<p>Nowadays, companies are facing several competitive pressures, which push them to seek for new and better ways to conduct their internal processes.</p><p>One of this ways is throughout processes innovations that allow the company to establish and maintain competitive advantages; one example of this new trend is the emergence of eProcurement, an electronic system aimed to automate purchasing processes in organizations, which, if it is properly implemented, will derive in processes cost reduction and efficiency improvement on those same procedures.</p><p>This study is focused on identifying the propeller factors that make companies to engage in this kind of ventures; as well as studying which are the outcomes generated inside the organizations once the electronic system has been implemented.</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong></p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to identify the elements that trigger automation of procurement processes in organizations; as well as describing the implications derived from automation during and after such implementation. The study was conducted through interviews with managers and final user from two Mexican companies which are currently using Oracle as their eProcurement tool.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p><p>The study found that depending on how well organizations prepare themselves and their staff for the upcoming change, different results may be obtained in terms of benefits and acceptability from final users.</p><p>In order to avoid potential pitfalls, firms must bear in mind that, both operational and social awareness are key factors for a successful implementation.</p><p>If a company takes into consideration their internal operational needs and staff opinions to base their decision of engaging on eProcurement, it will be more likely to obtain benefits related to cost reduction, improved efficiency and final user satisfaction.</p>

Nowadays, companies are facing several competitive pressures, which push them to seek for new and better ways to conduct their internal processes. One of this ways is throughout processes innovations that allow the company to establish and maintain competitive advantages; one example of this new trend is the emergence of eProcurement, an electronic system aimed to automate purchasing processes in organizations, which, if it is properly implemented, will derive in processes cost reduction and efficiency improvement on those same procedures. This study is focused on identifying the propeller factors that make companies to engage in this kind of ventures; as well as studying which are the outcomes generated inside the organizations once the electronic system has been implemented. Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to identify the elements that trigger automation of procurement processes in organizations; as well as describing the implications derived from automation during and after such implementation. The study was conducted through interviews with managers and final user from two Mexican companies which are currently using Oracle as their eProcurement tool. Conclusions The study found that depending on how well organizations prepare themselves and their staff for the upcoming change, different results may be obtained in terms of benefits and acceptability from final users. In order to avoid potential pitfalls, firms must bear in mind that, both operational and social awareness are key factors for a successful implementation. If a company takes into consideration their internal operational needs and staff opinions to base their decision of engaging on eProcurement, it will be more likely to obtain benefits related to cost reduction, improved efficiency and final user satisfaction.

This thesis deals with the issue of electronic public procurement. The aim of this thesis is to confirm or disprove the following hypotheses. The first hypothesis of this dissertation is the claim that the current legislation constitutes an adequate legal basis for the implementation of electronic public procurement. The second hypothesis states that the electronic public procurement is more efficient and more transparent than the public procurement without electronization. Examining the first hypothesis was chosen in order to determine whether it is necessary to change the law for the possibility of fully electronic public procurement. The second hypothesis, then, in essence asks whether electronization of public procurement improves the efficiency of public procurement and whether it contributes to increase the transparency of public procurement.

Background: The market for eProcurement is expected to increase from from US$ 3,6 miljarder to US$ 1.375 billions under the period 1999-2003. Nevertheless, there is still a widespread unsecurity among companies surrounding eProcurement, partly due to that procurement for a long time has played a remote role in the companies, and partly since procurement is a far from a homogeneous function. Purpose: To examine how eProcurement is defined, what advantages eProcurement implies and how it affects the procurement strategies and the procurement processes of companies. Research method: The empiric work comes from interviews with persons in connection with procurement at four companies that today are using an eProcurement-system or are about to introduce one, and at two companies that delivers applications. Result: From the persons we have interviewed we conclude that there is a rather strong unanimity as how eProcurement is being defined, and which advantages it can imply. Furthermore, eProcurement should not be seen as a solution of a company's eventuall procurement problems, but as a tool to strengthen and refine its procurement strategies and a possibility for rationalizing the procurement processes of the company. In other words, you shall not just pave old paths.

Im Rahmen des von der Dresdner Bank geförderten Projektes Green eBusiness - Beurteilung der Marktdurchdringung ökologischer Produkte auf Basis einer Hemmnisanalyse (GeB), dass sich in das eBusiness Kompetenzzentrum der Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften der TU Dresden einordnet, wurde eine empirische Studie mit den größten 500 Unternehmen Deutschlands sowie den mittleren Mitgliedsunternehmen des Bundesverbandes für Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME) durchgeführt. Die Befragung fokussierte darauf, allgemeine Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher Beschaffung sowie Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher elektronischer Beschaffung zu identifizieren und zu bewerten. Dieses Paper befasst sich mit der Konzeption der empirischen Studie, deren Forschungsfragen, Durchführung und Auswertungsansätzen. Es diskutiert zuerst die Notwendigkeit einer solchen Studie, stellt dann die Vorgehensweise innerhalb der Studie selbst vor und schließt mit einem kurzen Ausblick auf die Ergebnisse derselben.

Dieses Paper beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, welche Faktoren umweltfreundliche Beschaffung in Unternehmen im Allgemeinen behindern. Um dieser Fragestellung nachzugehen, wird eine Befragung der größten 500 Unternehmen Deutschlands sowie von mittleren Mitgliedsunternehmen des Bundesverbandes Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME) vorgestellt und anhand ausgewählter Forschungsfragen deren Ergebnisse dargelegt. Anschließend werden Schlussfolgerungen für die umweltfreundliche Beschaffung in Unternehmen abgeleitet und zur Diskussion gestellt. Diese Befragung ist Teil eines Forschungsprojektes der Professur für Betriebliche Umweltökonomie der Technischen Universität Dresden. Das Forschungsprojekt ?Green eBusiness - Beurteilung der Marktdurchdringung ökologischer Produkte auf Basis einer Hemmnisanalyse (GeB), ordnet sich dabei in das eBusiness Kompetenzzentrum der Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften der TU Dresden ein. Es versucht, anhand der vorliegenden empirischen Studie sowie vorangegangener Recherchen neben Schlussfolgerungen für allgemeine Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher Beschaffung ebensolche auch für eProcurement-Arten abzuleiten. Diese werden ebenfalls in diesem Paper dargestellt.

<p>Background: The market for eProcurement is expected to increase from from US$ 3,6 miljarder to US$ 1.375 billions under the period 1999-2003. Nevertheless, there is still a widespread unsecurity among companies surrounding eProcurement, partly due to that procurement for a long time has played a remote role in the companies, and partly since procurement is a far from a homogeneous function. </p><p>Purpose: To examine how eProcurement is defined, what advantages eProcurement implies and how it affects the procurement strategies and the procurement processes of companies. </p><p>Research method: The empiric work comes from interviews with persons in connection with procurement at four companies that today are using an eProcurement-system or are about to introduce one, and at two companies that delivers applications. </p><p>Result: From the persons we have interviewed we conclude that there is a rather strong unanimity as how eProcurement is being defined, and which advantages it can imply. Furthermore, eProcurement should not be seen as a solution of a company's eventuall procurement problems, but as a tool to strengthen and refine its procurement strategies and a possibility for rationalizing the procurement processes of the company. In other words, you shall not just pave old paths.</p>

Im Rahmen des von der Dresdner Bank geförderten Projektes Green eBusiness - Beurteilung der Marktdurchdringung ökologischer Produkte auf Basis einer Hemmnisanalyse (GeB), dass sich in das eBusiness Kompetenzzentrum der Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften der TU Dresden einordnet, wurde eine empirische Studie mit den größten 500 Unternehmen Deutschlands sowie den mittleren Mitgliedsunternehmen des Bundesverbandes für Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME) durchgeführt. Die Befragung fokussierte darauf, allgemeine Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher Beschaffung sowie Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher elektronischer Beschaffung zu identifizieren und zu bewerten. Dieses Paper befasst sich mit der Konzeption der empirischen Studie, deren Forschungsfragen, Durchführung und Auswertungsansätzen. Es diskutiert zuerst die Notwendigkeit einer solchen Studie, stellt dann die Vorgehensweise innerhalb der Studie selbst vor und schließt mit einem kurzen Ausblick auf die Ergebnisse derselben.

Dieses Paper beschäftigt sich mit der Frage, welche Faktoren umweltfreundliche Beschaffung in Unternehmen im Allgemeinen behindern. Um dieser Fragestellung nachzugehen, wird eine Befragung der größten 500 Unternehmen Deutschlands sowie von mittleren Mitgliedsunternehmen des Bundesverbandes Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME) vorgestellt und anhand ausgewählter Forschungsfragen deren Ergebnisse dargelegt. Anschließend werden Schlussfolgerungen für die umweltfreundliche Beschaffung in Unternehmen abgeleitet und zur Diskussion gestellt. Diese Befragung ist Teil eines Forschungsprojektes der Professur für Betriebliche Umweltökonomie der Technischen Universität Dresden. Das Forschungsprojekt ?Green eBusiness - Beurteilung der Marktdurchdringung ökologischer Produkte auf Basis einer Hemmnisanalyse (GeB), ordnet sich dabei in das eBusiness Kompetenzzentrum der Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften der TU Dresden ein. Es versucht, anhand der vorliegenden empirischen Studie sowie vorangegangener Recherchen neben Schlussfolgerungen für allgemeine Hemmnisse umweltfreundlicher Beschaffung ebensolche auch für eProcurement-Arten abzuleiten. Diese werden ebenfalls in diesem Paper dargestellt.

This paper describes problems of eGovernment and proposes way to measure e-Government services. Described is the state of the Czech eGovernment in detail to selected projects and in international comparison. The description shows that the development is still ongoing, but in a much slower pace than in the electronically advanced countries. Main identified problem is inconsequent strategic management and resortism, which is constraining deployment of cross-resort projects. Based on the description of the current situation and on the international experiences, author offers specific recommendations to future development of the electronization of public administration in the Czech Republic. In response on management problems is in this paper proposed and tested methodology for measuring the effectiveness of e-Government services. This methodology is an objective procedure of measuring the effectiveness of e-services which is providing feedback for service providers. Testing of methodology evaluates three services from taxation agenda and highlights their weaknesses, including the proposal of corrective solutions.