ERP customization failure: Institutionalized accounting practices, power relations and market forces

Purpose: This paper examines a detailed case study of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) customization failure in an Egyptian state-owned company (AML) by drawing on new institutional sociology and its extensions. It explains how ERP customization failure is shaped by the interplay between institutionalised accounting practices, conflicting institutions, power relations and market forces. Methodology/Approach: The research methodology is based on using an intensive case study informed by new institutional sociology, especially the interplay between conflicting institutions, power relations and market forces. Data were collected from multiple sources, including interviews, observations, discussions and documentary analysis. Findings: The findings revealed that the inability of the ERP system to meet the core accounting requirements of the control authorities (the Central Agency for Accountability) was the explicit reason cited for the ERP failure. The externally imposed requirements of the Uniform Accounting System and planning budgets were used to resist both other institutional pressures (from the Holding Company for Engineering Industries) and market and competitive pressures. Research limitations: There are some limitations associated with the use of the case study method, including the inability to generalize from the findings of a single case study, some selectivity in the individuals interviewed, and the subjective interpretation by the researchers of the empirical data. Practical implications: The paper identifies that the interplay between institutional pressures, institutionalised accounting practices, intra-organizational power relations, and market forces contributed to the failure to embed ERP in a major company. Understanding such relationships can help other organisations to become more aware of the factors affecting successful implementation of new ERP systems and provide a better basis for planning the introduction of new technologies. Originality/value of paper: This paper draws on recent research and thinking in sociology, especially the development and application of new institutional sociology. In addition, the paper is concerned with ERP implementation and use and management accounting in a transitional economy, Egypt, and hence contributes to debate about exporting Western accounting practices and other technologies to countries with different cultures and different stages of economic and political development. Classification: Research paper/ case stud

An Econometric Analysis of 3G Auction Spectrum Valuations

Scarce radio spectrum is assigned to mobile network operators (MNOs) by national regulatory authorities (NRAs). Spectrum is usually assigned by beauty contest or an auction. The process requires that winners make a payment to the government. MNOs seek scarce spectrum to enable the provision of wireless services for profit. While MNOs are imperfectly aware of their costs, NRAs rely solely on MNOs for this information. As such, NRAs set spectrum assignment conditions (including minimum bid price) largely ignorant of MNO operating conditions. This study examines the performance of 3G auction outcomes in terms of the prices paid by winners via an econometric analysis of a unique sample of national 3G spectrum auctions. These winning bids depend on national and mobile market conditions, spectrum package attributes, license process, and post-award operator requirements. Finally, model estimation accounts for the censored nature of these data.Mobile telephone markets, spectrum allocation, spectrum bid price

Available Job Opportunity to Youth Graduate and its Relations to the Needs of the Saudi Labor Market "A Field Study"

The labor market faces persistent challenges owing to the increasing number of job seekers as opposed to the low supply of jobs in addition to the sometimes exaggerated specifications required by employers in the job offered. The figures indicate an increase in the unemployment rate of female graduates with bachelor's degrees. This has created some concern. These indicators prompted the researchers to conduct this study to describe and analyze the needs of the Saudi labor market for graduates' specializations in humanities and what career opportunities are available? Also, what are the requirements of employers to employ a graduate and reduce unemployment and keep pace with the ambitions of Vision 2030? One of the most important findings is that the reasons for the lack of career opportunities are the employment requirements set by companies and institutions to get a job at 87.55%. The study recommended that a detailed database on the national labor market should be formed that would allocate the last level of education to job training and not only focused on acquiring knowledge, under the supervision of the university, so that the graduate would be familiar with the requirements of the labor market and be aware of the skills required for each job; This helps him to gain work experience before graduation so that he can take the right career decision after graduation

On farm grain storage – potential opportunity or risk- meeting the demands of food safety and quality, an Australian perspective: Presentation

Traceability, product identity, food safety and quality assurance are increasingly required by end users and customers. The Australian on farm storage system has a unique opportunity to deliver grain to meet these requirements, provided the system is set up and managed to ensure the end product meets the market requirement. Australian grain growers are becoming more aware of the changing nature of markets and their requirements, and the importance of managing storage to meet food safety requirements. With the increasing change in storage dynamics in Australia from a central receival system to a range of storage entities, of which on farm storage is becoming a major player, there is a growing need for the grains industry to ensure all who can affect grain quality and food safety are aware of and can meet their obligations. There are many challenges for Australian growers to manage; including managing existing facilities, investing in new facilities, managing insects, managing grain quality and ensuring treatments are used in accordance with best practice. Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities and potential for the on-farm storage system to meet the demands required of them to deliver a quality and food safe product to the end-user. This paper discusses the on-farm grain storage system, management of and the opportunity and risks for growers and end users to work together to ensure a quality and food safe product is delivered to the end-user. Traceability, product identity, food safety and quality assurance are increasingly required by end users and customers. The on farm storage system has a unique opportunity to deliver grain to meet these requirements, provided the system is set up and managed to do this in collaboration with the end user and market. Whilst grain growers are aware of the changing nature of markets and their requirements, it is fair to say food safety and how they might affect this is relatively new in their thinking. With the increasing change in storage dynamics from a central receival system to a range of storage entities, of which on farm storage is becoming a major player, there is a growing need for the grains industry to ensure all who can affect grain quality and food safety are aware of and can meet their obligations. There are many challenges for growers to manage; including managing existing facilities, investing in new facilities, managing insects, managing grain quality and ensuring treatments are used in accordance with best practice. Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities and potential for the on-farm storage system to meet the demands required of them to deliver a quality and food safe product to the enduser and customer. This paper discusses the on-farm grain storage system, management of the system and the opportunity and risks for growers and end users to work together to ensure a quality and food safe product is delivered to the enduser and customer.Traceability, product identity, food safety and quality assurance are increasingly required by end users and customers. The Australian on farm storage system has a unique opportunity to deliver grain to meet these requirements, provided the system is set up and managed to ensure the end product meets the market requirement. Australian grain growers are becoming more aware of the changing nature of markets and their requirements, and the importance of managing storage to meet food safety requirements. With the increasing change in storage dynamics in Australia from a central receival system to a range of storage entities, of which on farm storage is becoming a major player, there is a growing need for the grains industry to ensure all who can affect grain quality and food safety are aware of and can meet their obligations. There are many challenges for Australian growers to manage; including managing existing facilities, investing in new facilities, managing insects, managing grain quality and ensuring treatments are used in accordance with best practice. Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities and potential for the on-farm storage system to meet the demands required of them to deliver a quality and food safe product to the end-user. This paper discusses the on-farm grain storage system, management of and the opportunity and risks for growers and end users to work together to ensure a quality and food safe product is delivered to the end-user. Traceability, product identity, food safety and quality assurance are increasingly required by end users and customers. The on farm storage system has a unique opportunity to deliver grain to meet these requirements, provided the system is set up and managed to do this in collaboration with the end user and market. Whilst grain growers are aware of the changing nature of markets and their requirements, it is fair to say food safety and how they might affect this is relatively new in their thinking. With the increasing change in storage dynamics from a central receival system to a range of storage entities, of which on farm storage is becoming a major player, there is a growing need for the grains industry to ensure all who can affect grain quality and food safety are aware of and can meet their obligations. There are many challenges for growers to manage; including managing existing facilities, investing in new facilities, managing insects, managing grain quality and ensuring treatments are used in accordance with best practice. Despite these challenges, there are many opportunities and potential for the on-farm storage system to meet the demands required of them to deliver a quality and food safe product to the enduser and customer. This paper discusses the on-farm grain storage system, management of the system and the opportunity and risks for growers and end users to work together to ensure a quality and food safe product is delivered to the enduser and customer

Why Do Companies Choose to Go IPOs? New Results Using Data from Taiwan;

In this study, we examine the determinants of firms\u27 IPO decisions in Taiwan, for the sample period of 1989 to 2000. The regulations in Taiwan permit us to identify firms that met IPO requirements but chose not to go public. The unique regulatory environment allows a clear comparison of firms that choose IPOs and those that do not. With the exception of Pagano, Panetta and Zingales (1998), we are not aware of any similar study. Their paper examines the IPO market in Italy, and there seem to be considerable differences between that market and Taiwan market. Indeed, we find strong evidence that IPOs are not motivated by financing needs or constraints while they do. Some of our results are nevertheless consistent with theirs -- in particular, we find that larger and profitable firms are more likely to list equity. Our other findings also provide support for, though not overwhelmingly, information asymmetry, listing costs, liquidity, owners\u27 diversification desire, and market timing as factors influencing IPO decisions. Finally, we present evidence strongly consistent with venture capital providing certification to firm credibility