Meeting global business information requirements with ERP systems for improved business performance

This thesis explores global business performance outcomes as a result of aligning ERP systems capabilities to global business information requirements. Global business is a network of interconnected organizations that have multinational operations and exchange finished goods, raw materials, services, information, knowledge, skills and capital across national boundaries. It is a new business trend in which organisations from all industry sectors capitalize on cheap labour, low cost capital, unique resources and new market opportunities in the global economy. Global business management entails unique information requirements from strategic business units (SBSs) operating in different parts of the world. Global business information requirements include: 1) multi-level and multi-purpose information from global SBUs; 2) accurate and timely information; 3) consolidated information; 4) global business process information; 5) global supply chain information; and 6) secure information. The first three information requirements are important for supporting management decisions while the other three are important for supporting global businesses’ operating decisions. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been increasingly adopted to meet global business information requirements. ERP systems capabilities that support global business information management include multi-level and multi-purpose information management; delivering accurate, timely and consolidated information; integrating global business process information; managing global supply chain information and transmitting secure information. Using structural equation modelling (SEM) technique this research established that if two variables (global business information requirements and ERP systems capabilities) co-align, this resulted in improved business performance. The co-alignment in this research is adopted from Venkatraman’s explanation of “fit as co-variation/co-alignment” perspective. Performance outcomes of global business as a result of co-aligning ERP systems capabilities and global business information requirements are measured using four perspectives: financial performance; customer performance; learning and growth performance; and internal business process performance. Findings of this research supported the conceptualisation of fit from the co-alignment/co-variation perspective, confirming that the co-alignment of global business information requirements and ERP systems capabilities leads to better business performance of global organizations. The findings also confirmed that global organisations have unique information requirements that are somewhat different to local businesses. ERP systems are able to support global business information requirements. Findings also confirmed that the financial, customer, learning and growth and internal business process performance of global organizations are moderated by the organization size and the globalization history. Not only does this research fill the void in global business literature by investigating the important role information plays in global business management, but it extends the ERP literature and IT/IS alignment theories to the co-alignment of IS capabilities with global business information requirements for improved performance outcomes. The major contribution to knowledge this research makes is the development and validation of a co-alignment model, extending theories of IT/IS alignment to the alignment of a specific information system (ERP system) to a specific type of business (global business)

Impact of Capital Structure on Profitability: Evidence from Star Category Hotels in Sri Lanka

This study examines the impact of the capital structure on the profitability of the 25 registered hotels in the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA). The data on capital structure and profitability collected from audited annual reports (2011 to 2021), were analyzed using panel regression methodology and presented through descriptive statistics and models. Total debt to total assets, total debt to total equity and interest coverage ratio were used to measure the capital structure and return on assets and return on equity were used to measure the profitability of the firm. The study found no significant impact of debt to equity ratio and interest coverage ratio on the return on equity and return on asset. There is a significant impact of debt to asset and return on equity and the return on asset. These results concluded that there is an impact of capital structure on the profitability of the hotel industry in Sri Lanka.    © 2022 The Authors. Published by Department of Estate Management and Valuation, University of Sri Jayewardenepura   Key Words: Capital structure; Profitability; Registered Star Category Hotels in Sri Lank

Problems Faced by Preschool Teachers When Using Teaching Aids in the Teaching Learning Process

This study attempts to find out the problems faced by the preschool teachers when making and using teaching aids in the process of teaching and learning, and to identify their perception on using teaching aids. The study employed quantitative method of research. The sample of this study comprised of 60 Sinhala mediumpreschool teachers and 40 English medium teachers who have registered in the Diploma in Early Childhood & Primary Education programme in the Colombo regional center, at OUSL. The study employed the survey research design. A questionnaire was adopted to collect data. The data were analyzed using simple quantitative statistical methods. The study revealed that the teacher have precise perception of teaching aids and its functions. However they face problems such as lack of time for making teaching aids for each lesson, lack of training on using electronic teaching aids, lack of knowledge on relating teaching aids to the lesson in the teaching learning process. Thus, the study recommends enhancing more emphasis by providing awareness, knowledge on using teaching aids effectively among preschool teachers.KEYWORDS: Teaching Aids, Preschool teachers, Teaching learning process, Perception, Problemfaced by preschool teache

A STUDY ON THE BUTTERFLY FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN VARIOUS FOREST HABITATS IN THE KNUCKLES FOREST RANGE

A butterfly faunal survey was conducted in the Deenston-Nawanagala Nature Trail areaon the eastern flank of the Knuckles Forest Range at a 915-1906m of elevation with theobjective of studying the butterfly faunal of the area in different habitat types.A field survey was carried out one day per month during August 2002 to August 2003period. Data collection was done using the 'long-transect method' containing thetransect width to the 'visible range' that varied according to the atmospheric conditionsThe following five major habitat types (Listed in the descending order of extent) wereidentified: Abandoned Tea Lands with Lime Grass, Lowland Semi-evergreen Forest, SubMontane Forest, Montane Forest and Abandoned Cardamom AreasThe total number of species recorded was 40 in seven familiesThis habitat distribution is as follows: Abandoned Tea Lands with Lime Grass: 27 spp.,Lowland Semi-evergreen Forest; 28, Sub Montane Forest; 18, Montane Forest; 9,Abandoned Cardamom Areas;13.Their distribution in the families is; Nymphalidae 12 spp., Papilionidae 8, Pieridae 6,Satyridae 6, Danaidae 5, Lycaenidae 2 and Riodinidae 1. Only the Family Nymphalidaeis found in all habitat types.Three of these species are endemic and altogether five species (Including the threeendemics) are nationally threatened.In the study area the butterfly fauna facing threats due to human and natural causes. Manmade fires occur in grasslands where 27 species (54%) are found. Cardamom cultivationis another factor. Strong winds in some seasons and forest dieback (especially inNawangala) are natural causes. The need for conserving this butterfly fauna ishighlighted in this paper

Evaluation of Luffa (Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb) varieties under low country intermediate zone of Sri Lanka

Luffa (Luffa acutangulu) is a popular low country vegetable in Sri Lanka and it is one of the mosthighly utilized vegetable species in the fanning systems of dry and intermediate zones. The existingLuffa varieties in Sri Lanka, recommended by the Department of Agriculture, and the introducedhybrids are vulnerable to pests and diseases and the cost for pest control mainly accounts for thehigher production cost of Luffa. Makandura Selection (MK) is a Luffa variety selected from farmerfields and it shows tolerance to fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillettj), which is the mostserious pest causing high level of economic losses. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at theRegional Agricultural Research and Development Centre, Makandura, to evaluate the performanceof Makandura Selection along with the two Department of Agricu Iture recommended Luffa varieties,Asiri and LA 33. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with fourreplicates. Evaluation was done based on reproductive, yield and fruit quality parameters. Though thevariety LA 33 recorded the significantly highest yield (9.08 t/ha), the higher fruit length (35.02 ern),higher fruit weight (280.5 g) and high fruit firmness (4.38 kg) were not desirable in the context ofconsumer preference. The variety Asiri recorded a significantly lower yield (7.05 t ha') and thelowest fruit firmness (3.89 kg) wh ich are not preferred by the farmers. The variety MakanduraSelection showed moderate yields (8.98 t ha') and better performance in fruit quality attributes suchas lower fru it length (21.7 ern), lower fru it weight (207.2 g) and moderate firmness (4.25 kg). Therefore,the fruit fly tolerant ability, along with these positive fruit characteristics makes Makandura Selectiona suitable variety to introduce to the Luffa growers in Sri Lanka after further testing

Tea tourism as a marketing tool: a strategy to develop the image of Sri Lanka as an attractive tourism destination

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries as well a provider of employments over to 100 million populations around the world. Niche tourism refers to strategy that specific tourism product personalized to meet the needs of a particular tourist segment. Hence Tea tourism has been identified as one niche Tourism segment emerged with novel concept of sustainable and nature based eco-friendly tourism. Research objective is to identify the potentials to promote Sri Lanka as a tea tourism destination with special reference to Badulla and Nuwara Eliya districts by investigating the tea tourists’ attitudes, expectations and destination attributes and local community involvement for tea tourism. Sample consists with 173 tea tourists and structured questionnaire and semi structured interviews were adopted in primary data collection. The numerous potentials have been identified which will be in capable of promoting tea tourism. Destination image building with the brand name of “Ceylon Tea”, global promotional campaigns with the collaboration of Social Media Marketing tools as well introducing sustainable tourism experience packages has been recommended.</span