Product Data Managemet as a Key Success Factor in After Sales Business

The objective of this master’s thesis is to define Larox´s Product Data present state and future development needs from after sales point of view. In particular the object was to investigate after sales needs, which data related to products need to be managed by using Product Data Management. Empirical material of thesis was collected mainly through interviews, benchmark visits, and personal experience. Among the interviewees were internal stakeholders who are closely related to the product process, as well as external stakeholders. Interviews revealed that each stakeholder group has deviating needs for product data management and that at present all the needs are not met to take the best possible way. The main requirement was availability of up-to-date information, which plays a key role in after sales business. At the end of study is concentrated to find development targets at Larox, especially from after sales point of view. In addition, consideration of how the product data management advantages can utilized in making internal processes more efficient. Development needs are collected together as project descriptions, whose headings are shown at the end of the study.

Use of thin films obtained by plasma polymerization for grain protection and germination enhancement

In this work, preliminary results of the use of hydrophobic thin films obtained by plasma deposition to protect grains and seeds are presented: grains coated by the films did not present biological degradation when stored in a saturated water vapor environment, but had their germination accelerated in the presence of water. A model that explains the difference of behavior of the films when exposed to water in vapor form or in liquid form, based on the formation of microchannels within the film that lead to water uptake in seeds, is presented. The model was successfully tested using quartz crystal measurements, which showed that the microchannels within the films can favor the adsorption and permeation of water when the films are immersed in water.

Critical Success and Failure Factors of Knowledge Management Implementation in a Large Multinational Company

More and more companies are interested in implementing knowledge management. However, the majority of knowledge management initiatives will fail to have any significant impact. In this study, theories regarding knowledge management implementation and adoption are investigated further. The objective of this study is to deepen understanding regarding the critical factors that contribute to successful knowledge management adoption in large multinational companies. The study is formulated around the following four research questions: 1. What are the key success and failure factors in knowledge management implementation? 2. How can knowledge management adoption be improved at the individual, group and organizational levels of the company? 3. What are the critical factors that hinder knowledge management adoption in the case company? 4. How can the case company promote the adoption of knowledge management among company personnel? The methodology used in this study is a combination of a literature review and an explanatory, exploratory, qualitative single-case study. The literature review answers the first and second research questions. Based on the literature review, a framework is presented to illustrate the factors contributing to the success of knowledge management implementation. The framework also links together knowledge management implementation and adoption. The third research question is answered by revealing the relevant findings from 21 expert interviews and 2 online questionnaires with 42 respondents in total. By comparing and contrasting the results of the literature review with the findings of the empirical case study, the fourth research question is answered. The concrete outcomes of this study are a framework to elucidate the factors contributing to the success of knowledge management implementation, a case study highlighting the issues that hinder knowledge management adoption within the case company, and recommendations for the case company.

Success factors of customer and supplier master data system

Especially in global enterprises, key data is fragmented in multiple Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. Thus the data is inconsistent, fragmented and redundant across the various systems. Master Data Management (MDM) is a concept, which creates cross-references between customers, suppliers and business units, and enables corporate hierarchies and structures. The overall goal for MDM is the ability to create an enterprise-wide consistent data model, which enables analyzing and reporting customer and supplier data. The goal of the study was defining the properties and success factors of a master data system. The theoretical background was based on literature and the case consisted of enterprise specific needs and demands. The theoretical part presents the concept, background, and principles of MDM and then the phases of system planning and implementation project. Case consists of background, definition of as is situation, definition of project, evaluation criterions and concludes the key results of the thesis. In the end chapter Conclusions combines common principles with the results of the case. The case part ended up dividing important factors of the system in success factors, technical requirements and business benefits. To clarify the project and find funding for the project, business benefits have to be defined and the realization has to be monitored. The thesis found out six success factors for the MDM system: Well defined business case, data management and monitoring, data models and structures defined and maintained, customer and supplier data governance, delivery and quality, commitment, and continuous communication with business. Technical requirements emerged several times during the thesis and therefore those can’t be ignored in the project. Conclusions chapter goes through these factors on a general level. The success factors and technical requirements are related to the essentials of MDM: Governance, Action and Quality. This chapter could be used as guidance in a master data management project.

Hentriacontane: a leaf hydrocarbon from Syzygium jambos with stimulatory effects on the germination of urediniospores of Puccinia psidii

A crude Sohxlet extract from leaves of Syzygium jambos was sequentially fractionated using a silica gel flash column. A bioassay based on the numbers of urediniospores of Puccinia psidii that germinated in 2% water agar detected an active stimulant of germination when the fraction eluted with 100% n-hexane was used. The active fraction induced up to 88% increase in germination when added to a spore suspension in mineral oil. The active fraction was characterized as a hydrocarbon by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the fraction was a long-chain 436 MW hydrocarbon with corresponding to C31H64, namely hentriacontane. This is the first time such a compound proved to be involved with stimulation of fungal spore germination. These results may contribute to better understanding the infection process of rusts.

Effect of organic amendments on sclerotial germination, mycelial growth, and Sclerotium rolfsii-induced diseases

The addition of organic residues to soil is an option to control some soil-borne diseases. Benzaldehyde and powders of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana), and pine-bark (Pinus elliottii and P. taeda) added to soil could reduce certain soil-borne diseases. This study evaluated the effects of benzaldehyde and the dried powders of kudzu, velvetbean, and pine-bark as soil amendments on germination and formation of sclerotia, on mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii, on plant survival, and disease incidence. The data showed that high amounts of benzaldehyde (0.4 ml kg-1 of soil) and velvetbean (100 g kg-1) inhibited S. rolfsii mycelial growth and sclerotium germination. However, low amounts of benzaldehyde (0.1 ml kg-1), kudzu (25 g kg-1), and pine-bark (25 g kg-1) stimulated mycelial growth and sclerotium germination. Kudzu (25-100 g kg-1) and velvetbean (25-100 g kg-1) inhibited the formation of sclerotia. Nevertheless, benzaldehyde at 0.2 and 0.4 ml kg-1 stimulated the formation of sclerotia. Kudzu (50 and 100 g kg-1) and pine-bark (50 g kg-1) favored the colonization of sclerotia by Trichoderma sp. The numbers of soybean (Glycine max) plants were higher and diseased plants were lower than the non-amend soil in the following treatments: kudzu (50 and 100 g kg-1), velvetbean (50 and 100 g kg-1), and pine-bark (50 g kg-1). Disease severity on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants was low in soil treated with kudzu or velvetbean (30 and 35 g kg-1) and pine-bark (35 g kg-1). Dried powders of kudzu, velvetbean, or pine-bark added to soil can reduce disease by reducing pathogen inoculum.

Effect of Fusarium graminearum and infection index on germination and vigor of maize seeds

Pathogens in maize (Zea mays) seeds cause serious problems, such as the loss of their capacity to germinative. The objectives of this study were to identify the optimal period for infection of maize seeds on agar colonized by Fusarium graminearum, when incubated for 4, 8, 16 and 32 h, and to evaluate the effect of the fungus on the germination and vigor of seeds with different infection levels. After the respective incubation periods, the seeds were removed from the culture medium and submitted to the blotter test for 3 min with and without superficial disinfection with 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Once the optimal period for seed incubation was identified, seeds from the same sample were again placed on the colonized agar for infection. Germination and vigor tests (accelerated aging and cold test) were performed with a mixture of healthy seeds (placed on PDA medium) and inoculated seeds, resulting in seeds with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% rates of infection. The results showed that a period of 32 h was long enough to obtain seeds infected by the pathogen. There were no significant effects of fungal infection on seed germination at any of the infection levels, probably due to the high vigor of the maize seed lot tested. Regarding vigor tests, infection levels differed significantly from the control (0% infection), but there were no significant differences among the infection levels.

Evaluating the success of software development projects in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus

The size and complexity of projects in the software development are growing very fast. At the same time, the proportion of successful projects is still quite low according to the previous research. Although almost every project's team knows main areas of responsibility which would help to finish project on time and on budget, this knowledge is rarely used in practice. So it is important to evaluate the success of existing software development projects and to suggest a method for evaluating success chances which can be used in the software development projects. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the success of projects in the selected geographical region (Russia-Ukraine-Belarus). The second aim is to compare existing models of success prediction and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Research was done as an empirical study. A survey with structured forms and theme-based interviews were used as the data collection methods. The information gathering was done in two stages. At the first stage, project manager or someone with similar responsibilities answered the questions over Internet. At the second stage, the participant was interviewed; his or her answers were discussed and refined. It made possible to get accurate information about each project and to avoid errors. It was found out that there are many problems in the software development projects. These problems are widely known and were discussed in literature many times. The research showed that most of the projects have problems with schedule, requirements, architecture, quality, and budget. Comparison of two models of success prediction presented that The Standish Group overestimates problems in project. At the same time, McConnell's model can help to identify problems in time and avoid troubles in future. A framework for evaluating success chances in distributed projects was suggested. The framework is similar to The Standish Group model but it was customized for distributed projects.

Success of service-intensive manufacturing firms - resource-based view

The main objective of this study is to examine the relationships between resources, competitive advantage and firm success. The study focuses, on one hand, on the financial performance of service-intensive manufac-turing firms against competitors with a lower service intensity and, on the other hand, on the resources as drivers for competitive advantage and success. The purpose of the theoretical part is to link the study in the field of the strategy research. The empirical part of the study is based on the quantitative analyses of the survey data collected from 50 major suppliers of industrial machinery and transportation equipment in Europe and North America. Results indicate that service-intensive manufacturing firms have performed better and their performance has been more stable vis-à-vis their peers. The main resources that differentiate service-intensive manufacturing firms from their non-service intensive competitors are service strategy and service-oriented top management. The analyses on the VRIO resources produced only a limited amount of information and solely service-centred culture appeared to be a rent generating resource.

In vitro effect of substrate, temperature and photoperiod on Phakopsora pachyrhizi urediniospore germination and germ tube growth

In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the effects of substrate, temperature and time of exposure to temperature and photoperiod on P. pachyrhizi uredospore germination and germ tube growth. The following substrates were tested: water-agar and soybean leaf extract-agar at different leaf concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 g of leaves and 15g agar/L water), temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35oC) and times of exposure (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 hours) to temperature and 12 different photoperiods. The highest germination and germ tube length was found for the soybean leaf extract agar. Maximum P. pachyrhizi uredospore germination was obtained at 21.8 and 22.3°C, and maximum germ tube growth at 21.4 and 22.1°C. The maximum uredospore germination was found at 6.4 hours exposure, while the maximum germ tube length was obtained at 7.7 h exposure. Regarding photoperiod, the maximum spore germination and the maximum uredospore germ tube length were found in the dark. Neither spore germination nor uredospore germ tube growth was completely inhibited by the exposure to continuous light.

Seed germination and removal of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in eucalypt stands: the influence of the aril

We tested the influence of the aril on seed germination in controlled conditions and on the removal of M. champaca seeds in natural environment. Germination assays were kept at 25 ± 2 °C under continuous white light. Removal experiments were carried out in three "old" (39 to 62-years old) and three "new" (15-years old) eucalypt stands in Horto Florestal Navarro de Andrade, Rio Claro, SP. The results show that the aril inhibits the germination and the seeds exhibit a positively photoblastic reaction. We found higher seed removal in old eucalypt stands than the new ones, probably due to the higher density of rodents in the old stands. In the new stands, we found higher seed removal of arillated seeds by ants. Ants are important to remove the aril of seeds dropped by birds, not only enhancing seed germination but also preventing seed predation by rodents.

Primary metabolite mobilization during germination in rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke) seeds

This study aimed to characterize protein, oil, starch and soluble sugar mobilization as well as the activity of alpha-amylase during rosewood seed germination. Germination test was carried out at 25°C and the following parameters were analyzed: percentage of germination, initial, average, and final germination time. Seed reserve quantification was monitored in quiescent seeds and during different stages of radicle growth. Starch mobilization was studied in function of a-amylase activity. Germination reached 87.5% at the initial, average, and final time of 16, 21 and 30 days, respectively. Oil mobilization showed a negative linear behavior, decreasing 40% between the first and the last stage analyzed, whereas protein levels increased 34.7% during the initial period of germination. Starch content (46.4%) was the highest among those of the metabolites analyzed and starch mobilization occurred inversely to the observed for soluble sugars; alpha-amylase activity increased until the 15th day, a period before radicle emission and corresponding to the highest starch mobilization. The high percentage of rosewood seed germination may be related to the controlled condition used in the germination chamber as well as to high seed reserve mobilization, in special oil and starch.

Histochemical aspects of reserves mobilization of Caesalpinia peltophoroides (Leguminosae) seeds during germination and seedlings early growth

The objective of this study was to investigate reserve mobilization in Caesalpinia peltophoroides seeds during germination and initial seedling growth. The variation in these compounds was analyzed from the pre-germination period (0 to 5 days after sowing - DAS) to the total cotyledon senescence and abscission at 35 DAS. For this histochemical tests were made on cotyledons fixed in FAA50 or included in glycol-metacrylate. To follow the mobilization of the main reserve compounds, sudan III was used to detect total lipids, xylidine Ponceau to detect total proteins, lugol to detect starch and polarized light to visualize the crystals. The lipids, present in a great quantity in the cotyledon, gradually decreased in the period studied. A greater quantity of starch was observed on the 10th DAS than in the previous periods and it was totally consumed by 30 DAS. The distribution pattern and the morphology of the protein material were very modified by 10 DAS, a period during which it was intensely consumed, remaining only parietally fragments distributed, that practically disappeared at 25 DAS. The calcium oxalate druses were not consumed during the period studied, there was only crystal agglutination.

Germination of Caesalpinia leiostachya (benth.) ducke seeds classified by size and shape

Caesalpinia leiostachya (Benth.) Ducke (Caesalpiniaceae) is a Brazilian legumenous tree whose seeds present different sizes and shapes, with dormancy imposed by a waterproof coat. In order to improve that quality of lot, seeds were classified by width in sieves of circular meshes (13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) and manually separated by shape in elongate, round and angular. Masses of 1000 seeds were determined and the thickness of each width and shape seedclass was measured, and coat permeability of the seeds classified by the width was investigated. Seeds were scarified in concentrated sulphuric acid and submitted to the germination test. Both final percentage and speed of germination index were evaluated. The classification of the seeds improved the quality of the lot, and the coat permeability was not affected by seed width. Elongated-flat seeds are of low physiological quality and should be discarded. Masses of 1000 seeds, percentage final and speed of germination increased with the width of the seeds. Both elongated and angular seeds had similar germinative behavior, and round seeds are of greater thickness and of superior physiological quality.

Germination and vigor of Dimorphandra mollis benth. seeds under different temperatures and substrates

The Dimorphandra mollis Benth. - Caesalpiniaceae is a native forest species coming from the Cerrado and Caatinga due to its economical and ecological use, which justifies the studies on seed germination. In this work, germinative performance of D. mollis seeds were studied in different conditions of temperature regime and substrate. The experimental delineation used was completely randomized in factorial 4 x 4 (4 substrates -sand, coconut fiber, vermiculite and paper towel; and 4 temperatures: 25, 30, 35 and 20-30ºC), with four replications of 25 seeds each. The following parameters were evaluated: seed moisture content, final germination, first germination count, germination speed index, length and dry matter weight. The best germination and vigor is obtained at 30 and 35ºC. The substrates paper towel and vermiculite allow satisfactory germinative performance of seeds, being suitable to evaluate the physiological quality of D. mollis seeds.