation) and two (reliability and responsiveness) in the service quality dimension. These results were consistent with those of the qualitative phase, which identified a number of other factors having a significant impact on stakeholder performance: resistance to change, continuous training and education, appropriate systems customisation and top management support. In general, it was found that ERP systems had a significant of positive and negative nature impact on HE stakeholders’ performance and productivity in Saudi Arabia.

La aplicación de estrategias, que permiten la mejora continua de las organizaciones, obliga a éstas a realizar la búsqueda de alternativas, que mejor se adecuen a sus necesidades, tomando en cuenta el avance en el desarrollo de tecnologías de información, las cuales permiten generar un flujo más rápido de la información; contribuyendo así a minimizar los costos, a tener un proceso productivo más eficiente que ayude a tener un mejor control de las actividades en todos los niveles de una empresa y a agilizar la toma de decisiones, para esto es necesario aplicar estrategias como la Reingeniería de Procesos, Rediseño o Mejora de procesos para que posteriormente pueda ser apoyado mediante un sistema de información.El presente estudio fue realizado a la empresa T&G Informática, la cual se dedica a brindar soluciones tecnológicas. Al realizar las respectivas reuniones, se detectó como problemática, falta de conocimiento integral de sus procesos y su interacción con las demás áreas de la empresa, provocando retrasos en el flujo principal del proceso, causados al ser ejecutados sin la información debida, ni en los tiempos adecuados, y por no contar con un sistema de información que sirva de apoyo para la integración de sus actividades. Por ello, nuestra tesis se centra principalmente, en el rediseño de procesos de la empresa T&G Informática para implementar un sistema ERP que comunique sus procesos principales.

Enterprise systems have been used since the 1970s. They have changed over the time but their main purpose - to automate and streamline the corporate processes, is still the same. However the scope has increased and the enterprise systems became very widespread. They integrate many usefull utilities into one system and have moved from the mainframes to common desktop computers. The abreviation ERP is very well known in today's IT world. It would be really difficult to find a large or midsize company which does not use the enterprise resource planning system. Yet the situation is dramatically different at the small enterpirse market. Due to theirs complexity, ERP systems are expensive. Many small companies are unable to afford heavy investments into the software they are using. Such enterprises can use the lightweight versions of the commercial solutions or not to use ERP systems at all. There is a new business trend - the SaaS business model. It is based on providing the access to the system over the network for regular fees. These fees are smaller than the licence ones so that it is easier for small companies to get up to ERP systems that would be too expensive for them otherwise. Even big software companies (such as SAP) have been getting engaged with the adoption of the SaaS recently. The IT experts say the SaaS business model is to be very prospective. The goals of this dissertation consist of the analysis of providing the ERP system as a service and the description of technical and processionary aspects that are mandatory for succesful adoption of the SaaS business model. A proprietary solution of the ERP system will be provided as a part of this thesis. The solution would be designed and developed especially for purposes of the adoption of the SaaS model.

The report illustrates about the digital tools those are used for product development and organizational management (apparel sector). We went to Lectra Sweden AB, DTS solutions AB to search our planned information about those tools. We got some additional information from them as well. We were interested to learn about much software for this but we studied about Lectra Fashion PLM, PISA PDM, and ERP Garp system (CRM, SRM, MRM) as we could manage opportunity to know about them only.For Lectra, we focused on general idea about this software, its different divisions, its working procedure, its advantage to use, its possibility to use for every company. On the other hand, we concentrated on almost similar way of Lectra for PDM, PLM, ERP (CRM, SRM, and MRM).We got different divisions of Lectra, namely- Kaledo, Modaris, Diamino, Optiplan are using for various purposes, like - design, pattern making, marker making, spreading and cutting. On the opposite side of the coin, if companies implement PDM, PLM and ERP system, they can assist to manage the whole business chain very easily for instance- product development, order, purchase, manufacturing, stock/distribution, economy, logistics etcetera. We also knew that it is expensive to buy those software’s and require special skill to operate so it is not prolific to all company. / Program: Magisterutbildning i Applied Textile Management

The aim of this PhD thesis was to explore the way in which recognition memory changes over time. Of particular interest was how forgetting and systems level consolidation processes alter the qualitative nature of recognition judgments and the impact this has on event related potentials (ERPs) recorded during recognition. An emerging body of fMRI and animal work has started to suggest that changes to the neural basis of memory can be observed after intervals in the order of days and weeks. Although much research has examined the ERP correlates of recent recognition, there has been little attempt to compare this to remote recognition. This gap in the literature is investigated in the present PhD thesis over five ERP and two behavioural experiments. The first set of experiments investigated recognition success i.e. the subjective awareness that a stimulus has been encountered before. Previous work has associated familiarity-based recognition with an early midfrontal ERP effect whereas recollection-based recognition has been linked to a later onsetting parietal ERP effect. These effects were compared for recently studied stimuli and stimuli studied 1 week earlier. Results revealed an attenuation of the late parietal effect. This quantitative difference suggests that the neural networks underlying the ERPs for recent and remote recollection remain the same after a 1 week delay but may be less active after a period of forgetting. Behavioural work linked this to a drop in strength and episodic detail for remote recollection. Examining the midfrontal effect over time produced a more complex pattern of results. The effect was not reliable in Experiment 1 for remote familiarity judgments. In follow up experiments, however, midfrontal effects were reliable for week old memories but were not modulated by either delay or memory strength manipulations. These findings do not permit strong conclusions regarding the way familiarity memory and midfrontal ERPs vary over time, other than to say that the midfrontal effect is not a short lived correlate of recognition memory. A second set of experiments investigated how the length of the delay between study and test impacts on retrieval orientation and retrieval effort. Retrieval orientation refers to the way in which participants strategically alter how a memory cue is processed based on current task demands. Results showed ERP differences when remote memories were cued compared to when recent memories were cued. However, these differences were eliminated when recent and remote memory was matched for performance. This finding indicated that effort required at retrieval rather than memory age per se influenced differential cue processing. A follow up experiment supported this claim but found that participants may utilise delay information during recognition in a very general sense. In this experiment, ERPs indicated different cue processing when participants knew the age of the memories they were trying to retrieve compared to when they did not. Taken together, the results suggest that memory age does not influence the ERP correlates of recognition in a direct manner. More important are the indirect changes occurring over time, such as reduced memory strength, reduced episodic detail, slower reaction times and increased effort at retrieval. These variables, and possibly a range of others, should be controlled as far as possible in studies aiming to explore neural changes driven by systems consolidation. Prospective studies, where the learning phase can be controlled makes this aim feasible, as some of the experiments in this thesis have shown. Future work might benefit from focusing more on variations at encoding, rather than large differences in the length of the retention interval, as has been the traditional approach to this issue.