M.Com. (Business Economics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Commerce in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. / Managers are increasingly aware that they need to leverage their company's resources in order to deal with the challenges of the changing business world in the 90' s and the coming millennium. The aim of this research is to evaluate how organisations are utilising enterprise wide packaged software applications in order to achieve strategic and transformational benefits for their organisations. The relentless change in the business landscape has meant that organisations have needed to respond in increasingly innovative ways to stay in business. This has been more so for South African organisations which have now been accepted back into the world community after years of isolation due the country's political policy of apartheid. The watershed years of the early 1990's opened up once forbidden markets to South African organisations and in doing so launched these organisations into a global competitive environment. To compete effectively in these newly opened and changed markets, companies have sought to reposition themselves. Since information technology is clearly embedded in many of these organisations they are increasingly turning to infonnetion technology to underpin their new businesses strategies. The relevance of the information architecture an organisation chooses will also be explored in this research, as the flexibility and structure of the architecture will determine what strategic options are available to the company. Many organisations are implementing software packages as opposed to writing their own software to fit unique processes. This trend is strengthened by advancements on the technological front, the disappointment of cost overruns with previously in-house written applications, and the critical shortage of experienced IT (information technology) skills ill the country. Business can no longer wait years for a system to be developed. The implementation of enterprise wide packaged software applications facilitates integration and process transformation which many organisations see as fundamental to their new strategies to remain competitive. This research showed that the implementation of enterprise wide packaged software applications forces change on an organisation in that a number of domains within the organisation are challenged. Processes need revisiting, human resources undergo a change and teamwork is facilitated. There is a new sharing of knowledge and information within the organisation, and such information systems are deployed rapidly and with the business objectives firmly in place. Whilst there were strategic and transformational benefits, there were also a number of unexpected benefits. The changes brought about by such implementations were largely underestimated by managers within these organisations. / Andrew Chakane 2018

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In this constantly growing information technology driven era, data migration and replication pose a serious bottleneck in the distributed database infrastructure envi- ronment. For large heterogeneous environments with domains such as geospatial sci- ence and high energy physics, where large array of scienti c data are involved, diverse challenges are encountered with respect to dataset identi cation, location services, and e cient retrieval of information. These challenges include locating data sources, identifying e ective transfer route, and replication, just to mention a few. As dis- tributed systems aimed at constant delivery of data to the point of query origination continue to expand in size and functionality, e cient replication and data retrieval systems have subsequently become increasingly important and relevant. One such system is an infrastructure for large scale distributed scienti c data management. Several data management systems have been developed to help manage these fast growing datasets and their metadata. However little work has been done on allowing cross-communication and data-sharing between these di erent dataset management systems in a distributed, heterogeneous environment. This dissertation addresses this problem, focusing particularly on metadata and provenance service associated with it. We present the Virtual Uni ed Metadata architecture to establish communication between remote sites within a distributed heterogeneous environment using a client-server model. The system provides a frame- work that allows heterogeneous metadata services communicate and share metadata and datasets through the implementation of a communication interface. It allows for metadata discovery and dataset identi cation by enabling remote query between heterogeneous metadata repositories. The signi cant contributions of this system include: { the design and implementation of a client/server based remote metadata query system for scienti c datasets within distributed heterogeneous dataset reposito- ries; { Implementation of a caching mechanism for optimizing the system performance; { Analyzing the quality of service with respect to correct dataset identi cation, estimation of migration and replication time frame, and cache performance.

by Tse Ching-biu. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Bibliography: leaves 135-137.

by Yeung Fu Ki, Gallant. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-127). / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Organization Management --- p.2 / Systems Approach --- p.4 / Management Information System --- p.5 / Value of Study --- p.6 / Scope of Study --- p.7 / Chapter II. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.9 / Chapter III. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.11 / Information System --- p.11 / Establishment of a Management Information System --- p.16 / Top Issues Affecting MIS --- p.18 / IS Security --- p.19 / MIS Manager --- p.21 / MIS Department --- p.23 / User Attitude Toward MIS --- p.25 / MIS and Organizational Culture --- p.27 / MIS Development Trend --- p.28 / Chapter IV. --- THE SUBJECT COMPANY --- p.30 / Company Profile --- p.30 / Product Profile --- p.31 / Competitive Profile --- p.33 / Market Profile --- p.36 / Target Market --- p.37 / Organization Development Team --- p.38 / Existing MIS --- p.39 / Strengths of Existing MIS --- p.47 / Weaknesses of Existing MIS --- p.49 / Summary of Survey --- p.52 / Recommendation for Improvement --- p.54 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSION --- p.60 / APPENDICES --- p.63 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.123

by Tso Tze Kwong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1990. / Bibliography: leaves [121]-[123]. / Acknowledgments / Abstract --- p.A-1 / Table of Figures --- p.F-1 / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Group Factors and Their Impacts / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1-1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Why Group --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Effectiveness --- p.1-3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Efficiency --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Knowledge --- p.1-4 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Social Bias Reduction --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Commitment --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Communications --- p.1-5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Quality of Decision --- p.1-6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Risk Taking --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Social Factors --- p.1-8 / Chapter 1.6 --- Problems on Groups --- p.1-9 / Chapter Chapter 2. --- Group Decision Support Systems / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Group Decision Making / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Definition of Decision-making Group --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- An Information-Exchange View --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Group Interaction --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Group Decision Making Process --- p.2-4 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Group Decision Making Process Model TC-l --- p.2-7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Group Decision Support System --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Current Research Trend --- p.2-9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Definition of GDSSs --- p.2-10 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Comparisons of Major Features of GDSSs in Practice --- p.2-13 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- The GDSS Software Models / Chapter 2.3.4.1 --- The Software Components --- p.2-19 / Chapter 2.3.4.2 --- Mapping Group Decision Making Concepts into GDSS Model --- p.2-23 / Chapter Chapter 3. --- The GDSS Design / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- System Overall Objectives --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Assumptions --- p.3-2 / Chapter 3.4 --- System Scope / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Design Scope --- p.3-3 / Chapter 3.5 --- Objectives / Chapter 3.5.1 --- User's Perspective --- p.3-4 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- System's Perspective --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Decision Support Perspective --- p.3-7 / Chapter 3.6 --- The Conceptual Design of Our GDSS --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- The Information Exchange Subsystem --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- The Decision Making Subsystem --- p.3-10 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- The Communications Framework of The System --- p.3-12 / Chapter 3.7 --- The Physical Design of The System / Chapter 3.7.1 --- The Network Structure --- p.3-14 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- The Communications Flow --- p.3-16 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- The Overall System Structure / Chapter 3.7.3.1 --- The Setup Module Its Functions and Components --- p.3-17 / Chapter 3.7.3.2 --- The Monitor Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-19 / Chapter 3.7.3.3 --- The Private Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-22 / Chapter 3.7.3.4 --- The Common Module Its Functions and Logic --- p.3-24 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- The System Overall Control Logic --- p.3-26 / Chapter 3.8 --- Aids in Group Decision Making / Chapter 3.8.1 --- The Nominal Group Technique --- p.3-29 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Decision Tree --- p.3-30 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Multi-Attribute Utility Technique (MAU) --- p.3-32 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Adjusted Multi-Attribute Utility Model --- p.3-35 / Chapter 3.8.5 --- Compromise Rules / Chapter a. --- Simple Majority --- p.3-38 / Chapter b. --- Borda Rule --- p.3-39 / Chapter c. --- Weighting --- p.3-40 / Chapter 3.9 --- The Information-Exchange Phase --- p.3-41 / Chapter 3.10 --- The Decision Making Phase / Chapter I --- Factors to Consider --- p.3-41 / Chapter II --- The Solution of Finalizing / Chapter Chapter 4. --- The Implementation of GDSS / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Mechanism of Exchanging Information --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Implementation of NGT --- p.4-2 / Chapter 4.4 --- The Forming of The Decision Structure --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Finalizing of Node Details --- p.4-9 / Chapter 4.6 --- Methods in Evaluating A Final Choice --- p.4-12 / Chapter Chapter 5. --- A Practical Application / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Background --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.3 --- Objective --- p.5-2 / Chapter 5.4 --- Decision Analysis Rationale --- p.5-3 / Chapter 5.5 --- The Decision Tree --- p.5-4 / Chapter 5.6 --- Decision Making Process --- p.5-8 / Chapter 5.7 --- The Feedback on Use of The System --- p.5-10 / Chapter Chapter 6. --- Conclusion / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.6-1 / Chapter 6.2 --- System Feedback --- p.6-2 / Chapter 6.3 --- The Practical Means of The System --- p.6-5 / Chapter 6.4 --- The Limitation of The System --- p.6-6 / Chapter 6.5 --- The Future Perspective of The System --- p.6-6 / References --- p.ref-1

by Paul Y.L. Mok. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.3 / Chapter III. --- CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COMPANY --- p.5 / Chapter IV. --- MIS IN THEORY --- p.9 / Chapter V. --- USER REQUIREMENTS --- p.14 / Chapter VI. --- ORGANIZATIONAL CONCEPTS --- p.19 / Chapter VII. --- ACCOUNTING CONCEPTS --- p.25 / Chapter VIII. --- CONCEPTUAL DESIGN --- p.30 / Chapter IX. --- CONCLUSION --- p.37 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.39

by Leung Wei-chuen Daniel. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 80-83.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 203-205.