Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Business competitiveness/competition'

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The object of this study was to do a comparative analysis of the competitiveness of the South African apple industry with the competitive ran kings published by Dr Desmond O'Rourke as a guideline. Firstly, the intention was to determine if South Africa's ranking is valid and representative, and secondly, to look at the scope for improvement. South Africa's best competitive performance is in the area of production. Although South Africa is performing well there is still scope for improvement by increasing productivity of orchards and quality of the crop. Input costs, labour and climate change are other big concerns. The biggest area for improvement however lies with the relationship between the South African apple industry and the South African government. Many of the changes in legislation and policy since 1994 have had a negative impact on the competitiveness of the South African apple industry. Government need to play an active role in supporting the apple industry through infrastructure, market access and financial support for industry initiatives like promotion and research. This can only be achieved if there is a partnership between the industry and government. The Department of Agriculture also need to be capacitated to perform their functions professionally and efficiently. In terms of market and demand the main concern is the dependence of the South African apple industry on the markets of Europe and the United Kingdom. These markets also have a decline in per capita consumption of apples. This, associated with increased consumer pressure in terms of food safety, environmental and ethical issues and the power of retailers, creates a need to get market access in new developing markets like India and China. The promotions of consumption of apples in the local market would also have a positive effect on profitability. In a world market where the production volume of South Africa is insignificant, the industry needs to do everything in its control to increase competitiveness.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n vergelykende studie van die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelindustrie te doen met die mededingendheidsranglys van Dr. Desmond O'Rourke as 'n riglyn. Eerstens was die oogmerk om te bepaal of hierdie ranglys verteenwoordigend is van die mededingendheid van Suid-Afrika, en tweedens om die ruimte en area vir verbetering te identifiseer. Suid-Afrika se beste area van kompeterende prestasie is produksie. Alhoewel Suid-Afrika goed vaar op hierdie gebied is daar nog steeds ruimte vir verbetering deur produktiwiteit van boorde en die kwaliteit van die oes te verhoog. Insetkoste, arbeid en klimaatsverandering is ook areas van bekommernis. Die grootste area vir verbetering is egter die verhouding tussen die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie en die regering. Baie van die veranderinge in wetgewing en beleid sedert 1994 het 'n negatiewe impak op die mededingendheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse appelindustrie gehad. Die regering moet 'n aktiewe rol speel om die appelindustrie te ondersteun t.o.v. die infrastruktuur, marktoegang, promosie en navorsing. Dit kan slegs bereik word as daar 'n vennootskap tussen die regering en industrie is. Die Departement van Landbou het ook die kapasiteit nodig om hulle taak professioneel en effektief te kan verrig. In terme van markte en vraag is die grootste bekommernis die afhanklikheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie van die markte van Europa en die Verenigde Koninkryk. Hierdie markte toon 'n afname in per capita verbruik van appels. Dit tesame met die verbruikersdruk in terme van voedselveilighied, omgewing en etiese kwessies en die mag van die supermarkte skep die behoefte om marktoegang tot nuwe ontwikkelende markte soos Indie en China uit te brei. Die promosie van verbruik van appels in die plaaslike mark sal ook 'n positiewe effek op winsgewendheid he. In 'n wereldmark waar die produksievolume van Suid-Afrika nie noemenswaardig is nie, is dit van die uiterste belang dat die industrie alles in hul vermoe doen am mededingendheid te verhoog.

The South African economy and especially its retail environment are continuously experiencing the impact of globalisation. The continuous expansions of large public retail businesses that consist of numerous chain stores are evident in both the local and international arena. South Africa has witnessed large amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) invested into its retail sector. The above mentioned facts hold a serious challenge for small and medium retail businesses in South Africa (SMEs). In order for SME retail businesses to stay competitive against these global retail businesses, it needs to be able to withstand the competition in the environment it operates. This is not always an easy challenge given the limited access to resources that the majority of SME businesses have access to. This study presents how South African SME retail businesses can remain competent and profitable in spite of serious competition from large retail businesses of both local and international origin. In order to suggest recommendations for South African SME retail businesses to be more competent in relation to large retail businesses, the researcher identified some areas of improvement, which is perceived to be the most important for enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. These variables include uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management. These variables were researched to understand how they affect SME retail businesses and where tested using quantitative analysis to ascertain if managers and owners of SME retail businesses believed that these variables would help them to improve the level of competitiveness in relation to large retail businesses. The results indicated that SME owners and managers felt that uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management all contributes to the competitiveness of their business. Empirical evidence shows that owners and managers of SME retail business felt that all of the above factors will result in their SME retail business being more competitive as compared to large retail businesses. The former will lead to better chances of success which again are most likely to lead to increased probability.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
In South Africa, the retail pharmacy market has changed dramatically with the introduction of legislation allowing a non-pharmacist to own a pharmacy as well as the regulation of medicine prices, which has affected the profitability of independent community pharmacies. These regulations have caused a shift in the status quo in that major corporate retailers have successfully entered the retail pharmacy market. The independent community pharmacy owner has to manage and finance his/her own pharmacy and does not have access to vast financial resources such as the major corporates forcing some of them to close down. The aim of the research was to investigate in more detail the competitive strategies independent community pharmacies have in place by utilising qualitative empirical research to address the main research question and research objectives. All the respondents acknowledged the importance of personal customer service as a key success factor in their strategic planning process. The research results showed that independent community pharmacies cannot compete with corporate-owned pharmacies on their dispensary as they do not have the financial resources in comparison to corporate retailers. Respondents realized that by leveraging their front-shop offering and offering products to customers based on their needs and wants, they will be in a better position to compete. In order to attract and retain their customers, the respondents recognised the significance of offering value-added services to suit the needs of the community. Respondents highlighted the importance of understanding the market to improve their business as well as moving from a convenience store to a one-stop destination store for customers. Although the respondents agreed that marketing one’s products, services and promotions were important in order to create awareness of their offering, and considered a definite method to attract new customers to the store, some pharmacy owners stated they were not financially in a position to do so. Employee retention is currently not a concern due to low turnover, with respondents feeling that the current work atmosphere and culture are conducive to the retention of staff. Research results showed that proper inventory management is essential in order to ensure that the product offering addresses the needs of the clientele. Respondents seem to be concerned that further legislative changes may adversely affect their profit margins but appear to be hopeful regarding their sustainability into the future. The research highlighted the value of managerial capability and expertise enabling independent community pharmacies to pose a viable threat to the corporate retailer operating within its vicinity. To ensure competitiveness in the retail pharmacy sector, the independent community pharmacy needs to adapt and continue to redefine itself in the face of significant challenges in the health landscape by developing a sustainable strategy based on the following recommendations: - Expanding front-shop retail. - Offering value-added services. - Implement integrated business solutions. - Create brand awareness with an increased marketing presence. - Sponsor employee training interventions and/or attendance at industry seminars. - Implement employee incentive programmes. - Having defined and documented standard operating procedures and processes in place. - Joining buying groups in an attempt to increase buying power.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The relationship between competitiveness and FDI inflow was investigated in this study. South Africa needs FDI to stimulate the economy with the ultimate goal of reducing unemployment and improving the quality of life of the population. Substantial FDI inflow was expected after the peaceful transition to a multi-party democracy in 1994. The data of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) was used to measure competitiveness. The UN Human Development Index was used to determine the progress of human development. The annual World Investment Report published by UNCTAD was used to determine a framework of the determinants for FDI. The determinant framework as proposed by UNCTAD was used to evaluate the extent and importance of each determinant for FDI. This included the FDI policy framework, business facilitation measures and economic determinants (Market seeking, Resource seeking and Efficiency seeking). The competitiveness of South Africa was evaluated using the IMD WCY measurement. The IMD ranking of South Africa declined after 1994 and then stabilised. The trend of the UN HDI was detailed and the negative effect of HIV/AIDS on life expectancy could clearly be identified. The examination of the FDI inflow to South Africa during the period 1994 to 2000 showed that it did not reach anticipated levels. No correlation between competitiveness and FDI inflow could be found for South Africa. Brazil was selected as a benchmark for South Africa due to its similar social, political and economical structure. Brazil succeeded in attracting substantial FDI inflows after 1994 when its economy was stabilised. Brazil's ranking in the IMD WCY improved during the period from 1994 to 2000. The UN HDI rating for Brazil has improved throughout the past 25 years. HIV/AIDS has no effect on the forecasted national life expectancy figures due to the low infection rate in Brazil. A strong correlation between competitiveness and FDI inflow was found for Brazil. As the competitiveness ranking improved, the FDI inflow into Brazil increased and Vice versa. South Africa and Brazil were compared according to the relative strength of determinants to attract FDI, the strength of each competitiveness indicator and overall competitiveness ranking. South Africa compared very well with Brazil in terms of the FDI policy framework as well as the FDI business facilitation measures. In terms of efficiency seeking FDI, South Africa exceeded Brazil in the strength of its productivity and physical infrastructure, although Brazil was superior in skill level and scientific knowledge of the population. Resource seeking determinants are not strong in both countries. Brazil has an advantage over South Africa in that its population of 160 million is attractive for market seeking FDI. When the FDI inflow per capita was compared between South Africa and Brazil, the poor performance of South Africa was evident. Brazil also outperformed South Africa in terms of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook ranking. The IMD uses empirical data as well as data collected through surveys of business people in the ranking process. The survey data capture the perceptions of a country held by potential investors. Often perceptions override empirical data during the investment decision. The reason for South Africa's poor FDI inflow performance during the period 1994 to 2000 is difficult to resolve. The benchmarking with Brazil showed that the strength of the determinants (excluding market seeking) was on par with Brazil. The conclusion was made that the importance of various FDI determinants varies between regions of the world. Investment decisions involving Africa are made differently than in for example South America. UNCTAD data showed that resource seeking (oil & petroleum) FDI determinants with a high reward ratio was the only reaIly strong attraction for investment in Africa. The negative perceptions of Africa including civil unrest, famine and economic instability continue to influence the FDI inflow to South Africa. Although efficiency seeking together with a FDI policy framework and business facilitation measures attract FDI to a country in South America (Brazil), it is not sufficient to attract FDI to a country in southern Africa (South Africa). South Africa must change the international perceptions of the continent by creating a positive investment climate throughout Africa through strong, responsible leadership. The government must expand the knowledge and skill level of the population beyond basic education to enable them to participate in the international information and technology marketplace. Huge investments are required to create a culture of learning and self improvement in the population of South Africa. A high level of skills and knowledge will attract efficiency seeking FDI.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die verhouding tussen die internationale mededingendheid van 'n land en direkte buitelandse investering in die land te ondersoek. Suid-Afrika benodig direkte buitelandse investering om die ekonomie te stimuleer met die doel om werkloosheid te verminder en die lewenstandaard van die bevolking te verhoog. Na die demokratiese verkiesing van 1994 en die vreedsame oorgang tot 'n veelparty regering was daar groot verwagtinge van substansiële buitelandse investering. Die data van die IMD se World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) is gebruik om mededingendheid te evalueer. Die Verenigde Nasies se Human Development Index (HDI) is gebruik om die vordering van menslike ontwikkeling te bepaal. Die World Investment Report (WIR) van UNCTAD se raamwerk van determinante vir direkte buitelandse investering is gebruik om die omvang en belangrikheid van elke determinant te bepaal. Die UNCTAD raamwerk sluit die buitelandse investeringsbeleid, die besigheidsfasiliteringsmaatstawwe en ekonomiese determinante (markgedrewe, natuurlike brongedrewe en effektiwiteitgedrewe ) in. Die mededingendheid van Suid-Afrika is geëvalueer op grond van die IMD WCY proses. Die Suid-Afrikaanse posisie op die IMD ranglys het na 1994 verswak, maar daarna gestabiliseer. Die negatiewe effek van MIV/VIGS op die lewensverwagting van die bevolking is duidelik sigbaar in die tendens van die Verenigde Nasies se HDI vir Suid-Afrika. Die direkte buitelandse investeringsinvloei (1994 - 2000) na Suid-Afrika het nie aan die verwagtinge voldoen nie. Daar kon geen korrelasie tussen mededingendheid en buitelandse investering vir Suid-Afrika gevind word nie. Brasilië is geselekteer as 'n maatstaf vir Suid-Afrika as gevolg van die sosiale, politieke en ekonomiese oorenkomste tussen die lande. Brasilië het daarin geslaag om grootskaalse buitelandse investering te lok nadat sy ekonomie in 1994 gestabiliseer het. Brasilië se posisie op die IMD ranglys het gedurende die periode 1994 tot 2000 verbeter. Die Verenigde Nasies se HDI syfer vir Brasilië het verbeter gedurende die afgelope 25 jaar. Aangesien die MIV/VIGS besmettingsyfer baie laag is in Brasilië, het dit geen effek op die lewensverwaging van die bevolking nie. 'n Sterk korrelasie is gevind tussen mededingendheid en buitelandse investeringsinvloei na Brasilië. Soos Brasilië se posisie op die IMD se mededingendheidsranglys verbeter het, het buitelandse investering terselftertyd toegeneem en vice versa. Suid-Afrika en Brasilië is vergelyk in terme van die relatiewe sterktes van die determinante om buitelandse investering te trek, die sterkte van elke mededingendheidsindikator en algehele posisie op die IMD se mededingendheidsranglys. Suid-Afrika het baie goed vergelyk met Brasilië in terme van die direkte buitelandse investeringsbeleidsraamwerk asook die besigheidsinvestering en fasiliteringsmaatstawwe. In terme van effektiwiteitsgedrewe direkte buitelandse investering, het Suid-Afrika vir Brasilië geklop op die vlak van werkerproduktiwiteit asook die beskikbare infrastruktuur. Determinante vir natuurlike hulpbrongedrewe direkte buitelandse investering is nie sterk in enige van die twee lande nie. Brasilië het die verdere voordeel dat sy bevolking van 160 miljoen markgedrewe direkte buitelandse investering lok. Die vergelyking van direkte buitelandse investering për kapita tussen Suid-Afrika en Brasilië het getoon dat Suid-Afrika in hierdie opsig swak gevaar het. Brasilië het ook beter gevaar in terme van die IMD se mededingendheids ranglys. Die IMD gebruik empiriese data sowel as data van meningsopnames van sakeleiers. Die meningsopname data weerspieël die persepsie van sakeleiers oor 'n land. Dikwels kan persepsies deurslaggewend wees tydens die keuse van 'n belegging. Die rede vir Suid-Afrika se lae buitelandse beleggingsinvloei tydens 1994 tot 2000 is moeilik om te bepaal. Die vergelyking van Suid-Afrika met Brasilië het getoon dat die meederheid determinate van Suid-Afrika op standaard is. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die belangrikheid van determinante vir buitelandse investering tussen lande verskil. Beleggingsbesluite vir Afrika word anders gemaak as byvoorbeeld in Suid- Amerika. UNCTAD toon aan dat natuurlike hulpbroninvestering (olie en petroleum) met 'n hoë winsverhouding, die enigste sterk determinant vir belegging in Afrika is. Die negatiewe persepsies oor Afrika (onluste, hongersnood en ekonomiese onstabiliteit) beïnvloed steeds die invloei van buitelandse belegging na Suid-Afrika. Alhoewel doeltreffenheidsgedrewe buitelandse investering saam met 'n investeringsbeleidsraamwerk en besigheidsfasiliteringsmaatstawwe voldoende is om buitelande beleggings te lok na 'n land in Suid-Amerika (Brasilië), is dit nie die geval vir 'n land in Suider-Afrika (Suid-Afrika) nie. Suid-Afrika moet die internasionale beeld van die Afrika kontinent verander deur 'n positiewe beleggingsklimaat dwarsdeur Afrika te skep. Dit kan bewerkstellig word deur sterk, verantwoordelike leierskap in Afrika deur Suid-Afrika. Omdat basiese opleiding onvoldoende is, moet die regering die kennis en vlak van vaardighede van die bevolking uitbrei. Dit sal die bevolking in staat stel om deel te neem aan die internasionale mark vir informasie en tegnologie. Groot beleggings is nodig om 'n kultuur van kundigheid en selfverbetering onder die bevolking van Suid-Afrika te vestig. 'n Hoë vlak van vaardighede en kennis sal doeltreffendheidsgedrewe buitelandse investering na Suid-Afrika lok.

Logistics has become one of the automotive industry's most crucial sub-sectors. Previously, logistics had to step aside to make way for production considerations. Today it is regarded as being every bit as crucial as production in the global village. Advancement of logistics in South Africa is crucial because original equipment manufacturers are producing to developed world standards but are having to cope with low developing world logistics standards. The logistics processes that need to be enhanced in order for the South African automotive industry to be more competitive were investigated. To examine the main problem, three sub-problems were identified. The first sub-problem that has been identified dealt with logistics processes that will enhance the competitive advantage of the South African automotive industry. The second sub-problems looked at key logistics opportunities and threats to the environment in which South African motor manufactures trade. They were investigated by assessing the nature of the South African motor manufacturing industry. Finally, the third sub-problem investigated conclusions that can be arrived at concerning the appropriateness and strategic value of the analysis.

Theses (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The concept of international competitiveness has become increasingly important due to globalisation and increased integration between nations and has been referred to as a "new type of warfare" in modern economies. With the advent of globalisation, countries have become more integrated not only through trade but also in financial markets. Consequently, the question of attaining sustainable development through international competitiveness has become very significant. As globalisation proceeds, it would appear that a combination of factors are raising the demand for skilled labour and lowering the demand for unskilled and semi-skilled labour. In South Africa, at least over the short term, the predictions are for declining demand for unskilled and semi-skilled labour and rising demand for skilled and professional occupations. South African manufacturing firms are generally characterised by low spending on innovation. Today there is a shift in the pattern of world trade away from commodity production and raw material intensive simple manufactured goods and towards increasingly knowledge-intensive goods and services. As the more traditional bases of securing a competitive advantage decline for South African manufacturing firms, the ability to compete will increasingly turn on their capacities to master information technology. Technological infrastructure is becoming a key asset for the future competitiveness of a nation. Technology also impacts on education. Therefore, the priority of a competitive nation is to develop the people who will operate the new technological infrastructure and strive to be on the leading edge of future developments. This is one of the reasons why South Africa has to improve on its technology in order to be attractive to foreign investment. It is clear ,that South Africa's current education and training system is not adequate to address the future challenges of the country. An integrated, restructured education and training system that is geared to supplying the necessary manpower to ensure high productivity and international competitiveness is needed if South Africa is to become globally competitive. Therefore the importance of education and training to upgrade people to enable them to earn more cannot be overemphasised. Much more emphasis must be put on technical training in South Africa. After some difficult years of isolation, South Africa has increased its rating on international competitiveness by three positions from 42nd in 2001 to 39th in 2002. It is hoped that South Africa's economic growth rate improves as a result of its pursuit of privatisation; reform of the state sector; and liberalisation of trade and tariffs. The social inequalities inherited from the past, high unemployment and a relatively high inflation rate may constrain the government's economic policy. The development priorities of developing countries such as South Africa include achieving sustained income growth for their economies by raising investment rates, strengthening technological capacities and skills and improving the competitiveness of their exports in world markets, distributing the benefits of growth equitably by creating more and better employment opportunities and protecting and conserving the physical environment for future generations. The new and more competitive context of liberalising and globalising the world economy in which economic activity take place imposes considerable pressures on developing countries to upgrade their resources and capabilities if they are to achieve these objectives. This study seeks to investigate the extent to which international competitiveness contributes to the economic development of South Africa, by studying the theory of comparative advantage and its implications to the modern theory of trade. The study explores and identifies key factors of international competitiveness and globalisation and the success of the application of international competitiveness into practice. The study concludes with possible areas of further research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die konsep van internasionale mededingendheid word toenemend belangrik weens globalisering en groter integrasie tussen nasies en daar word in hedendaagse ekonomieë daarna verwys as 'n "nuwe soort oorlog". Met die koms van globalisering het lande nie net deur handel nie maar ook in finansiële markte meer geïntegreerd geraak. Die kwessie van die bewerkstelliging van volgehoue ontwikkeling deur internasionale mededingendheid het gevolglik baie belangrik geword. Namate globalisering voortgaan wil dit voorkom asof 'n kombinasie van faktore die vraag na geskoolde arbeid verhoog en die vraag na ongeskoolde en halfgeskoolde arbeid laat daal. In Suid-Afrika word 'n kleiner vraag na ongeskoolde en halfgeskoolde arbeid en 'n groter vraag na geskoolde en professionele beroepe oor ten minste die kort termyn voorspel. Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigingsmaatskappye word oor die algemeen deur lae besteding aan innovasie gekenmerk. Daar is tans 'n verskuiwing in die patroon van wêreldhandel weg van kommoditeitsproduksie en grondstof-intensiewe eenvoudige vervaardigde goedere na toenemend kennis-intensiewe goedere en dienste. Namate die meer tradisionele grondslae waarop Suid-Afrikaanse vervaardigingsmaatskappye 'n mededingende voordeel verkry het, verdwyn, sal die vermoë om mee te ding toenemend afhang van hul vermoë om inligtingstegnologie te bemeester. Tegnologiese infrastruktuur word 'n baie belangrike bate vir die toekomstige mededingendheid van 'n land. Tegnologie het ook 'n impak op onderwys. Die prioriteit van 'n mededingende land is dus die ontwikkeling van die mense wat die nuwe tegnologiese infrastruktuur sal bestuur en wat daarna strewe om aan die spits van toekomstige ontwikkelings te wees. Dit is een van die redes waarom Suid-Afrika sy tegnologie moet verbeter ten einde aantreklik te wees vir buiteland,sebelegging. Dit is duidelik dat Suid-Afrika se huidige onderwys- en opleidingstelsel nie voldoende is om die toekomstige uitdagings vir die land die hoof te bied nie. 'n Geïntegreerde herstruktureerde onderwys- en opleidingstelsel wat daarop gemik is om die nodiqe mannekrag te voorsien om hoë produktiwiteit en internasionale mededingendheid te verseker, word vereis indien Suid-Afrika mededingend wil wees in die internasionale arena. Die belangrikheid van onderwys en opleiding om mense op te gradeer ten einde hulle in staat te stel om meer te verdien, kan nie oorbeklemtoon word nie. Groter klem moet op tegniese opleiding in Suid-Afrika gelê word. Na moeilike jare van isolasie het Suid-Afrika sy gradering ten opsigte van internasionale mededingendheid met drie posisies verbeter vanaf 42ste in 2001 tot 39ste in 2002. Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese groeikoers sal hopelik verbeter as gevolg van sy strewe na privatisering, hervorming van die staatsektor, en liberalisering van handel en tariewe. Die maatskaplike ongelykhede van die verlede, hoë werkloosheid en 'n betreklik hoë inflasiekoers kan moontlik die regering se ekonomiese beleid aan bande lê. Die ontwikkelingsprioriteite van ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika sluit die volgende in: volgehou inkomstegroei vir hul ekonomieë deur beleggingskoersverhogings, verbetering van tegnologiese kapasiteite en vaardighede, die verbetering van die mededingendheid van hul uitvoere in wêreldmarkte, die billiker verdeling van die voordele van groei deur meer en beter werkgeleenthede te skep, en die beskerming en bewaring van die fisiese omgewing vir toekomstige geslagte. Die nuwe en meer mededingende konteks van die liberalisering en globalisering van die wêreldekonomie waarin ekonomiese aktiwiteit plaasvind, plaas- groot druk op ontwikkelende lande om hul hulpbronne en kapasiteite te opgradeer indien hulle hierdie doelwitte wil bereik. Hierdie studie poog om die mate waarin internasionale mededingendheid tot die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika bydra, te ondersoek deur die teorie van mededingende voordeel en die implikasies daarvan vir die moderne handelsteorie te bestudeer. Die studie ondersoek en identifiseer die hooffaktore van internasionale mededingendheid en globalisering en die sukses van die toepassing van internasionale mededingendheid in die praktyk. Die studie word afgesluit met voorstelle vir moontlike verdere navorsing.

This thesis evolves around image and its significance while developing customers' loyalty and increasing company's competitiveness in a highly competitive market. The topic is studied in-depth from the organisational perspective and delves into the differing motivations of hotel operators towards shaping favourable image as well as examining how the hotel's image affects customer loyalty and helps the company to increase its competitiveness. Finally, it analyses and compares which public relations tools are the most effective in the process of image creation and developing customer loyalty. From this perspective image becomes a central issue impacting company's future growth, performance and finally success. The research was conducted on the Auckland international hotel chains. Auckland hosts numerous conferences and events that drives demand for accommodation and in a way, creates a conducive environment to hotel operators for future expansion. Thus, hotels compete strongly with one another constantly looking for a competitive advantage by growing their customer base. My thesis outlines the hotels' management efforts and analyses their strategies in the context of changing customers' demands and market trends.With respect to methodological issues, my thesis is based on a qualitative approach and follows an interpretivist paradigm. The research background has been delineated as have been my respondents' profile to provide additional information about the organisation they represent. The research findings described at the end of this thesis document how important image is for a modern hotel and what initiatives should be followed to ensure success. Image and loyalty are closely interrelated as positive image affects customers' loyalty. In order to achieve a balance between sustaining a competitive advantage and increasing loyal customer base a number of managerial implications have been discovered. Detailed analysis of these findings may help the companies to establish a more favourable position in the global market and create mutually beneficial relationships which further help the organisation to grow.Having aimed at exploring the importance of image as a medium that affects company's competitiveness and customers' loyalty towards brand, this study has provided some useful indications for hotel companies as to what should be undertaken to gain loyal customers and improve company's performance on the market.

The South African automotive industry has been identified as an important influence on the economy of South Africa. In particular, it plays a role in job creation in a country with high unemployment rates. However, being linked to a global industry, its competitive position and future relevance have come into question on numerous occasions. After a period of isolation and protection, the local industry had to enter global competition. The competitive playing field had suddenly widened from companies competing locally amongst each other for local market share, to competing globally for international sales. In addition it was found that competition was not only limited to opposing brands but also existed within the subsidiaries of the same brand. The reason for this was the existence of overcapacity in the manufacturing facilities internationally. Coupled with this, most of the dominant vehicle manufacturers were creating more capacity in developing markets to support demand as well as to benefit from cheaper resources. There are of course many influencing factors on the competitive position of such an important industry. The value chain has been identified as a tool to analyse and compare the activities within rival businesses or industry role players. Two primary activities within the value chain are inbound logistics and outbound logistics. The objective of the research was to investigate the influence of inbound and outbound logistics on the competitiveness of the South African automotive industry. A literature review created the conceptual framework for the research. It was necessary to discuss the automotive industry in a global sense to understand the history and trends of the development within the industry. It was also necessary to understand the South African automotive industry within this context to identify its place and relevance in global terms. It was found that, although important to the local economy, the local industry was not a dominant force to be reckoned with and was in fact being over taken by many of its competitors. Part of this investigation was spent on the development of the local industry in a protected environment and what it meant for the growth of local content and exports. This was also important as the component manufacturers based in South Africa need critical mass to create an efficient platform to be globally competitive. It was found that historic development programmes did not do much to improve this aspect but there is optimism about the latest programme which promotes an increase in production volumes. The state of logistics in South Africa was critically analysed to understand the influence it has on the automotive industry. It was found that although the logistics infrastructure within South Africa is the best in Africa, it is behind the standards of its competitors. This is influencing the automotive industry as a result of inadequate rail infrastructure. The reason for this was that most of the freight which was being transported by road would be more efficiently transported by rail. The cost of logistics was also found to be high in South Africa and skills were also a concern to improve the current situation. A research questionnaire was created from the findings of the literature review. The questionnaire formed the primary research tool for this study. The sample was identified as respondents from vehicle assemblers and component manufacturers who would have sufficient knowledge of this topic. It was found that inbound and outbound logistics costs formed a relatively large component of total costs. The high levels of imported parts being used as well as export levels added to the logistics costs. This also caused uneconomical inventory levels as stock needed to be kept for longer periods before being replenished. The respondents were also aware of the fact that rail would improve the situation if the infrastructure was sufficient. The respondents seemed to be of the opinion that the skills of the employees responsible for logistics were not a major influencing factor and that logistics service providers were in addition, not creating an overwhelming cost improvement. The incentive programmes were also not seen to be doing much to address the influence of logistics on the automotive industry.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria was investigated. Existing data available in literature was used to analyse trends with regards to FDI and competitiveness in South Africa and Nigeria over the last 10 years. According to the UNCTAD report (2002) in 1997, FDI in Africa was concentrated on five countries namely, Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria in the last ten years has consistently outperformed South Africa with regards to the amount of FDI received; yet South Africa outperforms Nigeria on all the competitiveness indices. This has been primarily due to the fact that Nigeria's main source of FDI is the petroleum sector. In Africa 75% of FDI goes into countries endowed with petroleum and mineral resources with very few of these strangling to meet the above list of WAIPA reasons favourable for FDI. The ultimate goal of a nations competitiveness is to increase efficiencies under free and fair market conditions through foreign trade, production and investment. Main results of this study have been the following; • Oil is a major FDI attractor of FDI in Africa, and explains why Nigeria receives more FDI than South Africa. • Although Nigeria does not have a good competitive record relative to South Africa it does however offer competitive fiscal terms to IOC's to explore and exploit the countries abundant petroleum resources. • Oil wealth struggles to filter down to the people of the country, as Nigeria's per capita income remains about fifteen times lower than South Africa's, with its more efficient economy. • This study confirms the fact that many MNC's especially in Africa tend to be driven by resource-seeking opportunities and rather than efficiency seeking opportunities. Unfortunately many of the petroleum exporting countries are unable to use the wealth generated by the petroleum industry to enhance their global competitiveness. The problem is that many countries are not diversified enough and rely extensively on commodities to generate much needed revenue.

Актуальность данной работы заключается в поиске конкурентоспособ-ной стратегии развития отечественных авиакомпаний путем трансформации бизнес-модели для увеличения прибыли и снижения затрат. В результате, находясь в жесткой конкуренции, многие авиакомпании отходят от канонов классической и бюджетной бизнес-моделей. Объектом исследования является авиакомпания ПАО «Аэрофлот». Предметом исследования являются направления трансформация эле-ментов бизнес-модели авиаперевозчика для формирования конкурентоспо-способной стратегии развития. В связи с этим цель выпускной квалификационной работы – оценить, позволяет ли предпринимаемая трансформация бизнес-модели крупнейшей российской авиакомпании ПАО «Аэрофлот» создать конкурентоспособную стратегию развития в условиях глобальной конкуренции. Были получены следующие выводы: Представлена бизнес-модель как современный инструмент проектирования конкурентоспособной стратегии развития; Выявлены типы существующих бизнес-моделей, используемых авиакомпаниями, и определены ключевые аспекты каждой бизнес-модели; Типологизированы действующующая бизнес-модель авиакомпании ПАО «Аэрофлот»; Оценена эффективность бизнес-модели авиакомпании в средней и долгосрочной перспективе с точки зрения создания конкурентоспособной стратегии на разных промежутках планирования.
The relevance of this work lies in the search for a competitive strategy for the development of domestic airlines by transforming the business model to increase profits and reduce costs. As a result, being in fierce competition, many airlines are deviating from the canons of classic and low-cost business models. The object of the research is the airline PJSC "Aeroflot". The subject of the research is the direction of transformation of elements of the air carrier's business model to form a competitive development strategy. In this regard, the goal of the final qualification work is to assess whether the ongoing transformation of the business model of the largest Russian airline, PJSC Aeroflot, makes it possible to create a competitive development strategy in the context of global competition. The following conclusions were obtained: - The business model is presented as a modern tool for designing a competitive development strategy; - Identified types of existing business models used by airlines and identified key aspects of each business model; - The current business model of the airline PJSC Aeroflot was typologized; Evaluated the effectiveness of the airline's business model in the medium and long term in terms of creating a competitive strategy at different planning intervals.

The subject of this master's thesis is to analyze the current business strategy of the company JANTA s.r.o. and perform the optimization, that will improve business strategy. The work includes theoretical aspects, analysis of the company, specifically external and internal analysis, SWOT analysis and financial analysis, then contains recommendations and instructions, which lead up within the proposed strategy to set goals in order to improve the competitiveness of the company. The author is managing director of the company.

The main goal for this diplomatic field is to study the expansion achievement of a particular company breaking into the international market. First part of this study consists theoretical solutions which targets strategies of the best way to enter a new market in Austria. In this particular analysis it is covered a research on local and outlying regions. And this study covers the possibility of entering this market and consider the viability of expansion that may enhance it's growth and profitability. There are strategies put in place in this study that will outline the expenses of marketing and other solutions. It is vital to perform this study to assure that such business is not only going to be successful but also to perform at it's highest level.

Throughout history, a number of financial centers have risen and fallen. While the significance of some centers have deteriorated, a small number of centers have emerged as today's leading financial centers by meeting a specific set of necessary conditions needed to successfully address the growing financial needs of the regions they are located. Furthermore, an even smaller number of financial centers have been able to sustain and expand their initial dominance in the financial industry by continuously satisfying a more focused set of conditions and factors. This thesis focuses on adapting Michael Porter's Diamond Model in determining, clustering, and expanding key factors that have historically given cities such as London, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo their current status at the pinnacle of the financial centers of the world. This thesis begins by taking Porter's model that addresses national competitive advantage nations from a macroeconomic point of view, and adapting it to the development of financial centers at a microeconomic level. It utilizes Michael Porter's established grouping corners for identifying a vast array of macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that have historically played critical roles in increasing productivity and efficiency within a center's financial industry. Additionally, this thesis categorizes these factors into parameters that form a theoretical model designed to showcase the path to global financial dominance for an aspiring financial center. With the adaptation of Porter's model outlined in this thesis, financial centers are given a figurative blueprint of what constitutes a successful financial center. The theoretical model analyzes the necessary conditions and environments that a center needs to recreate within itself, or are endowed with, in order to be a globally competitive financial center.
B.S.B.A.
Bachelors
Business Administration
Finance

Our interest in this thesis is based on the discussion we had in previous courses about the development of emerging countries. Since two of the writers of this thesis are from Poland we tried to found a common interest, hence the relationship between the Polish subcontractors and Swedish customer is analyzed.

Poland is also known as a low cost country and that make it favorable when it comes about hiring subcontractors. The subcontractors in Poland are also known for the skills and expertise to produce quality. Something that is important for many foreign companies. IKEA has more than 40 subcontractors in Poland; the reason is just the factors mentioned above, to be able to produce good quality to low cost. (www.ikea.com)

Earlier research indicate that Poland is developing rapidly compare to other emergent countries in Eastern Europe. There have been and will be changes in the environment that most likely will affect the competitive advantage that the subcontractors are the leader in. In other words these changes might lead to that Poland loses its customers which choose other markets that still are able produce at lower costs.

The main problem for the thesis is to investigate how can polish subcontractors cope with environmental changes to sustain competitive advantage?

In order to answer this, we used a qualitative approach where the characteristics of a case study are conducted. We collected and analyzed data in an abductive way. The interviews with the three Polish subcontractors were made in a semi structure form via telephone. To be able to solve the above problem an environmental analysis of Poland was done, in order to found those factors that are mentioned as worries and are likely to change in the future. The changes are presented from subcontractors’ perspective and recommendation how to cope with them is given.

This mini-dissertation reviews present literature to define ICT and SMEs and determine the current situation in South Africa with regard to the use of ICT by SMEs, including possible benefits to SMEs as well as stumbling blocks to adopting ICT. The research consists of collecting data from ten SMEs in Gauteng in South Africa using questionnaires and interviews, to determine how SMEs can use ICT to become more competitive. The mini-dissertation will have a number of chapters: the first chapter will give an overview of the subject. The second chapter will explain the research motivation and methodology while the third chapter will be the literature review, which will explore the topic of ICT and SMEs in depth, with a focus on South Africa. Chapter four will deal with data collection and analysis; the main source of data will be interviews based on structured questions. The fifth chapter will be the discussion and recommendations based on the results of the analysis and the literature review. Chapter Six will be the conclusion.
Dissertation (MIT)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
Informatics
unrestricted

Orientador: Marta Lígia Pomim Valentim
Banca: Helen de Castro Silva Casarin
Banca: Wanda aparecida Machado Hofmann
Resumo: O cenário contemporâneo globalizado afeta substancialmente todos os segmentos da sociedade, especialmente as empresas. Nesse contexto, as microempresas merecem destaque, pois são responsáveis pela economia de uma determinada cidade ou região e, portanto, torna-se relevante sua investigação devido ao seu caráter empreendedor. No entanto, poucas pesquisas são aplicadas no âmbito das microempresas no que tange aos aspectos da competitividade empresarial e do uso de informações estratégicas para a tomada de decisão. Além disso, as empresas geralmente desconhecem os métodos, as técnicas e as tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TICs) para a realização das atividades de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, as quais possibilitam identificar e acompanhar informações, permitindo uma tomada de decisão mais assertiva com a utilização de informação estratégica, o que contribui para a competitividade empresarial. Dessa forma, objetivou-se analisar os métodos formais e informais de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, por meio de um roteiro de entrevista aplicado às microempresas do ramo óptico associadas à Associação Comercial e Industrial de Marília (ACIM) pertencentes ao Núcleo Especializado de Ópticas de Marília (NEOM). Teve-se como base um modelo de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, bem como aspectos relacionados ao comportamento informacional que permitiram compreender como as empresas lidam com informação em seus negócios, e também questões inerentes ao futuro das empresas, por meio da percepção de cenários futuros. A análise dos dados foi realizada utilizando-se do método 'Análise de Conteúdo'. Os resultados foram apresentados detalhadamente por categorias de análise e também sinteticamente por empresas, visando nesse último caso fornecer o perfil de cada... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The contemporary global scenario significantly affects all segments of the society, particularly business. In this context, small-sized business noteworthy because they are responsible for the economy in a particular city or region and, therefore, becomes relevant their research because of its entrepreneurial character. However, few studies are implemented under the small-sized business aspects in terms of business competitiveness and the use of strategic information for decision making. Moreover, companies generally unaware of the methods, techniques and information and communication technologies (ICTs) to perform activities of information scanning and information mining, which enables to identify and track information, allowing decisionmaking more assertive with use of strategic information, which contributes to business competitiveness. This work aimed to analyze the formal and informal methods of information scanning and information mining, through a structured interview applied to small-sized business in the optical sector associated with the Associação Comercial e Industrial de Marília (ACIM) belonging to the Núcleo Especializado de Ópticas de Marília (NEOM). It had to be based on an information scanning and information mining model, as well as aspects related to information behavior that allowed us to understand how companies deal with information in their business, as well as issues relating to the future of companies, through the perception of future scenarios. The data analysis was performed using the method 'Content Analysis'. The results were presented in detail by analysis category and also synthetically by companies, in order to provide this latter case the profile of each NEOM company. We identified the key information needs and information sources used by managers, given its informal practice in scanning and mining... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)
Mestre

This research investigates the role of clustering, learning and innovation in retaining competitiveness in an existing tourism area in a peripheral region of Europe. To do this it draws on the tourism resort area known as the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. Structurally, it focuses on hotel and catering businesses, which are considered to be at the heart of the tourism industry. Tourism is shown not only to be fundamental to the development ofthis coastal agglomeration, but also critical to the development of the province of Malaga (of which the Costa del Sol is a part) and the wider region of Andalucia. Hence the need to examine the evolution oftourism, the sources of competitive advantage and how such advantage can be retained in a globalised marketplace. The key proposition is that retaining competitive advantage can best be achieved through learning and innovation and that agglomerations provide a milieu in which learning and innovation are stimulated. Agglomeration theory and the role of learning and innovation are tested through an examination of the spatial and temporal evolution of hotel and catering businesses and through questionnaire surveys covering these businesses. In particular, the surveys are directed at addressing the issues of learning and innovation and assessing the extent to which the Costa del Sol operates as a 'learning region'. Questionnaire work met with severe problems of non-response despite being undertaken in conjunction with local business organisations. Nevertheless, sufficient responses were obtained to provide some tentative answers to the questions being posed and to provide the foundation for further research. The principal conclusions were that the Costa del Sol has acted as a growth pole and seedbed for business development, and that learning and innovation are promoted as much by competition as by co-operation. Finally, some public policy implications are drawn from these conclusions.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:34:23Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pacheco_cg_me_mar.pdf: 1672220 bytes, checksum: 79e58e4361725998a60496038131f35b (MD5)
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
O cenário contemporâneo globalizado afeta substancialmente todos os segmentos da sociedade, especialmente as empresas. Nesse contexto, as microempresas merecem destaque, pois são responsáveis pela economia de uma determinada cidade ou região e, portanto, torna-se relevante sua investigação devido ao seu caráter empreendedor. No entanto, poucas pesquisas são aplicadas no âmbito das microempresas no que tange aos aspectos da competitividade empresarial e do uso de informações estratégicas para a tomada de decisão. Além disso, as empresas geralmente desconhecem os métodos, as técnicas e as tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TICs) para a realização das atividades de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, as quais possibilitam identificar e acompanhar informações, permitindo uma tomada de decisão mais assertiva com a utilização de informação estratégica, o que contribui para a competitividade empresarial. Dessa forma, objetivou-se analisar os métodos formais e informais de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, por meio de um roteiro de entrevista aplicado às microempresas do ramo óptico associadas à Associação Comercial e Industrial de Marília (ACIM) pertencentes ao Núcleo Especializado de Ópticas de Marília (NEOM). Teve-se como base um modelo de prospecção e monitoramento informacional, bem como aspectos relacionados ao comportamento informacional que permitiram compreender como as empresas lidam com informação em seus negócios, e também questões inerentes ao futuro das empresas, por meio da percepção de cenários futuros. A análise dos dados foi realizada utilizando-se do método ‘Análise de Conteúdo’. Os resultados foram apresentados detalhadamente por categorias de análise e também sinteticamente por empresas, visando nesse último caso fornecer o perfil de cada...
The contemporary global scenario significantly affects all segments of the society, particularly business. In this context, small-sized business noteworthy because they are responsible for the economy in a particular city or region and, therefore, becomes relevant their research because of its entrepreneurial character. However, few studies are implemented under the small-sized business aspects in terms of business competitiveness and the use of strategic information for decision making. Moreover, companies generally unaware of the methods, techniques and information and communication technologies (ICTs) to perform activities of information scanning and information mining, which enables to identify and track information, allowing decisionmaking more assertive with use of strategic information, which contributes to business competitiveness. This work aimed to analyze the formal and informal methods of information scanning and information mining, through a structured interview applied to small-sized business in the optical sector associated with the Associação Comercial e Industrial de Marília (ACIM) belonging to the Núcleo Especializado de Ópticas de Marília (NEOM). It had to be based on an information scanning and information mining model, as well as aspects related to information behavior that allowed us to understand how companies deal with information in their business, as well as issues relating to the future of companies, through the perception of future scenarios. The data analysis was performed using the method 'Content Analysis'. The results were presented in detail by analysis category and also synthetically by companies, in order to provide this latter case the profile of each NEOM company. We identified the key information needs and information sources used by managers, given its informal practice in scanning and mining... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Diplomová práce se zabývá problematikou rozvoje konkurenceschopnosti obchodní firmy v Brně. V teoretické rovině je zaměřena na odborné poznatky a nejnovější trendy v oblasti strategie a konkurenceschopnosti. Na základě literárního průzkumu analyzuje a zhodnocuje stávající přístup k strategickému plánování v dané společnosti. V rámci analytické části je provedena strategická analýza firmy. Na základě literární rešerše a strategické analýzy je zpracován návrh strategie, který si klade za cíl přispět k efektivnějšímu řízení interních procesů, systematičtějšímu přístupu ke strategickému plánování a v konečném důsledku k zvýšení konkurenceschopnosti firmy.

The purpose of the thesis was to identify the tech startups main organizational resources and capabilities received from the Stockholm cluster. Correspondently, how those encourage to sustained competitive advantage internationally. The aim was to ensure a deeper understanding with a qualitative research method with a multiple case study and an abductive approach. The empirical findings were based on seven case companies that were committing within the tech sector and were internationalized. Further, the literature review takes off with the definition of the segment, namely the tech startups followed by industrial cluster, the network - and social network theory, the Resource-based view with concertation on the different firms’ resources, the VRIO framework, and capabilities, and thereby internationalization including international competitiveness. The conceptual framework has illustrated the correlation between investigated variables, mentioned above. Moreover, the empirical findings chapter was constituted of primary data presented by the seven companies. The analysis was established on the basis of the three voices, which are theoretical, empirical and authors to examine contrast and correlation with each other. The analysis part was followed by a conclusion chapter that presented the main findings/conclusions, thus answered the research question. In addition, the chapter provided with implications, , limitation and recommendations for future research.   The findings displayed that the main organizational resources and capabilities obtained from Stockholm consist of human and financial capital, alliances and relationships, innovation/technology and reputation. However, they are only three of them that bring sustained competitive advantage, which are the human capital, alliance and relationships, and reputation capability.

This diploma thesis deals with the creation of business strategy for the development of small company. Especially at improving competitiveness and expansion of the branch network of retail stores with cheese. The thesis is based on the theoretical knowledge. In the analytical part is analyzed the current situation and based on the results is designed business strategy for the development of the company.

This thesis deals with application of Competitive Intelligence in the environment of business incubators in the Czech Republic. The main goal of this work is to analyze the competitive environment of Czech business incubators and draw conclusions leading to a possible increase of their competitiveness. The theoretical part describes the competitive intelligence including selected analytic methods, the support system for development of small and medium-sized enterprises, the role of the state in their support and aspects of innovative business. The following part deals with characteristics of business incubation, basic division of business incubators and their importance for the development of SMEs. It then describes the history of incubators in the world and the way they operate in the Czech Republic, including description of basic services provided. The practical part analyzes broader competitive environment throughout the country, using Porter's five competitive forces model. Then there is a complete list compiled of all operating and planned incubators in the Czech Republic displayed on a map, divided into different regions. There are six incubators selected for a thorough competitive analysis in the Central region and the city of Prague, which are the regions with the strongest competitive environment in the Czech Republic. Based on results of analyses mentioned above, there is a set of final recommendations on how to increase the competitiveness of Czech business incubators and to get overall improvement in business incubation.

Småföretag utgör den ekonomiska motorn som påverkar nationers utveckling. Därför bör de kontinuerligt stödjas för att fortsatt kunna främja länders utveckling. 99 % av alla bygg- och anläggningsföretag är idag småföretag och på grund av branschens höga konjunkturkänslighet, låga inträdeshinder och hårda konkurrens löper de stor risk att misslyckas. Detta medför en efterfrågan på strategisk forskning som kan appliceras på deras speciella karaktärsdrag; flexibilitet och småskalighet. Strategisk forskning har genom historien haft olika fokus vid förklarandet av företags konkurrenskraft. Idag riktas forskningen mot ett internt perspektiv där den resursbaserade teorin är den mest använda. Då den externa miljön är i ständig förändring och kunders preferenser är volatila skapar inte det externa perspektivet en säker grund för att förstå företags konkurrenskraft.   Syftet med studien är att ur ett internt och externt perspektiv öka förståelsen kring hur konkurrenskraft kan stärkas för småföretag inom bygg- och anläggningsbranschen. Detta genom att identifiera centrala resurser samt studera hur dessa förnyas, tillämpas och utvecklas. För att besvara syftet har en kvalitativ studie genomförts där den primära datainsamlingen utgjordes av fem semi-strukturerade intervjuer. Två undersökningsföretag valdes ut efter ett strategiskt urval. Kriterierna var att företagen skulle klassificeras som småföretag och vara marknadsledande.  Utifrån studien kan det fastslås att det inte var tillräckligt att enbart analysera den resursbaserade teorin för att förstå hur småföretag inom bygg- och anläggningsbranschen stärker sin konkurrenskraft. Undersökningsföretagen belyste vikten av deras externa relationer med kunderna. Kundrelationerna hade en direkt koppling till företagens konkurrenskraft i form av avtal och rykte. Att endast analysera det interna perspektivet hade resulterat i en bristfällig analys av dessa resursers påverkan på konkurrenskraften. Således adderades det relationella synsättet efter analys av empirin. Utifrån dessa två perspektiv kunde det konstateras att små bygg- och anläggningsföretag stärker sin konkurrenskraft genom att skapa inbäddade relationer med kunder och anställda samtidigt som heterogena resurser måste förnyas, tillämpas och utvecklas. Genom detta kan konkurrensfördelar skapas.
Small businesses constitute the economic engine which affects nations’ development. That is why they continuously need support to further encourage the development of countries. 99 % of all the construction companies are today small businesses and due to the industry’s high sensitivity to economic fluctuation, low entry barriers and intense competition there is a high business failure rate. This leads to a demand of strategic research that can be applied on their special characteristics, flexibility and small scaled. Strategic research has throughout the history had a different focus in explaining businesses competitiveness. Today, research is more directed towards an internal perspective whereas the resource-based theory is the most used. As the external environment is constantly changing and customers’ preferences are volatile the external perspective cannot form a secure foundation to use in the understanding of business competitiveness.  The purpose of this study is from a resource-based view increase the understanding of how competitiveness in small businesses in the construction industry can be strengthened. This by identifying key resources and study how these are renewed, applied and developed. To answer the purpose of the study, a qualitative study has been used whereas the primary data collection consists of five semi-structured interviews. Two businesses where chosen by a purposive sampling. The criteria’s where that the businesses would be classified as small businesses and be leaders of the market.  Based on the study it can be established that it is not sufficient to only analyze the resourcebased theory in order to understand how small businesses in the construction industry strengthen their competitiveness. The research businesses highlighted the importance of their external customer relations. The customer relationships had a direct connection to the businesses competitiveness in terms of contracts and reputation. Only analyzing the internal perspective would have resulted in an inadequate analyze of these resources impact on competitiveness. Thus, the relational view was added to the study after analyze of the gathered data. Through these two perspectives it was noted that small construction businesses competitiveness strengthens through embedded relationships with their customers and employees while at the same time renewing, applying and developing heterogenic resources. Through this, a competitive advantage can be created.

The main aim of this diploma thesis is a strategic analysis of a construction company. It is divided into several parts, where the first, theoretical, part explains the fundaments of strategic analysis and clarifies the principles of methods applied. The other, analytical, part of the thesis applies the mentioned theoretical knowledge onto an existing construction company. The PESTEL analysis has been used to analyze the external environment. Furthermore, the thesis focuses on the internal environment of the company -- namely its marketing mix and financial situation. The findings of those analyses are summarized through a simplified SWOT analysis, which leads to a proposal of a strategy, and furthermore proposes operative, tactical and strategic measures which would support the strengths and opportunities and minimize the weaknesses and threats of the Isolite, spol. s r. o. company.

Bývalý americký prezident prohlásil: “Plány jsou nic, plánování je všechno”. V tomto duchu lze říci, že dobře fungující systém strategického řízení je svým způsobem důležitější než samotné dokumenty, které produkuje. V tomto duchu se nese i celá tato práce, která zachycuje určitý stav strategie jedné strategické obchodní jednotky (SBU) firmy GlobSol CZ a její posun kupředu od původních abstraktních cílů k naprosto jasným a konkrétním krokům, které bude třeba v budoucnosti udělat pro rozvoj této obchodní jednotky. Po zhodnocení současného stavu teorie, je provedena analýza současného stavu strategie obchodní jednotky vzhledem k jejím okolím. Ze závěrečné SWOT analýzy jsou pak pro jednotlivé její prvky určovány cíle směřující ke strategickému rozvoji. Každý cíl je rozvinut do jednoho, či více kroků, které jasně determinují jak a kdy lze daného cíle dosáhnout. Na závěr je zhodnocen přínos této obchodní strategie, její předpoklady a rizikové faktory. Nejcennějším na celém dokumentu je však samotná činnost tvorby strategie, která rozvíjí zcela nové pohledy na možnosti rozvoje strategické obchodní jednotky.

M.Comm.
In the last hundred years there has been a technological revolution that has forced people to change the way they live and run their organisations. This technological revolution has had a major impact on the business world. Coyle, Bardi and Langley (2003; 57) have suggested that “the rate of change has accelerated with consequent negative impacts if organisations do not change.” With today’s emphasis on cutting costs, streamlining expenses while at the same time trying to offer a competitive edge with regard to customer service, many organisations are looking to improve their bottom line and financial performance by implementing new technology into their supply chains. A popular way for organisations to speedily reap the benefits of having a more competent and competitive, technology-enabled supply chain, is by outsourcing their supply chain needs to a third party logistics organisations. The Star newspaper reported that, according to Brett Bowes, inefficiencies in the supply chain meant that fast-moving consumer goods manufacturers and retailers were losing R7 billion every year (The Star, 16 March 2007; 2). Although there are many auxiliary benefits and advantages of implementing software systems into the supply chain, the two critical benefits which justify the expense are reduced costs and improved customer service. Implementing technology is a costly, challenging and sometimes risky endeavor. This often results in an unwillingness to change until these organisations outgrow their systems, or the business environment becomes so complex, that they are forced to implement new technology. This hesitancy to introduce new technology timeously could hamper the progress and growth of these organisations, and could also affect their competitiveness in a highly competitive environment. The purpose of this case study is to compare the benefits achieved from existing older technology to new technology, based on a routing and scheduling case study in a large 3PL organisation.

The aim of the study was to determine whether CBZ Bank's strategic intent was aligned to action on the ground and how the bank could consolidate its competitiveness in the market. Organisations in the services industry rely on their human resources to manage other resources in order to deliver superior service. The employees are also responsible for executing operational strategies on the ground and getting feedback directly from the market. Branch employees are directly in the competition zone and they can provide invaluable insight into the competitive dynamics of the banking industry. In order to obtain the employees' perspective of the bank's strategic intent, whether events on the ground are reflective of it and ascertain the competitiveness of the bank, responses from thirty one (31) supervisory and managerial cadres were used. The population frame was composed of (five) 5 senior managers, thirteen (13) middle managers and thirty three (33) supervisory personnel. A self administered questionnaire was e-mailed to the targeted fifty one (51) staff members. Thirty one (31) responses were received. The choice of the sample was driven by the fact that strategic business unit leaders drive the bank's strategy hence they are able to shed invaluable information regarding the bank. Eighty two (82%) of the respondents indicated that the bank's strategic intent was on course as opposed to eighteen (18%) who felt otherwise. Seventy one (71 %) of the respondents also felt that the bank was competitive. A salient feature of this study was that the majority of respondents concurred that the bank's strategic intentions were on track. However due to the volatile and hyper inflationary conditions prevailing, shareholder value should be preserved by adopting growth strategies that hedge against the effects of inflation. Such strategies should include creating new external markets by going regional and international.
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Based on the application of Porter's Model for National Competitive Advantage to the state of Tamil Nadu, the author established four unique characteristics about India. These are: Tamil Nadu is India's southern gateway; Indian consumers are very price sensitive; Indians have links somehow everywhere; and India thrives on contrasts. These attributes were further distilled to arrive at three 'stones' that can pave improvements to the Indian passenger car industry, namely: 'Cornerstone', being the need to improve local propensity to earn; 'Stepping Stones', being the need to intensify engagements with regional groupings like the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN); and 'Flintstone' being Tamil Nadu as an auto hub to ignite entrepreneurship and innovations within the Indian passenger car industry. In essence Porter's Theory on National Competitive Advantage states that prosperity depends on environment, not endowments. His Diamond Model helps identify the productive clusters that can support such wealth creation. This study bridges the gap between identification and implementation with an 'International Management Grid' that divides action agenda in accordance with structure, strategy, culture and control. This matrix is bounded by classification of items according to urgency and importance, whereby delegation, empowerment, tact and leadership would be emphasized accordingly. The central thesis of this study is that wealth creation can be initiated by a progressive location in a country through the cascading effects of a high growth industry. With faster physical and communication connectivity and increased global concerns for security and health, India's major challenge is to associate her passenger car industry with: Speed in sustaining human relationships; trendy yet affordable replacements instead of renewal repairs; and life-long learning for skills that ensure employment and employability. A permanent Exhibition Centre is recommended to especially showcase new developments in textiles, leather and security technologies for cars. In addition, a virtual Auto Centre of Excellence, managed as an internet platform based in Tamil Nadu, can help international members of the industry to upgrade and research on skills that ensure individual employment and employability through a life-long knowledge management and certification process. A unique post-sale advantage of cars made in India can be the guaranteed inspection after five years to replace or overhaul vehicle parts in franchise centres located throughout India and overseas. These franchises will help train Indian youths through an honour code of 3-in-1-youth mentorship scheme. Those who have benefited from working in these franchises would be obliged to mentor three other youths within five years after completion of their own mentorship. All these initiatives can start with Tamil Nadu because she is already an automotive manufacturing hub, a southern IT centre and an export gateway. This study has reviewed criticisms on Porter's Model, especially from Krugman, Dunning, Narula, Rugman and D'Cruz as well as Davis and Ellis. Although the model has been applied to developing economies like Korea, Venezuela, Turkey, Phillippines and even India, this study is different. None of the previous academic exercises using Porter's Model has an implementation format like the 'International Management Grid' as designed and developed by the author. The Delphi Research Technique in accordance with the Gordon and Helmer Method was adopted for 58 candidates and the results of fieldwork were found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level based on the non-parametric Chi-Squared Test of Independence. The ethical aspects in Porter's Model and the new business rhythm inside India after more privatization remain major unsolved issues of this study.
Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2004

Organisations in South Africa are facing many local and global pressures for reconfiguration through various interventions that encourage global integration and competitiveness, and simultaneously aim to promote social redress and empowerment of the previously disadvantaged in the region. Organisations are required to achieve global competitiveness and economic success, as well as simultaneously allow for redistribution. The aim of the research reported on here, was to explore the influences of local and global trends on the structures and practices of organisations. Questions were asked about the imperatives behind these dynamics specifically those of global competitiveness and local redress, as well as the feasibility of realising these apparently contradictory demands. This was done through a case study of the Monte Vista Hollywood and Sugar Mill Casinos in KwaZulu-Natal, and a comparison with U.S. Indian Reservation casinos. The research findings showed that the responses to the global pressures of competitiveness and local pressures of social redress used by the two casinos, were at times contradictory, questioning whether the industry would have the envisaged positive impacts of economic growth and social redistribution. However, clear answers to these were not forthcoming due to the lack of reliable information, suggesting further research into the topic.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. 19 September 2016.
High manufacturing competitiveness in South Africa has the potential to contribute towards mitigating the poor economic performance and high unemployment rate prevailing in the country. However, manufacturing competitiveness is lacking, majorly due to labour productivity issues that are idiosyncratic to South Africa. One of the dilemmas is how to increase manufacturing productivity without major capitalisation, as doing so usually leads to redundancy and retrenchment of employees. A possible solution is to implement manufacturing performance improvement programmes without major capital investment (or capital-labour substitution). Although various programmes exist and are successful elsewhere in the world, these have been found to fail in South African firms due to implementation challenges. This study assesses the results from implementing a manufacturing performance improvement programme called Integrated Work Systems (IWS) in a South African factory of a multinational company (ABC). IWS has already proven successful in the multinational’s factories in other parts of the world. The study aims to determine the critical success-factors and develop a framework for the successful implementation of such a programme in South Africa. Implementation of IWS in ABC SA’s factory was found to be successful in delivering breakthrough results in efficiency and throughput. Critical success-factors established through surveying relevant employees and management in ABC SA were related to the timing and planning of the programme, standardisation of work, regular reviewing and use of leading KPIs, having specific implementation resources and the nature of leadership involvement. The critical success-factors found in ABC SA’s implementation were used as a basis for presenting a framework to guide practitioners in implementing manufacturing improvement programmes that aim to deliver higher levels of sustainable performance and improved shop-floor culture.
MT2017

The airline industry has grown rapidly over the past few decades, recording a ten-fold rise in passenger numbers and a fourteen-fold increase in cargo volumes. This growth has created overwhelming value to airline passengers, employees, suppliers and the broader economy. Unfortunately, this industry has been affected by terrorism attacks, wars, revolutions, pandemic fears, earthquakes, volcanoes, failing economies and skyrocketing fuel prices all of which have negatively impacted on profitability and resulted in intense competition. Consequently, airlines have spent the last decade in survival mode having to adapt to harsh changes. Air Zimbabwe, a state-run organisation which operates in this highly regulated and turbulent industry, is faced with numerous micro and macro environmental challenges and has been purposively selected for this study. According to company statistics, the airline’s annual passenger uplifts have declined from a peak of over 1 million in the 1990s to less than 200 000 in 2011, with revenue generation declining in correlation. Whilst Air Zimbabwe has experienced depressed demand for its services, competitor airlines are recording brisk business. The aim of this study was to investigate how a struggling organisation, which operates in a turbulent environment, can improve its competitiveness and profitability by better understanding the impact of industry role players and adapting organisational strategies to industry variations. This study examined, from the point of view of the industry players themselves, the extent to which customers, suppliers, competitors, regulatory authorities, substitute products and new entrants have impacted on the competitiveness and profitability of the airline. Major findings reveal that an organisation cannot operate in isolation and be competitive or profitable, but constantly needs to analyse the industry environment in which it operates in and to amicably interact with other industry role players. The research outlines the need for competition in certain areas and cooperation in others.
Business Management
M. Com. (Business Management)

The aim of this thesis is to assess the current state of the company, analysis of its major competitors and the competitive advantage the company. Based on the findings will be proposed measures aimed at maintaining and improving current status of the company in the market.

碩士
中原大學
企業管理研究所
89
Abstract In the worldwide competitive environment, businesses will pay more attention to the quality and efficiency of products and services. And in the knowledge-based economy, the innovation is the key factor when businesses try to upgrade their competitive capabilities. There are so many definitions of innovation made by scholars since the idea of innovation first took up by Dr. Schumpeter, but for organizations the meaning of innovation is not only including the innovation of technologies and products but also including the innovation of processes, strategies, organizational structures etc. We may say that the innovation includes the creative activities of all levels. This research tries to match the competitive strategy framework of Michael E. Porter(1880) with the field of innovative activities. It explores the strategy types making from this match, and it also explores the relationships between these types adopted by businesses in accordance with the internal factor (the innovative capability) and the external factor (the work environment for creativity) with the business competitiveness. So that businesses can choose the adaptive strategy types, and can promote their competitive advantages. The main research objects are the businesses of the Information & Electronic Industries those have to do innovative activities continually to maintain their niches and to promote their competitive advantages. We mailed 655 questionnaires and received 81 valid questionnaires. After a series of analysis, we generalize some important conclusions as below: 1.The results reveal that the businesses belong to the different strategy types of fitting between the competitive strategies and the innovation fields have different business competitiveness. And this supports the main thesis of this research. 2.After adding two variables, “types of innovative capability” and “types of work environment for creativity”, we have made some conclusions as below: (1)The relationships within the strategy types of fitting between the competitive strategies and the innovation fields, the innovative capability and the business competitiveness. a.The businesses of strategy type of peculiar technology match with higher learning capability will have greater business competitiveness. b.The businesses of strategy type of cost leadership match with higher technology capability will have greater business competitiveness. c.The businesses of strategy type of market-oriented match with higher managing capability will not evidently have greater business competitiveness, neither are the businesses of strategy type of diversification. (2)The relationships within the strategy types of fitting between the competitive strategies and the innovation fields, the work environment for creativity and the business competitiveness. a.The businesses of wider innovation field match with the work environment for creativity will have greater business competitiveness than the businesses of narrower innovation field do. b.The businesses of differentiation strategy match with the work environment for creativity will not evidently have greater business competitiveness than the businesses of low-cost strategy do.

The importance of strategy and business development emerges nowadays due to the underlying dynamic changes within industries in which competitiveness is the watchword. Thus, the following case study intends to broadly analyse the world of the aluminium packaging industry, in particular Lusoforma S.A. Lusoforma S.A is a family business founded in 1988 that established its own niche market and it is successfully producing aluminium foil containers for several different segments. Following its strategy based on high level of service, the company is now recognized as the main player of the Portuguese market, and one of the most relevant players in the Iberian market. Therefore, this work project sought to study the strategic design of Lusoforma, based on the different steps of a strategic management model. Hence, an environmental scanning with internal and external analysis was developed, the formulation process was evaluated, as well as the strategic implementation and control. Here, several auxiliary instruments were described and applied. As a result of the forgoing, it was concluded that Lusoforma has been developing a strong strategic plan based on production customization to reach customer needs, which has been permitting to exploit crucial competitive advantages that allow the organization to constantly grow. However, there are some problems that must be overpassed in order not to sentence the future of Lusoforma.

Classificações JEL: L21 - Business Objectives of the Firm M10 - Business Administration General M11 - Production Management
A indústria da produção de medicamentos tem sofrido profundas alterações nos últimos anos. A globalização e crescimento dos custos fixos originaram fusões e aquisições nas grandes companhias multinacionais conduzindo a excesso de capacidade e fecho de fábricas na Europa. A entrada de novos concorrentes oriundos dos países emergentes como a China e principalmente a Índia produzindo com custos mais baixos veio aumentar ainda mais a capacidade disponível na Europa conduzindo a uma espiral de mais fusões e aquisições, maior capacidade disponível, mais concentração e mais fecho de fábricas. Por outro lado, este desinvestimento das Big Pharmas, a perda de lucros resultante da queda de patentes e a entrada no mercado dos medicamentos genéricos fez aumentar a necessidade do contract manufacturing. Num mercado em crescimento em que o preço dos medicamentos varia na razão inversa, a análise estratégica torna-se fundamental para prever o futuro e redefinir estratégias. A análise externa, interna e interna/externa apresentada e as ferramentas utilizadas permitem o estabelecimento de alternativas estratégicas de modo à organização escolher o melhor caminho para concretizar a sua visão traduzida em objectivos estratégicos. A implementação da estratégia é mais crítica do que a própria formulação para o desempenho a longo prazo, sendo necessário controlá-la e monitorizá-la através de ferramentas que permitam actuar caso o caminho escolhido não esteja a conduzir à meta desejada. Por fim espera-se que o presente caso desperte a capacidade de olhar para o futuro e reinventar o sucesso das organizações.
The industry of drug production has undergone profound changes in recent years. Globalization and growth in fixed costs led to mergers and acquisitions in large multinational companies which than lead to excess capacity and the closing of facilities in Europe. The entry of new competitors from emerging countries like China and India, who mainly produce at lower costs, has increased further the available capacity in Europe. This led to a spiral of further increased mergers and acquisitions, largest available capacity, more concentration and the closure of more facilities. Moreover, the divestment of Big Pharmas, the loss of profit from the fall of patents and the market entry of generic drugs has increased the need for contract manufacturing. In a growing market where the price of drugs varies in inverse ratio, strategic analysis becomes essential to predict the future and redefine strategies. The environmental scanning, internal scanning and internal/ environmental scanning and the tools used, all allow for the establishment of strategic alternatives for the organization in order to choose the best path to realize its vision translated into strategic objectives. Implementation of the strategy is more critical than the actual formulation for long-term performance, it is necessary to control it and monitor it through tools which can act if the chosen path is not leading to the desired goal. Finally it is hoped that this event triggers the ability to look ahead and reinvent the success of organizations.

Orientador: Manuel Cabugueira
RESUMO: Este trabalho tem por objectivo discutir as formas como as incubadoras de empresas contribuem para a criação da cadeia de valores de Micros, Pequenas e Médias Empresas (MPMEs) permitindo a redução dos seus custos de transacção. Para melhor compreender a forma como se reduzem os custos de transacção é importante conhecer os pressupostos comportamentais que provocam a existência de tais custos: a racionalidade limitada, porque a nossa forma de pensar tem limitações; e o oportunismo, porque há pessoas com comportamentos desonestos envolvidas no negócio. O verdadeiro poder explicativo da teoria dos custos de transacção está, no entanto, na análise de três variáveis que determinam se esses custos serão mais baixos numa estrutura hierárquica ou num mercado. Estas três variáveis são: a especificidade de activos - se uma transacção envolve ou não activos específicos à actividade da empresa; a incerteza - qual o grau de incerteza em encontrar um produto ou serviço externo à empresa; e a frequência - e se um bem ou serviço é frequentemente utilizado ou não. As incubadoras de empresas são actualmente consideradas como uma iniciativa essencial ao desenvolvimento socioeconómico regional, e nacional. Estas instituições contribuem para corrigir ineficiências no mercado, conferindo às empresas uma capacidade de inovação tecnológica que garante empregos e a criação de riquezas, aumentando o bem-estar da sociedade. O sucesso da sua actuação resume-se à capacidade para gerar dimensões virtuais que contribuem para a cadeia de valores, permitindo as MPMEs, a redução dos seus custos de transacção.
ABSTRACT: This work aims to discuss the relevant forms how incubators contribute to the value chain of a in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME´s) reducing their transaction costs. To better understand how transaction costs can be reduced one must recognize the behavioral assumptions that are behind there existence; bounded rationality - because our way of thinking has limitations and opportunism - because there are dishonest people involved in the business. The true cost theory´s explanatory power comes from the analyses of the three variables that determine whether those costs will be lower in a hierarchical structure or a market structure. These three variables are: specificity of assets - if the transaction involves or not specific assets in for the firm´s activity; the uncertainty - what is the degree of uncertainty in finding a product or service external to the firm; and the frequency - what is the frequency of the good or service use. Business incubators are currently regarded as a key initiative for the national or regional economic development. The institutions contribute to correct market inefficiencies, improving the capacity of firms to produce technological innovations that guaranty jobs and wealth creation increasing welfare. The success of this all boils down to the capacity to create virtual dimensions that contributes to the MSME´s value chain reducing transaction costs.