Universiẗat, Habil.-Schrift--Karlsruhe, 2005.

Purpose and research questions The purpose of this thesis is to investigate influencing factors on the choice of tailoring of ERP systems during implementation. The research questions to answer are what types of adjustments can be made to the system to make it fit with the organisation, together with what factors influence the choice of these adjustments and how? Research methodology To fulfil the purpose and answer the research questions the study has been carried out in line with the hermeneutic circle. This has been done in three sequences. A pre-understanding of the phenomenon has been obtained by a literature study in the first sequence. In the second sequence interviews with IFS AB and Systeam AB have been carried out, analysed together with the pre-understanding and a model has been created. During the last sequence Sogeti Sverige AB has been interviewed to verify the model. Research findings The different ways of tailoring an ERP system are configuration, bolt-ons, extended report-ing, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface development, new software package and package code modification. Tailoring types 1-8 and 10 were found in the literature while new software package was found in the empirical study. The factors influencing the choice of tailoring are coming from three domains: the customer, the consultant and the system. The factors from the customer are attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time and user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possibility and knowledge are coming from the consultant domain. Complexity, external software, functionality and maintenance are finally coming from the system domain. All factors were derived from the literature except knowledge in the customer domain, which was found during the empirical study. Some factors influence the choice of specific tailoring types, while others influence the choice between light and heavy tailoring types. There are also factors that do not directly influence the choice of tailoring. Instead they act as prerequisites for the tailoring types. This leads to the conclusion that the influencing factors can not be seen in isolation; it is the combined influence from all of them that decides the choice of tailoring types. / Syfte och forskningsfrågor Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att undersöka influerande faktorer på valet av anpassning av ERP-system under implementering. Forskningsfrågorna att besvara är vilken typ av anpassningar som kan göras av systemet för att det ska passa med organisationen, tillsam-mans med vilka faktorer som influerar valet av dessa anpassningar och hur? Metod För att uppfylla syftet och besvara forskningsfrågorna har studien utförts i linje med den hermeneutiska cirkeln. Detta har gjorts i tre sekvenser. En förförståelse har erhållits genom en litteraturstudie i den första sekvensen. I den andra sekvensen har intervjuer med IFS AB och Systeam AB genomförts, analyserats tillsammans med förförståelsen och en modell har skapats. Under den sista sekvensen har Sogeti Sverige AB intervjuats för att verifiera modellen. Forskningsresultat De olika sätten att anpassa ett ERP-system är configuration, bolt-ons, extended reporting, screen masks, workflow programming, user exits, ERP programming, interface develop-ment, new software package och package code modification. Anpassningstyperna 1-8 och 10 påträffades i litteraturen medan new software package hittades i den empiriska studien. Faktorerna som influerar valet av anpassning kommer från tre domäner: kunden, konsulten och systemet. Faktorerna från kunden är attitude towards customisation, costs, knowledge, process design, time och user needs. Attitude towards customisation, customisation possi-bility och knowledge kommer från konsultdomänen. Complexity, external software, functionality och maintenance kommer slutligen från systemdomänen. Alla faktorer är härledda från litteraturen, förutom knowledge från kunskapsdomänen kund som påträffades under empiristudien. Några faktorer influerar valet av specifika anpassningstyper, medan andra influerar valet mellan lätta och tunga anpassningstyper. Det finns också faktorer som inte direkt influerar valet av anpassning. De är istället förutsättningar för anpassningstyperna. Detta leder till slutsatsen att anpassningstyperna inte kan ses isolerade; det är den kombinerade influensen från alla faktorer som bestämmer vilka anpassningstyper som kommer att väljas.

The purposes of this dissertation were to define enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, assess the varying performance benefits flowing from different ERP system implementation statuses, and investigate the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) on the ERP system deployment process. A conceptual model was developed and a survey instrument constructed to gather data for testing the hypothesized model relationships. Data were collected through a cross-sectional field study of Indian production firms considered pioneers in understanding and implementing ERP systems. The sample data were drawn from a target population of 900 firms belonging to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The production firms in the CII member directory represent a well-balanced mix of firms of different sizes, production processes, and industries. The conceptual model was tested using factor analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and univariate Anova. The results indicate that the contributions of different ERP system modules vary with different measures of changes in performance and that a holistic ERP system contributes to performance changes. The results further indicate that the contributions of CSFs vary with different measures of changes in performance and that CSFs and the holistic ERP system influences the success achieved from deployments. Also, firms that emphasize CSFs throughout the ERP implementation process achieve greater performance benefits as compared to those that focus on CSFs during the initial ERP system deployment. Overall, the results of the study support the relationships hypothesized in the conceptual model.

During the 90`s, the world watched an expressive growth of the ERP systems (Enterprise Resource Planning) on the information technology market. Among the explanations for issue are the pressure caused by the enterprises competition, which forces them to find alternative ways that leads to cost reduction and products and services differentiation and innovation. This will force them to review how they work and they processes. The purpose of this document is to analyze the impact that a chosen ERP system can cause on organizations. In its bibliographical research, this document presents concepts related to Technological Innovation, Information Technology, ERP and change management, always trying to connect all of these subjects together regarding an ERP system implementation, observing the impacts caused and the productivity factors. The empiricists data was achieved during a case study on an ERP system implementation on a local industrial company located at the Vale do Paraíba region. Among the results obtained by this case study, the facts that distinguishes the most are the analysis of the influence in the way the beginning of operation of the systems in the stages of implementation and stabilization and, mainly, the management of the changes and impacts caused for this implementation. / Os anos 90 assistiram ao surgimento e a um expressivo crescimento dos sistemas ERP (Enterprise Resources Planning ou Planejamento dos Recursos Empresariais) no mercado de soluções de informática. Entre as explicações para esse fenômeno estão as pressões competitivas sofridas pelas empresas, que as obrigam a buscar alternativas para redução de custos, inovação e diferenciação de produtos e serviços, forçando-as a reverem seus processos e suas maneiras de trabalhar. Esse estudo tem como objetivo analisar os impactos organizacionais ocasionados pela adoção de um sistema ERP. Em seu levantamento bibliográfico, este trabalho apresenta conceitos relacionados à Inovação Tecnológica, Tecnologia da Informação, ERP e Gestão da Mudança, buscando embasar a ligação existente entre todos esses assuntos quanto à implantação de um sistema ERP, observando os impactos ocasionados e o fator produtividade. Os dados empíricos foram levantados a partir de um estudo de caso de implantação de um sistema ERP por uma empresa do setor industrial localizada na região paulista do Vale do Paraíba. Entre os resultados obtidos por este estudo de caso, destacam-se a análise de influência do modo de início de operação dos sistemas nas etapas de implementação e estabilização e, principalmente, a gestão das mudanças e impactos causados por esta implementação.

Während Open Source-Software wie etwa Linux, der Apace Webserver oder die OpenOffice-Suite eine grosse Verbreitung erfahren haben, sind Open Source-Lösungen zur Unterstützung betrieblicher Aufgaben weniger bekannt. Dieser Bericht unternimmt ausgehend von den funktionalen Anforderungen der Auftragsabwicklung eines Industrieunternehmens einen Vergleich bestehender Lösungen und diskutiert die Einsatzmöglichkeiten aus heutiger Sicht.:1 Introduction 2 Research Methodology 3 Functional Analysis of OS-ERP 3.1 Setting: A Manufacturing Company 3.2 Order Processing as Scenario for Comparison 3.3 Results of Comparison 3.4 Discussion of Results 4 Conclusions

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have grown steadily in recent years.  SMEs generate 59.7 % of value-added and 65.5 % of employment in the ‘non-financial business economy’ in Sweden. It's important for the success of SMEs to be ready to provide high product availability to customers at minimal operation costs. The challenges faced by SMEs are tougher in global competition. There is a rapid growth in the industrial revolution to deal with the challenges as well as competition. This work mainly focuses on implementing resource planning (RP) and adapting to the latest technologies of Industry 4.0 into SMEs to face the challenges. But incorporating Industry 4.0 in a major struggle in the SMEs.  The thesis provides a view of Resource Planning implementation. The authors describe the resource planning implementation techniques and define the requirements for its successful implementation. Resource Planning (RP) adoption factors have been studied quite extensively over the years. However, this master thesis tries to investigate the less explored area of resource planning. Relatively a smaller amount of research has been conducted, when it comes to implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies especially in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).  Industry 4.0 provides new paradigms for the industrial management of SMEs. Supported by a growing number of new technologies, this concept appears more flexible and less expensive than traditional enterprise information systems. This paper presents a literature review of existing applied research covering different Industry 4.0 issues about SMEs. Furthermore, the analysis is done to understand the correlation between the identified factors of Industry 4.0 technologies. The research findings indicate that the use of IoT and Cloud computing are major advantages for resource planning in an SME. The results from the analysis are presented in a framework designed for the future adaptation of these technologies. Despite the research limitations, the findings show a high advantage. Finally, the author suggests a future scope of research.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / A thorough examination of the Secure Application Integration Methodology (SAIM) for applicability in the Department of the Navy (DON) would provide useful information about a beneficial methodology. SAIM is analyzed, by accessing its step by step directions, for suitability in the integration of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects implemented by the SYSTEMS COMMANDS (SYSCOMS). The Navy Enterprise Convergence Team (NECT) that leads the ERP integration effort could benefit from a sound Enterprise Application Integration methodology. Results do not support SAIM as the sole guiding EAI methodology however it could have some value to the NECT. SAIM has three primary benefits which NECT could employ: 1) It provides a complete walkthrough of the EAI process, 2) It emphasizes the importance of an Enterprise Architecture, and 3) It provides useful management checklists along with other important considerations. SAIM also has some significant shortcomings: 1) It does not support all the DON Chief Information Officer requirements, 2) It does not provide Change Management Guidance, 3) It does not take into account the uniqueness of the Navy's environment, and finally 4) SAIM relies on an Enterprise Architecture as its foundation which the Navy does not currently have. / Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

A aplicação da Tecnologia da Informação na Mineração teve início na década de 50, de forma similar a outros segmentos de indústria. Já os aplicativos específicos para a atividade fim da indústria mineral surgiram nos anos 60 com os primeiros sistemas de planejamento de lavra. A partir daí a Tecnologia da Informação se popularizou e expandiu, passando a atender às mais diversas áreas funcionais das mineradoras, porém ainda mantendo uma clara divisão entre sistemas administrativo-financeiros e sistemas técnicos. No início dos anos 90 surgiram os sistemas integrados Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), que prometiam abranger todas as atividades de negócios das empresas, tendo desde então um crescimento impressionante. Entretanto, no auge da expansão desses sistemas, já no fim do milênio, esses projetos passaram a ser questionados quanto à sua efetiva contribuição ao aumento da eficiência, eficácia e competitividade das empresas. Diversos autores pesquisaram as consequências decorrentes desses projetos, mas como os sistemas ERP foram originalmente idealizados para substituir os antigos sistemas MRP e MRP II, a maioria deles atuando no segmento de manufatura discreta, pouca pesquisa foi desenvolvida com foco na mineração. A indústria de mineração apresenta diversas características bastante peculiares, difíceis de serem atendidas pelas funcionalidades de um sistema integrado padrão como o ERP, mas da mesma forma pouca pesquisa foi dedicada aos requisitos específicos desse segmento. O objetivo dessa tese é identificar como os sistemas ERP gerenciam as áreas funcionais da mineração e como atendem ou não aos requisitos de TI da cadeia de valor mineral. A pesquisa busca ainda identificar se a estratégia da TI está ou não alinhada à estratégia corporativa em empresas de mineração. Os resultados do estudo de caso indicaram que, ainda que tenha havido benefícios mais voltados ao aumento da eficiência nas mineradoras, ainda há considerável espaço para que a utilização de sistemas integrados possa aumentar a eficácia e competitividade das corporações. / The usage of Information Technology applications in Mining started in the 1950s, similarly with other industry segments. Core-business mining specific applications, mine planning computerized systems, started to be developed in the 60s. Since then, IT has expanded and has been in widespread use across mining organizations, addressing most functional areas, but still keeping a clear boundary between corporate and technical systems. The first generation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integrated systems appeared in the early 90s, promising to cover and link all areas throughout the organizations, and since then achieving impressive market growth rates. However, while reaching the peak at the end of the millennium, these projects started to be questioned regarding their actual contribution to the companies efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness growth. Several authors researched the consequences of these projects, but as ERP systems were originally designed to replace old MRP and MRP II systems, most of them in the discrete manufacturing industry, mining-focused studies have been very limited. Mining industry presents several peculiar characteristics that are difficult to be addressed by the functionalities of a standard ERP integrated system, but also very limited research has been dedicated to this subject. The objective of this thesis is to identify how ERP systems manage the mining industry functional areas and how they fit or not the mineral value chain requirements. This study also aims to identify if the IT strategy is aligned with the corporate strategy in mining companies. The results of this case study indicate that, despite identifying several benefits contributing predominantly to increase the efficiency in mining companies, there is still considerable space to augment corporate effectiveness and competitiveness through the usage of integrated systems in these organizations.

Idag används affärssystem inom de flesta verksamheter. Syftet med att använda sig av ett affärssystem är att det ska stödja verksamhetens handlingar och bidra till effektivitet inom organisationen. I dagens läge har de flesta verksamheter infört eller tänkt införa/byta ut ett affärssystem vilket ibland inte är så lätt. Införandet och användandet av ett affärssystem kan potentiellt leda till många förändringar. Jag kommer att med denna studie påvisa vilka faktorer verksamheter behöver ha med sig för att lyckas med ett affärssystemsinförande men samtidigt ta upp vilka fallgropar man ska se sig för vid införandet. Detta för att göra införandet så smidigt som möjligt och inte leda till för många ”dåliga” förändringar.För att få svar på detta har jag baserat min uppsats på teoretiskt och empiriskt material. Jag har utgått från existerande teorier och relaterat dessa till mitt empiriska underlag. Den information jag samlar in har jag fått genom två intervjuer av företag som är i ett skede att införa ett nytt affärssystem samtidigt som jag underbyggt dessa intervjuer med relevant teori.Till viss del går denna studie att generalisera men jag ser denna studie mer som ett riktmärke till företag som ska eller har funderat på att byta ut eller införa ett affärssystem.

Esta é uma pesquisa sobre estratégias de implantação de sistemas de informação. O grande crescimento no uso das tecnologias de informação e das telecomunicações, principalmente, nos anos 90, impulsionou tanto a disponibilização quanto a utilização das informações, acarretando uma forte ‘dependência de informações’. As informações assumem papel vital e sua administração passa a ser fundamental para que a mesma assuma valor estratégico e propicie vantagens competitivas para as organizações. E uma das alternativas para preparar as empresas para essa nova realidade é a utilização de sistemas de informação na gestão de empresas. Os investimentos têm sido maciços mas amiúde os retornos não são alcançados. Desta forma, evidencia-se a necessidade e importância de um eficiente gerenciamento das tecnologias e investimentos para que, realmente, os resultados sejam significativos tendo em vista que tecnologia de informação é apenas um meio para que as organizações atinjam seus objetivos. Sendo assim, objetivou-se expor algumas das estratégias encontradas na literatura sobre o processo de investimentos em sistemas integrados de gestão empresarial ou enterprise resource planning. Além disso, apresentou-se, após estudo de casos, algumas das estratégias utilizadas pelos principais fornecedores desses sistemas para médias e grandes empresas no Brasil e as estratégias empregadas por um executivo de tecnologia de informação de uma grande corporação ao implantar um sistema de informação desenvolvido internamente. Após exposição de conceitos relevantes relacionados à pesquisa, como tecnologia de informação, estratégia de investimentos em tecnologias de informação, planejamento estratégico organizacional e de sistemas de informação, buscou-se relacionar, comparar e confrontar o levantamento bibliográfico com os resultados da investigação feita nas empresas estudadas. Ademais, foram comparadas as expectativas das organizações bem como dos mais relevantes fatores críticos de sucesso ao investirem em sistemas de informação e enterprise resource planning. Estas análises comparativas demonstraram as semelhanças e disfunções encontradas entre o referencial teórico e a prática de uma grande organização e a realidade de grandes fornecedores de sistemas integrados de gestão empresarial / This is a research on strategies of introduction to information systems. The use of information technologies and telecommunications has been on the increase, mainly in the 90’s and has greatly propelled the availability as well as the utilization of information conveying an increasing “reliance on information". Information plays a vital role and its application becomes fundamental so that it gains strategic value and provide competitive advantages for the organizations. The utilization of information technology by the enterprise management, has been on alternative to prepare them for this new reality. Heavy investments have led results not always satisfactorily achieved. Therefore, it is evident the necessity and importance of an efficient management of technologies and investments so that, in fact, results are significant, considering that information technology is only an effective means so that organizations reach their goals. Thus, some of the strategies found in the literature on the process of investments in enterprise resource planning have been exposed. Moreover, after reviewed cases, some of the strategies used by key suppliers of these systems to large and middle-sized companies in Brazil plus the strategies applied by an information technology executive of a great corporation after introducing an internally developed information system. After the introduction of relevant concepts connected to researches such as, information technology, investment strategy on information technology, organizational strategic planning and of information systems, a bibliographical survey has been compared and confronted with the result of the inquiry held in the companies surveyed. Furthermore, expectations of the organizations as well as those of the most important critical factors of success have been compared invest in information systems and enterprise resource planning. Such comparative analyses have shown the similarities and inactivities found between the theory and experience of a great organization and the reality of great suppliers of enterprise resource planning