A post-implementation review of the uniform management report (UMR) system.

This thesis contains the results of a post implementation review of the Uniform Management Report (UMR) System. The UMR System was developed as a means of correcting two serious deficiencies that existed in the area of financial management information and reporting: inadequate funds control status reporting and performance information reporting. Since the UMR System was directed at improving management reports at the field activity level, data for this thesis was collected from a cross-section of field activity budget directors. The survey data was acquired mainly through the asking of dichotomous questions concerning the utilization of each of the seven system reports. This data, obtained over the telephone, was then compared with written Navy notices; prior educational research on the UMR and other control systems; and other Navy publications in order to compile survey findings and thesis recommendations . The conclusions provide management with a picture of the successes and failures of the UMR System as perceived by the user management for which the system was designed. Chapter V contains recommendations to assist management in implementing future financial management information systems (MIS).http://archive.org/details/postimplementati00mccrLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The implementation of an electronic patient healthcare record system : a South African case study

Establishing an e-health infrastructure forms a fundamental building block of the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative; directed at transforming the South African healthcare infrastructure. Currently patient healthcare records constitute paper-based files that result in numerous difficulties in making patient related information available to healthcare practitioners. This research study was directed at determining the typical difficulties encountered in implementing an electronic healthcare record (EHR) system and how they could be addressed. A literature review and a narrative enquiry formed the basis of the research study. The empirical study was conducted at a Pretoria based clinic, where an EHR system was being implemented to learn from the practitioners’ first-hand experience. A multi-disciplinary literature review was undertaken and the insights gained from the empirical study were correlated with the findings emanating from the literature review. Findings emanating from the research study indicate that the human socio-technology factors involved in the change management process need to be actively managed. The technology concerns found to play a critical role in the systems deployed; relate to network connectivity and bandwidth. The finding emanating from the research could serve as a source of information for management involved in implementing and managing similar projects.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_jcman.htmlam201

A prototype environmental information system for London (London Environment Online or "LEO")

Current access to environmental information about London can be slow andtedious. This is because different organisations, (both private companies andpublic bodies) hold environmental information relating to London and rarelyintegrate this information. In some instances free public access to thisinformation is not possible. In other situations, access is possible, but theinformation is often stored in a ?user unfriendly format?. This may beincomprehensible ?tabular? data, or data that is stored in a format that requiresthe user to purchase specialist software before attempting to view theinformation. Environmental Information Systems aim to integrate and improveaccess to this information and provide a variety of tools and technologies toassist the management and use of environmentally related data andinformation.This project aims to bring together some of this environmental data for Londonand provide access to it in an easier format. The main goal was to develop aprototype Environmental Information System for London. The system shoulddemonstrate how it is possible to combine information and provide a greaterinsight into London?s environmental situation. The system should alsocommunicate environmental information about London to a potentially ?wideranging audience? in an easy to use and intuitive manner.The outcome was London Environmental Information System or ?LondonEnvironment Online? (LEO) as it has been named. The naming includes theword ?Online? because it a new breed of Environmental Information Systemthat operates over the Internet or World Wide Web. This addresses severalissues since it allows a large number of people to access the system from avariety of locations. It also means that, although the core of the systemdepends upon expensive and powerful software packages, hardware anddatabases, the data within this can be used via a basic ?Internet Browser? or?Web Browser?. Web Browsers are typically free and commonly used on mostdesktop computers around the world to day.The report itself is directed to stakeholders involved in the monitoring andmanagement of the London environment. This ranges from senior politiciansand ministers responsible for implementing environmental policy to thosecollecting the basic data in the field and those responsible for storing anddisseminating this information. Particularly, the document is directed at centraland local government departments in their role as environmental decisionmakersand managers. It is also of interest to public watchdogs, communityorganisations and non-government organisations (NGO?s) interested in toolsfor supplying environmental information

Improving operations viability and reducing variety using A.D.I.S (Accurate drawing information system) : a multiview methodology of design

Includes bibliographical references.Gabriel S.A. is a South African shockabsorber manufacturing company which has undergone a strategic repositioning to become internationally competitive. This entailed a move away from the traditional hierarchical management structure and production line manufacturer, to a flatter structure with cross-functional Business Units. Each Business Unit is made up of self-contained, Manufacturing cells run by self-directed work teams. The objective of this change is to ensure that Gabriel S.A. becomes a world class manufacturer.. The company has gone a long way down this road in implementing World Class Manufacturing techniques through the Gabriel Total Quality Production System (GTQPS). However, problems still arise within the system, especially with regard to new product/component designs and changed designs reaching the shop floor timeously. This is aggravated by the necessity to penetrate new markets and retain existing ones successfully. The number of quotations to be prepared will increase. As will the subsequent number of required assembly and component drawings and modification to existing products. These, in turn, will involve revisions to current drawings. This is compounded by the fact that in the current business operations, there are already concerns regarding the routine drawing information requirements. This thesis investigates the affect of the drawing information system on the viability of the Manufacturing cells and documents the intervention of a socio-technical drawing information system

Developing and Implementing Self-Direction Programs and Policies: A Handbook

Provides a guide to designing, implementing, and evaluating service delivery models that allow public program participants to manage their own care services and supports. Outlines elements of employer and budget authorities, enrollment, and counseling

The barriers to lean implementation in high mix, low volume manufacturing - a marine diving engineering case study

Includes bibliographical references.The principles of lean thinking have been widely applied but lean implementing is notoriously complex and challenging. This case study takes place at Unique Hydra (Pty) ltd (Hydra), a high mix, low volume (HMlV) manufacturer specialising in marine diving engineering. lean implementation at Hydra attempted to transform the silo production system to a product focused system defined end-to-end. This case study is performed within the framework of action science. The functional heads of department are recognised as the existing change agents within the organisation and implementation is channelled through this leadership structure. A principled approach to lean implementation is adopted in order to ensure long term sustainability and drive the appropriate lean culture. lean implementation at Hydra is directed at the manufacture containerised dive systems (CDS) products. Cross functional office and factory teams are proposed to replace the existing functional silo system as a means of organising the value adding people and processes around products. All information related to production of CDS is stored and exchanged through a dedicated CDS information database. A combined push/pull scheduling system with limited work-in-progress and a supermarket supply stock management tool are used to schedule production. Visual management, A3 problem solving and 5S tools are proposed to continuously improve processes inside cross functional teams. As the challenges mounted it become clear that this attempt at lean implementation would be unsuccessful. The main objective of this research changed to describing the barriers preventing implementation. The barriers preventing the lean implementation include: the silo organisational structure, a problematic current state definition, the view of lean as a toolkit and concurrent organisational change initiatives

Enterprise resource planning in construction: An evaluation of recent implementations

In a large number of construction firms, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have replaced non-integrated information systems by integrated and maintainable software. The implementation of ERP systems in the construction industry is a difficult task. So far, ERP implementations have yielded more failures than successes in this industry. Our study tries to understand the underlying factors that cause success or failure of ERP in construction by analysing how ERP fits into the IT and business strategy of a firm. Empirical research was conducted by a multiple case study of three ERP-implementations in different business environments. Based on the results of this study, propositions are developed that relate factors for the success of ERP in construction to concepts of the existing literature on IT and strategy. These propositions are indicative, but present nevertheless a clear overall tren

Culture Change in Nursing Homes: How Far Have We Come?

Presents findings from the Commonwealth Fund 2007 National Survey of Nursing Homes on the extent to which nursing homes have adopted the principles of culture change and are delivering resident-centered care, as well as the benefits the changes have brou