Understanding the Importance and Impact of Technology in an Accounting Setting: Work Outcomes and Relationships with Clients

This study explores how technology positively or negatively impacts the accounting profession, and specifically, the impact on work outcomes (i.e. the effectiveness and efficiency of work) and relationships with clients. Three types of technology tools were featured in this study: Accounting and Analytics, Robotic Process Automation, and Communication Technology Tools and Platforms. Our research questions were (1) How much do technology tools improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the accountant? and (2) How much do technology tools affect the relationship with clients? After surveying professionals in the accounting field, we concluded that accountants believe that Communication softwares improve their efficiency and effectiveness the most, with Accounting and Analytics softwares just behind. We can also conclude that technology has a positive, or at the very least, neutral, effect on the relationship between professionals and their clients. Overall, it was found that in the accounting field, technology has a positive impact on work outcomes and relationships with clients

Global Innovations in Measurement and Evaluation

We researched the latest developments in theory and practice in measurement and evaluation. And we found that new thinking, techniques, and technology are influencing and improving practice. This report highlights 8 developments that we think have the greatest potential to improve evaluation and programme design, and the careful collection and use of data. In it, we seek to inform and inspire—to celebrate what is possible, and encourage wider application of these ideas

Reports Of Conferences, Institutes, And Seminars

This quarter\u27s column offers coverage of multiple sessions from the 2016 Electronic Resources & Libraries (ER&L) Conference, held April 3–6, 2016, in Austin, Texas. Topics in serials acquisitions dominate the column, including reports on altmetrics, cost per use, demand-driven acquisitions, and scholarly communications and the use of subscriptions agents; ERMS, access, and knowledgebases are also featured

A Visual Data Analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory

The Environmental Protection Agency\u27s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a collection of data detailing the way hazardous chemicals are handled in industrial facilities. By requiring certain manufacturing facilities to report releases, the EPA offered the public unprecedented access to environmentally relevant data. Since its inception in 1986, the TRI has grown and changed both in chemicals and industries monitored. This thesis uses the data visualization platform Tableau, publicly available yearly TRI reports, and Life cycle impact assessment methodology to create a tool which 1) improves upon previous analyses of the TRI dataset, 2) offers an analysis based on previously underexplored environmental impacts, and 3) creates a simple online tool for communities, industry, and government to use to better identify and target problem areas

Development and implementation issues for managing sales performance

The research project concentrates on the issues which a host organisation faces, in developing and implementing an efficient and cost-effective conceptual framework for measuring and managing sales performance in the automotive retail sector. Sales performance is a critical and main issue for an organisation in order to achieve its strategic objectives, by translating the results into action and monitoring the process. Due to the global financial crisis, organisations experience an economic downturn. This makes the use of a standard framework which can support their derived action plans of vital importance. This framework would aim to offer a holistic view of the sales performance with accurate results. A review of the literature provided extensive information and analysis of the different models and frameworks that could be identified and used in performance measurement literature. In addition, it provided an evaluation of the existing documentary and practices of the host organisation regarding performance measurement. As, a result, the needs for the development of an improved framework were identified. The proposed methodology was based on the integration of three frameworks, namely the SWOT Analysis, Balanced Score Card and Internal procedures as part of a performance management system. The research indicated that it is essential to synthesise and extend the existing models and frameworks with the aim to produce the most suitable conceptual framework based on the size, kind, and available resources of the organisation. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, this project provides evidence, which indicates the successful application of measuring and managing sales performance techniques through the use of reports, training communication capabilities and presentation skills. It creates a new political and organisational challenge for the staff of the organisation, which in its turn had to learn to interact fast and effectively in order to achieve their targets. It considers the external and internal influences impacting on a sales organisation and how the management team and staff can offer an actively sought process to monitor business performance on an on-going basis and to generate recommendations for changes. The research indicates that the proposed framework connects the measurement results with the derived action plans following a continuing improvement approach. The project has not only a theoretical approach but it also focuses on the implementation process. The proposed framework was developed in the host organisation with a step by step methodology establishing a reporting analysis tool. It concludes by the realisation that specific processes are required to implement the sales performance reporting analysis tool

Computerized optimization of elastic booster autopilots. Volume 1: Technical manual

The philosophy and the mathematical basis of the nonlinear programming algorithm underlying the development of the COEBRA program were given. A User's Manual was given in a separate document. The purpose of this work was to convert the COEBRA program from the CDC 6400/6500 digital computer system to the UNIVAC 1108 at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and to provide an instruction manual on the use of the program