Det råder hög konkurrens på många olika marknader. Företag har i olika utsträckning implementerat affärssystem för att kunna konkurrera i en allt hårdare miljö med snabbare förändringar. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera nyckelfaktorer för en lyckad implementering av ERP-, Enterprise Resource Planning, -affärssystem, med fokus på produktionsprocesser inom lean. För den empiriska undersökningen valdes ett svenskt företag som fokuserar på att ytbehandla metallprodukter åt svenska kunder. Komplikationer uppstod för implementering av ERP och implementeringen försenades. Denna studie utreder dessa problem och identifierar nyckelfaktorer för en lyckad ERP implementering. Utöver detta visar denna studie att företagets försening av implementering av ERP beror på komplexa faktorer där företaget inte har lyckats med att bejaka nyckelfaktorer för en lyckad implementering av ett affärssystem. Företaget har påbörjat ERP-implementering utan att ha utfört en adekvat analys av vad affärssystemet kommer att medföra för positiva och negativa effekter samt pga. resursbrist inte kartlagt sina egna produktionsprocesser innan implementering. Studiens huvudsakliga slutsats är att företaget måste ta ett beslut hur de skall fortskrida med implementeringen då det kommer att kosta kapital och extra personal samt utbildning för att affärssystemet skall kunna implementeras och för att företagets produktionsprocesser skall kunna dra maximala fördelar av affärssystemets implementation. Denna studie befäster tidigare resultat angående kritiska nyckelfaktorer och en lyckad implementering av ERP-affärssystem. Utöver detta tillförs välbehövlig kunskap om skräddarsydd ERP-implementering i en svensk kontext. Komplementariteter mellan humana resurser och kritiska nyckelfaktorer har identifierats och analyserats för en lyckad implementering av ERP. Betydelsen av en adekvat kartläggning av flöden och produktionsprocesser före man startar en ERP-implementering har också visats i så väl tidigare forskning men också här i denna studie. Slutligen visas här också att alla delar i företaget, såväl produktion, flödeshantering och humana resurser deltar i ett delikat samspel där inte enbart ERP-affärssystemet skall anpassas till dessa delar men också att det är essentiellt att delarna anpassas för en lyckad ERP-implementering. / Different markets today are highly competitive ones. Firms have in varying degree implemented ERP in order to be able to compete in an increasingly harsh and rapidly changing environment. The purpose of this study has been to identify key factors for a successful implementation of ERP with a focus on production processes within lean. For the empirical study and survey, a Swedish company which focuses on surface-treating metal products. Complications arose with their implementation of a new ERP and the implementation was delayed. This study investigated these problems and identified key factors for successful ERP implementation. Furthermore, this study has shown that the firm’s delay in implementation of ERP has been due to complex factors whereas the company has not been able to comply to key factors for successful implementation and they have started an implementation process without adequate analysis, resources and level of education. This study confirms earlier results regarding critical success factors and a successful implementation of ERP. Furthermore, valuable knowledge on new and customised ERP-software implementation in a Swedish context is added to a growing body of earlier research on ERP-implementation in SMEs. Complementarities between human resources and critical success factors have been identified and analysed for a successful implementation of ERP. The importance of an adequate mapping of flows and production processes before the implementation of ERPs have been shown in earlier research but also here in this study. Finally, this study also shows that all analysed parts of the company; production, supply chain management and human resources participate in an intricate interplay; showing that it is not only essential that the ERP system is adapted to these individual parts but also that these integral parts of the company themselves are adapted to the ERP.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system används idag för att sammankoppla företags informationsflöden. Implementering av dessa system har över tid visat sig vara utmanande där bland annat utbildning utgör en viktig del i att detta arbete sker framgångsrikt. Med hjälp av en fallstudie har en mjukvaruleverantörs arbete med att utbilda kunder vid implementering av ERP-system studerats. Studien syftar till att kartlägga utbildningsprocessen för att undersöka hur utbildning i samband med systemimplementering kan utformas för att stötta kunders arbete med att nå sina målsättningar. Tre metoder för datainsamling har använts, samtliga med en kvalitativ ansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med konsulter, konsultchef och kund. Dokumentgranskning har genomförts för att undersöka de utbildningsmaterial de idag erbjuder kunder och observation har använts för att ge insikt i hur ett utbildningstillfälle ser ut. Studien visar på kunskapsbrister hos kunder i den initiala fasen samt att det finns ett behov av att erbjuda ett interaktivt utbildningsmaterial och det behövs ett säkerställande av kunders kunskap innan driftstart. För att hantera detta föreslår resultatet en uppstart med hjälp av gamification och ett systematiskt sätt att tillhandahålla interaktivt utbildningsmaterial samt ett kunskapstest inför driftstart. / The use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is a common way to access information throughout different parts of a company. Implementation of these systems has shown to be challenging. One of the key elements towards a successful implementation has proven to be user training. Through this case study a software vendor has been examined on how user training is conducted during the implementation of an ERP-system. The study aims to investigate how user training can be conducted in order to support customer objectives. Three methods of data collection have been used, all with a qualitative approach. These are as follows, semi-structured interviews with consultants, manager and customer. Document examination to evaluate the currently used training materials and observation to gain insight in the actual training process. Findings show that customers have a lack of knowledge in the initial phase and that there is a need for interactive user training material as well as a way to ensure user knowledge prior to launch. To ensure this the study suggests providing initial user training through gamification, a systematic way of providing interactive user training material and a knowledge test of maneuvering the system prior to launch.

The importance of aligning information technology and business strategies to exploit capabilities and change business practices has increased as firms strive for competitive advantage in a diverse and changing marketplace. Nevertheless, over 50% of firms implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems ranked expected process and value enhancements as inadequate, whereas only 13% indicated that implementations met their needs. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model formed the conceptual framework of this single case study. The study comprised a purposeful sampling of 8 business managers in Southeast Alabama working in related job roles and based on established eligibility criteria. Data collection involved semistructured interviews, casual observations, and document analysis. Through method triangulation and predetermined themes directly related to the UTAUT conceptual framework, 5 themes emerged: management endorsement, change management, training and education, dedicated resources, and governance. Results of this research may influence the elimination of key barriers central in the deployment and adoption of ERP systems by the public sector. The study's implications for positive social change include the potential to enhance social and intellectual capital formation through recognizing strategies that mitigate employees' gender and age variances during an ERP implementation.

abstract: Imagine you live in a place without any storm water or wastewater systems! Wastewater and storm water systems are two of the most crucial systems for urban infrastructure. Water resources have become more limited and expensive in arid and semi-arid regions. According to the fourth World Water Development Report, over 80% of global wastewater is released into the environment without adequate treatment. Wastewater collection and treatment systems in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) covers about 49% of urban areas; about 25% of treated wastewater is used for landscape and crop irrigation (Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture [MEWA], 2017). According to Guizani (2016), during each event of flooding, there are fatalities. In 2009, the most deadly flood occurred in Jeddah, KSA within more than 160 lives lost. As a consequence, KSA has set a goal to provide 100% sewage collection and treatment services to every city with a population above 5000 by 2025, where all treated wastewater will be used. This research explores several optimization models of planning and designing collection systems, such as regional wastewater and stormwater systems, in order to understand and overcome major performance-related disadvantages and high capital costs. The first model (M-1) was developed for planning regional wastewater system, considering minimum costs of location, type, and size sewer network and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The second model (M-2) was developed for designing a regional wastewater system, considering minimum hydraulic design costs, such as pump stations, commercial diameters, excavation costs, and WWTPs. Both models were applied to the Jizan region, KSA. The third model (M-3) was developed to solve layout and pipe design for storm water systems simultaneously. This model was applied to four different case scenarios, using two approaches for commercial diameters. The fourth model (M-4) was developed to solve the optimum pipe design of a storm sewer system for given layouts. However, M-4 was applied to a storm sewer network published in the literature. M-1, M-2, and M-3 were developed in the general algebraic modeling system (GAMS) program, which was formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) solver, while M-4 was formulated as a nonlinear programming (NLP) procedure. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2019

Knowledge is a sustainable advantage and knowledge assets can increase value with use. A snowball effect of knowledge advantage advocates effective knowledge management and fosters its continual growth as it flows. Knowledge, however, flows unevenly throughout an organization and the problem is that the fundamental dynamics of these flows are still not well characterized in theoretical and computational models. This study built on existing work—knowledge-flow theory, need knowledge generation, and the critical success factors for enterprise resource planning implementation—to examine the multidimensional knowledge-flow phenomenon in context, and used the case study methodology for knowledge-flow theory building. The research question was two-pronged: how can need knowledge and its flow across stakeholders within an organization be explained using a multidimensional knowledge-flow model and how can Nissen’s five-dimensional knowledge-flow model be validated using a real-life immersion case? The researcher relied on three sources of evidence for this case study: project-related documentation, archival records, and interviews. Data triangulation yielded three results components: (a) a chronology of key events that obstructed knowledge flow, (b) a logic model depicting themes that contributed to knowledge-flow obstruction, and (c) explanations of the knowledge-flow patterns. This case study suggested enabling need knowledge determinants and obstructing conditions are in play that determine the path of need knowledge flow. These two research artifacts should be considered together to provide a fresh research avenue towards better understanding of knowledge flow dynamics.

Spreadsheets are often used for data input and resource planning, but studies in health care indicate various barriers causing under-reporting. Other studies suggest mobile reporting systems could prevent under-reporting. Nevertheless, the importance of smartphone-based reporting systems within industries is scarcely researched. This thesis studies the importance of such systems and their usability within an industrial context, and the connection to sustainable resource planning. A literature study was conducted and a smartphone prototype was developed. Using a qualitative and mixed-methods approach, eight industrial employees currently using a spreadsheet-based reporting system were asked about barriers to data reporting and the importance of smartphone-based reporting systems. After testing the prototype, they were asked about the importance of different usability-related aspects. The recordings were transcribed and the collected data was sorted and analyzed. This was done to understand the reasoning behind the aspects perceived as the most significant among the respondents. The case study showed that not remembering was regarded as the most important barrier to data reporting among end users of a spreadsheet-based reporting system. Smartphone-based reporting systems that are easy to use with daily reporting and reminders sent to the phone were considered by all respondents to have a positive impact on reporting frequency. However, privacy concerns and phone-related distractions could be issues if no work-related smartphones are provided. This thesis is of interest to developers of smartphone applications with usability in mind, and to companies striving for more efficient and cost-effective resource planning. On a larger scale, it provides insight into how smartphone-based reporting based on usability could lead to improved sustainability through more effective resource usage.

Disasters are characterized by large numbers of victims and required resources, overwhelming the available resources. Disaster response involves various entities like Incident Commanders, dispatch centers, emergency operations centers, area command and hospitals. An effective emergency response system should facilitate coordination between these various entities. Victim triage, emergency resource allocation and victim dispatch to hospitals form an important part of an emergency response system. In this present research effort, an emergency response system with the aforementioned components is developed. Triage is the process of prioritizing mass casualty victims based on severity of injuries. The system presented in this thesis is a low-cost victim triage system with RFID tags that aggregate all victim information within a database. It will allow first responders' movements to be tracked using GPS. A web-based real time resource allocation tool that can assist the Incident Commanders in resource allocation and transportation for multiple simultaneous incidents has been developed. This tool ensures that high priority resources at emergency sites are received in least possible time. This web-based tool also computes the patient dispatch schedule from each disaster site to each hospital. Patients are allocated to nearest hospitals with available medical facilities. This tool can also assist resource managers in emergency resource planning by computing the time taken to receive required resources from the nearest depots using Google Maps. These web-based tools complements emergency response systems by providing decision-making capabilities.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970 required public input in any federal planning process or action. Consequently, natural resource planning can be characterized as more of a complex situation in recent years due to the increasing involvement of the number of constituents who want to be heard. Likewise, the public wants to know their ideas have been heard and considered. Unfortunately, there is very little information available which identifies how the BLM handles and analyzes public scoping comments that are required under NEPA. The purpose of this research is to identify the handling and analysis methodology used by BLM employees in large-scale natural resource plans, as well as gain insight into the experience and satisfaction of BLM employees in recent planning processes. The information gleaned from this study illustrates that through adjustments to the handling and analysis process, it is possible to maintain a supportive and accommodating relationship with the public by listening to their concerns and encouraging continued participation in natural resource planning, as well as adding credibility to the planning process overall through consistent handling and analysis.

Investment in new technologies is considered by firms as a solution to improve their productivity, product and service quality and their competitive advantages in the global market. Unfortunately, not all technology adoption projects have met their intended objectives. The complexity of technology adoption along with little consideration of the long term cost of the technology, are among the factors that challenge companies while adopting a new technology. Companies often make new technology adoption decision without enough attention to the total cost of the technology over its lifecycle. Sometimes poor decision making while adopting a new technology can result in substantial recurring loss impacts. Therefore, estimating the total cost of the technology is an important step in justifying the technology adoption. Total Ownership Cost (TOC) is a wildly-accepted financial metric which can be applied to study the costs associated with the new technology throughout its lifecycle. TOC helps companies analyze not only the acquisition and procurement cost of the technology, but also other cost components occurring over the technology usage and service stage. The point is that, technology adoption cost estimation is a complex process involving consideration of various aspects such as the maintenance cost, technology upgrade cost and the cost related to the human-resource. Assessing the association between the technology characteristics (technology upgrades over its life cycle, compatibility with other systems, technology life span, etc) and the TOC encompasses a high degree of complexity. The complexity exists because there are many factors affecting the cost over time. Sometimes decisions made today can have long lasting impact on the system costs and there is a lag between the time the decision is taken and when outcomes occur. iv An original contribution of this dissertation is development of a System Dynamics (SD) model to estimate the TOC associated with the new technology adoption. The SD model creates casual linkage and relationships among various aspects of the technology adoption process and allows decision makers to explore the impact of their decisions on the total cost that the technology brings into the company. The SD model presented in this dissertation composes of seven sub-models including (1) technology implementation efforts, (2) workforce training, (3) technology-related workforce hiring process, (4) preventive and corrective maintenance process, (5) technology upgrade, (6) impact of technology on system performance and (7) total ownership cost sub model. A case study of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system adoption has been used to show the application of the SD model. The results of the model show that maintenance, upgrade and workforce hiring costs are among the major cost components in the ERP adoption case study presented in Chapter 4. The simulation SD model developed in this dissertation supports trade-off analysis and provides a tool for technology scenarios evaluation. The SD model presented here can be extended to provide a basis for developing a decision support system for technology evaluation.

This research study investigated the post-implementation experiences of 6 higher education institutions following the initial implementation of a Student Administration ERP system and explored how these institutions used the post-implementation phase to maximize the benefits from the ERP system. A mixed-method approach consisting of an online survey and qualitative case study was utilized for data collection; within-case and cross-case analyses were performed to generate the research results and findings. The overall post-implementation experiences of the case study institutions were found to be similar in nature, regardless of institution size. Several post-implementation characteristics were also found to be shared in varying degree among all case studies. Customizations and third-party software were used by all case studies in post-implementation to meet operational needs not provided by the Student ERP system. The number of customizations and enhancements completed or under consideration by the case study institutions indicate that there are many areas in which current Student ERP systems do not fit the needs of higher education institutions. The results of this research can inform and guide higher education administrators on the institutional impacts and changes that will occur in the ERP post-implementation environment. Administrators will be enabled to better evaluate the overall success of their project based upon post-implementation characteristics and experiences of the institutions in this study and apply the outcomes to improve planning for future ERP system projects.