Motives and Barriers to Cloud ERP Selection for SMEs: A Survey of Value Added Resellers (VAR) Perspectives

Small to Mid-size Enterprises (SMEs) typically are slow/late to adopt new technologies due to a conservative bias, cost factors and possible lack of knowledge. Implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is a major, costly undertaking for a company of any size, especially SMEs, but there is the potential for huge paybacks touted by advantages afforded by the cloud. Cloud based ERP technology for SMEs is relatively new and poses a potential large risk-reward payoff. Given that these SMEs are currently functioning with their existing systems, why would they want to risk switching to Bleeding Edge Cloud ERP technology? Prior ERP research has focused primarily on an ERP’s implementation success and the relevant critical success factors (CSFs) important throughout the various stages of an ERP’s lifecycle. The focus of these studies has been on post-selection variables and the success or failure of the ERP’s adoption or implementation. Inherent in these studies are firms who already selected ERP technology which provides no insight into any potential barriers that prevent selection. ERP research in the area of SME cloud/SaaS ERP systems is nascent. This paper adds methodological, empirical and theoretical contributions to this existing stream of research about the motives and barriers in the selection of cloud ERP systems for SME’s. In particular, this research paper proposes to help bridge these gaps by operationalizing and testing Saeed, Juell-Skielse, and Uppström (2012)’s Unified Framework (UF) of the motives and barriers to the selection of cloud ERP systems. This current study uses Value Added Resellers (VARs) as subjects. They are arguably the most knowledgeable and in the best position to assess both the motives and more importantly barriers since there are in direct contact with the cloud ERP prospective purchasers

System and circuitry to provide stable transconductance for biasing

An amplifier system can include an input amplifier configured to receive an analog input signal and provide an amplified signal corresponding to the analog input signal. A tracking loop is configured to employ delta modulation for tracking the amplified signal, the tracking loop providing a corresponding output signal. A biasing circuit is configured to adjust a bias current to maintain stable transconductance over temperature variations, the biasing circuit providing at least one bias signal for biasing at least one of the input amplifier and the tracking loop, whereby the circuitry receiving the at least one bias signal exhibits stable performance over the temperature variations. In another embodiment the biasing circuit can be utilized in other applications

Getting problem cows pregnant (1993)

An average interval of 70 days from calving to first breeding and a high fertility rate are important to maximize efficiency in dairy herds. The results are more milk and calves at reduced cost. This publication examines management procedures for getting hard-to-breed cows to conceive

Getting problem cows pregnant

"An average interval of 70 days from calving to first breeding and a high fertility rate are important to maximize efficiency in dairy herds. The results are more milk and calves at reduced cost."--First page.H. Allen Garverick and Robert S. Youngquist (Departments of Dairy Science and Medicine and Surgery, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine)New 1/88/6

Wireless sensor platform for harsh environments

Reliable and efficient sensing becomes increasingly difficult in harsher environments. A sensing module for high-temperature conditions utilizes a digital, rather than analog, implementation on a wireless platform to achieve good quality data transmission. The module comprises a sensor, integrated circuit, and antenna. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier, A/D converter, decimation filter, and digital transmitter. To operate, an analog signal is received by the sensor, amplified by the amplifier, converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter, filtered by the decimation filter to address the quantization error, and output in digital format by the digital transmitter and antenna

Reproductive dairy herd health program : routine examinations

Robert A. Ruehlow, and H. Allen Garverick (Department of Dairy Husbandry, College of Agriculture), C. J. Bierschwal (Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine)Reviewed 8/80/5

Detection of noncyling cows by heatmount decectors and ultrasound before treatment with progesterone

Our objective was to determine accuracy of identifying anovulatory lactating dairy cows before the application of a timed AI protocol [with or without progesterone supplementation via a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) insert and 2 different timings of AI] by using heatmount detectors and a single ovarian ultrasound examination. At 6 Midwest locations, 1,072 cows were enrolled in a Presynch protocol (2 injections of prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α) 14 days apart) with the second injection administered 14 days before initiating the Ovsynch protocol (injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) 7 days before and 48 hours after PGF2αinjection, with timed AI at 0 or 24 hours after the second GnRH injection). Heatmount detectors were applied to cows at the time of the first Presynch injection, assessed 14 days later at the second Presynch injection and again at initiation of the Ovsynch protocol, and ovaries were examined for presence of a visible corpus luteum (CL) by ultrasound before initiation of treatment. Treatments were assigned to cows based on presence or absence of a visible CL: 1) anovulatory (no CL + CIDR insert for 7 d); 2) anovulatory (no CL + no CIDR); and 3) cycling (CL present). Further, every other cow in the 3 treatments was assigned to be inseminated concurrent with the second GnRH injection of Ovsynch (0 hour) or 24 hours later. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 33 and 61 days after the second GnRH injection. Heatmount detectors and a single ultrasound examination both underestimated proportions of cows classified as anovulatory or having no prior luteal activity compared with those classifications determined by concentrations of progesterone in blood serum. Overall accuracy of heatmount detectors and ultrasound was 71 and 84%, respectively. Application of progesterone to cows without a CL at the time of the first injection of GnRH reduced incidence of ovulation but improved pregnancy rates at day 33 or 61 compared with nontreated cows without a CL at the onset of the Ovsynch protocol. Pregnancy rates and pregnancy survival did not differ for cows having a CL before treatment compared with those not having a CL but treated with progesterone. Pregnancy rates were 1.5-fold greater for cows ovulating in response to the first GnRH injection. Timing of AI at 0 or 24 hours after the second GnRH injection did not alter pregnancy rates, but cows having prior luteal activity before treatment had improved pregnancy rates compared with anovulatory cows. We conclude that identifying anovulatory cows by ultrasound was more accurate than by heatmount detectors. Subsequent treatment of potential anovulatory cows with progesterone failed to improve fertility but had benefit for cows with prior estrous cycles at the onset of the timed AI (TAI) protocol, regardless of luteal status before the final luteolytic injection of PGF2α.; Dairy Day, 2007, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 2007; Dairy Research, 2007 is known as Dairy Day, 200

Novel gonadal characteristics in an aged bovine freemartin

The gonads from a five year old freemartin Holstein animal were subjected to morphological analysis and to immunohistochemistry using antibodies against developmental and functional markers. We demonstrate, for the first time, the retention of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) producing intratubular cells (Sertoli cells) in the context of abundant steroidogenic interstitial cells, and structures consistent with clusters of luteal cells. This novel report describes the clinical, gross and histological findings accompanying this newly described gonadal immunophenotype, and its implication in the understanding of freemartin development

Assessment of combined scale/corrosion inhibitors - A combined jar test/bubble cell

The formation of calcium carbonate scale and the occurrence of CO corrosion are both widespread phenomena observed within pipework during oil and gas production. The most common form of treatment for both processes is the application of chemical inhibition through corrosion and/or scale inhibitors. Surface scaling of pipework rarely occurs in environments where no corrosion exists, yet techniques used to develop and assess the performance of scale inhibitors tend to focus on assessing and reducing solely bulk/surface scaling, without affording consideration towards corrosion, whilst corrosion inhibitors are frequently evaluated in non-scaling environments. Furthermore, both chemicals tend to be evaluated independently meaning that any potential antagonistic effects between the chemicals can go unrecognised. This paper addresses this very issue by presenting a unique setup and methodology to enable the occurrence of scale and corrosion to be monitored simultaneously in a CO-saturated environment in the presence and absence of combined scale and corrosion inhibitors. The test cell focuses on evaluating four key parameters which are quantified either throughout the duration of the test, or from the implementation of post-test surface analysis techniques. The multiple assessment of (i) bulk scale precipitation, (ii) surface scaling, (iii) general corrosion and (iv) localised corrosion permits a full assessment of the chemical blends propensity to mitigate both scaling and corrosion. Non-inhibited tests were initially conducted at 60 °C to form a baseline for comparison. Four combined scale/corrosion inhibitors were subsequently used at low concentrations in order to understand their mechanisms and highlight any competitive effect which existed in reducing either scale or corrosion. The results demonstrate that the methodology implemented is effective at assessing the efficiency of combined inhibitors in reducing both corrosion and scale in environments where both processes occur simultaneously. The limitations of conducting solely bulk scaling or corrosion tests in non-scaling environments are discussed relative to the results obtained in this work. The results of each individual inhibitor are discussed and markedly different behaviour is observed according to the concentration administered, as well as the particular blend of chemicals applied