Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Business enterprises – Political aspects'
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Masindi, Ntungufhadzeni Austin. "Foreign direct investment through privatisation of state-owned enterprises : a comparative analysis of South Africa and Zambia." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51767.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment seeks to explore the role of privatisation in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to South Africa and Zambia. In doing this, literature review method based on primary and secondary documentary sources have been utilised. In order to attract FDI, the study revealed that it is necessary to get the policy environment right. Creating an investor-friendly environment which promises good return on investment in line with the international "regulatory" framework - the World Bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) requirements - is therefore significantly important. The World Bank regards Zambia's privatisation programme as the model for Africa. South Africa finds itself in a contradictory position. On the one hand it is the leading economic power in Africa, while on the other hand it still lags behind in terms of restructuring its parastatals. Privatisation programme in South Africa has been very slow. However, the government and other stakeholders, particularly in 1997, have been trying to get privatisation off the ground. The conclusion is that both South Africa and Zambia succeeded in attracting FDI through their processes of privatisation. In both countries major FDI inflows have been an outcome of privatisation. FDI is important for creating employment, debt reduction, empowerment, transfer of technology and managerial skills. However, these countries follow different approaches to privatisation. Due to the slow privatisation pace in South Africa, it is recommended that South Africa learn from Zambia's approach and experience. This would enable South Africa to fully explore some of the benefits of privatisation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie opdrag ondersoek die rol van privatisering in die trek van direkte buitelandse beleggings (DBB) in Suid-Afrika en Zambie. Ten einde hierdie doelstelling te kon bereik is 'n literere oorsig van primere en sekondere bronne gedoen. Hierdie studie het bevind dat 'n gunstige beleidsomgewing DBB sal trek. Die skep van 'n beleggings-vriendelike omgewing wat goeie dividende beloof en in Iyn is met die internasionale "regulerende" raamwerk - die Wereldbank se International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) en World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) - se vereistes is van kardinale belang. Die Wereld Bank beskou Zambie se privatiseringsprogram as die model program vir Afrika. Suid-Afrika bevind haarself in 'n teenstrydige posisie. Aan die een kant is sy Afrika se voorste ekonomiese moondheid, en aan die anderkant is die programme om haar staatsondernemings te herstruktureer nog in hul kinderskoene. Privatiseringsprogramme in Suid Afrika het tot dusver baie stadig verloop. In 1997 het die regering en ander belanghebbende partye egter privatisering van die grond af probeer kry. Die konklusie is dat beide Suid-Afrika en Zambie daarin geslaag het om DBB te lok met hul privatiseringsprogramme. In beide lande was groot DBB die uitkoms van privatisering. DBB is belangrik om werk te skep, skuld vereffening, bemagtiging, en die oordrag van tegnologie en bestuursvaardighede. Hierdie lande volg egter verskillende benaderings tot die privatiseringsproses. Vanwee die stadige privatiseringsproses in Suid Afrika word die voorstel gemaak dat Suid-Afrika by Zambie leer in hul benadering en ervaring. Dit sal Suid-Afrika toelaat om al die voordele van privatisering te ontdek.
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Chen, Hunglin Maggie. "An analysis of the impact of cultural differences upon management styles of selected Taiwanese managers within business/industry organizations of Southern California." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1995. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1045.
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Manning, Elizabeth Sophie Mary. "Local content and related trade policy: Australian applications /." Title page, abstract and table of contents only, 2004. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phm2832.pdf.
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Van, Zyl Stefan Daniel. "The diplomacy of multinational corporations (MNCs) : bargaining with developing states." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50137.
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Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This assignment investigates the bargaining relationship between multinational corporations (MNCs) and developing countries. The units of analysis of this study in Global Political Economy are MNCs (non-state actors) and nation-states. In the contemporary global production structure the 'balance of power' between MNCs and developing countries has shifted in favour of MNCs. Descriptive secondary sources were used to illustrate the MNC-State bargaining relationship in telecommunications privatisation in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the contemporary global economy nation-states only rarely still compete for territory, but rather for wealth-creating activities to be located within their borders. Important changes in the global production structure have resulted in the increased mobility and economic power of MNCs. These developments have affected the strategic relationship between MNCs and nation-states and the former have used their advantage to gain preferential treatment in the bargaining process. The nation-states are also competing amongst themselves for the investment and technology and knowledge transfers from these firms. Privatisation programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa have substantially increased MNC participation on the continent, which has been historically marginalised from global foreign direct investment receipts. Research has shown that MNC participation in infrastructure service provision is more efficient than government ownership. However, this does not constitute a loss of sovereignty, but rather emphasises the changing role of nation-states as facilitators of global market relations. On examination, the distinct bargaining relationship in telecommunications privatisation clearly illustrates the dependence of Sub-Saharan African countries on technologically advanced MNCs. Thus, the 'balance of power' has shifted more to MNCs in the global political economy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingswerkstuk ondersoek die bedingingsverhouding tussen multinasionale korporasies (MNKs) en ontwikkelende lande. Die ondersoekeenhede in die studie van die Globale Politieke Ekonomie is MNKs (nie-staatrolspelers) en regeringstate. In die huidige globale produksiestruktuur het die mag tussen MNKs en ontwikkelende lande verander sodat die MNKs nou die magsoorwig het. Beskrywende sekondêre bronne is gebruik om die MNK-regeringstaat se bedingingsverhouding in telekommunikasie privatisering in Sub-Sahara Afrika te illustreer. In die teenswoordige globale ekonomie kompeteer regeringstate selde met mekaar om territoriale mag, maar oorwegend om welvaartskeppende bedrywe binne hul grense aan te moedig. Belangrike veranderings in die globale produksiestruktuur het MNKs se mobiliteit en ekonomiese mag verhoog. Hierdie ontwikkelinge het die strategiese verhouding tussen MNKs en regeringstate verander. MNKs gebruik hierdie invloed om voordeel te trek uit regeringstate wat kompeteer vir belegging en die tegnologie- en kennisoordrag van hierdie korporasies. Privatiseringsprogramme in Sub-Sahara Afrika het MNK-deelname op die kontinent verhoog, wat histories gemarginaliseer is van buitelandse direkte belegging. Navorsing dui daarop dat MNKs se deelname in infrastruktuurdienslewering meer doeltreffend is, as wanneer dit onder staatsbeheer is. Dit lei egter nie tot 'n verlies aan soeweriniteit nie, maar beklemtoon die regeringstaat se veranderde rol as fasiliteerder van globale markverhoudinge. Die ondersoek na die uitsonderlike bedingingsverhouding in die privatisering van telekommunikasie beklemtoon Sub-Sahara Afrika se afhanklikheid van tegnologies-ontwikkelde MNKs. Die magsbalans het gevolglik na die MNKs oorskuif in die globale politieke ekonomie.
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Makgatho, Mathane. "The use of the Brink model to assess Mozambique's political risk before and after major project investments." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5542.
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Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mozambique managed to attract a lot of foreign direct investment despite it being one of the poorest countries in the world and after it has been through a devastating 17 year civil war. GOP per capita in 1995 was about US$ 144 which was one of the lowest in the world. The country was faced with enormous challenges and risks in terms of both country and political risk. Major risks were associated with investment in that country because of prolonged civil war with no record of macro-economic stability. Despite these huge challenges, Mozambique managed to attract a lot of investment with Mozal 1 being the first big project post civil war. This paper analyses and quantifies where Mozambique was before and after mega projects. This is done by looking at where Mozambique was before Mozal 1 being the first mega project in the country post civil war. The analysis is in terms of political risk as it relates to cross border transactions with specific reference to a number of political risk indicators as suggested by Brink (2004) that prevailed and how the projects were structured to minimize risk. A political risk rating is developed for 1995 and 2005 using the Brink model to check if the project did improve the country's economic health.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mosambiek het daarin geslaag om grootskaalse direkte buitelandse investering te lok ten spyte van sy status as een van die wereld se armste lande en die verwoestende burgeroorlog wat 17 jaar geduur het. Die BBP per capita was ongeveer US$ 144 in 1995, wat dit een van die laagstes in die wereld gemaak het. Die land het enorme uitdagings en risiko's in die gesig gestaar in terme van die land en die politiek. Die hoofrisiko's het met investering verband gehou vanwee die langdurige burgeroorlog en geen makro-ekonomiese stabiliteit in die land se verlede nie. Ondanks hierdie reuse uitdagings het Mosambiek daarin geslaag om baie investering te lok, waarvan Mozal 1 die eerste megaprojek na die burgeroorlog was. Hierdie tesis analiseer en kwantifiseer Mosambiek se posisie voor en na megaprojekte. Dit is gedoen deur te kyk na hoe Mosambiek daar uitgesien het voor Mozal 1. Die analise is in terme van die verband tussen politieke risiko en oorgrenstransaksies gedoen. Daar word spesifiek verwys na 'n aantal aanwysers van politieke risiko, soos voorgestel deur Brink (2004), wat geheers het en hoe projekte gestruktureer is om risiko te verminder. 'n Gradering van politieke risiko is vir 1995 en 2005 aan die hand van Brink se model ontwikkel om te kontroleer of die projek die land se ekonomiese gesondheid verbeter het.
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Santos, Flávio Rosendo dos. "A influência política na gestão das empresas estatais à luz do direito fundamental à boa administração e da governança corporativa e pública." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2015. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/1592.
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Este estudo dedica-se a explicar em que medida a influência política na gestão das empresas estatais pode ser considerada legítima à luz do direito fundamental à boa administração pública e da governança corporativa e pública, motivo pelo qual se empreendeu pesquisa bibliográfica e documental pautada no método dedutivo de trabalho, na qual foram investigados e apresentados conceitos e questões relativas ao Estado, governo, política, Administração Pública direita e indireta, princípios constitucionais da Administração Pública, direito fundamental à boa administração pública, governança corporativa e pública e empresas estatais. Com base nas premissas encontradas nas obras e legislações consultadas, foi possível concluir que a influência política na gestão das empresas estatais pode ser considerada legítima à luz do direito fundamental à boa administração pública quando promova o interesse público e o atingimento de finalidades públicas, com eficácia, eficiência e observância dos direitos dos cidadãos e dos princípios e regras que compõem o regime jurídico da Administração Pública; e pode ser considerada legítima à luz da governança corporativa e pública se, de forma transparente e conforme as normas pertinentes, busca propiciar não o benefício privado dos agentes políticos, mas a promoção do interesse público ou, em outras palavras, o incremento do valor público produzido por elas, sem deixar de proteger e garantir os direitos de seus stakeholders e shareholders.This study is dedicated to explain the extent to which political influence in the management of state-owned enterprises can be considered legitimate in the light of the fundamental right to good governance and corporate and public governance, for which was undertaken bibliographical and documentary research guided by the deductive method of work, in which were investigated and presented concepts and issues relating to the State, Government, politics, Public Administration, constitutional principles of Public Administration, the fundamental right to good administration, corporate and public governance and state enterprises. Based on the assumptions found in the works and consulted laws it was possible to conclude that the political influence in state-owned enterprises management can be considered legitimate in the light of the fundamental right to good governance if it promotes the public interest and the public purposes achievement, effectively, efficiently and if it preserves the citizens' rights and the principles and rules that make up the legal framework for public administration; and can be considered legitimate in the light of corporate and public governance to the extent that, in a transparent manner and according to the relevant rules, it seeks not the private benefit of politicians, but to promote the public interest or, in other words, the increase of public value produced by them, while protecting and guaranteeing the rights of its stakeholders and shareholders.
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Puk, Wing Kin. "Salt trade in sixteenth-seventeenth century China." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.670133.
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Clark, Muntean Susan. "A political theory of the firm why ownership matters /." Diss., [La Jolla] : University of California, San Diego, 2009. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/ucsd/fullcit?p3355888.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2009.Title from first page of PDF file (viewed July 2, 2009). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-166).
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Pu, Cheng-Chiu. "Political democracy and public enterprise management : a study of Taiwan's state-owned enterprises /." full text via ADT, 2007. http://erl.canberra.edu.au/public/adt-AUC20081024.110804/index.html.
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Li, Zheng-ming. "Political costs and accrual adjustments." Thesis, Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1998. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B2057714X.
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Lochery, Emma. "Generating power : electricity provision and state formation in Somaliland." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2015. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:0d386359-b711-4137-bd3c-0aeb78a12c39.
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The dissertation uses the lens of electricity provision to examine processes of state formation in Somaliland, an unrecognized, self-declared independent state in the northwest of the former Somali Republic. The dissertation focuses on Hargeisa, the capital city at the heart of Somaliland's state-building project. After the collapse of the Somali state in 1991, private companies arose from the ruins of Hargeisa and turned the lights back on, navigating a fragmented post-war landscape by mobilizing local connections and transnational ties. However, being dependent on the political settlement that engendered the peace necessary for business, emerging private power providers were tied into a state-building project. The dissertation analyses the resulting tensions at the heart of this project, by examining the struggle to define the role, extents and limits of an emerging state in an interconnected world. Based on interviews in Somaliland and a survey of news media and grey literature, the dissertation has three aims. First, it provides a view into how social order and service provision persist after the collapse of the state. Secondly, it investigates how patterns of provision emerging in the absence of the state shape subsequent processes of state formation. Finally, it discusses how patterns of provision affect the interaction of state-building and market-making. In order to fulfil these aims, the dissertation examines how people invest in the project of building a state, both materially and discursively. The chapters present a narrative history of the electricity sector, explaining the attempts of both private companies and the government to claim sovereignty over the market and shape statehood in their own interests. The struggles shaping Somaliland's economic order reveal the contemporary significance of transnational connections, interconnected systems of capital flows, and the rise of corporate business actors. At the same time, they underline the abiding power of social structure, local identities, and historical memory.
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Pradhan, Pradnya Avinash. "Political monetary cycles in Mexico." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/28929.
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Justino, Mateus Vicente. "Factors influencing the failure of small enterprises in a selected municipality in Luanda, Angola." Thesis, Cape Peninisula University of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2045.
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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015.The necessary skills and knowledge on how to open and manage a business can be mastered but the uncertainties during decision-making, as well as the risks, obstacles and barriers present in the business environment can change established ways of conducting a business. However, identifying the causes of such uncertainties, risks and obstacles is essential as it may reduce the probability of failure in the future, and supports effective policy-making. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the factors contributing to the failure of small enterprises in the Luanda province in Angola, with three specific objectives: to assess the critical management and financial factors; to examine the effect of market competition; and to assess the factors in the economic conditions associated with the causes of small business failures. Recommendations made to government could mitigate the high number of business failures. Similar studies were conducted in countries other than Angola. As alarmingly high rates of business failure exist in Angola, this study sought to examine the factors associated with such failures. This research was conducted under a positivism theoretical perspective and a quantitative research method was adopted. A questionnaire was the primary data collection instrument and the snowball sampling technique was employed. Questionnaires were distributed to 130 small business owners and managers who had experienced business failures and 108 questionnaires were collected. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to analyse the quantitative data which was collected. Results were statistically descriptive in nature and presented in tables, pie charts, and bar charts. The results indicated that critical factors which influenced the failure of small enterprises in Angola were: small business owners and managers lacked knowledge of business systems; small business owners and managers lacked financial accounting skills; and negligence by small business owners and managers in planning and controlling business resources. This indicates that institutions do not actively promote entrepreneurship knowledge and skills development and there is an absence of successful entrepreneur role models and business mentors or coaches for entrepreneurial capacity-building. Among others factors influencing business failure in Viana, this study identified a lack of economic support and availability of fundamental business resources such as raw material, skilled people and finance, rigid policy-making regulations, and a high level of corruption and theft in the country, to the extent that the small business may lack money and is unable to continue operations.The study recommends that since most small businesses operate on a basis of sole decision-making, it is important that the entrepreneur/manager should make a concerted effort to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in management and finance systems, primarily to start a business or as needed, so that risk and probability of failure can be reduced. Policy-making should consider support structures for entrepreneurial capacity building, increase the production of primary products and raw material, provide entrepreneurial training and skills development (higher education), and develop mechanisms to allow easy access to information, reduce trading restrictions and reduce crime.
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Visser, Dirk Jacobus. "An investigation into aspects of transformational leadership in South African small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49840.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To the world community at large globalisation has been a gradual process, whereas its impact in South Africa was more intensive and concentrated over a shorter period of time - in particular since South Africa's return to the international community in the early to middle 1990s, its economy, inter alia, has had to adjust to this phenomenon. It is within this environment that all enterprises constituting the South African economy also had to adapt and adjust to a new world environment. From the middle 1980s a new discourse in the literature on the effect of a "new" style of leadership (based on continuous learning, renewal, innovation and entrepreneurship) was reported on in which these leaders brought about significant change in organisations. These leaders recognise the need for change in their organisations. They create a new vision. They bring about change in their organisations to meet the challenges from the changing environment and have been accordingly recognised as transformational leaders. This leadership style has been extensively reported on in large organisations, in both the private and the public sectors. For example, literature and research abound on the impact of transformational leaders in large business enterprises (e.g. Lee lacocca of Chrysler, Jack Welch of General Electric) and government institutions, such as education, the military and health (e.g. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Mahatma Ghandi of India). A review of the literature on the impact of transformational leadership in large organisations, without fail, reports significant manifestations of success in those organisations' growth, cohesion and development into' more successful and competitive units. Concomitantly, it is generally acknowledged by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and other organisations of similar position, that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shape the very foundation of the majority of successful economies. The impact of transformational leadership in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has not been measured and reported on in an empirical appraisal and surprisingly little has been forthcoming on the role and impact of transformational leadership in SMEs globally. However, from an entrepreneurial perspective, much has been researched and written on the qualities that support risk-taking, innovation and competition in SMEs. It is within this context that it was decided to investigate the concept of transformational leadership in entrepreneurs, i.e. that group of people who are generally referred to as the drivers of the economy. This dissertation reviews the literature on leadership practices and styles in organisations as a basis to specifically identify the co-producers of leadership in entrepreneurs in SMEs. It is within this context that an empirical study on aspects of transformational leadership in SMEs in a South African context was conducted. This empirical survey verifies the relationship between characteristics of these entrepreneurs and characteristics typically associated with transformational leaders, as manifested in large organisations. Therefore, given the above empirical evidence, the model developed for this study defines the qualities of a transformational leader which will enable those leaders/entrepreneurs (in SMEs with growth potential) to take their organisations from average performance levels to levels comparable to world-class leadership and competitiveness.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir die wêreldgemeenskap in sy geheel was globalisering 'n geleidelike proses, terwyl die impak daarvan op Suid-Afrika meer intensief en gekonsentreerd oor 'n korter tydperk plaasgevind het - meer spesifiek sedert Suid-Afrika se terugkeer gedurende die vroeë tot middel 1990s tot die internasionale gemeenskap waartydens die ekonomie, onder andere, tot hierdie verskynsel moes aanpas. Dit is binne hierdie omgewing waarbinne alle ondernemings wat die basis van die ekonomie vorm, tot die nuwe wêreldomgewing moes aanpas. Vanaf die middel 1980s is daar redevoering in die literatuur oor die invloed van 'n "nuwe" leierskapstyl (met die uitgangspunte van verandering, innovering en entrepreneurskap) waarvolgens hierdie leiers aansienlike verandering in hul organisasies teweegbring. Hierdie leiers begryp die noodsaaklikheid van verandering en skep sodoende 'n nuwe visie binne hulorganisasies. Hulle bring verandering binne hierdie organisasies teweeg en aanvaar die uitdagings vanuit die omgewing - hierdie leiers word as transformasieleiers uitgeken. Vanuit die oogpunt van beide groot, privaat- en openbare organisasies, word hierdie leierskapstyl omvattend vermeld; byvoorbeeld, in navorsing en literatuur is voldoende verwysings oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in groot ondernemings (bv. Lee lacocca van Chrysler, Jack Welch van General Electric) en in staatorganisasies, soos in opvoeding, die militêre asook gesondheid (bv. Nelson Mandela van Suid-Afrika, Mahatma Ghandi van Indië). 'n Literatuuroorsig oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap op groot organisasies dui sonder uitsondering op 'n beduidende invloed van sukses in die groei van hierdie ondernemings aan, asook beter spanwerk en die ontplooiing van meer suksesvolle en mededingengde eenhede binne hierdie organisasies. Insgelyks, word dit algemeen deur die Wêreldbank, die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds, die Europese Gemeenskap, die Asiese Ontwikkelingsbank en ander soortgelyke organisasies aanvaar dat klein tot middelgroot-ondernemings (KMOs) die onderbou van die meerderheid van susksesvolle ekonomië vorm. Vanuit 'n entrepreneuriese perspektief is 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid navorsing en publikasies reeds oor die faktore gedoen wat entrepreneurskap in KMOs ondersteun, naamlik risikoneming, innovering en mededining. Dog, vanuit 'n empiriese benadering, is daar nog nie navorsing oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in KMOs gelewer nie. Dit is binne hierdie konteks dat die besluit geneem is om die konsep van transformasieleierskap in entrepreneurs te ondersoek, m.a.w. daardie groep mense waarna oor die algemeen as die dryfkrag van die ekonomie verwys word. As vertrekpunt ondersoek hierdie verhandeling die literatuur met betrekking tot leierskapgebruike en -style in organisasies, om sodoende meer spesifiek die medeprodusente van leierskap in entrepreneurs in KMOs te bepaal. Vanaf hierdie vertrekpunt word die empiriese ondersoek geloods en voltooi om die teenwoordigheid van transformasieleierskap in KMOs in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Die empiriese navorsing bevestig die verwantskap tussen die eienskappe van hierdie entrepreneurs en die eienskappe wat tipies aan transformasieleiers in groot organisasies toegeskryf word. Gegewe die bogenoemde empiriese bevindinge omskryf die model (wat gevolglik vir hierdie studie ontwikkel is) die eienskappe van transformasieleiers wat vir leiers/entrepreneurs (in KMOs met groeimoontlikhede) van nut sal wees om sodoende hulondernemings tot prestasievlakke te neem wat met wêreldleierskap en mededingingheid vergelyk kan word.
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Pellegrino, Juan M., and n/a. "Strategy, learning and knowledge in the internationalisation process : a comparative study of NZ incremental and early-internationalising SMEs." University of Otago. Department of Marketing, 2009. http://adt.otago.ac.nz./public/adt-NZDU20090826.101221.
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which represent around 95% or more of the total number of enterprises in many countries, are often considered critical for a country's economy because of their effects on economic output and their contribution to overall employment. However, as a result of globalisation and the deregulation of the New Zealand economy, SMEs in this country have been faced with the need to internationalise in order to grow because of increased domestic competition. Moreover, when they make their move to offshore markets they also face fierce competition. Hence, it is in this largely integrated and competitive global marketplace that it becomes critical for smaller firms to learn about international business to succeed. Therefore, this thesis aimed to understand and explain how internationalising NZ SMEs learn and develop knowledge throughout their internationalisation process.
To frame this problem an extensive review of the literature on internationalisation, organisational knowledge and organisational learning was conducted. This assessment revealed a gap related to the evolution of learning and knowledge in SMEs' internationalisation process. It also identified the incremental and born-global internationalisation types, two more common and distinctive internationalisation paths that SMEs follow. The literature described the several common forms of knowledge that played more or less critical roles in these firms' internationalisation. Furthermore, extant research also stated that experiential learning and other learning processes were important for the internationalisation of these firms but it did not delve into the development of these learning processes over time. Finally, the evaluation of the knowledge and learning literatures identified three most distinctive and important forms of knowledge that organisations develop as a result of several learning processes.
Anchored on the research problem and the specific research questions, derived from the literature review, and framed by a post-positivist worldview, this study developed a methodology that combined theory building, process-based research and case studies to address the problem. More specifically, the methodology involved the selection of and collection of historical, or retrospective, data from eight cases, four incremental and four early-internationalising firms. The data collected through interviews and document analysis was examined using different process analysis techniques.
This research has found that there were important differences in the incremental and early-internationalising firms' learning and knowledge during their creation. Furthermore, the early-internationalising firms identified and implemented an internationalisation strategy from the beginning. Thus, the knowledge about international markets and products acquired through congenital learning and their initial intention to offer their products offshore allowed the early-internationalising firms to expand internationally from their creation or soon after. In contrast, the incremental firms only decided to internationalise after they learned from their experience in their domestic market that they had a successful product that had international potential. Besides their initial internationalisation strategy, or lack of it, and knowledge, other factors, such as firm resources, product and industry characteristics and previous learning and knowledge, influenced these firms' subsequent internationalisation strategy, learning and knowledge.
Publication associated with this thesis: Pellegrino, J. (2005) Organisational Learning Processes in Internationalising Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: a Comparison between Traditional and Born-Global firms. Udevalla Symposium & McGill International Entrepreneurship Conference, Udevalla, Sweden, September 2005.
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Howard, Christopher O. "Approaches to the problems of political risk in foreign direct investment." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18270.
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This thesis examines the challenges multinational enterprises face from political risk when making and operating foreign direct investments. The thesis considers political risk and a wide variety of approaches to its analysis and provides insight into the process of foreign direct investment, the nature of the political threat facing it, foreign investment decision making by multinationals, and the tools developed in the commercial, academic, and governmental arenas to avoid and combat the effects of political risk. In essence, the thesis addresses a business application of theories and methodologies used in political studies. The first hypothesis is: if political risk is properly understood as a phenomenon of the political environment, then it a) defies direct quantification and b) can be explained as a series of discrete elements which can be analyzed separately. The second hypothesis is: if political risk is properly understood as a series of non-quantifiable elements, analysis of political risk cannot be depended upon alone to protect multinational enterprises from political risk in foreign direct investment. The first hypothesis is addressed through a critical review and consideration of business and political risk literature. Two analytical tools are developed in this process: a ladder of cognition consisting of a series of conditions of knowledge which can be held regarding a specific risk, and indicating the type and approximate accuracy of analysis which can be undertaken of such risk; and a representation of the political risk equation as a two stage process consisting of an abstract (environmental) risk event and a discrete effect which the event may or may not have on a specific investment. The second hypothesis is addressed through a critical review of methods of political risk analysis including "qualitative" approaches with roots in traditional studies and "quantitative" approaches derived from statistical analysis and behavioralist-based determinism. Critiques of each approach include operational strengths and weaknesses, performance histories (when applicable), conceptual and practical capabilities from the perspective of the analytical tools described above, and theoretical strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of the political studies discipline. Both hypotheses are supported and the thesis concludes by reviewing tools which can be used by multinationals to manage and mitigate the effects of political risk and considering additional academic work in this arena which would be useful in developing this application of political studies.
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Sally, Mohomed Razeen. "States and firms : the political economy of French and German multinational enterprises in international competition." Thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.287047.
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This thesis entails the examination of the internationalisation during the 1980s of the twelve leading French and German-owned multinational enterprises [MNEs] in chemicals and electronics. They represent a significant part of the phenomenon of Europeanowned MNEs taking their places alongside U.S. and Japaneseowned MNEs as the main commercial actors in international competition. MNEs in the chemical and electronics sectors have been selected for analysis because they are technology-intensive in many of their businesses, which are at the cutting-edge of industry globalisation. This process of recent internationalisation is used to address a problematique that goes to the roots of institutional political economy : how and why has the internationalisation of these MNEs interacted with their "embeddedness" in the domestic structures of the French and German political economies, particularly in terms of their power relationships with external actors such as the home governments and financial institutions ? What are the French-German comparisons involved ? The primary political economy themes are as follows : the MNEs' roles as political actors, especially viewed in terms of their bargaining power relations with the home [central] governments; home government industrial policy vis-â-vis the MNEs; MNE financial relations with banks in France and Germany; MNE political activity at the level of the European Community -- the main geographical focus of internationalisation -- which is especially evident in technology policy. The empirical argument presented is that internationalisation imparts a dynamic that induces convergence effects between the French and German political economies, most importantly in the manner in which the MNEs are embedded in them. Such convergence is however limited and qualified by the enduring differences in the constitution of state-finance-industry linkages in France and Germany. It is argued that the primary theoretical contribution of this study is the inclusion of a business organisation approach, at the level of the firm, to put the spotlight on fundamental questions of political economy. Research in political economy has tended to overlook the role of the firm. The changes wrought by the internationalisation of business urgently require better firm-level conceptualisation and empirical research.
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Deva, Surya. "Violation of human rights by multinational corporations : an integrated theory of regulation." Phd thesis, Faculty of Law, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/11721.
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Olivier, Daniel. "The globalisation of port business an Asian perspective /." Thesis, Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B36265007.
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Schortgen, Francis. "Chinese Enterprise Internationalization: The Case for Contextual Analysis." Oxford, Ohio : Miami University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=miami1208961224.
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Mcleod, Michelle. "Does environmental performance predict financial performance? A South African perspective." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80774.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.Corporate environmental responsibility has engaged the attention of academics, practitioners and environmentalists for some time, creating pressure for companies to conduct business in an environmentally greener manner. To find economic support for such conduct by South African companies, this study aims to investigate whether superior environmental performance by South African listed companies leads to superior financial performance. A review of related literature identified significant diversity in research approach and methodology as well as environmental and financial performance measures employed and therefore also in the results obtained. Given the continuing emergence of climate change as a material issue for business, this study utilised South African Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI SA) ratings as proxy for South African companies’ environmental performance. The infancy of the Carbon Disclosure Project in South Africa does result in some data limitations which necessitated a portfolio approach to address the research question. This approach, however, prevented explicit consideration or judgement on the direction of causality between environmental and financial variables. The environmental performance data limitations and the resulting need for some assumptions resulted in this study being explorative in nature. Using CDLI SA ratings as distinguishing environmental performance characteristic, industrymatching, mutually-exclusive stock portfolios were constructed. Relative portfolio performance was measured with reference to the Sharpe and Treynor ratios and a simple statistical test. Considering the three years 2008 to 2010, the Sharpe and Treynor ratios for Environmental Leaders and Laggards portfolios did not clearly identify either Environmental Leaders or Environmental Laggards as superior financial performers and results also varied across industries. There appears to be some trend emerging which sees Environmental Leaders outperforming Environmental Laggards in more recent years for some industries, however, the short time frame under consideration provided insufficient support for such conclusion. Statistical means testing concluded that the mean returns of Environmental Leaders and Environmental Laggards are similar. Sensitivity analysis performed on the Financials sector indicated that the Sharpe and Treynor ratios are sensitive to portfolio construction. Despite this sensitivity, statistical means testing consistently found little evidence to infer that the mean returns of Environmental Leaders portfolios are either higher or lower than that of Environmental Laggards portfolios. It is suggested that the similar performance of the Environmental Leaders and Environmental Laggards portfolios may be attributed to the use of an environmental performance measure unable to sufficiently distinguish between environmental leaders and environmental laggards. Another interpretation of the results could be that investors consider disclosure-based environmental performance measures as unreliable, or less reliable as compared with outcome-based or combined measures. Finally, it may be that investors’ expectations have not yet been adjusted to reflect the fact that climate change constitutes a materiality issue for business in the long run, which will require companies to actively manage carbon risks. Although there exists voluminous international research on the topic of this study, South African research in this regard is restricted. This study adds to the existing body of South African specific research, but is only explorative in nature; therefore areas for future research have been recommended.
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Li, Juan Julie, and 李娟. "Social relations of foreign firms in China: afocus on trust, network ties and social capital." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B36296326.
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Schoeman, Pieter Stephanus Johannes Albertus. "An empirical investigation of environmental performance and the market value of JSE listed companies." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97358.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the recent past, there has been increasing awareness of, and concern for, the impact that many companies are having on the natural and social environment. This has seen the emergence of a triple bottom line approach to business, with environmental and social metrics being used in addition to financial metrics when evaluating company performance. Despite the growing level of investment in corporate sustainability, it is not clear whether these investments are viewed positively by the market, and to what extent it creates shareholder value. To shed light on the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance, this research assignment used the event study methodology to investigate whether there is statistically significant stock market reactions to announcements relating to the environmental performance of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A total of 260 news announcements related to environmental performance were collected from a variety of news sources. The 260 news announcements represented 67 different companies across 11 different industry sectors. News announcements were collected from several prominent business news sources including the Business Day, Financial Mail and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange News Service. Abnormal share returns were estimated for a three day event window around the announcement date by using the market model approach. Results were aggregated based on four different categories of environmental performance, including corporate environmental initiatives, environmental awards and certificates, negative environmental publicity and, environmental reporting, permits and licences. Consistent with related research in developed countries, this study found that the market rewards certain categories of positive environmental performance but penalises certain categories of negative environmental performance more severely. The results show that there is a significant positive market reaction to announcements of corporate environmental initiatives on the trading day following the announcement. This result indicates a positive relationship between corporate environmental initiatives and financial performance, as measured by market value. In terms of negative environmental performance, it was found that the market responds negatively to the broad category of negative environmental publicity. In particular, negative announcements from civil society and environmental groups seem to result in more significant market reactions than negative announcements from local or national government. In contrast to some studies done in developed countries, no statistically significant relationship was found between announcements of environmental awards and certificates and the market value of companies. Neither was there a statistically significant relationship between environmental reporting, permits and licences and the market value of companies. These results therefore indicate that the market is selective in its response to announcements of environmental performance.
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Karambakuwa, Tapuwa Roseline. "Determinants of export performance among small to medium enterprises in Zimbabwe." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17647.
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There is consensus that Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) exports play a critical role in the development of economies. It has been widely acknowledged in empirical research done around the world that small businesses make a significant contribution to economic development, employment, competitiveness and the reduction of regional disparities. However, empirical literature gives conflicting evidence on the determinants of export performance among SMEs. The study contributes towards the debate on SME exports by: (i) investigating the variables that determine export performance among SMEs in Zimbabwe (ii) establishing the competi-tiveness of Zimbabwe’s exports and (iii) ascertaining the major constraints faced by SME ex-porters in Zimbabwe The researcher gathered data from 120 SMEs and 10 institutions in Zimbabwe for the period 2009 to 2015. SME samples were chosen from Harare, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces while all 10 of the institutions were chosen from Harare province. Convenient non-probability sampling method was used to select SMEs while stratified sampling technique was applied in the selection of institutions. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed. For the quantitative approach, panel data ordinary least squares method was used in the form of the gravity model of trade. Export intensity (used as a measure of exports) was regressed against support institutions, business ownership, research & development, educational years, use of export processing zones, product type, export years, firm size, firm age, gender, distance from trading partner, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of trading partner, and GDP of Zimbabwe. The random effects estimation method was used, basing on results from the Durbin-Wu-Hausman test. The null hypothesis was based on the premise that the variables under study do not determine export intensity of SMEs in Zimbabwe. Other null hypothesis were that the major constraint faced by SME exporters in Zimbabwe is not access to finance and that Zimbabwe’s exports are not competitive in the mining, agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The revealed comparative advantage index was computed to measure the competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s exports.For the qualitative approach, the study used the triangulation method which involved combining and utilising the questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions. The results from the study indicated that following variables increased export intensity of Zimbabwean SMEs; business ownership, use of export processing zones, export years, firm size, and GDP of trading partner. The following variables have an inverse relationship with the export intensity of Zimbabwean SMEs: gender, distance from trading partner and research & development. The results also indicated that these further variables do not determine the export intensity of SMEs in Zimbabwe: support institutions, years of education, product type, firm age and GDP of Zimbabwe. The major constraint faced by exporting SMEs in Zimbabwe is limited access to finance. Zimbabwe is competitive in the agricultural and mining sector exports, but not in manufacturing sector exports The policy implication of the findings is that SME support needs to go beyond support institutions when it comes to SME export promotion. Further SMEs in the agriculture and mining sectors need to be promoted for export growth since Zimbabwe is competitive in these sectors. However the manufacturing sector cannot be ignored, since many economies have developed due to exports of manufactured products and a country needs to have balanced export growth in both primary and manufacturing sectors. In order to have motivated, career SME exporters, entrepreneurship education should begin from primary school right up to university so as to improve entrepreneurial aspirations, attitudes and behaviour in the long run.
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Haney, Aoife Brophy. "The evolution of firms' strategic responses to climate change : information, capabilities and impact." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648572.
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Pu, Cheng-Chiu, and n/a. "POLITICAL DEMOCRACY AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF TAIWAN'S STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES." University of Canberra. Business and Government, 2007. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20081024.110804.
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This thesis is a study of why and how an authority model of managing state-owned enterprises has remained popular in Taiwan through the past two decades. The subject was chosen because it has to date, been a neglected subject in the literature on Taiwan, even though it is significant to any serious examination of Taiwan's continuing political development and the government's approach to governance. Taiwan has experienced three major milestones of political democratisation over the period, each greatly enhancing the democratic characteristics of the state and also reflecting a degree of absorption of global political and economic pressures. Taiwan's political democratisation has been widely discussed in recent years, but not much attention has been paid to the effect of the political changes on its public sector management. The discussions have simply speculated that the Taiwanese government no longer uses the authoritarian way of governing the country, in keeping with its promotion of democratic development.
However, this research clearly indicates that the change of political regime from the previous Kuomintang (KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has not meant any significant change in the way state-owned enterprises are managed. The approach of the DPP government resembles that of the KMT government in that it continues with an authoritarian way of managing state-owned enterprises, despite the party's long established commitment to a democratic way. In other words, this huge change has not meant state-owned enterprises are any better placed than they were previously in terms of having a greater degree of enterprise management autonomy.
This research also shows that Taiwanese governments, regardless of which of the two parties is in power, manipulate state-owned enterprise management using the enterprises as a major means of achieving multiple political objectives. In particular, it has become almost endemic in Taiwan's politics that the ruling party manipulates state-owned enterprise management in order to win political elections and protect its political position. In this sense, it has become evident that the democratic way of governance has still not been used within this part of the government yet.
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Kroukamp, Thelma. "Facilitating banking finance access for BBBEE firms in the Southern Cape area." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/996.
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Studies have shown that BBBEE parties are unsuccessful in raising banking finance due to a number of reasons. The objective of the enactment of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act is primarily to promote the participation of black people in the economy. The measurement of BBBEE is determined by the codes of good practice for Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE), which consists of seven elements namely: ownership, management control, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development and socio-economic development. Enterprises with annual turnover ranging from R5 million and R35 million qualify as QSE. These elements measure the level of BBBEE status. The enactment of the National Credit Act replaced the Usury Act, 1968 and the Credit Agreements Act, 1980. The objective of the act is to promote accessibility to the credit market and to prevent the over-indebtedness of consumers. The Act is applicable to natural persons with contractual capacity and juristic persons with monetary assets or annual turnover of less than R1 million. This study aims to establish the facilitation of access to banking finance for BBBEE SME’S within the George and Mossel Bay area as these towns form part of the Garden Route Business Banking Division of Nedbank. The effect of the BBBEE and NCA on the accessing of banking finance was studied and analysed. Credit applications are subject to stringent credit scoring systems to rate applicants, monitor performance and manage accounts. The Basel rating which measures the minimum level of capital a bank should hold to protect investors determines the interest rate charged for loans. These ratings affect the accessibility of banking finance. A framework for bank and SME relationship building shows the relationships between: • The accounts manager’s role in relationship management; • Branch staff role in relationship management; • Corporate policies as part of relationship management. A survey was conducted in the form of a questionnaire in order to obtain primary information from two sample groups, banking officials and BBBEE clients to establish the relationship between the two sample groups. Quantitative techniques were used and the data obtained from the two sample groups were analysed. The study revealed that the by establishment of relationships between BBBEE clients and banking officials would facilitate access to banking.
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Abramowitz, Alan F. "Transnational corporations : an examination of the consequences for society." Thesis, Kansas State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/9895.
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Leung, Wai-ki Keith. "A study on the economic and political consequences of the China state owned enterprises reform /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1999. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B20733963.
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Gu, Fang Flora, and 顧芳. "Three studies on business-to-business relations: effects of fairness, guanxi, and national animosity on firmperformance in China." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B3625342X.
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Rathnam, Sharad. "Designing an environmentally conscious decision support tool for capital investments in small and medium enterprises." Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/18922.
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Casanova-Jimenez, Richard P. "Trade and investment disputes : whose business is it anyway ?" Thesis, McGill University, 2002. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=78207.
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This thesis is a discussion on whether every sector of human activity really is or needs to be 'global'. It discusses the impact that economic globalization has on the role of the nation-state and on the concept of democracy, at both local and international levels. Particular emphasis is put on some of the democratic challenges associated with dispute settlement at the WTO and also under foreign investment international instruments. It is argued that increased participation by non-state actors, particularly NGOs, in state-to-state and in investor-state arbitration threatens to weaken the arbitration process and does little to remedy alleged democratic deficiencies. The author concludes that many democratic concerns regarding these types of dispute settlement processes may be better addressed by strengthening national democracies. Increased public information, consultation, and participation in the shaping of foreign policy could reduce much of the criticism concerning both, international dispute settlement and decision-making.
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Zhang, Ying. "Developed countries or developing countries?: MNEs' geographic diversification and corporate social performance." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2018. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/560.
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Research (e.g., Strike, Gao, & Bansal, 2006) has pointed out that international firms diversifying geographically can be both socially responsible and socially irresponsible. However, the research has failed to provide a strong theoretical explanation based on a major theory. I propose to address this gap by testing two competing perspectives based on institutional theory, i.e., the institutional-transfer approach and the institutional-void approach. Based on relevant literature, I propose a contingency model predicting the different effects of geographic diversification (GD) on corporate social performance (CSP) by focusing on the institutional differences between developed and developing countries. Moreover, arguing that the institutional approaches should also consider the effects of internal firm resources, I also predict the moderating effects of firm slack resources (the slack) on the relationship between the diversification and CSP. Adopting the approach that considers the slack in a continuum of managerial discretion, i.e., low- and high-discretion slack resources (George, 2005), I argue that high-discretion slack can strengthen the relationship between GD and CSP while low-discretion slack can weaken this relationship. To test the above hypotheses, I analyze the data of multinational enterprises (MNEs) listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 2000 to 2015. The whole sample contains 477 MNEs or 1,560 firm/year observations. Through analyzing empirical data, I have obtained evidence that there is a positive relationship between GD and corporate social responsibility (CSR) when MNEs diversify into developed countries. On the other hand, the results show a negative relationship between GD and CSR and a positive relationship between GD and corporate social irresponsibility (CSIR) when MNEs diversify into developing countries. Moreover, low-discretion slack can weaken the relationship between GD and CSR in developing countries. Theoretically, this thesis makes four contributions to the literature. First, it contributes to the GD literature by focusing on CSP. Second, it enriches institutional theory by testing the predictive validity of its two approaches (i.e., institutional-transfer approach and institutional-void approach) on the GD-CSP relationship. Third, it enriches the understanding of CSP research. Finally, it reveals that different types of slack resources could affect the GD-CSP relationship. In addition to the theoretical contributions, this thesis provides findings with practical implications for managers, governments, and stakeholders. First, managers should be aware of the institutional environments where their firms diversify. Second, managers should maintain an appropriate utility to different kinds of slack resources in their firms. Third, the government should reinforce its supervision on MNEs' diversification strategies, especially in developing countries. Fourth, stakeholders should stay alert that MNEs from developed countries can also perform CSIR behaviors.
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Ye, Ming, and 葉明. "The political economy of urban space: centralbusiness district development in Shanghai and Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2005. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B45015193.
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梁惠祺 and Wai-ki Keith Leung. "A study on the economic and political consequences of the China state owned enterprises reform." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1999. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31269552.
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Ahmed, Jamaluddin. "Aspects of influence over accounting and accounting for currency devaluation : a study of foreign currency loan user enterprises of Bangladesh." Thesis, Cardiff University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.326361.
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Wu, Shuang. "Workers' everyday lives and the transformation of China's post-reform state-owned enterprises." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2020. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/753.
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The interweaving of China's "reform and opening-up" policy of 1978 with globalisation has shifted the landscape of Chinese economic geographies (CEGs). With influential economic, social, and ideological functions, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) vividly illustrate the multiple political economic, geographic, and socio-cultural dimensions of these changes. Regions with concentrations of SOEs have been particularly impacted. This includes North East (NE) China, which historically held the highest proportion of employment in SOEs and has witnessed the closure of many SOEs and regional decline. Explanations of these changes emphasise the structural and institutional mechanisms of reform under globalisation. I argue this extensive literature regards workers as passive factors of production and limits discussions of space and time. Drawing on scholarship on Global Production Networks (GPNs) and Assemblages, I propose a new conceptual framework that positions the everyday life of each worker at the heart of SOE transformation. My central research question is: "how are workers" everyday lives implicated in SOE transformation?" I explore this by re-reading transformation as the coming together of reform under globalisation with the lived experiences, practices, and affective encounters of workers' everyday lives. The novelty of this framework leads me to sketch three general research propositions rather than setting formal hypotheses. I address the research question and demonstrate my framework by using qualitative research methods and building grounded theory. To explore the differentiated ways in which SOEs are transforming, I studied 13 SOEs from three major cities of NE (Harbin, Changchun, and Shenyang). A three-phase research design was deployed. I completed 62 individual and 8 group interviews. To increase the reliability and replicability of the results, I triangulated data by considering in-depth interviews, public policy documents, internet forums, movies and magazines, and on-site field observation. The empirical findings are presented in three chapters which depict, respectively, the lived experiences, practices, and affective encounters of everyday life. First, I explore workers' lived experiences of social relations in the context of reform and their link to specific spatial arrangements. I characterise interdependent social relations and spatial arrangements constitute the socio-spatial formations. The next chapter further explores workers' mobile and immobile practices and the changing meanings of time and space of SOE socio-spatial formation. Third, I describe how encounters and affects give rise to intensity of feelings which reproduces practice and impacts the SOE socio-spatial formation. In a nutshell, understanding SOEs as socio-spatial formations implies that transformation is not "meted out" by a state or abstract market force but an "always already present"process of mutual constitution of lived experiences, practices, and affective encounters in everyday life. Overall, my thesis expands economic geographic knowledge by highlighting the ongoing and processual nature of space and time and, more specifically, by valorising worker agency. I reflect on implications for CEG to combine with cultural and social geographies. I conclude by calling for an ontological shift of focusing on the emergence and contingency of CEGs.
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Hu, Fang. "Top management turnover, firm performance and corporate governance in political economy : evidence from China's listed state-owned enterprises /." access full-text access abstract and table of contents, 2009. http://libweb.cityu.edu.hk/cgi-bin/ezdb/thesis.pl?phd-ac-b23749933f.pdf.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009."Submitted to the Department of Accountancy in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-85)
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Gouws, Stephanie. "A study on the cultural adjustment of the domestic partners of German expatriates in the Nelson Mandela Bay automotive industry." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1540.
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This study explores the cultural adjustment of the domestic partners of German expatriates working in the Nelson Mandela Bay automotive industry of South Africa. The data was collected by distributing pre-interview questionnaires to the participants and conducting in-depth interviews with them. Grounded theory was used in the data collection and analysis and an auto-ethnographic approach was employed, allowing for reflexivity. The findings suggest that the expatriated domestic partners did not necessarily experience much difficulty in adjusting to South African culture as they did, for example, adjusting to not being able to work for the duration of their stay. The research has also shown that the unmarried domestic partners of expatriate employees are at a disadvantage compared to their married counterparts; receiving less assistance from the companies of their partners. Based on the findings, it has been recommended that companies refine and streamline the assistance they offer to the domestic partners of their expatriate employees, providing all domestic partners with the same pre-departure training and entitling them to the same benefits.
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Hill, S. "The entrepreneurial engineer : an investigation into the relationship between humanitarian engineering and entrepreneurship." Thesis, Coventry University, 2016. http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/65ba3ca4-8f7a-4d9e-ae0e-feb4873c3b57/1.
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‘Humanitarian Engineering’ (engineering to support society) is an initiative that has seen considerable growth in recent years within Australasia and North America and more recently within the UK. It is however still in a nascent phase, and is without a clear global definition. Entrepreneurship on the other hand is well established, understood and has been researched globally for several decades, although still presents conflicting views of what it means to be entrepreneurial. Entrepreneurship does not, on the surface, appear to share obvious connections with humanitarian engineering, however, when considering the researched characteristics of entrepreneurial individuals such as creativity, perseverance and risk taking and characteristics shown by humanitarian engineers, similarities can be seen. The purpose of this research is to develop a clear definition for the term ‘Humanitarian Engineering’ and to investigate rigorously the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and the characteristics of those studying humanitarian engineering; both qualitative and quantitative data will be used. Qualitative data are gathered from individuals engaged in humanitarian engineering and provides insight into the definition of humanitarian engineering in a UK context. The primary quantitative research method is an updated version of Gasse and Tremblay’s (2006) Entrepreneurial Characteristic Inventory that measures the 11 recognised entrepreneurial characteristics. This allowed the author to compare and contrast these characteristics as demonstrated by students studying general engineering, humanitarian engineering and enterprise. The quantitative results show that seven of the 11 entrepreneurial characteristics measured are significantly higher in humanitarian engineering students compared with the general engineering students. Nine of the eleven characteristics measured are significantly higher in enterprise students compared with the humanitarian engineering students. Entrepreneurial characteristics are important within engineering, due to the economic impact and association with competencies listed within UK-SPEC to meet Chartered Engineer status but engineers are often the least engaged with entrepreneurial support packages in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This research shows that engagement in humanitarian engineering activities by graduates can act as an indicator for employers of engineers, during the recruitment process, to the existence of these desired entrepreneurial competencies. Further impact of this research is the potential targeting of students within HEIs for enterprise support mechanisms to increase venture start-ups and enhance the relationship between engineering faculties and the enterprise agenda.
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Mitchell, Samantha Laura. "Environmental, social and corporate governance reporting : perspectives from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and an international metals and mining sample." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95862.
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Thesis (MComm) – Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Global interest in responsible investing has grown in recent years. To make effective decisions, responsible investors require listed companies to report on financial and nonfinancial performance, giving particular attention to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations. This study was undertaken to address the paucity of academic research on ESG reporting in South Africa. A number of local studies had focused on environmental and governance reporting, but no studies had taken a holistic view of ESG reporting. Nor had any studies focused on the metals and mining industry in particular. This is a very important industry from an economic and ESG perspective, both in South Africa and internationally. The primary objective of this study was two-fold. Firstly, it was to investigate the extent of ESG reporting (both in South Africa and in a sample of international Metals and Mining companies). The second objective was to evaluate the factors that could potentially influence ESG reporting in these two samples. A positivistic research methodology was adopted as this approach allowed the researcher to test the stated research hypotheses. Quantitative secondary data were thus collected and analysed. The data collection process consisted of three phases: the first phase involved an extensive literature review of the key constructs; the second phase dealt with the collection of data for the dependent variable (Overall ESG score) from MSCI ESG Research’s database; and the third phase entailed collecting data for the 12 independent variables from Bureau van Dijk and selected websites. MSCI ESG Research’s universe was used to establish the two samples used in this study. The JSE sample consisted of 110 listed companies, whereas the international Metals and Mining sample consisted of 173 companies. Because MSCI ESG Research had completed only one year of ESG research when this study commenced, only data for 2012 were available. Descriptive and inferential statistics were completed to analyse the data. The empirical findings of the JSE sample show that the Governance pillar mean score was significantly higher than the Social pillar mean score and the Environmental pillar mean score. ESG reporting was found to be positively associated with companies which were included in the Nedbank Green Index. Companies included in the JSE Socially Responsible Index produced significantly better ESG reports than those excluded from the index. Significant differences were also noted in the Overall ESG score based on the nature of the industry in which a company operated. In the international Metals and Mining sample, two statistically significant relationships were found: larger companies had higher ESG score than smaller companies; and the greater the ownership concentration in a company, the better the ESG reporting on average. Four statistically significant differences were observed. Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index Series had better ESG scores than companies excluded from the index. Companies in developed countries had better ESG reporting than companies in emerging markets. The third difference related to companies which used the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines. These companies had higher Overall ESG scores than those which did not use the guidelines. The same applies to companies which were participants of the UN Global Compact and those who were not. It was concluded that investors who favour sound ESG reporting (and hence ESG management) should ideally focus on larger companies, those which are included in an responsible investing index, use the Global Reporting Initiative’s guidelines, and are participants of the UN Global Compact. Listed companies, particularly those in the Metals and Mining industry, should give more attention to environmental and social considerations, to the overall quality of their ESG reports, and should make more use of available initiatives to aid non-financial reporting.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afgelope jare het belangstelling in verantwoordelike beleggings wêreldwyd toegeneem. Ten einde verantwoordelike beleggers in staat te stel om doeltreffende besluite te neem, moet genoteerde maatskappye oor hul finansiële én nie-finansiële prestasie verslag doen, met bepaalde klem op omgewings-, maatskaplike en korporatiewe beheer (OMB) kwessies. Hierdie studie is onderneem om ’n leemte in akademiese navorsing oor verslagdoening in Suid-Afrika te vul. ’n Aantal plaaslike studies het al op omgewings- en beheerverslagdoening gekonsentreer, maar geen navorsing tot dusver het OMB-verslagdoening holisties beskou nie. Ook het geen studies nog die soeklig op die metaal- en mynboubedryf in die besonder gewerp nie. Hierdie is ’n baie belangrike bedryf uit ’n ekonomiese en OMB-oogpunt, in Suid-Afrika sowel as internasionaal. Die hoofoogmerk van hierdie studie was tweeledig. Eerstens wou die studie ondersoek instel na die omvang van OMB-verslagdoening (by ’n Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef sowel as ’n steekproef van internasionale metaal- en mynboumaatskappye). Tweedens wou die navorsing die faktore bepaal wat ’n moontlike invloed op die OMB-verslagdoening van hierdie twee steekproewe kan hê. ’n Positivistiese navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik, aangesien hierdie benadering die navorser in staat gestel het om die navorsingshipoteses te toets. Kwantitatiewe sekondêre data was dus ingesamel en ontleed. Die data-insamelingsproses het uit drie fases bestaan: In die eerste fase was ’n omvattende literatuurstudie oor die hoofkonstrukte onderneem; die tweede fase het uit data-insameling oor die afhanklike veranderlike (algehele OMB-telling) uit die databasis van MSCI ESG Research bestaan, terwyl die derde fase data-insameling oor die 12 onafhanklike veranderlikes uit Bureau van Dijk en op uitgesoekte webtuistes behels het. Die universum van MSCI ESG Research is gebruik om die twee steekproewe in hierdie studie te bepaal. Die Suid-Afrikaanse steekproef het uit 110 genoteerde maatskappye bestaan, terwyl die steekproef van internasionale metaal- en mynboumaatskappye 173 entiteite ingesluit het. Aangesien MSCI ESG Research met die aanvang van hierdie studie nog net een jaar van OMB-navorsing onderneem het, was data slegs vir 2012 beskikbaar. Beskrywende en inferensiële statistieke is ontwikkel om die data te ontleed. Die empiriese bevindinge van die Suid-Afrikaanse-steekproef lewer ’n beduidend hoër gemiddelde telling vir beheerverslagdoening as vir maatskaplike en omgewingsverslagdoening op. OMB-verslagdoening blyk ’n positiewe korrelasie te toon met maatskappye wat by Nedbank se groen-indeks ingesluit is. Maatskappye wat ingesluit was in die Johannesburg Effektebeurs se indeks vir maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid het op hulle beurt aansienlik beter OMB-verslae opgestel as dié buite die indeks. Beduidende verskille in algehele OMB-tellings is ook opgemerk op grond van die aard van die bedryf waarin ’n maatskappy funksioneer. In die internasionale metaal- en mynbousteekproef is twee statisties beduidende verwantskappe aangetref: Groter maatskappye het ’n hoër OMB-telling as kleiner maatskappye getoon, en hoe hoër die eienaarskapskonsentrasie in ’n maatskappy, hoe beter die OMB-verslagdoening oor die algemeen. Vier statisties beduidende verskille is boonop waargeneem. Maatskappye wat deel was van die FTSE4Good-indeksreeks het beter OMBtellings opgelewer as maatskappye buite die indeks, en maatskappye in ontwikkelde lande het beter gevaar met OMB-verslagdoening as dié in ontluikende markte. Die derde verskil hou verband met maatskappye wat die riglyne van die Globale Verslagdoeningsinisiatief (GRI) volg, wat algeheel hoër OMB-tellings gehad het as diegene wat nié die riglyne gebruik nie. Dieselfde geld vir maatskappye wat aan die Verenigde Nasies (VN) se wêreldverdrag (“Global Compact”) deelneem en diegene wat nie deelneem nie. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat beleggers wat goeie OMB-verslagdoening (en dus goeie OMB-bestuur) verkies, behoort te konsentreer op groter maatskappye, maatskappye wat by ’n indeks vir verantwoordelike belegging ingesluit is, wat die riglyne van die Internasionale Verslagdoeningsinisiatief volg, en wat aan die VN se wêreldverdrag deelneem. Genoteerde maatskappye, veral dié in die metaal- en mynboubedryf, behoort ook meer aandag te skenk aan omgewings- en maatskaplike sake sowel as die algehele gehalte van hul verslae, en behoort meer gebruik te maak van beskikbare inisiatiewe om nie-finansiële verslagdoening te ondersteun.
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Cox, Marcus Z. "When and Where Does It Pay to Be Green: Intra- and Inter-organizational Factors Influencing the Environmental/Financial Performance Link." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2014. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc500091/.
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Managers are coming under increasing pressure from a wide array of stakeholders to improve the environmental performance of their firms while still achieving financial performance objectives. One of the most researched questions in the business and the natural environment (B&NE) literature is whether it pays to be green. Despite more than three decades of research, scholars have been unable to clearly answer this question. The purpose of this dissertation was to attempt to identify the antecedents that lead to increased, firm-level environmental performance and the conditions in which firms are then able to profit from enhanced environmental performance. First, I assessed three intra-organizational factors of top management teams (i.e. female representation, concern for non-financial stakeholders, and risk-seeking propensity) that theory indicated are associated with increased corporate environmental performance (CEP). Theory also leads us to believe that top management teams with these attributes should perform better in dynamic settings, so I tested to see if industry dynamism moderates these relationships. Second, I then examined industry-level forces that theory indicates would moderate the relationship between CEP and corporate financial performance (CFP). These moderating forces include industry profitability, industry dynamism, and the degree of industry environmental regulation. Hypotheses were tested using panel data obtained from the KLD, Compustat, and Environmental Protection Agency databases for the years 2000 to 2011. The sample consists of firms comprising the Standard and Poor’s 500 and was analyzed using fixed-effect regression and moderating variables were analyzed using the Johnson-Neyman technique.
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Senyolo, Thomas Jeffrey Manjaro. "An analysis of selected aspects relating to failure of black businessmen and subsequent leasing of their shop to foreign owners in rural areas in the Greater Letaba Municiplity area of the Limpopo Province: an exploratory analysis approach." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/492.
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Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2011The leasing out of the shops to foreign owners in the rural areas in Greater Letaba Municipality by black businessmen is of concern to those involved in the economic development of the municipality. An exploratory business analysis approach was used to analyze this report. The previous local shop owners and foreign shop owners were interviewed to get the aspects that made the former fail to successfully run their business. The problem statement and objectives of the research are outlined by comparing the three shop owners through tables, and this paved the way for the researcher to understand different models used to run their businesses. Both local and foreign shop owners used the pricing strategy though their price differed. The foreign shop owners, present local shop owners and previous shop owners have, in terms of management been dealing with pricing, competition and system and equipment. The analyses of findings are presented also in the form of tables. The present local shop owners and foreign shop owners operate more or less the same. They network and buy more stock in order to sell it cheaper. The recommendation and conclusions will assist businesses not to fail in future.
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Gonzalez, Vicente Ruben. "The internationalization of China's mining industry : a critical political economy of Chinese mining investment in Peru." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2013. https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/252289.
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Новак, Валентина Олексіївна, Валентина Алексеевна Новак, Valentyna Novak, Оксана Миколаївна Кириленко, Оксана Николаевна Кириленко, Oksana Kyrylenko, Катерина Миколаївна Разумова, Екатерина Николаевна Разумова, and Kateryna Razumova. "Organizational and economic aspects of adaptation of transport enterprises to force major circumstances." Thesis, Державний університет інфраструктури і технологій, 2020. https://er.nau.edu.ua/handle/NAU/53023.
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Business entities in Ukraine, as well as all over the world, found themselves in extremely difficult conditions due to the spread of coronavirus disease, as quarantine measures led to a temporary suspension or significant restriction of transport, supply of raw materials and activities of most transport enterprises of Ukraine.Суб’єкти господарювання в Україні, як і в усьому світі, опинились у надзвичайно складних умовах через поширення коронавірусної хвороби, оскільки карантинні заходи призвели до тимчасового припинення або значного обмеження транспорту, постачання сировини та діяльності більшості транспорту підприємств України.
Субъекты хозяйствования в Украине, как и во всем мире, оказались в чрезвычайно сложных условиях из-за распространения коронавирусной болезни, поскольку карантинные меры привели к временному прекращению или значительному ограничению транспорта, поставки сырья и деятельности большинства транспорта предприятий Украины.
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Zelikow, Daniel Martin. "A political economy of business regulation in Nigeria : an examination of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decrees of 1972 and 1977." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1989. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2daa2f80-b4b6-40c0-88b7-e291052a2199.
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Turyakira, Peter. "Corporate social responsibility: a competitive strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises in Uganda." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012648.
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In view of the important role small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) universally play as the backbone of national economies and the survival and competitiveness challenges that they face, the purpose of this study was to develop specific models of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for SMEs in Uganda as an avenue to enhance their competitiveness and foster economic development. The primary objective was to gain insight into the deployment of CSR in SMEs, including investigating CSR factors and their potential impact on competitiveness. This study integrates previous findings and theories on CSR activities and SMEs‟ competitiveness into a comprehensive hypothesised model. A comprehensive literature study revealed potential factors that could influence the Increased competitiveness of SMEs in Uganda. Four independent variables (Workforce-oriented, Society-oriented, Market-oriented and Environmental-oriented CSR activities) and three mediating variables (Employee satisfaction, Business reputation and Customer loyalty) were identified as variables influencing the Increased competitiveness (dependent variable) of SMEs. Independent variables were categorised as CSR factors while mediating and dependent variables were categorised as outcomes factors. Furthermore, hypotheses were formulated for possible relationships between the independent, mediating and dependent variables. All the variables in the study were clearly defined and operationalised. Reliable and valid items sourced from various measuring instruments used in other similar studies, were used in the operationalisation of these variables. Furthermore, several items were generated from secondary sources. A structured self-administered questionnaire was made available to respondents identified using the stratified and purposive sampling techniques, and the data collected from 383 usable questionnaires was subjected to several statistical analyses. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument was ascertained using an exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach-alpha coefficients respectively. An exploratory factor analysis using SPSS 18 for Windows was conducted to identify the unique factors available in the data before applying structural equation modelling (SEM). The data were categorised into models of independent variables (CSR factors) and the mediating variables (Outcomes factors). The items measuring Market-oriented CSR activities and Workforce-oriented CSR activities loaded as expected. The items measuring Environmental-oriented CSR activities loaded onto two separate factors which were renamed Environmental-oriented CSR activities and Regulated CSR activities. One of the items originally expected to measure the construct Society-oriented CSR activities loaded onto Environmental-oriented CSR activities, leaving three items which loaded together onto the Society-oriented CSR activities factor. Four factors constituted the outcomes submodel, namely Customer loyalty, Stakeholder trust, Business reputation, and Employee satisfaction. In this study, SEM was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. Owing to the sample size limitations, the hypothesised model could not be subjected to SEM as a whole. Consequently, six sub-models were identified and subjected to further analysis. The following independent variables were identified as influencing the dependent variables in this study: Workforce-oriented CSR activities, Society-oriented CSR activities, Market-oriented CSR activities, Environmental-oriented CSR activities, Regulated CSR activities. To establish the influence of the various demographic variables on the mediating and dependent variables, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis were conducted. The respondent‟s position/title in the business, form of enterprise, branch/sector of business, level of education, and the size of business were found to have an influence on the mediating and dependent variables of this study. This study has therefore added to the underdeveloped body of business research in Uganda by investigating a particularly limited segment of the literature, namely SMEs. The study has also identified and developed various models that explain the most significant CSR factors that influence the competitiveness of SMEs. Consequently, this study has put forward several recommendations and suggestions that can enhance the competitiveness of SMEs locally and globally. Further research is encouraged on action-oriented areas such as: the success of different policies and techniques to increase the uptake of CSR amongst SMEs; the economic, social and environmental impact of CSR at sector level; and a typology of SMEs with regard to their engagement in CSR.
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Zheng, Meng. "Two essays on determining corporations' long term commitment : political versus economic freedom." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2020. https://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_oa/758.
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Freedom is universally valued and fundamentally affects social life. In this thesis, I examine how freedom affects an important dimension of business: long-term commitment (LTC). The LTC of corporations is vital for economic growth because economic development is reliant on entrepreneurs continuously investing in physical and social capital. Corporate opportunism will never lead to long-term economic growth. Specifically, this study examines the effects of political freedom (PF) and economic freedom (EF) on two LTC-related variables: investment and the commitment to maintaining a loyal shareholder base, both of which are essential topics in the business literature. This study consists of two essays. The first essay investigates the effects of a country's political versus economic freedom on corporate investment based on a sample of 19,605 companies operating in 49 countries for the timespan covering 1995 to 2015. First-differencing (FD) regressions show that PF and EF are positively associated with corporate investment, but PF's effect is larger. I also find that the effect of EF is conditional on the development of PF but not vice versa. Further, the effect of PF does not seem to be due to concurrent changes in uncontrolled factors: major changes in PF have larger effects than minor changes, and I do not observe a reversion in the effect of PF. Lastly, I find that an improvement in PF is associated with a larger growth in investment among firms with state ownership or political connections, suggesting a larger distorting effect of low PF on these firms' investment decisions. Overall, the findings shed new light on the economic reforms designed by policymakers: economic reforms, no matter how easy they seem, may not work well without political reforms. The second essay examines the impacts of a country's political compared with economic freedom on corporations' commitment to maintaining a loyal shareholder base. With a sample of 45 countries spanning 12 years, the FD result shows that PF and EF are positively associated with corporations' commitment to shareholder loyalty (CSL). More importantly, PF has a greater effect than EF. It is also determined that the impact of EF is dependent on the advancement of PF, but the reverse is not true. Furthermore, the impact of PF is not caused by concurrent changes in uncontrolled factors: major changes in PF are more impactful than minor changes, while a reversion in the impact of PF is not observed. Finally, I find that an enhancement to PF is correlated with a more significant increase in CSL among firms with state ownership or political connections than in firms without. This implies that low PF has a greater distorting effect on the CSL of such firms. In general, these results indicate that while it is comparatively easier for policymakers to enact economic reforms, their effectiveness may be reduced in the absence of concurrent political reforms.
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Lillah, Riyaadh. "Environmental management systems in South African small and medium-sized businesses." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/2909.
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Businesses have been criticised for their contribution towards the ever-increasing rate of destruction of the natural environment. Although businesses have responded by adapting their management practices, production processes and products, they still face a number of challenges in reducing their environmental impact. One way in which businesses have responded to the environmental crisis is by implementing environmental management systems. Despite the importance of environmental management implementation, researchers have neglected to identify the antecedents that could lead to environmental management system implementation in South African small and medium-sized businesses. Indeed, much of the research on environmental management has concentrated on large business in Europe or the United States. The limited research that has been conducted on environmental management in small and medium-sized businesses has been descriptive in nature, and fails to produce results that are generalisable and that advance the understanding on this topic. Given this situation, the objective of this study was to develop and empirically test a theoretical model to explain the implementation of environmental management systems in small and medium-sized businesses. A quantitative survey methodology was adopted in this study to test the proposed theoretical model empirically. In total, 417 small and medium-sized businesses participated in the survey; 326 of these were not implementing an environmental management system, and 91 were implementing such a system. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the sample data. The findings of this analysis suggest that the respondents had a favourable attitude toward environmental management systems; they were aware of environmental issues; they perceived themselves and their businesses as able to deal with the barriers to environmental management system implementation; they felt personally obligated to reduce their business‟ environmental impact; and they perceived actions aimed at reducing their businesses‟ environmental impact as socially desirable. To test the hypothesised relationships in the theoretical model, correlation and multiple regression analyses were used. The hypotheses dealing with the relationship between the environmental antecedents and the owner-manager‟s intention to implement an environmental management system, and the actual implementation of an environmental management system, were supported in this study. Thus, the environmental antecedents were found to be positively related to the small and medium-sized business owners‟ intention to implement an environmental management system; to their formal and informal implementation of an environmental management system; and to their practices related to waste management and legal compliance. Empirical evidence to support the hypothesised effect of resource constraints as a moderating variable was found in this study. In terms of environmental values, support was found for the moderating effect of egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric values. In terms of the biographical characteristics of the business owners, significant moderating effects were found for gender and age, but not for education. Gender influenced the relationships between the environmental antecedents, attitude towards an environmental management system and personal pro-environmental norms, and the intention to implement an environmental management system. Age moderated the relationship between subjective pro-environmental norms, waste management, and legal compliance. Given the empirical evidence provided in this study, it is recommended that greater awareness of environmental issues be fostered among small and medium-sized business owners as well as the individuals who influence their decision-making. There is also a need to reinforce the positive business outcomes of environmental management system implementation, as well as the personal and social obligations to protect the natural environment among small and medium-sized business owners.
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Canbäck, Staffan. "Bureaucratic limits of firm size : empirical analysis using transaction cost economics." Thesis, Brunel University, 2002. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/9030.
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This thesis tests Oliver Williamson’s proposition that transaction cost economics can explain the limits of firm size. Williamson suggests that diseconomies of scale are manifested through four interrelated factors: atmospheric consequences due to specialisation, bureaucratic insularity, incentive limits of the employment relation and communication distortion due to bounded rationality. Furthermore, Williamson argues that diseconomies of scale are counteracted by economies of scale and can be moderated by adoption of the multidivisional organisation form and by high internal asset specificity. Combined, these influences tend to cancel out and thus there is not a strong, directly observable, relationship between a large firm’s size and performance. A review of the relevant literature, including transaction cost economics, sociological studies of bureaucracy, information-processing perspectives on the firm, agency theory, and studies of incentives and motivation within firms, as well as empirical studies of trends in firm size and industry concentration, corroborates Williamson’s theoretical framework and translates it into five hypotheses: (1) Bureaucratic failure, in the form of atmospheric consequences, bureaucratic insularity, incentive limits and communication distortion, increases with firm size; (2) Large firms exhibit economies of scale; (3) Diseconomies of scale from bureaucratic failure have a negative impact on firm performance; (4) Economies of scale increase the relative profitability of large firms over smaller firms; and (5) Diseconomies of scale are moderated by two transaction cost-related factors: organisation form and asset specificity. The hypotheses were tested by applying structural equation models to primary and secondary cross-sectional data from 784 large US manufacturing firms. The statistical analyses confirm the hypotheses. Thus, diseconomies of scale influence the growth and profitability of firms negatively, while economies of scale and the moderating factors have positive influences. This implies that executives and directors of large firms should pay attention to bureaucratic failure.