Brenda Scholtz

Qualitative techniques for evaluating enterprise resource planning (ERP) user interfaces

Studies have recommended usability criteria for evaluating Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. However these criteria do not provide sufficient qualitative information regarding the behaviour of users when interacting with the user interface of these systems. A triangulation technique, including the use of time diaries, can be used in Human Computer Interaction (HCI) research for providing additional qualitative data that cannot be accurately collected by experimental or even observation means alone. Limited studies have been performed on the use of time diaries in a triangulation approach as an HCI research method for the evaluation of the usability of ERP systems. This paper reports on a case study where electronic time diaries were used in conjunction with other HCI research methods, namely, surveys and usability questionnaires, in order to evaluate the usability of an ERP system. The results of the study show that a triangulation technique including the use of time diaries is a rich and useful method that allows more flexibility for respondents and can be used to help understand user behaviour when interacting with ERP systems. A thematic analysis of the qualitative data collected from the time diaries validated the quantitative data and highlighted common problem areas encountered during typical tasks performed with the ERP system. An improved understanding of user behaviour enabled the redesign of the tasks performed during the ERP learning process and could provide guidance to ERP designers for improving the usability and ease of learning of ERP systems.

The usability of collaborative tools: application to business process modelling

Modelling the business processes of an organisation offers benefits such as improved communication, increased understanding of processes, support for change management and gaining of competitive advantage over other organisations. However, Business Process Modelling (BPM) in large projects often needs to be carried out collaboratively in a team environment. The benefits of collaborative modelling are a reduced workload for modellers and improved quality, readability and accuracy of models. The result is also increased understanding of the processes amongst team members. Traditional technologies and BPM tools have several usability problems and often do not allow for effective collaboration and integration of business process models. Touchscreens are becoming the standardised modality of mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs. This paper investigates the use of collaborative business process modelling (CBPM) software and hardware for improving the usability of CBPM projects. A field study comprised of two assignments was carried out to evaluate the difficulties of CBPM with traditional BPM tools running on desktop PCs. A BPM software prototype was then designed which allows the drawing of business process (BP) models using touch and also enables the synchronous display of the process model on multiple tablet PCs.

Design Guidelines for Business Intelligence Tools for Novice Users

The use of interactive dashboards has become a popular technique to aid users in Business Intelligence (BI) analysis and data discovery. The increase in the number of BI platforms on the market is driven by the expanding end-user population. A wider range of novice users, such as business users with minimal Information Technology (IT) or data science skills, are demanding BI tools that support rapid and easy dashboard development. Dashboard development is often a tedious process, involving a number of developers and software tools. Self-service BI tools are becoming prominent environments in which novice users can fulfil their BI requirements without the intervention of IT experts. However, the usability of BI tools has not fully matured to a level where novice users can utilise its features efficiently and effectively without the assistance from IT experts. Limited research has been conducted regarding usability criteria specific to BI tools that support novice users. The purpose of this paper is to expand on existing BI usability criteria for supporting novice users with their data analysis activities. Furthermore, the study proposes a set of design guidelines that can be used as a reference for designing, evaluating and selecting BI tools that aid novice users. Evaluations were carried out on current BI tools to investigate its usability and the extent to which these tools follow the proposed guidelines. Additionally, a field study was conducted with novice users to evaluate the difficulties of current BI tools. This study is concerned with the design of front-end features and usability of BI tools and not on the design of dashboards itself. The results indicated that the proposed design guidelines can be effectively used to select a BI tool for novices.

Using Business Intelligence to Support Strategic Sustainability Information Management

The concept of sustainability has become an important phenomenon globally with many organisations being affected by the heightened awareness in sustainability. Organisations are more aware of the importance of promoting sustainability in all areas of operations. This is no different in the higher education sector, with a number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) playing a leading role in promoting sustainable initiatives. Effectively managing these initiatives however can be a complex task and requires data and information from multiple aspects of operations. In an HEI, operating sustainably means ensuring financial sustainability, social sustainability, environmental sustainability and educational sustainability. In order to manage sustainability effectively, HEIs require an integrated tool that can provide information on all areas of sustainability. This paper highlights the importance of effectively managing sustainability information and the challenges HEIs face in sustainability reporting. Business Intelligence (BI) is a solution to overcome the challenges and effectively managing sustainability information. However, HEIs need to overcome a number of challenges associated with BI to ensure a BI solution is correctly implemented and is effective in solving the problem of effective sustainability information management. This study focusses on the management of sustainability information in South African HEIs. The results indicate that there are many challenges to managing sustainability information in South African HEIs, including siloed data and information as well as poor sharing and communication of information. These two challenges can be overcome by a correctly implemented BI solution.

An m-learning framework for ERP systems in higher education

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors of m-learning approaches which can be used for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system training and to propose a theoretical framework for m-learning of ERP systems. , – A literature review of several theories relating to success factors for mobile learning (m-learning) and electronic learning (e-learning) are analysed and a theoretical framework of success factors for m-learning of ERP systems is proposed. Two field studies are undertaken to identify the features of e-learning and m-learning systems which users enjoyed and which related to the factors identified in the theoretical framework. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used to evaluate the acceptance, usefulness and perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the two systems evaluated in the field study, the openSAP e-learning application and the SAP Learn Now m-learning application. , – The results confirmed several of the theoretical elements identified in the framework and the m-learning system was rated positively for PEOU and perceived usefulness (PU). The findings confirmed other studies showing the importance of the quality of course content in e-learning and m-learning projects. , – The empirical study was limited to a small number of participants in higher education. However, a deeper understanding of the factors influencing m-learning for ERP systems was obtained. , – The study provides a valuable practical contribution because the framework can be used in the improved design of an ERP m-learning approach, which in turn can lead to an improvement in ERP training and education programmes and ultimately ERP project success. , – Several studies propose the use of m-learning systems. However, research related to the factors impacting on m-learning projects for ERP system training is limited. The paper presents original work and the results provide a valuable contribution to several theories of m-learning.

Enterprise Architectures for Addressing Sustainability Silos

A need exists for behaviour change and transparency in modern organisations where the focus needs to shift towards sustainability thinking rather than just sustainability reporting for compliance reasons. The number of organisations which are undertaking Green Initiatives and reporting on sustainability are increasing. However, many of these organisations are not viewing these initiatives strategically. The effect on information requirements and business processes is often not considered and the available tools and technologies are not used to their full potential. As a result, whilst sustainability reports are produced, the underlying infrastructure consists of “sustainability silos” comprising of a lack of integrated systems, inconsistent data and information where the integrity is not reliable. In order to address these issues this study investigates the extent to which organisations consider environmental information requirements and processes when planning their information systems and Enterprise Architecture (EA). The inclusion of Green Initiative strategies into the design of an organisation’s enterprise systems and EA is proposed. This will ensure alignment between environmental management and IT planning and result in integrated systems, an improved sustainability reporting process and more effective decision making regarding the environmental impact of organisations.

An Analysis of the Perceived Benefits and Drawbacks of Cloud ERP Systems: A South African Study

Adopting a cloud ERP system instead of a traditional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system promises improved flexibility, improved business efficiency and reduced IT costs. However in spite of these benefits some companies are not adopting cloud ERP systems. In emerging markets such as Africa the adoption rates are much lower than the rest of the world. One reason for non-adoption of cloud ERP systems could be due to misperceptions regarding the benefits and drawbacks of cloud ERP systems. Whilst cloud computing can reduce the environmental impact of traditional ERP systems, the increased size of datacentres require high energy usage. The purpose of this paper is to propose a model of the perceived benefits and drawbacks of cloud ERP systems which is derived from an extensive review of the literature. The model is then verified by means of a survey of South African companies. The results show that security and strategic risks are the most frequently reported drawbacks of adopting a cloud ERP system whilst increased flexibility and collaboration are strong reasons or benefits for adopting them. A more in depth understanding of the perceptions of cloud ERP systems by organisations in South Africa is obtained through this study.

How ‘learnable’ are CASE tools in diverse user communities?

The use of Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) tools for teaching object-oriented systems analysis and design (OOSAD) and the Unified Modelling Language (UML) has many potential benefits, but there are several problems associated with the usability and learnability of these tools. This paper describes a study undertaken to determine if computing students from a linguistically and technologically diverse community experience problems with learning to use a CASE tool, and to determine if there is a relationship between two user characteristics of the students and the learnability of CASE tools.

Evaluating students’ social media use for extra-curricular education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the uses and gratifications (U&G) theory for evaluating social media usage in higher education. The paper reports on a social media awareness campaign which was designed and implemented in a higher education context as extra-curricular content. Design/methodology/approach A case study research approach was used and the theoretical model was adopted in a South African higher education institution where a social media campaign was conducted to improve environmental awareness. The activities of the environmental awareness campaign were conducted using popular social media such as Facebook and YouTube. The U&G theory was used to evaluate social media usage before and after the campaign. Three gratifications (or factors) of the U&G were used, namely coordination, immediate access and social presence. Findings The findings revealed an increase in environmental knowledge during the campaign and a positive correlation was found between activity on the social media campaign and environmental knowledge. However, the ratings for the U&G gratifications were lower in the post-test evaluation than in the pre-test evaluation for all three factors. This low rating could indicate that the use of social media for these gratifications and the acceptance of social media used for extra-curricular educational purposes are low. Through qualitative feedback three other factors that influenced the usage and acceptance of the campaign social media were identified, namely: time, attitude and a fast internet connection. Research limitations/implications One limitation of the study was the relatively small sample size of 72 students in one higher education institution. Practical implications The findings of the study still provide deeper insight into students’ usage of social media for extra-curricular education and the theoretical model can be used in other studies on social media usage. Originality/value Whilst several studies have investigated social media use for learning, there is limited research which explores the usage and acceptance of social media for extra-curricular knowledge.

A Social Media Environmental Awareness Campaign to Promote Sustainable Practices in Educational Environments

This paper examines the impact of a social media campaign on the environmental awareness of staff members in a Higher Education Institution (HEI). The campaign was designed based on a theoretical model and implemented in a case study of a South African HEI. A centralised website together with selected social media formed the technological foundation of the campaign. Throughout the campaign information about environmental management was distributed by means of these technologies to selected staff members in the case study. Issues related to environmental management as well as suggested strategies to deal with them was also communicated to the staff members. In order to determine the growth of knowledge related to environmental issues and to get feedback on the campaign benefits and problems, surveys and interviews were conducted at regular periods throughout the campaign. The findings revealed that the campaign had many positive benefits, particularly for promoting environmental awareness. The limitations of the study are the small sample size which could be addressed by future research.