bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ERP implementation: a compilation and analysis of critical success factors
Authors: Finney Sherry , Corbett Martin 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo explore the current literature base of critical success factors (CSFs) of ERP implementations, prepare a compilation, and identify any gaps that might exist.Design/methodology/approachHundreds of journals were searched using key terms identified in a preliminary literature review. Successive rounds of article abstract reviews resulted in 45 articles being selected for the compilation. CSF constructs were then identified using content analysis methodology and an inductive coding technique. A subsequent critical analysis identified gaps in the literature base.FindingsThe most significant finding is the lack of research that has focused on the identification of CSFs from the perspectives of key stakeholders. Additionally, there appears to be much variance with respect to what exactly is encompassed by change management, one of the most widely cited CSFs, and little detail of specific implementation tactics.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need to focus future research efforts on the study of CSFs as they apply to the perspectives of key stakeholders and to ensure that this stakeholder approach is also comprehensive in its coverage of CSFs. As well, there is need to conduct more in‐depth research into the concept of change management. One key limitation of this research is the occurrence of duplication in the frequency analysis of the success factors. This is attributed to secondary research being the main methodology for a large number of the articles cited.Originality/valueThis research provides a comprehensive compilation of all previously identified ERP implementation success factors, through a clearly structured methodological approach.
Business process reengineering in UAE public sector: a town planning case study
Authors: Hesson Mihyar , Al‐Ameed Hayder , Samaka Muhammad 
Published: June 2007

PurposeTo reengineer the applications' processes of the land department of Al‐Ain Municipality and to develop an electronic version of the reengineered processes.Design/methodology/approachThe research approach used in this work is similar to the five‐point incremental approach and the work of Gunasekaran et al. These steps are: establishment of the business vision and objectives; identification and focus on the core business processes that support them; modeling and analysis of the business environment; streamlining; and continuous control and improvement of previous steps.FindingsThe best possible solution for shorter and more efficient processing path was achieved. Great savings in cost, time and human resources were achieved. Many factors have contributed to the success of the work. These include the efficient reengineered process, efficient database design, search facilities, electronic document archive and easy‐to‐use user interface.Practical implicationsThe authors were not absolutely free to select the model they think is better. There were some critical factors that had to be considered. Perhaps, one of the most serious obstacles was the reluctance of some key decision makers to cease or reduce some of their authorities. Those officers believe that a direct supervision or control on the different stages of the processes is essential. The justification given is that the issue of land allocation is critical and may be problematic. Special considerations may be required under certain circumstances and these are only dealt with by key decision makers. Other factors such as reluctance of the users for change, job redundancy resulting from the change and financial resources were important but less significant. Therefore, many models were suggested before the final one was agreed on.Originality/valueThe paper is a case study that describes the reengineering processes in the public sector in UAE. This sector suffers from a great deficiency and this work represents a leading step towards improving its working practices. The value of the paper lies in the comprehensive study and analysis of this department and the efficient customized solutions it offered.
Collaborative supply chain management
Authors: Attaran Mohsen , Attaran Sharmin 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to provide an overview of contemporary supply‐chain management systems.Design/methodology/approachThe paper highlights the examples of state‐of‐the‐art practice in supply‐chain management, and speculates about where this movement is headed. Some of the collaborative supply chain management products generating the most interest will also be examined.FindingsCollaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) is the most recent prolific management initiative that provides supply chain collaboration and visibility. By following CPFR, companies can dramatically improve supply chain effectiveness with demand planning, synchronized production scheduling, logistic planning, and new product design. CPFR will force suppliers to innovate, building on strong one‐to‐one relationships that will drive smarter ways of doing things. Most companies and industries can benefit from CPFR. However, companies that experience variation in demand, buy or sell a product on a periodic basis, and those that deal in highly differentiated or branded products will benefit the most.Practical implicationsPractitioners can gain first‐hand knowledge of the CPFR model, technology and factors influencing adoption. Practitioners can also find examples of state‐of‐the‐art practice in supply‐chain management, and study some of the collaborative supply chain management products generating the most interest.Originality/valueThe paper is valuable to practitioners interested in implementing CPFR in their organizations.
Managing process deficiencies with enterprise systems
Authors: Shang Shari , Seddon Peter B. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the deficiencies and the sources of deficiencies in process changes associated with the implementation of enterprise systems (ES).Design/methodology/approachIn‐depth studies of four firms and additional verification in seven other firms.FindingsResults reveal that deficiencies of process changes with ES are mainly associated with the packaged and integrated nature of enterprise system software, particularly its configurability, in‐built processes, multiple options, data and process integration, streamlined processes, and standard processes. In order to eliminate deficiencies and gain benefits, organizations need to invest in on‐going software exploration, business examination, and process and software changes that align new processes and management responsibilities.Originality/valueIn the expanding world of ES research, this study is significant because it explores the sources of deficiencies associated with process change and provides guidance to user organizations on ways to manage such deficiencies. The results of the study may also be of benefit with other packaged software that integrates processes within and between organizations, for example, customer relationship management and supply chain management.
ERP systems and the coordination of the enterprise
Authors: Alsène Éric 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper is aimed at shedding some light on the issue of the contribution of ERP systems to the coordination of the activities of the enterprise, an issue which has not been empirically studied very much to date.Design/methodology/approachExploratory research has been conducted in a Canadian mail and parcel delivery enterprise on this theme of the contribution of ERP systems to the coordination of activities. The system studied was the R/3 system developed by the firm SAP. Some 16 different work situations, in and between four basic units of the company, were investigated in an ethnographic way.FindingsVarious contributions (real or potential) to the coordination of activities were detected for the R/3 system studied. The contribution of R/3 was not, however, systematic. In addition, this contribution was diverse in nature and quite variable in intensity.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this research, which was to be exploratory, are not definitive. Other research will be necessary, notably to specify the range of the possible types of contribution in regard to the various work situations that may exist in enterprises.Practical implicationsThis research confirms the idea that ERP systems can contribute to the coordination of activities in the enterprise. The devices and mechanisms of an organizational nature are definitively not the only means that permit coordination in the enterprise.Originality/valueThis paper will make it possible for managers and researchers to better understand the role that ERP systems can play in the coordination and integration of the enterprise.
Internationalized access to domain names: a review of methods and issues
Authors: Shim Sung J. 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis article aims to understand the opportunities as well as the challenges posed by the methods for internationalized access to domain names.Design/methodology/approachThe paper first provides background information on how domain names are resolved in the domain name system (DNS). It then reviews the various methods for internationalized access to domain names with a focus on their technical implementation and potential problems. Finally, it discusses several important language and policy issues surrounding the methods.FindingsThe methods proposed for internationalized access to domain names can be classified into two groups: ASCII‐compatible encoding; and multilingual keywords. ASCII‐compatible encoding methods, such as the internationalized domain name (IDN) standards specified by the internet engineering task force, seem technically sound since they do not affect existing DNS operations, but they have some structural limitations. Multilingual keyword methods are rather simple and intuitive to use but they are not compatible with one another and so may return different results from the same multilingual keyword query. Also, both ASCII‐compatible encoding and multilingual keyword methods can raise some important issues associated with languages and policies, such as linguistic problems, disputes over IDNs, and multilingual homographs.Originality/valueThe issues discussed in this paper need to be addressed for broad and seamless implementation of the methods for internationalized access to domain names across various languages. The review of the methods and associated issues can prove helpful to those from internet users and domain name registrants to domain name registries and registrars.
Online reporting by banks: a structural modelling approach
Authors: Serrano‐Cinca Carlos , Fuertes‐Callén Yolanda , Gutiérrez‐Nieto Begoña 
Published: June 2007

PurposeA structural equation model is proposed to explain internet reporting by banks. The model relates three constructs of financial institutions (size, financial performance, and internet visibility) to their final influence on internet information disclosure (e‐transparency).Design/methodology/approachThis paper's proposed model analyses a sample of Spanish financial institutions using publicly available data. The model is tested using partial least squares.FindingsA positive and statistically significant relationship has been found between size, financial performance, internet visibility, and e‐transparency, with direct and indirect effects. The study shows that size accounts for most of the variance. Size has a positive effect on e‐transparency, financial performance, and internet visibility. However, the direct effect of financial performance and internet visibility on e‐transparency is small.Research limitations/implicationsThe researchers have analysed only one year of data from one country and one sector. The direction of cause and effect assumed in the model is a logical one, but statistical methods cannot prove causality, only association. Even though any bank can disclose its financial information online for a very low cost, building a robust, interactive web site requires major resources. This gives larger banks a value added advantage.Originality/valueThe paper examines the relationship between size, financial performance, internet visibility and e‐transparency using a structural model. Although structural models are commonly used in many scientific disciplines, they have not yet been applied in disclosure research.
Metalib and Google Scholar: a user study
Authors: Haya Glenn , Nygren Else , Widmark Wilhelm 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to understand how students experience the search tools Google Scholar and Metalib and the role of prior instruction.Design/methodology/approachA total of 32 undergraduate students searched academic articles for their thesis work. Searches were recorded using Morae software and were analysed along with the number of articles saved and responses to a questionnaire. All searched with both tools. Half of the students received training before searching.FindingsGoogle Scholar performed better in almost all measures. Training had a positive effect on the amount and quality of articles saved. Responses to Google Scholar were more positive than to Metalib. However, the students were not overwhelmingly enthusiastic about either of the tools. Research limitations/implications – Each Metalib implementation is to some extent unique, which limits the extent to which results can be generalised to other implementations.Practical implicationsTraining is valuable for both tools. The user interface to Metalib does not conform with students' expectations and needs further improvement. Both tools strive to be a first alternative search tool for academic literature but neither performed well enough in this study to recommend it to be used in that role in an academic library setting.Originality/valueThese tools are important to academic libraries but few user studies have been published, particularly on Google Scholar. To one's knowledge no other user study on these tools has looked at the effects of instruction.
Clustering search results. Part III: the synergy of metasearching and clustering
Authors: Jacsó Peter 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to further examine clustering search results.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes and illustrates the most powerful synergy created by the intelligent combination of metasearching and clustering on the fly through Central Search and PolyMeta.FindingsThe study finds that the combination of metasearching and clustering, although two opposite functions, can produce effective synergy.Originality/valueThis paper looks at the intelligent combination of metasearching and clustering in the form of Central Search and PolyMeta, giving a new step in savvy searching.
Building optimisation with life cycle costs – the influence of calculation methods
Authors: Pelzeter Andrea 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the result of an optimisation via life cycle costs (LCC) depends on the assumptions made throughout the process of calculating LCC.Design/methodology/approachA framework is used to structure the assumptions made in the process of calculating LCC. These include the following three pairs: technical versus economic life‐span, static versus dynamic calculation method or costs only versus income minus costs. In a broader sense, these LCC are referred to as the life cycle economy (LCE). Two case studies form the basis for the LCC calculations. Using different assumptions, the LCC of virtual design variations of these buildings are compared to each other.FindingsThe rankings drawn from the calculations differ according to the chosen calculation method, i.e. the chosen variation for the optimisation of a building is not consistent.Research limitations/implicationsThis is essentially an exploratory study and the prognosis of future cash flow in relation to certain design variations requires further research.Practical implicationsThe credibility of life cycle costing should improve with a greater transparency of assumptions in the context of the outlined framework.Originality/valueAll players in facilities management who support their decisions with LCC will benefit from this quantification of the impact of different calculation methods. The extension of LCC to LCE will help planners, investors and owners of real estate in evaluating building options with respect to quality, image, flexibility or comfort.
Performance‐based maintenance partnering: a promising concept
Authors: Straub Ad 
Published: June 2007

PurposePerformance‐based maintenance partnerships promise benefits compared to traditional tendering of maintenance projects. The paper aims to give process models and examples of performance requirements and measurement methods for buildings and facilities managers.Design/methodology/approachCase studies of housing associations' current procurement and outsourcing methods have been performed, including an examination of initiatives for performance‐based partnerships. Purchasers and technical managers of housing associations and directors of medium‐sized maintenance contractors were interviewed, asking about the objectives, expected benefits and drawbacks of maintenance partnering. Maintenance performance requirements and measurement methods for the exterior envelope of housing estates were developed, based on the functions of building components. The maintenance partnering process has been modelled in three partnership forms, based on the case studies and interviews.FindingsThe process models and the decisive maintenance performance requirements for building components are interesting concepts for buildings and facilities managers, changing their orientation from cost of services to value and performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe process models were discussed with clients and maintenance contractor. Its validity is being tested in practice. Clients fear that price competition will be affected by entering into long‐term co‐operative arrangements with maintenance contractors and service providers. Thus, there is a need for studies that investigate the direct and indirect cost savings from performance‐based maintenance partnering.Originality/valueLong‐term performance‐based maintenance partnering for the entire exterior envelope is something new. It focuses on re‐design, construction, and maintenance by the maintenance contractor.
Incentivising project performance in the construction of new facilities
Authors: Bryde David James , Joby Roger 
Published: June 2007

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to outline a method for reporting project performance that can be used to provide incentives to both clients and contractors to share risks and opportunities.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual foundation of the paper is two‐fold: firstly, a review of the literature highlights the limitations of fixed price, fixed unit price and variable (fee for service) type contracts and hence the need for contracts that incentivise project clients and contractors to act in mutually beneficial ways; secondly, the earned‐value method (EVM) is discussed as a means of reporting project progress via a single value‐based metric that is applicable to both client and contractor. The integrating of these two elements provides the basis for the method for reporting project performance described in this paper.FindingsThe paper presents the co‐operative incentivised negotiation budget (COIN). The COIN budget uses the concept of the variable (fee for service) type contract. In addition, it utilises the EVM to report project progress in a simple, easy‐to‐understand manner that enables both parties to share in the beneficial outcomes of better than planned performance and to share in the negative results of under‐performance.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is conceptual and, although reporting elements of best practice, further research is needed in the following areas: firstly, the benefits, costs and limitations of, and the barriers to, using EVM‐based approaches in projects in general, and facilities projects in particular; secondly, the effectiveness of incentivising contracts in terms of addressing issues that lead to poor performance, such as poor communication and lack of trust between the parties.Practical implicationsThe COIN budget is a means by which the client and contractor can easily monitor performance in terms of the value earned in providing the agreed project deliverables. Whilst enabling the contractor to earn a cost plus margin, it enables both parties to have a common goal through the sharing of the positive and negative consequences associated with project opportunities and risks.Originality/valueThe paper makes an original contribution by integrating elements of best practice in the areas of contract selection and monitoring of project performance.
Using the fuzzy‐analytic‐hierarchical‐process to select the optimum mechanism for developing accounting standards
Authors: Bayou Mohamed E. , de Korvin Andre , Reinstein Alan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeRecent corporate failures such as Enron, WorldCom, Global Crossing and K‐Mart and auditing failures such as Arthur Andersen have sparked great public concern, including the passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002. This paper aims to address the development of accounting standards.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to use the fuzzy‐analytical‐hierarchical‐process (FAHP), recently developed by de Korvin and Klyele. Uncertainty in assigning priorities and the use of semantic variables lead naturally to the inclusion of fuzzy sets in the structure of the AHP paradigm. The hierarchy of decisions, constructed sequentially, consists of three levels of attributes.FindingsThe paper shows that applying the highly sophisticated mathematical FAHP model is needed to select the optimum mechanism for establishing accounting and auditing standards. The FAHP application results lead to a rational ranking of the four bases to develop accounting standards.Originality/valueThis paper helps to explain the ambiguous and vague nature of the attributes of financial reporting and to apply a recently developed mathematical methodology to help accounting policy makers select the optimum mechanism for developing accounting standards.
The equity premium puzzle: an artificial neural network approach
Authors: Wong Shee Q. , Hassan Nik R. , Feroz Ehsan 
Published: June 2007

PurposeIn recent years, equity premiums have been unusually large and efforts to forecast them have been largely unsuccessful. This paper presents evidence suggesting that artificial neural networks (ANNs) outperform traditional statistical methods and can forecast equity premiums reasonably well.Design/methodology/approachThis study replicates out‐of‐sample estimates of regression using ANN with economic fundamentals as inputs. The theory states that recent large equity premium values cannot be explained (the equity premium puzzle).FindingsThe dividend yield variable was found to produce the best out‐of‐sample forecasts for equity premium.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the equity premium puzzle can be partly explained by fundamentals, they do not imply immediate policy prescriptions since all forecasting techniques including ANN are susceptible to joint assumptions of the techniques and the models used.Practical implicationsThis result is useful in capital asset pricing model and in asset allocation decisions.Originality/valueUnlike the findings from previous research that are unable to explain equity premium behavior, this paper suggests that equity premium can be reasonably forecasted.