The main goal of this thesis is to introduce philosophy of PSA (Professional Services Automation) solutions, their benefits, structure and possible future and to describe, why and how were PSA systems developed. Inasmuch as PSA systems originally evolved from ERP systems and their current progress is very similar to the late progress of ERPs, I decided to focus my analyses on ERP systems and to use the relevant conclusions on PSA solutions. The opening chapter of the thesis (chapter 3) introduces and describes philosophy and history of ERP systems, chapter 4 then describes PSA solutions. The fifth part is addressed to the current ERP market, from which a picture of future PSA market can be derived. Practical part 6, which I consider as the primary contribution of this thesis, analyzes some dimensions of PSA in the light of future evolution of this kind of solution. It also defines some factors, that may help to increase positive effects of PSA solutions to service-oriented companies. The thesis is then closed with an example of a real PSA implementation on an engineering company (chapter 7).

The project elaborated proposal of comprehensive monitoring of the forklift reconditioning process at the regional refurbishment center for central and east Europe. The proposal aims to increase overall customer satisfaction. The choice of the specific form of monitoring was based on theoretical background and process analysis. Monitoring of process activities is carried out on the basis of barcodes and scanning devices, which are able to distinguish the date and specific time. The proposal results are an overall customer overview increase within process, customer satisfaction increase and support improvement of managing and decision making.

Nowadays, employees have to work with applications, technical services, and systems every day for hours. Hence, performance degradation of such systems might be perceived negatively by the employees, increase frustration, and might also have a negative effect on their productivity. The assessment of the application's performance in order to provide a smooth operation of the application is part of the application management. Within this process it is not sufficient to assess the system performance solely on technical performance parameters, e.g., response or loading times. These values have to be set into relation to the perceived performance quality on the user's side - the quality of experience (QoE). This dissertation focuses on the monitoring and estimation of the QoE of enterprise applications. As building models to estimate the QoE requires quality ratings from the users as ground truth, one part of this work addresses methods to collect such ratings. Besides the evaluation of approaches to improve the quality of results of tasks and studies completed on crowdsourcing platforms, a general concept for monitoring and estimating QoE in enterprise environments is presented. Here, relevant design dimension of subjective studies are identified and their impact of the QoE is evaluated and discussed. By considering the findings, a methodology for collecting quality ratings from employees during their regular work is developed. The method is realized by implementing a tool to conduct short surveys and deployed in a cooperating company. As a foundation for learning QoE estimation models, this work investigates the relationship between user-provided ratings and technical performance parameters. This analysis is based on a data set collected in a user study in a cooperating company during a time span of 1.5 years. Finally, two QoE estimation models are introduced and their performance is evaluated. / Heutzutage sind Geschäftsanwendungen und technische Systeme aus dem Arbeitsalltag vieler Menschen nicht mehr wegzudenken. Kommt es bei diesen zu Performanzproblemen, wie etwa Verzögerungen im Netzwerk oder Überlast im Datenzentrum, kann sich dies negativ auf die Effizienz und Produktivität der Mitarbeiter auswirken. Daher ist es wichtig aus Sicht der Betreiber die Performanz der Anwendungen und Systeme zu überwachen. Hierbei ist es allerdings nicht ausreichend die Qualität lediglich anhand von technischen Performanzparametern wie Antwortzeiten zu beurteilen. Stattdessen sollten diese Werte in Relation zu der von den Mitarbeitern wahrgenommenen Performanz oder Quality of Experience (QoE) gesetzt werden. Diese Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit dem Monitoring und der Abschätzung der QoE von Geschäftsanwendungen. Neben der Präsentation eines generellen Konzepts zum Monitoring und der Abschätzung der QoE im Geschäftsumfeld, befasst sich die Arbeit mit Aspekten der Erfassung von Qualitätsbewertungen durch die Nutzer. Dies umfasst einerseits die Evaluation von Ansätzen zur Verbesserung der Qualität von Aufgaben- und Studienergebnissen auf Crowdsourcing-Plattformen. Andererseits werden relevante Dimensionen des Designs von Studien zur Untersuchung der QoE von Geschäftsanwendungen aufgezeigt und deren Einfluss auf die QoE diskutiert und evaluiert. Letztendlich wird eine Methodik zur Erfassung von Qualitätsbewertungen durch Mitarbeiter während ihrer regulären Arbeit vorgestellt, welche implementiert und in einem kooperierenden Unternehmen ausgerollt wurde. Als Grundlage der Entwicklung eines QoE Abschätzungsmodells, untersucht diese Arbeit den Zusammenhang zwischen Bewertungen durch die Nutzer und technischen Performanzparametern. Die Untersuchungen erfolgen auf einem Datensatz, welcher in einer Studie über 1.5 Jahre in einem kooperierenden Unternehmen gesammelt wurde. Des Weiteren werden zwei Methoden zur Abschätzung der QoE präsentiert und deren Performanz evaluiert.

<p>Purpose and research questions</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to investigate influencing factors on the choice of tailoring of ERP systems during implementation. The research questions to answer are what types of adjustments can be made to the system to make it fit with the organisation, together with what factors influence the choice of these adjustments and how?</p><p>Research methodology</p><p>To fulfil the purpose and answer the research questions the study has been carried out in line with the hermeneutic circle. This has been done in three sequences. A pre-understanding of the phenomenon has been obtained by a literature study in the first sequence. In the second sequence interviews with IFS AB and Systeam AB have been carried out, analysed together with the pre-understanding and a model has been created. During the last sequence Sogeti Sverige AB has been interviewed to verify the model.</p><p>Research findings</p><p>The different ways of tailoring an ERP system are configuration, bolt-ons, extended report-ing, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface development, new software package and package code modification. Tailoring types 1-8 and 10 were found in the literature while new software package was found in the empirical study.</p><p>The factors influencing the choice of tailoring are coming from three domains: the customer, the consultant and the system. The factors from the customer are attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time and user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possibility and knowledge are coming from the consultant domain. Complexity, external software, functionality and maintenance are finally coming from the system domain. All factors were derived from the literature except knowledge in the customer domain, which was found during the empirical study.</p><p>Some factors influence the choice of specific tailoring types, while others influence the choice between light and heavy tailoring types. There are also factors that do not directly influence the choice of tailoring. Instead they act as prerequisites for the tailoring types. This leads to the conclusion that the influencing factors can not be seen in isolation; it is the combined influence from all of them that decides the choice of tailoring types.</p> / <p>Syfte och forskningsfrågor</p><p>Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka influerande faktorer på valet av anpassning av ERP-system under implementering. Forskningsfrågorna att besvara är vilken typ av anpassningar som kan göras av systemet för att det ska passa med organisationen, tillsam-mans med vilka faktorer som influerar valet av dessa anpassningar och hur?</p><p>Metod</p><p>För att uppfylla syftet och besvara forskningsfrågorna har studien utförts i linje med den hermeneutiska cirkeln. Detta har gjorts i tre sekvenser. En förförståelse har erhållits genom en litteraturstudie i den första sekvensen. I den andra sekvensen har intervjuer med IFS AB och Systeam AB genomförts, analyserats tillsammans med förförståelsen och en modell har skapats. Under den sista sekvensen har Sogeti Sverige AB intervjuats för att verifiera modellen.</p><p>Forskningsresultat</p><p>De olika sätten att anpassa ett ERP-system är configuration, bolt-ons, extended reporting, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface develop-ment, new software package och package code modification. Anpassningstyperna 1-8 och 10 påträffades i litteraturen medan new software package hittades i den empiriska studien.</p><p>Faktorerna som influerar valet av anpassning kommer från tre domäner: kunden, konsulten och systemet. Faktorerna från kunden är attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time och user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possi-bility och knowledge kommer från konsultdomänen. Complexity, external software, functionality och maintenance kommer slutligen från systemdomänen. Alla faktorer är härledda från litteraturen, förutom knowledge från kunskapsdomänen kund som påträffades under empiristudien.</p><p>Några faktorer influerar valet av specifika anpassningstyper, medan andra influerar valet mellan lätta och tunga anpassningstyper. Det finns också faktorer som inte direkt influerar valet av anpassning. De är istället förutsättningar för anpassningstyperna. Detta leder till slutsatsen att anpassningstyperna inte kan ses isolerade; det är den kombinerade influensen från alla faktorer som bestämmer vilka anpassningstyper som kommer att väljas.</p>

Universiẗat, Habil.-Schrift--Karlsruhe, 2005.

Purpose and research questions The purpose of this thesis is to investigate influencing factors on the choice of tailoring of ERP systems during implementation. The research questions to answer are what types of adjustments can be made to the system to make it fit with the organisation, together with what factors influence the choice of these adjustments and how? Research methodology To fulfil the purpose and answer the research questions the study has been carried out in line with the hermeneutic circle. This has been done in three sequences. A pre-understanding of the phenomenon has been obtained by a literature study in the first sequence. In the second sequence interviews with IFS AB and Systeam AB have been carried out, analysed together with the pre-understanding and a model has been created. During the last sequence Sogeti Sverige AB has been interviewed to verify the model. Research findings The different ways of tailoring an ERP system are configuration, bolt-ons, extended report-ing, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface development, new software package and package code modification. Tailoring types 1-8 and 10 were found in the literature while new software package was found in the empirical study. The factors influencing the choice of tailoring are coming from three domains: the customer, the consultant and the system. The factors from the customer are attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time and user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possibility and knowledge are coming from the consultant domain. Complexity, external software, functionality and maintenance are finally coming from the system domain. All factors were derived from the literature except knowledge in the customer domain, which was found during the empirical study. Some factors influence the choice of specific tailoring types, while others influence the choice between light and heavy tailoring types. There are also factors that do not directly influence the choice of tailoring. Instead they act as prerequisites for the tailoring types. This leads to the conclusion that the influencing factors can not be seen in isolation; it is the combined influence from all of them that decides the choice of tailoring types. / Syfte och forskningsfrågor Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka influerande faktorer på valet av anpassning av ERP-system under implementering. Forskningsfrågorna att besvara är vilken typ av anpassningar som kan göras av systemet för att det ska passa med organisationen, tillsam-mans med vilka faktorer som influerar valet av dessa anpassningar och hur? Metod För att uppfylla syftet och besvara forskningsfrågorna har studien utförts i linje med den hermeneutiska cirkeln. Detta har gjorts i tre sekvenser. En förförståelse har erhållits genom en litteraturstudie i den första sekvensen. I den andra sekvensen har intervjuer med IFS AB och Systeam AB genomförts, analyserats tillsammans med förförståelsen och en modell har skapats. Under den sista sekvensen har Sogeti Sverige AB intervjuats för att verifiera modellen. Forskningsresultat De olika sätten att anpassa ett ERP-system är configuration, bolt-ons, extended reporting, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface develop-ment, new software package och package code modification. Anpassningstyperna 1-8 och 10 påträffades i litteraturen medan new software package hittades i den empiriska studien. Faktorerna som influerar valet av anpassning kommer från tre domäner: kunden, konsulten och systemet. Faktorerna från kunden är attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time och user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possi-bility och knowledge kommer från konsultdomänen. Complexity, external software, functionality och maintenance kommer slutligen från systemdomänen. Alla faktorer är härledda från litteraturen, förutom knowledge från kunskapsdomänen kund som påträffades under empiristudien. Några faktorer influerar valet av specifika anpassningstyper, medan andra influerar valet mellan lätta och tunga anpassningstyper. Det finns också faktorer som inte direkt influerar valet av anpassning. De är istället förutsättningar för anpassningstyperna. Detta leder till slutsatsen att anpassningstyperna inte kan ses isolerade; det är den kombinerade influensen från alla faktorer som bestämmer vilka anpassningstyper som kommer att väljas.

During the 90`s, the world watched an expressive growth of the ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning) on the information technology market. Among the explanations for issue are the pressure caused by the enterprises competition, which forces them to find alternative ways that leads to cost reduction and products and services differentiation and innovation. This will force them to review how they work and they processes. The purpose of this document is to analyze the impact that a chosen ERP system can cause on organizations. In its bibliographical research, this document presents concepts related to Technological Innovation, Information Technology, ERP and change management, always trying to connect all of these subjects together regarding an ERP system implementation, observing the impacts caused and the productivity factors. The empiricists data was achieved during a case study on an ERP system implementation on a local industrial company located at the Vale do Paraíba region. Among the results obtained by this case study, the facts that distinguishes the most are the analysis of the influence in the way the beginning of operation of the systems in the stages of implementation and stabilization and, mainly, the management of the changes and impacts caused for this implementation. / Os anos 90 assistiram ao surgimento e a um expressivo crescimento dos sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning ou Planejamento dos Recursos Empresariais) no mercado de soluções de informática. Entre as explicações para esse fenômeno estão as pressões competitivas sofridas pelas empresas, que as obrigam a buscar alternativas para redução de custos, inovação e diferenciação de produtos e serviços, forçando-as a reverem seus processos e suas maneiras de trabalhar. Esse estudo tem como objetivo analisar os impactos organizacionais ocasionados pela adoção de um sistema ERP. Em seu levantamento bibliográfico, este trabalho apresenta conceitos relacionados à Inovação Tecnológica, Tecnologia da Informação, ERP e Gestão da Mudança, buscando embasar a ligação existente entre todos esses assuntos quanto à implantação de um sistema ERP, observando os impactos ocasionados e o fator produtividade. Os dados empíricos foram levantados a partir de um estudo de caso de implantação de um sistema ERP por uma empresa do setor industrial localizada na região paulista do Vale do Paraíba. Entre os resultados obtidos por este estudo de caso, destacam-se a análise de influência do modo de início de operação dos sistemas nas etapas de implementação e estabilização e, principalmente, a gestão das mudanças e impactos causados por esta implementação.

Während Open Source-Software wie etwa Linux, der Apace Webserver oder die OpenOffice-Suite eine grosse Verbreitung erfahren haben, sind Open Source-Lösungen zur Unterstützung betrieblicher Aufgaben weniger bekannt. Dieser Bericht unternimmt ausgehend von den funktionalen Anforderungen der Auftragsabwicklung eines Industrieunternehmens einen Vergleich bestehender Lösungen und diskutiert die Einsatzmöglichkeiten aus heutiger Sicht.:1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Functional Analysis of OS-ERP 3.1 Setting: A Manufacturing Company 3.2 Order Processing as Scenario for Comparison 3.3 Results of Comparison 3.4 Discussion of Results 4 Conclusions

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / A thorough examination of the Secure Application Integration Methodology (SAIM) for applicability in the Department of the Navy (DON) would provide useful information about a beneficial methodology. SAIM is analyzed, by accessing its step by step directions, for suitability in the integration of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects implemented by the SYSTEMS COMMANDS (SYSCOMS). The Navy Enterprise Convergence Team (NECT) that leads the ERP integration effort could benefit from a sound Enterprise Application Integration methodology. Results do not support SAIM as the sole guiding EAI methodology however it could have some value to the NECT. SAIM has three primary benefits which NECT could employ: 1) It provides a complete walkthrough of the EAI process, 2) It emphasizes the importance of an Enterprise Architecture, and 3) It provides useful management checklists along with other important considerations. SAIM also has some significant shortcomings: 1) It does not support all the DON Chief Information Officer requirements, 2) It does not provide Change Management Guidance, 3) It does not take into account the uniqueness of the Navy's environment, and finally 4) SAIM relies on an Enterprise Architecture as its foundation which the Navy does not currently have. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

A aplicação da Tecnologia da Informação na Mineração teve início na década de 50, de forma similar a outros segmentos de indústria. Já os aplicativos específicos para a atividade fim da indústria mineral surgiram nos anos 60 com os primeiros sistemas de planejamento de lavra. A partir daí a Tecnologia da Informação se popularizou e expandiu, passando a atender às mais diversas áreas funcionais das mineradoras, porém ainda mantendo uma clara divisão entre sistemas administrativo-financeiros e sistemas técnicos. No início dos anos 90 surgiram os sistemas integrados Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), que prometiam abranger todas as atividades de negócios das empresas, tendo desde então um crescimento impressionante. Entretanto, no auge da expansão desses sistemas, já no fim do milênio, esses projetos passaram a ser questionados quanto à sua efetiva contribuição ao aumento da eficiência, eficácia e competitividade das empresas. Diversos autores pesquisaram as consequências decorrentes desses projetos, mas como os sistemas ERP foram originalmente idealizados para substituir os antigos sistemas MRP e MRP II, a maioria deles atuando no segmento de manufatura discreta, pouca pesquisa foi desenvolvida com foco na mineração. A indústria de mineração apresenta diversas características bastante peculiares, difíceis de serem atendidas pelas funcionalidades de um sistema integrado padrão como o ERP, mas da mesma forma pouca pesquisa foi dedicada aos requisitos específicos desse segmento. O objetivo dessa tese é identificar como os sistemas ERP gerenciam as áreas funcionais da mineração e como atendem ou não aos requisitos de TI da cadeia de valor mineral. A pesquisa busca ainda identificar se a estratégia da TI está ou não alinhada à estratégia corporativa em empresas de mineração. Os resultados do estudo de caso indicaram que, ainda que tenha havido benefícios mais voltados ao aumento da eficiência nas mineradoras, ainda há considerável espaço para que a utilização de sistemas integrados possa aumentar a eficácia e competitividade das corporações. / The usage of Information Technology applications in Mining started in the 1950s, similarly with other industry segments. Core-business mining specific applications, mine planning computerized systems, started to be developed in the 60s. Since then, IT has expanded and has been in widespread use across mining organizations, addressing most functional areas, but still keeping a clear boundary between corporate and technical systems. The first generation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integrated systems appeared in the early 90s, promising to cover and link all areas throughout the organizations, and since then achieving impressive market growth rates. However, while reaching the peak at the end of the millennium, these projects started to be questioned regarding their actual contribution to the companies efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness growth. Several authors researched the consequences of these projects, but as ERP systems were originally designed to replace old MRP and MRP II systems, most of them in the discrete manufacturing industry, mining-focused studies have been very limited. Mining industry presents several peculiar characteristics that are difficult to be addressed by the functionalities of a standard ERP integrated system, but also very limited research has been dedicated to this subject. The objective of this thesis is to identify how ERP systems manage the mining industry functional areas and how they fit or not the mineral value chain requirements. This study also aims to identify if the IT strategy is aligned with the corporate strategy in mining companies. The results of this case study indicate that, despite identifying several benefits contributing predominantly to increase the efficiency in mining companies, there is still considerable space to augment corporate effectiveness and competitiveness through the usage of integrated systems in these organizations.