The purpose of this empirical study is to examine the usage of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPS) in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Recently, rapid growth in information technology services compels developing countries to emerge as an information-based society. This emergence corresponds with the calls of researchers to address ERPS (Abbas, 2011). However, there is a scarcity of efforts by researchers to identify the factors contributing to the usage of ERPS at the organisational, departmental and end-user layer in HEIs. To fill this gap, this research develops a Multi-Layer Usage Model (MLUM) to determine the factors of ERPS usage across the organisational, departmental and individual levels of HEIs. The theoretical foundation of this study is adapted from unified theory of acceptance and use of technology developed by Venkatesh et al (2003). The study is unique in many respects. Firstly, it offers a newly developed multi-level conceptual model that is tested empirically using three distinct questionnaires; one for each layer. A large primary dataset, 1317 responses, is collected through three questionnaire from 18 higher education institutions in Pakistan; 86 responses from the organisational layer, 143 from the departmental layer and 1088 from the end-user layer. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the effect of factors at three layers contributing to the usage of ERPS. Furthermore, the models are refined by applying extensions of structural equation modelling. Results suggest that at the organisational layer human resource availability, tolerance for risks and conflicts, collegial support and collaboration and decision making and control are significant and contributed towards ERPS usage while at the end-user layer behavioural intentions and motivation were insignificant and were therefore, removed from the model. This study contributes to theory development regarding usage of innovations in the under-researched context of HEIs. It also provides indigenous manifestations of ERPS usage that may be used by policy-makers.

Existem diversas pesquisas que tratam o assunto do processo de implementação dos Sistemas de Gestão Empresarial (SGE) no setor empresarial. A maioria delas focalizada no planejamento e o controle do gerenciamento no contexto formativo e abrangente que as envolve. Contudo, ainda existe uma lacuna ao estudar o processo de implementação nas pequenas e médias empresas que tenham orientação empreendedora. Devido ao fato de que estas empresas encontram-se num ambiente descontrolado, evidenciando saídas de rumo diante qualquer planejamento (drifting), tornam-se interessante os estudos de caso neste setor. Sendo assim, compreender como acontece o processo de implementação de um SGE e quais são as práticas que podem ser executadas para promover sua utilização sucedida é o foco deste trabalho de pesquisa. Para tanto foram utilizados os conceitos teóricos trazidos pelo trabalho de Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) em conjunto com a abordagem da Teoria do Ator- Rede (TAR) proposta pelo Latour (2005), Callon (1998) e Law (1992). O trabalho mostra a forma de utilização da TAR, evidencia os conceitos trazidos pelo Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) e propõe práticas para promover a utilização dos SGE para a fornecedora do estudo. Além disso, demonstra a necessidade de fazer mais pesquisas, no setor empresarial objeto deste estudo, uma vez que este tipo de empresa não aplica as melhores práticas mostradas nas diversas pesquisas apresentadas na literatura. Assim também, sugere-se a continuação deste estudo analisando outros atores que introduzam o ambiente tecnológico, econômico e social desse setor para poder identificar outros motivos pelos quais os atores executaram e fizeram as escolhas relatadas, pois com a TAR estudou-se a interação entre os atores envolvidos no processo de implementação do SGE, apresentando uma descrição de como foi construído esse processo. / There are several researches that deal with the matter of ERP implementation process on enterprise sector. Most of them focused on planning management control on overarching formative context that involves them. However, there is still a gap when a study is made on implementation for small and medium sized companies with entrepreneur orientation. Because these companies are settled in a non-controlled environment, noticing miss-routing upon any planning (drifting), it is interesting to have case studies in this sector. Thus, understanding how ERP implementation process is made and which are the procedures that can be applied to promote a succeed utilization is the focus of this research work. For this, it has been used theorical concepts brought by the work of Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) and the theorical approach of actor-network theory (ANT) proposed by Latour (2005), Callon (1998) and Law (1992). This work has shown the utilization of the ANT, it has evidenced the concepts brought by Ciborra (2002, 2000, and 1999) and suggests practices to promote the utilization of ERP for the supplier followed on this study. Besides, it is suggested to continue this study by introducing actors that represents the technological, economical and social environment of the studied sector to identify others reasons for actors’ options, once with the ANT was shown the interaction between the actors during the implementation process as a description of how the process was constructed as a result of this interaction.

Submitted by Tatiana Lima (tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2017-02-07T17:57:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Cassio Francisco da.pdf: 1827403 bytes, checksum: 90bd10995e33ed9fe493d332ad8909df (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Tatiana Lima (tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2017-02-07T18:30:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Cassio Francisco da.pdf: 1827403 bytes, checksum: 90bd10995e33ed9fe493d332ad8909df (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-07T18:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Cassio Francisco da.pdf: 1827403 bytes, checksum: 90bd10995e33ed9fe493d332ad8909df (MD5) / De natureza qualitativa e caráter exploratório-descritivo, a pesquisa busca conhecer como devem ser gerenciados os fatores críticos de sucesso para implantação de um Sistema Integrado de Gestão na UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO. Para isso, percebeu-se a importância de se conhecer os principais fatores críticos de sucesso para a implantação de um sistema integrado de gestão; além de tornar conhecidos os atores, especialmente os gestores envolvidos no processo de implantação e os cenários envolvidos no processo. Ademais, a identificação dos fatores que estão sendo atendidos e também os que não estão sendo atendidos, contribuiu para o alcance do objetivo geral. Dessa forma, buscou-se entender como os gestores envolvidos na implantação devem gerenciar os fatores críticos de sucesso para que a Univasf possa reunir condições para a implantação do SIG. Para isso, um estudo de caso, com auxílio da bibliografia, foi utilizado, dividindo-se essa pesquisa em quatro etapas: 1: identificar os principais requisitos para a implantação de um SIG; 2: avaliar o quanto esses requisitos estão sendo atendidos pela gestão atual da Univasf; 3: identificar quais os aspectos críticos na gestão da Univasf que dificultam/inibem o atendimento dos requisitos não atendidos; e 4: especificar soluções para lidar com os aspectos críticos identificados, de modo que a Univasf possa reunir as condições para implantação do seu SIG. Como principal resultado, percebeu-se que, além de confirmar a interrelação entre os fatores críticos de sucesso, o nível de atenção despendida, pelos gestores, a esses fatores é fundamental para o sucesso na implantação do SIG. / Qualitative and exploratory and descriptive, the research seeks to understand how they should be managed the critical success factors for implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning in the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco. For this, he realized the importance of knowing the main critical success factors for the implementation of an enterprise resource planning; in addition to making known the actors, especially the managers involved in the implementation process and the scenarios involved. Additionally, identify which of these factors are being met and those who are not being met contributed to the achievement of the overall objective. Thus, we sought to understand how the managers involved in the implementation should they managed the critical success factors for the UNIVASF to meet conditions for the implementation of ERP. For this, a case study, with the help of the literature was used, this research is divided into four stages: 1: identify the main requirements for the implementation of a ERP; 2: assess how these requirements are being met by the current management of UNIVASF; 3: identify the critical aspects in the management of UNIVASF that hinder / inhibit the fulfillment of requirements not met; and 4: Specify solutions to address the identified critical aspects, so that UNIVASF can meet the conditions for deployment of your ERP. The main result, it was noticed that, in addition to confirming the interrelation between the critical success factors, the level of attention given by the managers of these factors is critical to the successful implementation of ERP.

Existem diversas pesquisas que tratam o assunto do processo de implementação dos Sistemas de Gestão Empresarial (SGE) no setor empresarial. A maioria delas focalizada no planejamento e o controle do gerenciamento no contexto formativo e abrangente que as envolve. Contudo, ainda existe uma lacuna ao estudar o processo de implementação nas pequenas e médias empresas que tenham orientação empreendedora. Devido ao fato de que estas empresas encontram-se num ambiente descontrolado, evidenciando saídas de rumo diante qualquer planejamento (drifting), tornam-se interessante os estudos de caso neste setor. Sendo assim, compreender como acontece o processo de implementação de um SGE e quais são as práticas que podem ser executadas para promover sua utilização sucedida é o foco deste trabalho de pesquisa. Para tanto foram utilizados os conceitos teóricos trazidos pelo trabalho de Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) em conjunto com a abordagem da Teoria do Ator- Rede (TAR) proposta pelo Latour (2005), Callon (1998) e Law (1992). O trabalho mostra a forma de utilização da TAR, evidencia os conceitos trazidos pelo Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) e propõe práticas para promover a utilização dos SGE para a fornecedora do estudo. Além disso, demonstra a necessidade de fazer mais pesquisas, no setor empresarial objeto deste estudo, uma vez que este tipo de empresa não aplica as melhores práticas mostradas nas diversas pesquisas apresentadas na literatura. Assim também, sugere-se a continuação deste estudo analisando outros atores que introduzam o ambiente tecnológico, econômico e social desse setor para poder identificar outros motivos pelos quais os atores executaram e fizeram as escolhas relatadas, pois com a TAR estudou-se a interação entre os atores envolvidos no processo de implementação do SGE, apresentando uma descrição de como foi construído esse processo. / There are several researches that deal with the matter of ERP implementation process on enterprise sector. Most of them focused on planning management control on overarching formative context that involves them. However, there is still a gap when a study is made on implementation for small and medium sized companies with entrepreneur orientation. Because these companies are settled in a non-controlled environment, noticing miss-routing upon any planning (drifting), it is interesting to have case studies in this sector. Thus, understanding how ERP implementation process is made and which are the procedures that can be applied to promote a succeed utilization is the focus of this research work. For this, it has been used theorical concepts brought by the work of Ciborra (2002, 2000, 1999) and the theorical approach of actor-network theory (ANT) proposed by Latour (2005), Callon (1998) and Law (1992). This work has shown the utilization of the ANT, it has evidenced the concepts brought by Ciborra (2002, 2000, and 1999) and suggests practices to promote the utilization of ERP for the supplier followed on this study. Besides, it is suggested to continue this study by introducing actors that represents the technological, economical and social environment of the studied sector to identify others reasons for actors’ options, once with the ANT was shown the interaction between the actors during the implementation process as a description of how the process was constructed as a result of this interaction.

Within the constantly developing area of technology where digitalization has become a leading factor for success. Where digitalization in a rapid pace is being applied to the majority of businesses, and organizations now for the most part are constructed and based on digital solutions. To conquer the market space and becoming more competitive through the advantages that digitalization brings. This is where the previously to some extent overlooked part of businesses operations, the purchasing process, have come to be increasingly important. Since the amount of information and data that organizations today deal with, has incorrect management of information and ineffective purchasing processes during longer periods of time been seen to accumulate extensive costs, and in the end, time consuming measures. How can digitalization then contribute to a more efficient process, and in what ways.For the study to be carried out, an abductive approach was used where empirical material was acquired through observations, interviews and ten simple questions. This in combination with collecting theories, allowed the writers to form a perception on how far research has come in terms of connecting digitalization and the purchasing processes. This was done by the fact that the study was performed as a case study on the selected company’s purchasing department and its chosen environment. Furthermore, this opened up for the section regarding the company’s present situation which showed that purchasing mainly was done through two approaches, these are förrådsinköp and fritextinköp, that both contain slightly different activities. In these processes there are a handful of systems and activities that have the potential to increase efficiency in different ways. By comparison with the theoretical reference framework, it turns out that the process itself does not include any strange activities. It also shows that the case company is working on digitization at a level that involves ERP systems and its own developed systems. These systems work primarily towards internal communication and information management needs.Shown in the study is that there are systems that can’t be used as intended. This stems from the fact that unnecessary tasks are taking place, even though there are conditions that would allow these to not exist. These tasks can be seen as the likes of controls, faulty handling of information and poor quality of data. In order for the digitalization to work as efficiently as possible, all systems should be reviewed and designed according to a comprehensive digitalization strategy. Once this is determined, then the efficiency and optimization of existing systems can take shape based on this. As a result of this, work regarding concrete efficiency opportunities related to tasks such as order points, controls, increased integration and new applications can be made possible. / I den ständiga utveckling som sker i teknologisektorn har digitalisering kommit att bli en ledande framgångsfaktor. Därför har nu organisationer börjat formats med hjälp utav digitalisering. Digitalisering vid lämplig användning och utformning kan skapa konkurrensfördelar. Den tidigare något förbisedda delen av verksamheters arbetsmoment, inköpsprocessen, har kommit att bli allt mer betydande Det är stora mängder information som organisationer måste behandla. I hantering finns ofta ineffektiva aktiviteter som gör att delar i processer blir kostsamma och tidskrävande. Studiens syfte var att undersöka hur digitalisering kan bidra till effektivare processer och på vilka sätt.Arbetet har realiserats genom en fallstudie där en abduktiv ansats varit tillvägagångssättet för insamling av empiriskt material. Detta material har erhållits från ett fallföretag där dess inköpsprocess studerats. I kombination med kontinuerlig och kompletterande teori-insamling har författarna bildat en uppfattning om hur långt forskningen kommit gällande samband mellan digitalisering och inköpsprocessen. Det empiriska materialet erhölls genom observationer, intervjuer och tio enkla frågor som lett till den nulägesbeskrivning som upprättats. Nulägesbeskrivningen visar att det på fallföretaget finns två processer för olika typer av inköp, som i studien delats upp enligt förrådsinköp och fritextinköp. Dessa innefattar olika aktiviteter. I dessa processer finns en handfull system och aktiviteter som efter en värdeflödesanalys visat sig ha potential att öka effektiviteten på diverse sätt. Genom att jämföra den teoretiska referensramen och nulägesbeskrivningen, visar det sig att processen på fallföretaget är i linje med den generella uppfattningen om hur en inköpsprocess är formad. Det visar sig också att fallföretaget arbetar med digitalisering på en nivå som involverar ERP system och en del egenutvecklade system. Dessa system arbetar främst mot interna behov av kommunikation och informationshantering.Det som visar sig i studien är att det överlag finns system som inte kan användas på önskvärt sätt. Det grundar sig i att onödiga aktiviteter sker även fast förutsättningen att hoppa över dessa finns. Det kan handla om kontroller, bristande informationshantering och dålig datakvalitet. För att effektivisera detta krävs ett gemensamt arbete för hela organisationen. För att digitaliseringen ska fungera på ett effektivt vis, bör alla system granskas och utformas efter en omfattande och övergripande digitaliseringsstrategi. När detta fastställts kan sedan effektivisering och optimering av befintliga system ta form. Det utgör grunden för att ett arbete med effektiviseringsmöjligheter såsom beställningspunkter, kontroller, ökad integration och nya applikationer kan möjliggöras.

An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation is a massive undertaking for any organization, and we have all heard about success and failure stories. This research study has identified the Critical Success Factors (CSF) after a successful ERP system upgrade at a pharmaceutical distribution company. The company of interest stores and distributes pharmaceuticals to pharmacies in Finland and Sweden. The company used an old version of the ERP system from 1999 that had been heavily modified over the years to cater for new regulations, business and customer requirements. The upgrade was a complete success, and the new version of the ERP system has been running without major issues ever since go-live in autumn 2016. The qualitative interpretive research was conducted by using two data collection methods, semi-structured interviews and card sorting to gather data from the participants. The participants were selected from the three (3) central roles in the project team to capture the perceived CSFs from several perspectives. The data was a subject for a thematic analysis process to generate codes, themes, and concepts within the extensive data set. The findings revealed that the reasons for the upgrade were the end of support for the ERP system, need for new features and to reduce platform dependency. The participants regarded a stable system after go-live with minimal impact on business and harm to customers as the primary definition of success. The ten (10) identified CSFs were; (1) Top management commitment and support, (2) Software analysis, testing and acceptance control, (3) Project team leadership, empowered decision makers, (4) Project management and (5) Strategy planning, scope and vision, (6) Involvement of end-users and stakeholders, (7) Data conversion and integrity, (8) Consultant selection and relationship, (9) Balanced team and (10) Project team: the best and brightest. Even though the ERP upgrade at the pharmaceutical distribution company was considered a success, there were several areas identified for improvements. The lessons learned was for example related to data quality and test data. The need to introduce new resources by learning from key resources before and during the ERP project. The project model and project organization were other areas that were identified for improvements to reduce administrative work and to obtain a better fit towards the company organization. Several similar ERP system upgrades and new implementations are planned the coming years, and the outcome of this thesis provides valuable guidelines and recommendations to the company. The research thesis will also contribute to the field of CSF analysis and ERP systems and offer suggestions for further research.

Este trabalho de pesquisa, organizado sob a forma de uma Dissertação de Mestrado em Administração, estuda os fatores envolvidos na implementação de pacotes de software para gestão empresarial, ou sistemas ERP – Enterprise Resources Planning – no contexto de empresas usuárias desse tipo de sistema. Além de uma pesquisa, este trabalho também é composto por uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os principais assuntos abordados, tais como: pacotes de software para gestão empresarial; administração de projetos; fatores críticos de sucesso em projetos; redesenho de processos de negócios; e adoção de novas tecnologias. Para a execução da pesquisa, foi realizado um survey com uma amostra formada por 43 empresas, no Brasil, que já tivesse implementado ou estivesse em um projeto de implementação de algum pacote de software ERP. Os resultados obtidos com a análise dos dados buscam traçar um quadro sobre os projetos de implementação de pacotes de software para gestão empresarial no Brasil, além de estabelecer a existência ou não de relações entre alguns fatores, considerados críticos nesse tipo de projeto, e o sucesso dos projetos. / This research, organized under the form of a Mastership Dissertation in Business Administration, studies the factors involved in the implementation of ERP – Enterprise Resources Planning – systems, in the context of companies that use that sort of system. Besides a research, this essay is also composed by a bibliographical revision on the main approached subjects, such as: integrated software packages for business management; project management; critical success factors in projects; BPR – business process reengineering; and adoption of new technologies. For the execution of the research, a survey was accomplished with a sample formed by 43 companies in Brazil, that had already implemented or it was in an implementation project of some ERP software. The results obtained with the analysis of the data outline a chart on the projects of ERP software implementation in Brazil, besides establishing the existence or not of relationships among some factors, considered critical in that project, and the success of the projects.

In this age of overwhelming technological innovation, organizations expect better prospectus and strategy for improving business in their own specific areas of interest. Organizations want to open new horizons by developing new communication techniques for communicating with their clients. With this step, they want to reduce the communication barrier between their clients and the organization itself. In future, organizations will use improved techniques for getting connected with their clients. When we talk about an educational organization it becomes very important for an educational institution to communicate with their students. The educational organizations have improved a lot in providing services to their students. But, there is lots of work to be done in the field of connecting the students with the educational institutions. If there is a good means of communication between students and the organization then there would be more scope for the aspiring students to join the institution. If an educational organization develops a medium for better communication with their students, that will help the university in finding new relations with aspiring students. In my thesis, I will explore the frameworks used in an educational setting using Enterprise Resource Planning model in developing Student community portal. Enterprise Resource Planning is used to integrate all the modules of the community portal, to maintain integrity of the system. I will also find the requirements that are necessary for developing such interactive system. This investigation will be helpful for developing a Student community portal; it helps to know about the services provided by the educational organization and for mutual communication in the student community. By this approach, it becomes very easy for a two way communication between the university and Student community. This will help to develop a framework and creates Design Pattern Architecture for the development of interactive system for student community in educational organizations. / Email: mufasirs@gmail.com Phone: +919390120586,+919347393001

ERP software and applications have become basic requirement of almost every organization in order to compete with each other and in time constraint. In order to develop an efficient application, project planning and analysis play very important role in better understanding of the problem domain and to provide a risk free solution. There are many different approaches which software developers used to develop the systems. These traditional approaches have some drawbacks and constraints. Either these are ad-hoc basis or have some fixed patterns and rules. We discussed all these techniques and suggest that planning and analysis of ERP application during its development can be done by applying more appropriate knowledge engineering commonKADS model. CommonKADS is a structured approach, It comprises of different model suites. Thesis presents that by using commonKADS model for project planning and analysis, real problem domain and efficient solution can be identified. Also domain process is identified. Tasks related to each process in the domain are identified. Knowledge assets related to each task are identified. These features help in defining real knowledge specification. In this way, ERP applications can be made knowledge based. ERP systems were introduced to solve different organizational problems and provide integrated structure. Although ERP packages offer advantages to enterprises, they have not achieved many of their anticipated benefits. Autonomous and heterogeneous applications co-exist in companies with ERP systems and integration problem having not been addressed. This thesis seeks to make some suggestions to this area by studying and analyzing ERP problems, through mapping commonKADS methodology in a case study. Thesis in start, presents an overview about ERP applications, Knowledge Engineering and commonKADS methodology. In the end, thesis presents our contribution a case study ―online courses Registration Portal for BTH which shows that planning and analysis of ERP applications by using commonKADS methodology helps in reaching knowledge based and more accurate solutions. / Syed Abdul Basit basitbth@gmail.com, Omar Malik omar_m20@hotmail.com.

Anskaffandet av ett affärssystem innebär en stor investering, som ofta utgör en stor delav företagets totala budget. Det är i stort sett omöjligt att uppfylla alla de krav somföretagen ställer på systemet, vilket gör upphandlingsprocessen för affärssystem till enkomplex och svårarbetad process. I den tidigare forskning som utförts tas det endasthänsyn till hur stora företag hanterar upphandlingsprocessen vilket gör att medelstoraföretag hamnar i skymundan. Det är därför viktigt att undersöka hurupphandlingsprocessen för medelstora företag ser ut och hur utmaningar som uppstårhanteras. Resultatet av denna studie påvisar både skillnader och likheter mellanmedelstora och stora företag när det gäller upphandlingsprocess, dess utmaningar ochhur företagen väljer att hantera dessa. / The acquisition of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) involves a major investment,which often accounts for a large part of the company's total budget. It is close toimpossible to meet all the demands of companies on the system, which makes theprocurement process of Enterprise Resource Planning a complex and difficult process.In the previous research carried out, it is only taken into consideration how largecompanies handle the procurement process, which means that medium-sized companiesend up not accounted for. It is therefore important to investigate how the procurementprocess for medium-sized companies looks and the challenges that arise are dealt with.The result of this study shows both differences and similarities between medium andlarge companies in terms of procurement processes, its challenges and how companieschoose to handle them.