The main goal of this work is to analyze the information needs of a translation agency, with an emphasis on optimizing and automatization of the translation processes. The analysis is the base for the design of an information system for this agency. This work includes the system design and also the choice of technologies. The system manages regular agenda of information systems and also the translation processes. Except for human users the system is using also a number of automatic tools and other software systems. The order and elements in translation processes may change, therefore the system allows user configuration of processes. There is also time consumption estimation for the project and methodology selection for the analysis.

L’objectif central de cette recherche est d’étudier les caractéristiques de la flexibilité des SI, dans la perspective d’apporter une aide à la construction de SI plus flexibles, pouvant s’adapter rapidement aux changements, notamment en cas d’évolution stratégique. La question posée est donc : comment atteindre la flexibilité dans les SI ? Cette recherche s’appuie sur les recherches antérieures décrivant les caractéristiques de la flexibilité d’un SI et les enrichit en prenant en compte les différentes dimensions d’un système d’information. Elle inclut ensuite dans son analyse les caractéristiques contextuelles du système d’information dont on recherche la flexibilité, avec l’idée sous-jacente d’une flexibilité polymorphe, c’est-à-dire pouvant prendre des formes différentes selon le contexte. Le but est donc d’identifier ce que représente la flexibilité d’un SI et quels sont les moyens pour l’atteindre. Les résultats de deux études de cas montrent que les éléments qui favorisent la flexibilité ne sont pas toujours les mêmes, ils dépendent des caractéristiques spécifiques du SI. Ceci montre que le caractère de polymorphisme, mis en évidence dans les études sur la flexibilité stratégique, s’applique également à la flexibilité des SI. La conclusion générale de cette recherche est que les facilitateurs de flexibilité nécessaires pour un système d’information donné dépendent de la place qu’occupe le SI dans la mise en œuvre de la stratégie, notamment leur orientation (interne ou externe) et le moment où la flexibilité est requise (en relation à la formulation de la stratégie). La réponse à notre question de recherche (comment atteindre la flexibilité des SI ?) est apportée par l’identification des facilitateurs de flexibilité nécessaires à un SI spécifique. D’un point de vue pratique, cette conclusion se traduit par la nécessité, pour les managers qui interviennent dans la prise de décisions concernant la flexibilité, de comprendre qu’il existe des facilitateurs que l’entreprise peut développer ou acquérir. Cependant, pour doter un SI particulier des facilitateurs pertinents, il est important que ceux-ci soient sélectionnés par rapport aux caractéristiques du SI, notamment sa situation par rapport aux évolutions stratégiques. Le cadre conceptuel de la flexibilité d’un SI développé dans cette recherche et les résultats des deux études de cas menées sur deux systèmes d’information flexibles, étroitement liés aux stratégies de changement, constituent un guide pour les managers qui souhaitent déployer des SI pouvant s’adapter rapidement à des changements fréquents de stratégie. / The focus of this research is to study the characteristics of flexibility in order to help building more flexible IS. The objective is to achieve flexibility in the IS in order to adapt them swiftly for facing changes, and be able to adjust for new strategies. The main questioned posed is: How can IS flexibility be achieved?. This constitutes the research question. This research extends previous studies related to flexibility by focusing on the various dimensions of Information Systems. To cover all the aspects of an IS the problem of enabling an IS with flexibility will be approached, in this research, by analyzing the relevant elements in an Information System. This research will try to identify what IS flexibility is in the people, process, IT, and data dimensions; and how IS flexibility can be achieved. The conclusion that can be drawn is that the flexibility enablers needed for an Information System are contingent upon its unique characteristics. The findings of both case studies show that the elements that sustain flexibility are not the same for every IS; they depend on certain characteristics of the specific IS. The fact that the elements or enablers needed to sustain flexibility are different can be explained by the polymorphic property of flexibility: for an IS, flexibility displays the same polymorphism characteristic found in strategic flexibility. The answer to the research question of how IS flexibility can be achieved, lies in the flexibility enablers needed for a specific IS. From a practical point of view this means that the managers involved in flexibility decisions or initiatives should understand that there are flexibility enablers in the resources of a firm that can be deployed or acquire. Then, they should become familiar and understand them. But in order to really enable a particular IS with the correct set of flexibility enablers (or the correct form of flexibility needed) it is very important that these enablers be selected according to the unique characteristics of the IS in hand. The conceptual IS flexibility framework developed in this research and the findings presented as a result of two case studies (of two different flexible Information systems tightly linked to changing strategies) conducted, constitutes a valuable guide for managers to deploy flexible IS to rapidly adapt them when faced to changes needed for strategies implementation in a continuous manner.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect that information system resources and capabilities have on company performance. This study was a replication of research conducted in the United States where Resource Based theory was used as the theoretical framework to analyse the relationships between the identified constructs. The relationship between IS resources and IS capabilities was posited to be positive. Likewise the relationships between IS Capabilities and IT support for Core Competencies and in turn company performance were hypothesised to be positive. A quantitative methodology was employed, using a five-point Likert scale survey, which was emailed to senior managers within the Financial Services sector of South Africa. The Partial Least Squares multivariate technique was used to analyse the data. The structural model provided support for two of the hypotheses, whilst support for the remaining three could not be established. The empirical results were then analysed to develop the implications for South African business managers. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The phenomenon of industries developing into group organizations has become more and more popular. Most group industries are working actively and hard to expand their market shares and profits by diversifying their investments. Because of having a complete self-developed system, some group companies think their practical experience of business flow paths in system development can be used as reference resources for other companies. These group companies, therefore, encourage their information units to shift the models of ¡§entrepreneurial venture Spin-off company¡¨. According to the past experience and impressions of cooperating with the spin-off companies, some subsidiaries of the group companies have developed a strategy to outsource their information system to spin-off companies. This is a case study with long-term observation in the field. We use the theory of Aspiration-Level Adaptation (Cyert & March, 1963) as a basis to explain the process of decision adaptation while the subsidiary of the group company seeks for software outsourcing from a spin-off company. The outsourcing of the subsidiary of the group company was determined by the inter-trust relationship between the subsidiary and spin-off company as well as the past working performance. The decision index is quite simple. But when the performance of the outsourcing information spin-off company cannot meet the subsidiary¡¦s expectations, the subsidiary will adjust its behaviors and decisions toward the spin-off company by its past experience. The subsidiary will also set up a suitable outsourcing management and control mechanism. Thus, we can see that the information outsourcing process is a continual process of aspiration-level adaptation, and the outsourcing company will adjust its decision according to the degrees that the spin-off company meets its expectancy level.

Abstract This research adopts DeLone & McLean (2003) information system success Model to take the Service Quality of KHB Information System service quality as the research subject, and makes an investigation on the Service Quality of KHB Information System users like ships shipping industry, the ship serves the agent industry, loading and unloading contracting industry, etc. It is carried by the questionnaire and discusses the correlation between information quality, system quality, service quality and user satisfaction relations. This discovery of the research is listed as follows¡G ¤@¡B "Information Quality" positively affects "User Satisfaction" of KHB Information System. ¤G¡B "System Quality" positively affects "User Satisfaction" of KHB Information System. ¤T¡B "Service Quality" positively affects "User Satisfaction" of KHB Information System. ¥|¡B "User Satisfaction" positively affects "System Benefit" of KHB Information System. The conclusion of the research is that the Service Quality of KHB Information System service quality has a positive influence on the users¡¦ satisfaction, and further positively influences system benefit. Meanwhile, it reveals that users have different needs for the Service Quality of KHB Information System and suggests that KHB may provide tailored service to the users. Keywords¡GInformation System, DeLone & McLean information system success Model

This research proposes an on-line Environmental Information System for Planners (EISP). The Environmental Information System for Planners has been developed in collaboration with five local authorities as a web-based system designed to support decision making within the UK planning framework. It has been built as a ‘proof-of-concept’ system to demonstrate the value to urban planning of making information on environmental issues more widely accessible. The EISP has been designed to support three principal planning functions carried out by Local Authorities: Pre-planning enquiries; Development control decisions; and Strategic planning. The system incorporates 12 environmental themes: Air quality (PM10); Shallow undermining; Landslide susceptibility; Groundwater protection; Flood risk; Drainage; Land contamination; Proximity to landfill; Biodiversity; Natural heritage designations; Man-made heritage; and Natural Ground Stability (Geohazards). The design framework is based upon a series of decision flow diagrams, each covering one of the above themes. These decision flows take account of current planning procedures in the UK. Industry-standard web technologies have been employed to integrate the flows and develop the functionality that will allow the planner access to the system through secure web pages. Underpinning the system is an environmental Geographical Information System (GIS) that contains the most up-to-date data, information and models relevant to each of the environmental themes listed. The planning regulations are subject to change and so the system has been designed in a modular way so that new legislation can be accommodated without the need for a complete system rewrite. This modular approach also means that the system can be readily adapted to reflect local priorities and to draw on local datasets. The EISP was successfully tested and the thesis concludes with a costed business case study for commercial implementation and rollout of a production EISP system populated with appropriate environmental data within UK local authorities.

Work has been successfully performed by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) to synthesize the nation’s hydrologic data. Through the building of a national Hydrologic Information System, the organization has demonstrated a successful structure which promotes data sharing. While data access has been improved by the work completed thus far, the resources available for discovering relevant datasets are still lacking. In order to improve data discovery among existing data services, a model for the storage and organization of metadata has been created. This includes the creation of an aggregated table of relevant metadata from any number of sources, called a Master SeriesCatalog. Using this table, data layers are easily organized based on themes, therefore simplifying data discovery based on concepts. / text

No description available.