Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) holds the potential to improve contemporary business operations, which are redefined frequently based on the demands of global competition. There are numerous EDI systems, which an enterprise can choose to adopt in order to meet its needs and goals. International literature demonstrates a variation of views regarding the adoption of new technologies, which differ according the size of each organization along with internal and external impediments and determinants. The use of EDI worldwide has gained a positive acceptance by commercial companies, industries and service providers, followed by rapid adoption mainly in the processes of large organizations. Conversely, the predictions of previous years’ studies have not been materialized to the expected extent. In Greece in particular, there is low penetration and a reluctance to adopt EDI technologies by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This study is based on the theoretical framework of Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE). A qualitative multiple case study research design has been used, in order to provide further insights on the factors that affect the decision of Greek SMEs in adopting EDI technologies. The significance of the perceived direct and indirect benefits, the effects of the perceived financial cost and technical competence and the importance of industry and government pressure on corporate level, are analyzed and discussed. An empirical support of the low penetration of EDI in the Greek SMEs' community is also provided. This research contributes in the existing knowledge about EDI adoption decisions regarding Greek SMEs by providing a variation of views, further insights on how Greek SMEs behave and react during the current economic recession and a new cost factor that emerged within the analysis of multiple cases. Avenues for future research are recommended in order to expand this study's findings in the field of corporate IT innovation.

Purpose ¿ This paper aims to examine the role of e-commerce in hospital pharmacy in the procurement of pharmaceuticals and determine how this has improved the internal pharmaceutical supply chain. Whilst e-commerce is in its infancy in this area it is still considered to be an important facet of supply chain management. E-trading within NHS pharmacies is conducted via electronic data interchange (EDI) offering proven benefits and ensuring the efficient and effective transmission of data between remote parties. Design/methodology/approach ¿ The data were collected via a case-study in an NHS trust pharmacy supported and by questionnaires distributed to NHS and community pharmacies in the north-west of England. Findings ¿ The findings support the view that there are benefits to be gained from introducing EDI into a purchasing department as the next logical step towards a total e-commerce solution (internet-based) and instigating quality improvements. It also proposes that the implementation and use of e-commerce in hospital pharmacies can be aligned with progress made in small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and questions why, if such benefits can be realised, the use of e-commerce systems are not more widespread. Research limitations/implications ¿ The implications of this research is that it offers a ¿snap-shot¿ of progress made-to-date of e-commerce in NHS Pharmacy, which can provide guidance for mangers and healthcare professionals managing their e-commerce/quality improvement agenda. The research conducted was restricted to a specific regional area of the NHS and could be applied to a larger national sample group. Future research within this field should also consider the cost of not introducing e-commerce in pursuing quality improvement. Originality/value ¿ This discussion offers an insight into how a pharmacy approached EDI, and this is further supported by recent research conducted into examining the pharmacy systems in operation in the north-west of England and accompanying EDI systems and an analysis of EDI uptake and use in a sample of pharmacies in the same region, the latter being supported by anecdotal evidence of pros and cons to using EDI and potential barriers to its introduction.

剛出生前幾年，幼兒已逐漸能理解並談論自己和別人的不同。然而，真正習得用來指涉自己和別人的指涉詞不是那麼容易，因為至少得先理解角色轉換概念和說話者當時的說話目的為何。因此，在幼兒學會用大人模式指涉自己和別人前，他們會先有自己一套獨特的語言使用模式。本研究的目的在於探討一位以中文為母語的小孩如何用指涉詞表達自己的語用動機。研究對象是一對中階家庭的母女。語料來自於受試親子在家互動的語言。研究結果顯示幼兒特別容易會用指涉詞表達的語用功能種類不多。在語段層次，幼兒初期較會在和母親協調當下要做的事時，以及在和母親討論故事中虛幻世界時指涉自己；後期則除了在和母親協調當下要做的事時較會指涉自己外，在和母親協調未來要做的事、討論和現在或非現在相關的事時也較會指涉自己。另外，幼兒比較會指涉別人時，則是當她想要轉移母親焦點，或是在和母親討論兩人當下共同注視的目標、故事中虛幻世界、和現在相關的事、或是非現在發生的事時。在語句層次，幼兒則是當她在表達願望、要求母親為她做事、陳述個人想法、陳述她想要執行某動作的目的時較會指涉自己。較會指涉別人時則是當她在吸引母親注意、要求母親為她做事、陳述個人想法、和回答Wh-問句時。整體比較來看，母親特別會用指涉詞表達的語用功能種類比幼兒來得多元化。 / During the first years of life, children come to realize and talk about themselves distinct from others. However, acquisition of self- and other-reference forms is not always so easy because it presupposes at least a grasp of shifting roles, together with concept of the speaker’s communicative intents. Before children match adult-like usages of reference, they temporarily formulate their own linkages between language forms and functions. This paper examined how a Chinese young child formulated her pragmatic moves through self- and other-reference forms. One mother-child dyad from middle socioeconomic class were asked to do what they normally did at home. Results show that only a small set of communicative intents provided the particularly fertile contexts for the child’s self- and other-reference. In the speech interchange tier, the child earlier tended to refer to self in Negotiating the immediate activity(NIA) and Discussing the fantasy world(DFW), but later in Negotiating both the immediate and future activity(NIA, NFA),and Discussing the related-to-present(DRP) and the non-present(DNP). She tended to refer to other in Directing hearer’s attention(DHA), Discussing the joint focus of attention(DJF), the fantasy world(DFW), the related-to-present(DRP), and the non-present(DNP). In the speech act tier, the child tended to refer to self to Express a wish (WS), Request / Propose action for hearer(RS), State a proposition(ST), and State intent to carry out act by speaker(SI). She tended to refer to other to Call the hearer’s attention(CL), Request / Propose action for hearer(RS), State a proposition(ST) and Answer a wh-question by a statement(SA). In contrast, the contexts where the mother referred to self and other were more diversified than those where the child referred to self and other.

<p>Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) plays an important role in improving organizational competitiveness. Information technology has been instrumental in integrating functional areas within and outside firms. This research used empirical evidence to evaluate the state of EDI in the in the willingness of SME's to connect electronically to a large distribution centre in South Africa. Furthermore, it investigated the EDI adoption rate from the viewpoint of a small business. Many such businesses feel coerced by larger trade partners to adopt EDI or lose the customer.</p>

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 56).

The aim of this thesis is an analysis of the logistics system of the selected operator, in this case, the company GLOBUS ČR, k.s., in terms of material and information flows, description of the critical factors that can disrupt the continuity and efficiency of logistics activities of the logistics system and to propose measures to ensure the optimization of the entire system terms of the level of logistics services and logistics costs. For the purposes of the definition of critical design factors and activities leading to the optimization of logistics systems, and it was necessary to analyze individual actions in the logistics. Critical factors of the system were determined by subjective evaluation. These consisted in finding the bottlenecks and their definition. Critical factors have been identified for the particular listings, non-system treatment of certain cases and for the lack of cooperation between the administration and operation.

The seventeenth century was an incredibly fascinating time for art in England developmentally, especially because most of the artists that were receiving the commissions from English patrons and creating the art weren’t English, they were Dutch. Over this one hundred year period scores of Dutch artists migrated over from the Dutch Republic and showed England this Golden Age of painting that had established Dutch artists back in the Netherlands as pioneers in their line of work. In studies of Anglo-Dutch art, portraiture is a genre that has been widely researched; Peter Lely (a Dutch-born portraitist) is one of many widely acclaimed artists of this genre; comparative to many of the artworks and artists chosen for this research. Generally Anglo-Dutch relations, politically, economically, religiously and of course culturally there was, during the seventeenth century, so much going on between these two nations. Did this intense ever-changing relationship have an impact on that the other ‘low’ genres of art that was produced throughout this century? This research involves understanding and thinking about the impact of the cultural exchange that took place between England and the Netherlands in the seventeenth century on ‘low’ art – marine, landscape and still life painting. This research entails thinking about the origins of these genres as well as looking at individual paintings on a detailed basis and understanding how this cultural interchange manifests and translates itself through visual motifs – objects (large and small), stylistic characteristics and theme of the painting. Various themes and interpretations - in particular iconography and iconology, descriptive versus narrative art and national identity - have been explored and considered in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the literature that already exists for this art in an effort to consider something new but to also interpret the paintings in a different way – this research has considered these paintings through the visual elements and has explained the cultural significance they provide.

abstract: A semiconductor supply chain modeling and simulation platform using Linear Program (LP) optimization and parallel Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) process models has been developed in a joint effort by ASU and Intel Corporation. A Knowledge Interchange Broker (KIBDEVS/LP) was developed to broker information synchronously between the DEVS and LP models. Recently a single-echelon heuristic Inventory Strategy Module (ISM) was added to correct for forecast bias in customer demand data using different smoothing techniques. The optimization model could then use information provided by the forecast model to make better decisions for the process model. The composition of ISM with LP and DEVS models resulted in the first realization of what is now called the Optimization Simulation Forecast (OSF) platform. It could handle a single echelon supply chain system consisting of single hubs and single products In this thesis, this single-echelon simulation platform is extended to handle multiple echelons with multiple inventory elements handling multiple products. The main aspect for the multi-echelon OSF platform was to extend the KIBDEVS/LP such that ISM interactions with the LP and DEVS models could also be supported. To achieve this, a new, scalable XML schema for the KIB has been developed. The XML schema has also resulted in strengthening the KIB execution engine design. A sequential scheme controls the executions of the DEVS-Suite simulator, CPLEX optimizer, and ISM engine. To use the ISM for multiple echelons, it is extended to compute forecast customer demands and safety stocks over multiple hubs and products. Basic examples for semiconductor manufacturing spanning single and two echelon supply chain systems have been developed and analyzed. Experiments using perfect data were conducted to show the correctness of the OSF platform design and implementation. Simple, but realistic experiments have also been conducted. They highlight the kinds of supply chain dynamics that can be evaluated using discrete event process simulation, linear programming optimization, and heuristics forecasting models. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Computer Science 2012

Orientador: Luiz Carlos Kretly / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T08:29:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbante_CelsoCoslop_M.pdf: 3761831 bytes, checksum: 03bb5089dc9e6c592383bab7b9e24c98 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Foi desenvolvido neste trabalho um circuito de transmissão de dados pela rede de energia elétrica - PLC, que permite transmissão de dados em baixa velocidade, numa topologia de circuito que permite uma futura integração. O protótipo elaborado com componentes discretos apresenta operação compatível com um circuito típico de PLC. Os circuitos de acoplamento com a rede elétrica são amplamente discutidos. O sinal digital serialmente transmitido passa por um deslocamento de nível que permite ajuste de ganho e deslocamento do valor de sinal, posteriormente sendo aplicado a um VCO que possibilita efetuar de forma simples a modulação do tipo FSK contínua. Medidas de taxa de (BER) foram efetuadas e o resultado mostrado numérica e graficamente. Um circuito integrado monolítico para o VCO, parte do sistema, foi projetado, prevendo uma integração futura. Para isso foram feitas simulações no simulador de circuitos ADS e após no fluxo de projeto foi feito o layout do circuito integrado usando ferramentas de EDA Cadence. O design kit utilizado foi da foundry AMS, tecnologia AMS C35 e mostra a viabilidade de integração de todo o sistema num único CL. / Abstract: It was developed in this work a circuit for power line data communication - PLC that enable low speed data transmission in a circuit topology that enable a future integration. The built prototype was elaborated with discrete components and exhibits a compatible operation with a typical PLC circuit. The coupling circuits with the mains wires are extensively discussed. The signal to be serially transmitted pass through a level shifter that allows a level and offset adjust of the signal, later being applied to a voltage controlled oscillator - VCO that performs the continuous FSK modulation in a simplified way. Bit Error Rate (BER) measurements were made, and the results presented numerically and graphically. A monolithic integrated circuit for the VCO, part of this system, was projected foreseen a possible future integration. For this task was performed simulation in the ADS circuit simulator and later in the project flow an integrated circuit layout was made using Cadence EDA tools. The chosen design kit comes from AMS foundry, in the technology AMS C-35, and shows the system integration viability in a single integrated circuit. / Mestrado / Eletrônica, Microeletrônica e Optoeletrônica / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

Atualmente, a Tranferência Eletrônica de Dados (EDI) é considerada uma ferramenta de fundamental importância para o processo de comunicação entre as organizações. Esta tecnologia permite fornecedores e varejistas responderem às necessidades do mercado consumidor de forma mais eficiente, rápida e precisa. Embora muitos autores tenham mostrado o potencial desta tecnologia para a obtenção de resultados, e de sua crescente utilização, há polêmica sobre seu desempenho quando é utilizado na realidade. Este trabalho é iniciado com a procura de um conjunto teórico de características operacionais que tenham correlação com um conjunto de resultados esperados pela sua utilização. Esta tarefa foi feita através da revisão da literatura relacionada com o assunto. A pesquisa das correlações, comuns ao conjunto de organizações, que conflitam com as previstas pela literatura foi efetuada entre os fornecedores de supermercados, localizados em São Paulo, e identificou sete casos. Estas informações podem auxiliar as organizações a promover mudanças comportamentais e na estrutura de seus processos, para melhorar os resultados do uso desta tecnologia. O trabalho sujere explicações para estas diferenças, e propõe pesquisas posteriores para confirmá-las. / Nowadays, Eletronic Data Interchange is considered an important tool for the communication process among organizations. Linking suppliers and retailers, this technological apparatus allow companies to answer more efficiently, faster and precisely, the consumer market requirements. Although many studies have shown the potential advantages of EDI and its use has increased as well, there are not clear evidences about its effective results on promoting better results for business activities. This work starts trying to settle the main theoretical propositions related to the impacts, on performance, of a frequent business characteristics set. These features are pointed out based on literature revision. The identification of common correlations in a researched population that conflicts with the theoretical previsions was carried out, and pointed seven of these cases. These may help organizations in promoting changes in person's behavior and process structure, towards the improvement of results. Suggested explanations for these divergences are considered. Propositions for further researches in this conflict area are issued.