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The optimization and advanced management of design, engineering, and building construction, aimed at the maximization of environmental performance, are among the innovations facilitated by the tools of the digital transition. In this context, this study focuses on and proposes the integration of peculiar IT data in the life cycle assessment of industrial products. The present paper also outlines the current limitations of Life Cycle Assessment practices concerning the prefabrication of custom modules for curtain walls and how these limitations can be overcome through a data-driven approach, integrated with specific platforms and software used by companies. The aim is to foster sustainable and resilient innovation, bridging the gap between information research, and industrial production and its organizational processes.

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Although Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) is an emerging field of study within the information systems (IS) academic community, the concept behind the acronym has to still be demystified and further investigated. The study investigates GRC systems in depth by (a) reviewing the literature on existing GRC studies, and (b) presenting a field study on views about GRC application by professional experts. The aim of this exploratory study is to understand the aspects and the nature of the GRC system following an enterprise systems approach. The result of this study is a framework of particular GRC characteristics that need to be taken into consideration when these systems are put in place. This framework includes specific areas such as: goals and objectives, purpose of the system, key stakeholders, methodology and requirements prior to implementation, critical success factors and problems/barriers. Further discussion about the issues, the concerns and the diverse views on GRC would assist in developing an agenda for the future research on the GRC field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Most small- and medium-sized enterprises use some business management software to manage day-to-day operations. Eventually they consider transitioning to an enterprise resources planning (ERP) system. The purpose of this paper is to find what motivates the top management to consider a transition from an existing system to an ERP especially as such a transition can be painful, expensive, and involve considerable business risk. The research posits a decision model that top management may use to aid their decision. Design/methodology/approach – The research question is about examining the organizational phenomenon of transition to an ERP system and so a case study research methodology is followed to understand the phenomenon. Findings – The research concludes it is usually a change in scale of operations that drives the transition. The motivators are abstracted as: scalability – increased hierarchical controls and systems scalability driven by increasing number of employees; complexity – more business functions need systems support to address increased operational complexity; and integration – systems and process integration for seamless operations. Research limitations/implications – There is a need to check if the same fundamental issue of change in scale of operations is true across industries and across geographies. Also it creates a need for a statistical validation of the motivators and their importance across organizations and industries. Practical implications – ERP considerations are of strategic importance because of the high risk and the high expense. The research presents a decision model to aid top management to find if ERP systems make sense for their organization. Originality/value – The research provides new directions for academicians as there are few empirical studies on the true motivators that drive ERP adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business processes are vital to managing organizations as they sustain a company's competitiveness. Consequently, these organizations maintain collections of hundreds or thousands of process models for streamlining working procedures and facilitating process implementation. Yet, the management of large process model collections requires effective searching capabilities. Recent research focused on similarity search of process models, but querying process models is still a largely open topic. This article presents an approach to querying process models that takes a process example as input and discovers all models that allow replaying the behavior of the query. To this end, we provide a notion of behavioral inclusion that is based on trace semantics and abstraction. Additional to deciding a match, a closeness score is provided that describes how well the behavior of the query is represented in the model and can be used for ranking. The article introduces the formal foundations of the approach and shows how they are applied to querying large process model collections. An experimental evaluation has been conducted that confirms the suitability of the solution as well as its applicability and scalability in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A business process is a sequence of activities that aims at creating products or services, granting value to the customer, and is generally represented by a business process model. Business process models play an important role in bridging the gap between the business domain and the information technology, increasing the weight of business modeling as first step of software development. However, the traditional way of representing a process is not suitable for the so-called Knowledge-Intensive Processes (KIP). This type of process comprises sequences of activities based on intensive acquisition, sharing, storage and (re)use of knowledge, so that the amount of value added to the organization depends on the actor knowledge. Current research in the literature points to the lack of approaches to make this kind of process explicit and strategies for handling information that is necessary for their understanding and support. The goal of this paper is to present KIPO-a knowledge-intensive process ontology, which encompasses a clear and semantically rich definition of KIPs, and to discuss the results of a case study to evaluate KIPO with regard to its applicability and capability of making all relevant knowledge embedded in a KIP explicit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting a suitable business process management (BPM) tool to build a business process support system for a particular business process is difficult. There are a number of BPM tools on the market that are available as systems to install locally and as services in the cloud. These tools are based on different BPM paradigms (e.g., workflow or case management) and provide different capabilities (e.g., enforcement of the control flow, shared spaces, or a collaborative environment). This makes it difficult for an organization to select a tool that would fit the business processes at hand. The paper suggests a solution for this problem. The core of the solution is a modeling technique for business processes for eliciting their requirements for a suitable BPM tool. It produces a high-level, business process model, called a 'step-relationship' model that depicts the essential characteristics of a process in a paradigm-independent way. The solution presented in this paper has been developed based on the paradigm of design science research, and the paper discusses the research project from the design science perspective. The solution has been applied in two case studies in order to demonstrate its feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine expectations and perceived needs of students of the Management Sciences Department at MTI Metropolitan Technology Institute towards the creation and implementation of a technology management laboratory. The methodological design of this laboratory is exploratory and cross curricular-type. It is carried on through a quantitative methodology, applied through printed surveys to 217 students of Management and Technology Management of MTI. Amongst the main results, the study shows student's low knowledge of the use of software on the management field and their high motivation to acquire knowledge in the fields of Information and Communications Technology, those oriented to support managerial and administrative processes. Additionally, students express the need to receive greater qualification in the following subjects: business creation, negotiation, decision making process, research training and technological management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, dealing with a lot of data originating from social media sites and mobile communications among data from business environments and institutions, lead to the definition of a new concept, known as Big Data. The economic impact of the sheer amount of data produced in a last two years has increased rapidly. It is necessary to aggregate all types of data (structured and unstructured) in order to improve current transactions, to develop new business models, to provide a real image of the supply and demand and thereby, generate market advantages. So, the companies that turn to Big Data have a competitive advantage over other firms. Looking from the perspective of IT organizations, they must accommodate the storage and processing Big Data, and provide analysis tools that are easily integrated into business processes. This paper aims to discuss aspects regarding the Big Data concept, the principles to build, organize and analyse huge datasets in the business environment, offering a threelayer architecture, based on actual software solutions. Also, the article refers to the graphical tools for exploring and representing unstructured data, Gephi and NodeXL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tool (called CESMA) was developed to carry out cost-benefit analyses and cost-effectiveness analyses of prevention investments for avoiding major accidents. A wide variety of parameters necessary to calculate both the costs of the considered preventive measures and the benefits related with the avoidance of accidents were identified in the research. The benefits are determined by estimating the difference in (hypothetical) major accident costs without and with the implementation of a preventive measure. As many relevant costs and benefits as possible were included into the tool, based on literature and expert opinion, in order to be able to deliver an all-embracing cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis to assist in the investment decision process. Because major accidents are related to extremely low frequencies, the tool takes the uncertainty of the unwanted occurrence of a major accident into account through the usage of a so-called 'disproportion factor'. Compared with existing software, the CESMA tool is innovative by striving for an as-accurate-as-possible picture of costs and benefits of major accident prevention, and taking the uncertainties accompanying disastrous events into consideration. Furthermore, an illustrative example of CESMA is presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Intellectual Economics is the property of Intellectual Economics / Mykolas Romeris University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses how executives can implement governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) effectively in their companies with the use of GRC Conceptual Foundation Model TM. The ability of the model to help organizations unify enterprise-wide information to smooth work processes, manage risk and improve performance is described. Ways for companies to use the model economically as a basis to measure and guide success in integrating GRC are highlighted.

Software systems for business management appeared as a result of the growing need to en-sure a consistent IT support for most of the business activities that organizations have to deal with. Moreover, organizations continue to struggle for obtaining competitive advantages on the business market and to lower the cost of developing and maintaining computer systems to support their operations. As business rules play an important role within any organization, they should be taken into consideration as distinct elements when developing a software sys-tem that will operate in a collaborative environment. The paper addresses the problem of business rules modeling, with special emphasis on incorporating business rules in Unified Modeling Language (UML) models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern day Japan, an "organization" often comprises multiple, legally separate firms, although it appears as a single organization to customers and external users and may actually operate as one organization. The concept of an "organization" differs from that of a "firm." The organization is a network or system functioning in practice, whereas the institution of a firm defines the boundary or partitions off a part of the organization by nature. Acknowledging that firms and organizations are different concepts significantly enhances our understanding and conception of the everyday scene of multiple firms functioning as one organization. Theories based on such a way of viewing organizations and firms are called "transfirm organization theories." Theories on keiretsu corporate affiliation or supplier system, architecture-based interfirm specialization, value networks, Japanese industrial agglomeration, and transnational companies are a few examples. Transfirm organizations are created for economic reasons; however, transfirm organization theories are not concerned with the reasons to create transfirm organizations, but rather with the performance of the transfirm organization as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SAP Enterprise Central Component (ECC) Enterprise Software processes more business transactions than any other business software on the planet. Most of the Fortune 1000 companies use SAP software in managing their business operations. Today, students and managers need to become familiar with the software to be more effective in their jobs. A variety of different learning approaches have been utilized, since the introduction of SAP enterprise software into the curriculum of colleges and universities. Recent developments in learning alternatives have provided additional approaches to the design and delivery of an introductory course. One learning strategy has been used in an undergraduate degree program with junior or third year students where a model course content is deployed in the course's delivery. The model course utilizes SAP ECC software transactions with a generally accepted training dataset and continues with an ERPsim simulation that supports learning the application of business analytics and decision-making. A sample of students was surveyed to obtain their perspectives of this model for experiential learning. The results indicate an overwhelming positive reaction to this model course delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the practical implementation of agile business process methodology in existing German businesses according to a study in Business Process Management (BPM) conducted at the Hochschule Koblenz, Germany, with 250 participants. Topics include the agile methods known as Scrum and Kanban, the current popularity of agile methods among business of various sizes, and perception of the efficiency of these methods.

Integration of a laboratory information management system (LIMS) with corporate information system elements at an industrial enterprise based on the Russian Khimik-Analitik LIMS is discussed. Possible implementations of the information interaction are examined, content and directions of the data flows are determined, and the main problems are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most recent three issues of Foresight featured Steve Morlidge's encyclopedic rendition of "Guiding Principles" for an organization's forecasting process. The guiding principles were divided into five classifications: Foundation Principles, Design Principles, Process Principles, Behavioural Principles, and Principles for Maintenance and Improvement. Much food for thought was offered there, as we have seen in the many commentaries on Steve's principles the journal has since printed and continues to solicit. Not explicitly addressed was the organization's software support for the forecasting function. Robert Fildes and Paul Goodwin now extend the guiding principles to the specific concerns of software support. Having spent many years examining the ways organizations develop and use forecasting support systems (FSS), Robert and Paul now offer a valuable checklist for firms seeking to evaluate and possibly upgrade their software solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses the IBM zEnterprise Systems from International Business Machines Corp.

The article discusses the issue of user resistance in the implementation of enterprise systems (ES) through psychological contract theory. It mentions that ES refer to commercial software packages that integrate business processes and transaction data in an organization. It says that user resistance is an opposition to a system implementation. It cites several determinants that affect psychological contract and level of user resistance including uncertainty, technical problems and training.

Copyright of Revista de Administração FACES Journal is the property of Revista de Administracao FACES Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose - The aim of the paper is to analyse the acceptance of business management software by focusing on high-tech firms dedicated to information technologies and belonging to the service sector (IT high-tech firms). Design/methodology/approach - The authors have applied an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) which includes variables related to technological compatibility and web procurement. It has been tested through structural equation modelling. Findings - The results show that IT high-tech firms must understand the interrelationships that exist between different information technologies (IT) and must, therefore, acquire technological know-how. This technological knowledge permits firms to improve their perceptions of ease of use and usefulness, obtaining better results when computerising their management. Research limitations/implications - IT high-tech firms must be aware that investment in a specific IT may affect the subsequent performance of other IT, due to the synergies derived from the application of complementary systems. Therefore, continuous investment in IT encourages the acquisition of technological knowledge that can be exploited in the computerisation of the main organisational functions and lead to greater overall efficiency. Originality/value - Studies of IT high-tech firms based on behavioural models, such as TAM, are in short supply. An understanding of how firms that produce IT as an output also use it as an input in their productive process, allows us to evaluate the importance of acquiring technological knowledge. Moreover, IT high-tech firms have repercussions in almost all the sectors of the economy because they usually handle the implementation, maintenance and development of IT in other firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an examination into the history of computer science during the 1960s, focusing on the early breakthroughs of software engineering in database management systems. The origins and early developments of the Integrated Data Store (IDS), the first direct-access database management system designed by General Electric, are discussed in-depth. Subjects analyzed include the impact of the system on the larger trajectory of software development and business management and the research challenges faced by the engineers in its first forms.

The year 2000 (Y2K) countdown provided a uniquely visible instance of spending on information technology (IT) by U.S. companies. With public attention riveted on potential Y2K malfunctions, managers were forced to evaluate their IT and make decisions about whether to modify or replace existing systems. In the aftermath of Y2K, critics charged that the problem was overblown and that companies overspent on IT. In contrast, we posit in this paper that efforts companies made to renew and upgrade their IT may have positioned them to take advantage of new e-business applications. As Y2K approached, managers could invest opportunistically in IT, which would enable them to connect with customers and suppliers in new ways. Contrary to the alleged overspending, we find that firm value increased, on average, with Y2K spending by Fortune 1000 companies. In particular, higher firm value and subsequent earnings were associated with Y2K spending for firms in industries where IT was considered to have a transforming influence-altering traditional ways of doing business by redefining business processes and relationships. We also test whether the positive association between firm value and Y2K spending diminished with Y2K spending by industry peer firms, but we do not find support for this relative investment hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the emergence of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software in various industries. Reasons behind the implementation of ERP in business; Discussion on the phases of ERP; Conclusions.

Litton's Guidance and Control Systems (GCS) Division has been using system dynamics to create mostly small-scale models for investigating managerial process issues and supporting personnel training. At the project level, these include models for planning specific projects, studying Brooks's Law and hiring issues, an interactive earned value model, requirements volatility and a detailed peer review model. The perspective of some of the models has been at a multi-project or departmental level including domain learning, product-line reuse processes and resource contention among projects. Insights provided by the models have supported decision-making at different levels and helped galvanize process improvement efforts. The training applications have added spark in classes and improved overall learning. The models encapsulate collective knowledge of modeling participants, and support organizational learning. By examining the models and simulated behavior, managers share a process vision and can discuss issues against the common models. The models have helped managers understand the key factors in complex scenarios. Knowledge of the interrelated technical and social factors coupled with simulation tools has enabled GCS to improve their planning and management processes. Modeling is also used to support training of software managers and leads. Topics including earned value techniques, productivity estimation, requirements volatility effects and extrapolation of project tracking indicators have been presented with simulation models. Some of these are ‘flight training’ scenarios that the students interact with to practice project control. Though we are in the early stages of many of these efforts, they will be followed through and reported on at a later time. This paper describes our introductory experiences and plans for the future. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the elements and implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Definition and benefits of ERP; Survey results of ERP implementation; Trends in ERP; Flexibility and global compatibility of ERP systems; Outsourcing of ERP applications; Advantages and disadvantages of ERP.

Discusses how businesses can implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software system. Aim of managing every operation from order capture to accounting and procurement to warehousing; Need for the full commitment of senior executives; Business justification; Internal support; Appointment of an empowered and influential internal team; Desire for a management driven change; Use of a proven external partner. INSET: The top five vendors..

Presents a directory of software for more effective business management. Includes Analytical Computer Software; Bizplan Builder; BEST Profiler; BusinessMap; CHAID Segmentation System; Complaint Desk; Conjoint Designer; Motivation Magic; Option Finder; PRIZM Segmentation Software; QuickGantt.

Presents a guide to artificial intelligence-based software, hardware and gadgets for business management. Improvement of the basic Windows, NT and Unix operating systems; Personal technology aids such as Nokia 9000 Communicator; Voice recognition systems such as Dragon Naturally Speaking on a Compaq notebook; Software on data warehousing, data modeling, procurement, Internet-based demographic data and database presentation.

Presents software products related to business management. Includes Quality Standards Software; Benchmarking Software; Procedure; Product Specification Software; Training CD/ROM; Measurement Software for Windows; Team-based Process Management; Quality Auditing Tool; Graphing and Analysis Software; Production-Part Approval Process Software; Manufacturing Software; Others.