關鍵詞：軟體元件供應鏈、水平整合、企業資源規劃、ebXML、Web Service 近年來國內資訊硬體產業分工模式完整、廠商表現亮眼，不僅外銷國外市場，有些更擁有高自有品牌知名度，在在可窺視硬體產業之供應鏈管理推行的成效。相對於硬體產業而言，雖然國內軟體業者對於上下游廠商的定義劃分不很清楚，但事實上已然存在著相當程度的分工，在專案或產品開發角色上彼此合作。隨著軟體元件概念與技術的進步與普及，分工程度漸趨專業的可能性增大，究竟軟體產業可以存在著何種分工模式呢？ 本研究即是針對國內軟體產業，實行軟體元件供應鏈(Software Component Supply Chain)的相關合作機制做一個探討，試圖去思考如何參考國內資訊硬體廠商的專業分工模式及供應鏈管理推動成功的經驗，而達成國內軟體產業供應鏈管理的推行。 本研究以企業資源規劃(Enterprise ReSource Planning)系統的套裝軟體業者為例，提出一個水平整合(Horizontal Integration)各模組的方法論，並設計出相對應的解決方案，再加以實作驗證。本研究於技術上使用類似於ebXML的流程整合技術，並利用XML及網路服務(Web Service)等方式來達到元件之間鬆散耦合的目的。 若不同之企業資源規劃系統套裝軟體中的各個模組，可以依照需求而方便的進行某個程度的水平整合，則軟體元件供應鏈的藍圖已然勾勒出來，也勢必將帶給軟體業者一個勢力重分配的機會。本研究除了希望能解決模組問水平整合相關的技術瓶頸外，軟體產業未來的元件分工模式，也是本研究所要探討的主題。 / Keywords: Software Component Supply Chain, Horizontal Integration, Enterprise Resource Planning, ebXML, Web Service In recent years, the computer hardware industry contributes a splendid performance in Taiwan. In addition to the export to foreign country, some even have a well-known brand. With no doubt, we can see the whole picture of the intact-division of labor in the hardware industry, and the outstanding performance of its carrying out supply chain management. Although the definition of division between upstream and downstream is not so clear in the software industry, there do exist a division of labor to some degree. As the popularity and progress of the concepts and technologies of the software component, the possibility of specialization in division of labor will get increasing in the software industry. There is an interesting research topic, which form of division of labor will exist in the software industry after all. The focus of this study is on the collaborative mechanism of software component supply chain in the software industry. We try to figure out how to refer to the successful experience of hardware industry implementing supply chain management to drive the supply chain management of the software component in domestic software industry. This study will takes the ERP package vendors as the study object to propose a methodology of horizontal integration of different software packages and to do further implementation for verification. Technically, this study applies an ebXML-like process-oriented integration technology, and facilitates the purpose of low coupling between components by using XML and web service technology. If the integration among the modules of different ERP packages could be made to some extent, the picture of division of labor in the software industry could be outlined, and it also will brings the software vendors some chance to re-allocate. In addition to solve the bottlenecks of technical problems of software horizontal integration, the future model of division of labor in software industry will be also a subject to address in this study.

Technology has been an integral part of human life since the 19th century’s Industrial Revolution, and the advancement of technologies has continued into the 21st century. Of all new emerging technologies, the computer has been identified as the most important, most complex and fastest emerging technology. In order for businesses to compete and survive within the business world, they are compelled to adopt new computer technologies. However, computers alone cannot improve organisational performance. Computers need to be accepted, optimally used and utilised by employees in order for an organisation to succeed. One such technology is SAP AG’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which is a real-time, fully integrated business system used by more than 170 000 organisations in 120 countries. Measuring information system success has been a concern since its inception due to its complexity and difficulty to appraise. Researchers traditionally attempted to measure success by the delivering of a functional information system product within certain monetary and time constraints. Subsequently, evidence suggested that a more accurate measure of success lies within the field of system use. One model of assessing and predicting user acceptance and which has gained popularity in recent years is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Apart from accepting the SAP ERP system, users should also be of the intention to continuously use it as a job requirement. The model for measuring user commitment is psychological attachment which determines whether the commitment is insincere and temporary, or long-lasting. Further, not only do users need to accept and continuously use an information technology like SAP ERP; they also need to be able to cope while using it. If not, psychological stress known as techno stress develops and prevents the optimal use of this system. With these three possible explanations for computer technology avoidance as a premise of departure, this study aims to determine the congruence, if any, between the sub-constructs of the TAM (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude toward using, behavioural intention to use and actual system use), psychological attachment (compliance, identification and internalisation), and techno stress (negative computer thoughts) within a South African SAP ERP user environment. A cross-sectional survey design was used rendering a convenience sample of N = 241 from among the SAP ERP user fraternity at a South African steel manufacturer. The measuring instruments used were the 23-item Technology Acceptance Questionnaire (TAM), the 10-item Psychological Attachment Questionnaire (PAQ) and the 20-item Computer Thoughts Survey (CTS-C). Study 1 which was a literature review confirmed conceptual congruence in that although the technology acceptance model was the most parsimonious, powerful and widely applied theoretical model, it was constrained due to the omission of social influence (psychological attachment) as a contributing factor in the processes of behavioural change towards technology acceptance. Furthermore, it was found that techno stress lowers employee efficiency and creates dissonance in the work environment, resulting in acceptance, hesitance or resistance towards the technology in question. Congruence was established between the system itself (technology acceptance), social relationships (psychological acceptance), and inherent psychological stress (techno stress). The aim of study 2 was to test the technology acceptance model within a South African SAP ERP user environment. Structural equation modelling confirmed that positive inter-construct relationships exist between all TAM constructs. Actual system use, which is the measurement for technology acceptance, was directly affected by behavioural intention to use and indirectly by perceived usefulness. In turn, behavioural intention to use was directly affected by perceived usefulness, attitude toward using and indirectly by perceived ease of use. Attitude toward using was directly affected by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness was directly affected by perceived ease of use. Study 3 revealed that internalisation had a direct positive effect on behavioural intention to use and an indirect effect on actual system use via behavioural intention to use. Furthermore, in this study identification had direct positive effects on internalisation, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and actual system use. Indirect effects emerged between identification and behavioural intention to use via internalisation as well as behavioural intention to use via perceived usefulness. Compliance, on the other hand, had negligible, negative direct effects on all TAM constructs of which the most prominent was that on attitude toward using. Results acquired from structural equation modelling in study four confirmed that weak negative relationships existed between techno stress and all TAM constructs. This finding is contrary to other studies and can be attributed to the fact that participants in this study were at large, proficient around SAP ERP and therefore experienced low levels of techno stress. Furthermore, aspects such as effective training, clear deadlines, effective teamwork, recurrent performance evaluations, job security, career development and realistic job load are all antidotes for techno stress which is believed to be current within the participant fraternity. In a concluding chapter the conclusions derived from the literature review, as well as the empirical research were presented and recommendations flowing from this research study were made. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014

Smartphones and other mobile devices are a common sight in our daily lives. The improvement in technology has given us small and portable devices that have the performance only found in desktop computers and more high-end devices less than a decade ago. An industry that has been quick to adopt technologies in the past is the manufacturing industry, examples of these adoptions are the conveyor belt and robots, which both are innovations of their time. Aside from hardware technologies, there are software technologies that the manufacturing industry has been using, e.g. complex information systems to manage materials and resources in the production. With the developments in mobile technology, a question arises whether the information systems can be combined with it in the manufacturing companies. One of the technologies that has become popular in the past years is the use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These kinds of devices can improve communication and flexibility. This leads us to the purpose of identifying how the use of ERP-connected mobile and mobility-supporting devices can affect processes among shop floor and production management personnel in large manufacturing companies. Using a qualitative approach, case studies of eleven companies were conducted using semi-structured interviews and direct observations. Personnel with different roles were interviewed to identify applications and devices that would reduce execution time, improve quality, or improve the flexibility of processes and tasks. These eleven companies were analysed with a model that focus on the dimensions complexity, specificity, and dynamism of a company's production structure, as well as a model that focus on the same dimensions in the roles of production personnel. The result was six applications and corresponding devices that could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of a process in a significant way. The analysis showed that the management in companies had similar needs in mobile or mobility-supporting devices. Similarly, the assemblers and machine operators also had similar needs. No connection was found between the production strategy and the need for mobile or mobility-supporting devices.

I takt med den digitaliserade utvecklingen har användning och anskaffning av affärssystem inom företag och organisationer blivit allt vanligare. Orsaken till att företag och organisationer använder affärssystem är för att effektivisera och automatisera sina affärsprocesser och informationsflöde inom företag och organisationer men också för att upprätthålla ett jämnt tempo med sina konkurrenter. Trots att det finns mycket kunskap och medvetenhet om kritiska faktorer för ett framgångsrikt införande av affärssystem, är det fortfarande nästan 50 procent av alla införandeprojekt som misslyckas första gången.  Kandidatuppsatsens syfte är att identifiera, beskriva och förklara kritiska framgångsfaktorer vid införandet av ett affärssystem, ur ett användar–projektgruppsperspektiv. Metoden för denna kandidatuppsats har varit genom en fallstudie som är baserad på intervjuer utifrån användarens och projektgruppens perspektiv.  De viktigaste slutsatserna från kandidatuppsatsensstudie är att: kommunikation, positiv attityd, korrekt data i affärssystemet och högsta ledningens stöd är kritiska för ett framgångsrikt införande av affärssystem. Kommunikation är en grundläggande faktor som ska komma som en självklarhet inom både projektgruppen och mellan projektgruppen och användarna. Utan kommunikation blir det svårt för projektgruppen att samla in de krav och förväntningar som användarna har. En positiv attityd från främst användarnas sida under införandeprocessen gör det enklare för projektgruppen att driva affärssystemprojektet framåt och motiverar projektgruppen. Korrekt data i affärssystemet är viktigt när användarna börjar använda affärssystemet, Det är viktigt att redan från början skaffa sig ett bra intryck av affärssystemet, vilket kräver att korrekt data ligger i affärssystemet. Stödet från högsta ledningen, som nästan alla forskare identifierar har även identifierats som kritisk i denna studie. Det är viktigt att om projektgruppen består av någon från högsta ledningen, är det viktigt att kunna urskilja sin roll under införandeprocessen, annars kan det ha stor påverkan på införandet av affärssystemet.

Evidence of the interest in enterprise architecture (EA) is seen in the number of enterprise architecture frameworks (EAF) in existence. An EAF is responsible for the realisation of an EA, and therefore acts as a container for the terminology of EA. The lack of acceptance of terms and definitions, coupled with the phenomenon of the large number of EAFs, indicate a silo type understanding of what EA is, which leads to a lack of clarity in the conceptual foundations of EA. By following a design science research (DSR) approach, a conceptual artefact (an enterprise architectonic (EAt)) is created to address the lack of clarity in the conceptual foundations of EA thinking and practice. The EAt serves as a conceptual device to represent the fundamental understanding of EA in terms of concepts and their relationships. The content of the EAt is derived from applying a structured interpretation method (SIM) to three prominent EAFs (The Open Group Architecture Framework, the Department of Defense Architecture Framework and the Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture). The SIM’s results are an EA understanding that consists of an EA claim: EA is similar in intent to the enterprise as a worldview is to the world. It is supported by six EA propositions:  Proposition 1: EA’s underlying theoretical knowledge is in a pre-suppositional state.  Proposition 2: EA is a description of the structure of the systems of an enterprise.  Proposition 3: EA represents the enterprise in time-oriented architectures such as an as-is, to-be and has-been architecture.  Proposition 4: EA translates the values/strategy of the enterprise into operational systems appropriate to the information society.  Proposition 5: EA provides a means to manage decisions about the IT/IS management and implementation in the enterprise.  Proposition 6: EA captures a representation of the enterprise in the form of a model or set of models. The six EA propositions are analysed through the lens of Heidegger's equipment analysis, to produce a set of architectonic elements. These elements are arranged in the EAt to create a conceptual device to support the fundamental understanding of EA. / Centre for Applied Information and Communication / Ph. D. (Information Systems)

Många företag har under de senaste åren haft en god tillväxt inom deras organisationer som har påverkat både företagets interna och externa organisationsstruktur. Det som främst har påverkat företagen är globaliseringen då de geografiska gränserna har suddats ut, vilket har lett till att efterfrågan på produkter har ökat vilket ökar även kraven på transporterna. Tidigare forskning belyser att vid tillväxtperioder ökar företagens transportkostnader markant och kräver därför en ökad kontroll över dessa kostnader. Studiens valda teoretiska ramverk har använts för att identifiera och visuellt belysa de informationslogistiska effekterna av tillväxt. Syftet med studien har varit att utifrån ett informationslogistiskt perspektiv undersöka ett tillverkande företags effekter under en period av expansiv tillväxt med avgränsning till transporter. Studiens forskningsfrågor har besvarats med hjälp utav en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer för att samla in empiri. Den insamlade empirin har analyserats genom tre olika tillvägagångssätt som är beskrivning, systematisering och kategorisering samt tagit det etniska övervägandet i beaktning. Resultatet av studien har påvisat att det administrativa arbetet på fallföretaget inte har prioriterats under en tillväxtperiod. Det har lett till att organisationen har fått en okontrollerad informationshantering. Genom det framtagna teoretiska ramverket TOEI, kunde resultatet analyseras och identifiera de informationslogistiska effekterna i de fyra huvudkategorierna teknik, organisation, miljö och individ. Det visade på att fallföretaget har påverkats av den snabba tillväxten och det kan bekräftas att riskfaktorerna av tillväxt är informationsöverflöd, ökade arbetsuppgifter, tidsbrist samt okontrollerade kostnadsunderlag. / Many companies have experienced growth within their organizations over the past fewyears, which has influenced these companies’ internal and external organizational structure.Companies have been affected by globalization since the geographical boundaries have been erased, which has led to an increase in demand for products and transportationrequirements. Previous research shows that there is a significant increase in a company’stransportation costs during periods of growth, which therefore requires an improved control over these costs. Based on the purpose of the research was to find a suitable and theoretical framework in order to identify and visually highlight the Information logistics’ effects by growth. The purpose of this research was to investigate and explore the effects of expansive growth during a specific period of time and how that effects a manufacturing company through an Information logistics perspective, with limitation to transport. The research in this study has been answered with the help of a qualitative method in which semi-structured interviews have been used to collect empirical data. Then this data has been analyzed through the three different approaches which is description, systematisation and categorization and the answers are handled ethically. The result of the case study showed that the administrative work has not been prioritized during a period of growth. Through the developed theoretical framework TOEI, the result has been analyzed and the Information logistics’ effects could be identified in the four main categories technical, organizational, environmental and individual. The case study concluded that companies affected by rapid growth experience the following risk factors: information overflow, increasing work assignment, lack of time and uncontrolled cost support.

Os Sistemas Integrados de Gestão, também conhecidos como ERP (Enterprise Re-source Planning), vem tendo ampla utilização nas organizações a partir dos anos 90. Por exigir um investimento de elevado valor financeiro para a sua implantação, os responsáveis pela sua aquisição devem tomar cuidados especiais, uma vez que os seus resultados positivos ou negativos somente surgem após longo período de im-plantação, às vezes após muitos anos. Sendo um problema complexo, repleto de incertezas e riscos, os decisores tomam muito de seu tempo para analisar os diver-sos critérios e funcionalidades das ofertas de sistemas recebidas. A tese objetiva apresentar um procedimento que possibilite às empresas, em particular as de pe-queno e médio porte, um procedimento que as permita analisar quando do interesse da aquisição de um ERP, qual das ofertas disponíveis estará mais adequada às su-as necessidades de negócio, baseado em um método multicritérios de apoio à deci-são. A revisão da literatura analisa os Sistemas de Informação (SI) informatizados e os principais papéis desempenhados por eles: apoio às operações, apoio à vanta-gem competitiva e apoio à decisão. A seleção das ofertas propostas foi efetuada uti-lizando o método de Estudo de Casos múltiplos em empresas que adquiriram esses sistemas,ghy utilizando o ANP (Analytic Network Process) como instrumento de pesquisa. Para se estabelecer uma classificação dos critérios utilizados na análise foi utilizada a Técnica Delphi, a qual foi realizada junto a especialistas em Tecnologia de Informação. O resultado obtido pelo Estudo de Casos mostrou que o procedimen-to proposto é válido e pode ser utilizado por empresas de todos os portes. / The use of Integrated Management Systems, also known as ERP (Enterprise Re-source Planning), are widely accepted by organizations since beginning of the ni-neties. As its implementation means a high financial value investment, the respon-sible team for its acquisition has to take special cares, once their positive or nega-tive results will appear only after long implementation period, often after many years. As it is a complex decision problem, evolving uncertainties and risks, the decision agents spend a lot of time to analyze the several criteria and functional-ities from received offers. This thesis presents a proposal which makes possible the companies, particularly those of small or medium sizes, which allows to analyze during the ERP acquisition phase, the available offers more adapted to their business requirements, based on a multi-criteria support decision method. The literature revision analyzes the computerized Information Systems (IS) and the main roles carried out by them: operations support, competitive advantage support and decision support. In order to define the criteria set used in the multi-criteria analysis, the Delphi Method was used and it was answered by Information Technology experts. These criteria was used to classify the ERP\'s offers using the multiple cases study using ANP (Analytic Network Process) as research tool.. The results obtained by case study in four companies were used to validate several propositions.

由於全球化營運的趨勢，許多企業皆邁向跨國的經營模式，組織的層級與規模隨業務需要逐漸擴大，導致對於整合與控制企業資源、企業流程和資訊系統的需求日益增強。不但必須了解國內外企業的所有資源與營運狀況，還需將所有資源加以整合，並整合上下游成為一個完整的供應鏈模式，以能即時提供對企業有利的資訊供決策之用。而企業經營面對的競爭也是全球性的，更快速地反應市場及客戶需求，或是更流暢地與上、下游廠商溝通，都是企業必備的條件，但這樣的理想便需要透過作好組織內部的企業資源規劃（Enterprise Resource Planning，ERP）來達成；亦即良好的企業資源規劃為供應鏈有效運作之基礎。 因此國內企業也逐漸體認企業資源規劃系統的重要性，尤其面對全球化競爭、組織扁平化、產業知識快速擴散與新科技對企業的衝擊，國內各企業無不全力投入提升企業競爭力的行列，對於企業資源規劃系統的需求也就日益增加。但目前國內尚無適合台灣企業本土化的導入方法，可作為企業資源規劃系統導入實施的步驟依據，故而提出一套能適合國內企業導入企業資源規劃系統的方法實為當務之急。 有鑑於此，本研究透過文獻探討蒐集彙整的方式，以瞭解成功導入企業資源規劃系統之方法；接著，利用模式推導方式，提出一適合國內企業導入企業資源規劃系統的參考模式及建議；再者，本研究將以半導體產業之IC製造業為例，對事先選定的個案公司透過深入訪談、實際觀察、文件及檔案資料收集等方式，輔以非結構化問卷進行個案研究；最後，藉由個案研究所得之結論，針對之前所提之參考模式加以修正，以供國內半導體產業之IC製造業的借鏡，並作為未來導入企業資源規劃系統之參考。 / For the trend towards global operations, the business models of many enterprises become in international style, and the organizational hierarchies and sizes of these enterprises are also becoming expanded. Therefore it extraordinarily needs to integrate and to control the business resources, processes and information systems of an enterprise to overcome these changes. To reach this goal, an enterprise must draw up the right enterprise resource planning (ERP). And also, a right enterprise resource plan is the basis to integrate its upstream and downstream as to be an efficient and effective supply chain. To face the worldwide competition and new information technologies striking, many enterprises in Taiwan are growing to realize the importance of implementing ERP systems to enhance their competition capabilities. Although the demand of implementing ERP systems is becoming great, it lacks a model of implementing ERP systems for the enterprises in Taiwan. Therefore, to provide a suitable model for the Taiwan’s enterprises is a task of the urgency at present. In this research, firstly we survey the existing models for the implementation of information technology applications and ERP systems. Secondly, we study the operating characteristics of the enterprises in Taiwan, and propose a preliminary model of implementing ERP systems for the enterprises in Taiwan. Finally we analyze the properties of IC manufacturing industry and visit an IC manufacturing enterprise as to be our real study case to get its implementation experience, and use this information to revise our preliminary model. The model proposed in this thesis could be used as a reference model for the IC manufacturing enterprises to implement their ERP systems.

Studies in recent years have revealed the challenges involved in deploying ERP solutions due to its complexity. Before attempting to implement ERP systems, it is essential to study various aspects such as project management, training, and change management in detail to manage the associated risks. When an ERP project is undertaken with insufficient planning, it may result in failure to integrate business processes and in substantial financial loss. Research has been pursued to identify critical risk/failure factors that may arise during implementation and the measures that should be taken to manage them. However, there is lack of research in identifying the management of critical risk/failure factor using a structured methodology. This raises a question of ‘can a structured methodology identify and manage critical risk/failure factors and support deploying ERP solutions with a better quality?’ A study of Microsoft Sure Step Methodology is performed to identify critical risk/failure factors that frequently occur during ERP implementation. These factors are derived from 8 articles. On determining critical risk/failure factors, we investigated if Sure Step methodology likely contains procedures that approach these factors.

Technology has been an integral part of human life since the 19th century’s Industrial Revolution, and the advancement of technologies has continued into the 21st century. Of all new emerging technologies, the computer has been identified as the most important, most complex and fastest emerging technology. In order for businesses to compete and survive within the business world, they are compelled to adopt new computer technologies. However, computers alone cannot improve organisational performance. Computers need to be accepted, optimally used and utilised by employees in order for an organisation to succeed. One such technology is SAP AG’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which is a real-time, fully integrated business system used by more than 170 000 organisations in 120 countries. Measuring information system success has been a concern since its inception due to its complexity and difficulty to appraise. Researchers traditionally attempted to measure success by the delivering of a functional information system product within certain monetary and time constraints. Subsequently, evidence suggested that a more accurate measure of success lies within the field of system use. One model of assessing and predicting user acceptance and which has gained popularity in recent years is the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Apart from accepting the SAP ERP system, users should also be of the intention to continuously use it as a job requirement. The model for measuring user commitment is psychological attachment which determines whether the commitment is insincere and temporary, or long-lasting. Further, not only do users need to accept and continuously use an information technology like SAP ERP; they also need to be able to cope while using it. If not, psychological stress known as techno stress develops and prevents the optimal use of this system. With these three possible explanations for computer technology avoidance as a premise of departure, this study aims to determine the congruence, if any, between the sub-constructs of the TAM (perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude toward using, behavioural intention to use and actual system use), psychological attachment (compliance, identification and internalisation), and techno stress (negative computer thoughts) within a South African SAP ERP user environment. A cross-sectional survey design was used rendering a convenience sample of N = 241 from among the SAP ERP user fraternity at a South African steel manufacturer. The measuring instruments used were the 23-item Technology Acceptance Questionnaire (TAM), the 10-item Psychological Attachment Questionnaire (PAQ) and the 20-item Computer Thoughts Survey (CTS-C). Study 1 which was a literature review confirmed conceptual congruence in that although the technology acceptance model was the most parsimonious, powerful and widely applied theoretical model, it was constrained due to the omission of social influence (psychological attachment) as a contributing factor in the processes of behavioural change towards technology acceptance. Furthermore, it was found that techno stress lowers employee efficiency and creates dissonance in the work environment, resulting in acceptance, hesitance or resistance towards the technology in question. Congruence was established between the system itself (technology acceptance), social relationships (psychological acceptance), and inherent psychological stress (techno stress). The aim of study 2 was to test the technology acceptance model within a South African SAP ERP user environment. Structural equation modelling confirmed that positive inter-construct relationships exist between all TAM constructs. Actual system use, which is the measurement for technology acceptance, was directly affected by behavioural intention to use and indirectly by perceived usefulness. In turn, behavioural intention to use was directly affected by perceived usefulness, attitude toward using and indirectly by perceived ease of use. Attitude toward using was directly affected by perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness was directly affected by perceived ease of use. Study 3 revealed that internalisation had a direct positive effect on behavioural intention to use and an indirect effect on actual system use via behavioural intention to use. Furthermore, in this study identification had direct positive effects on internalisation, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and actual system use. Indirect effects emerged between identification and behavioural intention to use via internalisation as well as behavioural intention to use via perceived usefulness. Compliance, on the other hand, had negligible, negative direct effects on all TAM constructs of which the most prominent was that on attitude toward using. Results acquired from structural equation modelling in study four confirmed that weak negative relationships existed between techno stress and all TAM constructs. This finding is contrary to other studies and can be attributed to the fact that participants in this study were at large, proficient around SAP ERP and therefore experienced low levels of techno stress. Furthermore, aspects such as effective training, clear deadlines, effective teamwork, recurrent performance evaluations, job security, career development and realistic job load are all antidotes for techno stress which is believed to be current within the participant fraternity. In a concluding chapter the conclusions derived from the literature review, as well as the empirical research were presented and recommendations flowing from this research study were made. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2014