Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental effectiveness and competitive advantage'
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Snyman, Pamela Beatrice. "Sustainable competitive advantage through organisational leadership and learning in a service environment : a resource-based view." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19882.
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Thesis(MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The determination of what the concept ‘sustainable competitive advantage’ means within a service environment and the consequent establishment of key resources within Pam Golding Properties and the role that leadership and the creation of a learning organisation play, formed the core of this study. The case study was therefore undertaken to glean relevant information from reality in order to determine which resources that can be described as intangible assets and competences contribute in a sustainable manner to the organisation’s competitive advantage in a dynamic and changing business environment. Existing and historical resources including leadership and learning within the organisation were identified by means of semi-structured interviews with a range of company executives. These resources were then assessed by means of questionnaires that were distributed to a wide range of stakeholders within the organisation in terms of value for the client, sustainability and transferability. These outcomes, in turn, provided the basis for conclusions and recommendations for future utility in order to maintain competitive advantage that would ultimately lead to sustained superior performance on all fronts. The findings that were made, culminated in a visual representation of leadership and organisational learning that form the core of the organisation and simultaneously illustrating their interdependence with the other key resources, namely organisational culture, the Pam Golding Properties brand, reputation, teamwork, relationships, systems and procedures, managers and agents. These resources form the essence of the organisation. The organisational culture within Pam Golding Properties that is representative of the core values of integrity, honesty, sincerity and service delivery was found to be the overall resource that provides the organisation with sustainable competitive advantage. This was closely followed by the value of the brand and reputation, teamwork and inter-personal relationships, the utilisation of efficient systems and procedures and the recruitment and retention of competent managers and agents. Organisational leadership was found to instil confidence in the organisation. A common, shared vision that is understood and underwritten by all employees is however lacking and change needs to be managed in such a way that the organisation’s core ideology is not compromised, but an envisioned future should be communicated throughout. The brand carries out the promise of the culture and core values, but can be tarnished if the reputation for service excellence is not upheld and it can lose credibility if expectations are not met. The brand thus needs protection from within and this can only happen if the people in the organisation share in the process of and toward an envisioned future. It was established that meaningful change presupposes continual improvement in a dynamic, yet sustainable organisation. It was therefore also recommended that a concerted effort be made to actively promote and strive towards the company becoming a true learning organisation in order to sustain its culture, brand, reputation and other intangible assets and competences. In the event that these and other recommendations in terms of resources are seriously considered and strived for by company leaders, this organisation should be an example to the rest of the world regarding sustainable competitive advantage.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bepaling van wat die konsep ‘volhoubare mededingende voordeel’ beteken binne ‘n diensomgewing en die daaropvolgende vasstelling van sleutelhulpbronne binne Pam Golding Eiendomme en die rol wat leierskap en die skep van ‘n leerorganisasie speel, het die kern van hierdie studie gevorm. Die gevallestudie is dus onderneem om toepaslike inligting vanuit realiteit te werf, om sodoende vas te stel watter hulpbronne wat as ontasbare bates en bevoegdhede beskryf kan word, op ‘n volhoubare wyse tot die organisasie se mededingende voordeel bydra in ‘n dinamiese en veranderende sake-omgewing. Bestaande en historiese hulpbronne insluitend leierskap en leer binne die organisasie is geïdentifiseer by wyse van semi-gestruktueerde onderhoude wat met ‘n aantal uitvoerende lede van die maatskappy gevoer is. Hierdie hulpbronne is daarna deur middel van vraelyste wat aan ‘n breë reeks insethouers binne die organisasie versprei is, geëvalueer in terme van waarde vir die kliënt, volhoubaarheid en oordraagbaarheid. Hierdie uitkomste het weer die basis verskaf vir afleidings en voorstelle wat gemaak is ten opsigte van toekomsbruikbaarheid om mededingende voordeel te behou wat uiteindelik tot volhoubare superieure verrigting op alle fronte sal lei. Die bevindings wat gemaak is, het in ‘n visuele voorstelling van leierskap en organisasieleer gekulmineer, wat die kern van die organisasie uitmaak en tegelykertyd hul interafhanklikheid illustreer ten opsigte van die ander sleutelhulpbronne, naamlik organisasie-kultuur, die Pam Golding Eiendomme handelsnaam, reputasie, spanwerk, verhoudings, stelsels en prosedures, bestuurders an agente. Hierdie hulpbronne maak die essensie van die organisasie uit. Die organisasie-kultuur binne Pam Golding Eiendomme wat verteenwoordigend is van die kernwaardes van integriteit, eerlikheid, opregtheid en dienslewering het as die oorhoofse hulpbron uitgestaan wat die organisasie van volhoubare mededingende voordeel verseker. Dis gevolg deur die waarde van die handelsnaam en reputasie, spanwerk en inter-persoonlike verhoudings, die benutting van doeltreffende stelsels en prosedures en die werwing en retensie van bekwame bestuurders en agente. Daar is bevind dat organisasie-leierskap vertroue in die organisasie skep. ‘n Gemeenskaplike, gedeelde visie wat deur al die werknemers verstaan en onderskryf word, kom egter kort en verandering behoort op só ‘n wyse bestuur te word, dat die organisasie se kern-ideologie nie onder verdenking gebring word nie, maar ‘n gevisioneerde toekoms behoort deurgaans gekommunikeer te word. Die handelsnaam dra die belofte van die kultuur en kernwaardes uit, maar kan skade opdoen as die reputasie vir diensuitnemendheid nie onderhou word nie en dan kan geloofwaardigheid ingeboet word indien daar nie aan verwagtinge voldoen word nie. Die handelsnaam moet dus van binne uit beskerm word en dit kan slegs gebeur indien die mense in die organisasie aan die proses van ‘n gevisioneerde toekoms deelneem. Dit is bevind dat betekenisvolle verandering aaneenlopende verbetering in ‘n dinamiese, dog volhoubare organisasie veronderstel. Daar is dus ook voorgestel dat ‘n doelbewuste poging aangewend word dat die wording van ‘n ware leerorganisasie aktief gepromoveer en nagestreef behoort te word om sodoende die kultuur, handelsnaam, reputasie en ander ontasbare bates en bevoegdhede vol te kan hou. Indien hierdie en ander voorstelle ten opsigte van hulpbronne ernstig deur die maatskappy se leiers bedink en nagestreef word, behoort hierdie organisasie vir die res van die wêreld ‘n voorbeeld van volhoubare mededingende voordeel te wees.
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Berzengi, Raz, and Anna Linbom. "Competitive Advantage of Environmental Sustainability." Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Business and Engineering (SET), 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-1342.
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More and more companies are trying to adopt a sustainability strategy, because of a growing awareness among people about a need for better environment in the future. It has been noticed that a balance between economic, social and environmental aspects is of great significance. The benefits of a strategy to become more balanced are said to be competitive advantage and stakeholder satisfaction besides the economic, social and environmental benefits.
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Jones, Zoe Foss. "Competitive advantage and environmental sustainability in the UK food wholesale sector." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2017. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.727407.
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The contribution of business to environmental degradation is well documented, as is the opportunity for firms, who seek to reduce the environmental impact of their operations, to gain competitive advantage. The business case for sustainability is often framed as the ‘win-win’ scenario, whereby eco-efficiency measures reduce operating costs and create opportunity for lower prices or increased profit. This research explores this relationship within the context of the UK grocery wholesale sector. Three qualitative case studies have been developed to investigate the approach by UK grocery wholesalers to reduce environmental impact. An analysis-of each firm’s approach has been conducted using a theoretical framework of Green Wholesaling, developed from the natural-resource-based view (Hart, 1995), and the green retailing framework (Lai et al., 2010). The findings indicate that each firm shows a strong alignment with pollution prevention and internal-coordination-based GR through their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their internal operations via waste management, energy efficiency and improved efficiency within transport and distribution. Whilst each firm reported a financial benefit from their efforts to reduced direct environmental impact, doubt is cast over the opportunity this creates for sustained competitive advantage due to the lack of inimitability. Evidence was also found within the case studies that UK grocery wholesalers are taking steps to reduce the indirect environmental impact of their businesses. However, the competitive opportunities associated with such action within the theoretical concepts of stewardship and external-coordination-based GR appear under-developed, in part because of the complexities of supplier relationships and end consumer demand within the grocery sector. However, there are suggestions within the case studies that firms who manage to integrate environmental sustainability and social responsibility within the overall business strategy, will develop competitive opportunity. A revised and extended Green Wholesaling framework was presented following a cross-case analysis.
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Grube, James W. (James Wesley) 1971. "Regional competitive advantage and transportation planning : an extended ReS/SITE framework." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/84245.
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Weitsz, Marijke (Marijke Adriana). "Learning & knowledge : critical elements to sustained competitive advantage." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53485.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The increased rate of competitive challenges imposed on organisations by global economy, technological product changes, processes (Dixon, 1992; Dodgson, 1993), and abundance of information available (Huber 1991) necessitate organisations to unlearn, learn and relearn faster than others to survive. The development of sustainable competitive advantages is a vital management function and an important organisational requirement is to nurture learning and create new knowledge enabling organisations to exploit, develop and utilise resources better than rivals do. This paper originated from the need identified in my company that learning and use of new knowledge are essential elements to sustain competitive advantage. At the moment this is not the case and the challenges imposed on the organisation regarding technological advancements and rapid local and global environmental changes, has already negatively impacted the organisation's competitive position. Today learning is being experiences as just another expense and the use of new knowledge is not visible, as a matter of fact knowledge is being confused with information. Information is being "recycled"; in other words more of the same is shared and used within the organisation. Hardly any new knowledge is generated as the same minds that created problems are being used to solve them. In my opinion both learning and knowledge are strategic organisational requirements which must be nurtured and managed to (i) ensure return on investments, and (ii) strengthen the organisations future competitive position. The focus of the paper is to contribute to a deeper understanding of learning and knowledge, the linkage between individuals, organisations and learning loop approaches. Barriers preventing learning and use of knowledge will be identified as well as how the use of knowledge forms the foundation to achieve sustained competitive advantages to outsmart, outmaneuver and outwit the competition. Keywords: Knowledge; learning; organisational learning; competitive advantage; learning approaches, organisational barriers.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die snel veranderende kompeterende uitdagings waaraan maatskappy vandag blootgestel word, bv globalisering, ekonomiese impak, tegnologiese produk en proses veranderinge asook die oorvloed inligting wat beskikbaar is, vereis dat maatskappye hul leerprosesse mbt "unlearn, learn and relearn" vinniger moet toepas om kompterend te bly. Die ontwikkeling van kompeterende voordele is 'n kern bestuursfunksie en 'n belangrike voorvereiste tov die organisatoriese leerproses en skepping van nuwe kennis om 'n voorsprong bo die konkurrente te bewerkstellig. Die oorspronklike idee vir die skripsie het binne my eie maatskappy ontstaan, waar die tekortkominge mbt die gefokusde daarstelling en gebruik van nuwe kennis, vir die behoud van 'n mark leierskap posisie, tans nie sigbaar is nie. Die snel veranderende tegnologiese en ekonomiese eksterne omgewing het reeds 'n negatiewe en detrimentele impak op die maatskappy gehad. Vandag is die leerkurwe en gebruik van nuwe kennis binne die maatskappy nie 'n fokus area nie. Kennis word tans met inligting verwar en dieselfde persone verantwoordelik vir die oorsaak/skep van probleme word gebruik om probleme op te los, maw inligting word "gehersirkuleer" binne die maatskappy. Die doel van die skripsie is om 'n bydrae te maak mbt die raakvlakke tussen die onderskeie leer benaderings, kennis, individue en die maatskappy en hoe die onderskeie benaderings by die leerproses inpas. Hindernisse wat die gebruik van kennis kan inhibeer en beperk word ge-identifiseer en laastens word die fokus op hoe die gebruik van kennis en kundigheid die basis kan vorm vir die verkryging van onderhoudende kompeterende voordele, geplaas.
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Lewin, Denise Nichole. "Gaining competitive advantage through collaboration : options for minority architecture and engineering firms." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/35992.
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Kuss, Matthias Johannes. "Absorptive capacity, environmental strategy and competitive advantage : the case of the chemical industry /." Zürich : ETH, 2009. http://e-collection.ethbib.ethz.ch/show?type=diss&nr=18253.
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Seay, Jason Edward. "Using information technology to gain a competitive advantage in discrete manufacturing." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/84358.
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Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2003.Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98).
by Jason E. Seay.
S.M.
M.B.A.
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Petrikevich, Natalia. "Transparency and Disclosure in Hospitals as a Competitive Advantage." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2014. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-191779.
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Transparency and information disclosure are important elements in the building strong and confiding relationships between core stakeholders of the hospital, including patients, physicians and hospital management, and allow improving hospital performance on the market. Effects of transparent information environment existence in the medical institution can be wide but the most compelling and attractive are those, which are connected with motivation to improve and change of patients and physicians attitudes towards organisation. On the base of non-for-profit hospital in one of the regions in the Russian Federation, this study examined information flows between hospital, physicians and patients, and their perspectives towards transparency. In order to achieve aims of the research, surveys and interview were conducted in the hospital, according to which results inferences and recommendations were developed.
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Hovav, Michal. "Tantalum wire product development strategy : gaining a competitive advantage in a commodity market." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37130.
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Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 52-53).
In the face of growing competition and the commoditization in the Tantalum Wire business, H.C. Starck must find a way to differentiate their wire products from competitors in order to survive in this market. This thesis studies the possibility of developing a new product into the market by launching a product development process, with the goal of gaining a competitive advantage and sustaining it, thus increasing profitability over time. For this purpose a decision support model was developed to analyze the economical and operational feasibility of a new product. All aspects of launching a new product development process in H.C. Starck Wire department were modeled to simulate uncertainties across the Tantalum supply-chain, and recommendations were drawn based on results. A number of goals were addressed in this study: First, a robust link was created between the scientific potential and the economical potential of a new wire development. Second, a recommended strategy was defined for H.C.Starck Wire department in order to differentiate their products in lieu of low cost competition.
by Michal Hovav.
S.M.
M.B.A.
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Lasco, Katherine Ann. "Sustainability Criteria, Communications, and Competitive Advantage: A Case Study from the Textile Supply Chain." Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1429868947.
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Reid, Alan Michael. "Optimising operations effectiveness and capacity at a heavy engineering plant / Reid A." Thesis, North-West University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7303.
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This study focuses on optimising operations effectiveness and capacity at a heavy
engineering plant, namely Heavy Engineering Vereeniging, a division of DCD–DORBYL (Pty)
Ltd. The implementation and adoption of technology was included in the investigation. The
company operates from 2 premises in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark (Gauteng), and
consists of 5 factory buildings.
A literature review was conducted to ascertain current industry best practises and
technology implementation initiatives. This review included a discussion on the following
aspects: Capacity and its utilisation, flexible technology and advanced manufacturing
systems, technology in manufacturing, capacity expansion and scheduling, factory layouts,
technology and capacity utilisation in a South African context, and finally future trends in
capacity and technology at Heavy Engineering Vereeniging.
Data collection from within the organisation was done via the issuing of a questionnaire and
conducting interviews with various management and supervision employees. The gathered
data was analysed for employees’ opinions on current utilisation of capacity and use of
technology, as well as suggestions regarding improved working methods, factory layout and
the implementation of new technology. The quantitative data was analysed using the
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, with the provided descriptive statistical
test results used for the identification of possible trends and further interpretation.
It was found that current capacities and equipment are being well utilised, but not to their
optimal level. The well entrenched management information systems, measurement systems
and operating procedures currently in use will aid to increase the level of utilisation of the
available capacity and equipment. The implementation of technology and latest best
practises within the operation will gain HEV a competitive edge, ensuring their future
sustainability and market leadership. However, this implementation must be done with the
input and buy in of the work force. The variances in perceptions and attitudes between the
various job functions, discovered during the statistical analysis, must be taken into
cognisance during any capacity optimisation or technology implementation initiative.
Continued capital expenditure and the current drives in research and development need to
be maintained to further ensure sustainability.
Various inefficiencies were identified and recommendations were made to improve the
current operation’s effectiveness and factory layout, primarily by decreasing operating
inefficiencies.
The recommendations were made based on the results of the study and included the
expenditure involved in their execution. Financially viable options, calculated using payback
periods and net present values (NPV), included the purchase of phased array ultrasonic
testing equipment, horizontal SAW for longitudinal flanges and a modular type furnace.
Other options, which could improve operations effectiveness, but not returning financially
positive results, included the moving of the Hausler roll into the main fabrication workshop
and the moving of the Sachems drills to alongside the lathes.
A number of new processes and initiatives were recommended, for which cost comparisons
to current similar practices could not be performed. These included the full production
implementation of the punch through tandem arc submerged arc welding for wind turbine
tower manufacture, implementation of a customer interfacing and communication platform
and internal communication display boards. Current practises regarding touch time
measurements for welding and drilling were validated.
By undertaking these recommendations, it was felt that HEV would continue to be wepositioned to capture the predicted ongoing growth in the mining market in which they
currently operate, and to fully benefit from the future upturn in the energy market.Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
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Montaña, Robayo Fernando Augusto. "Innovation in industrialized construction processes as a source of competitive advantage with a case study of an industrialized system in Columbia." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/72750.
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Mabaso, Thandeka Grace. "Leveraging knowledge management as the basis to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in KwaZulu-Natal legislature." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50391.
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Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper was written with the intention of investigating how Knowledge Management (KM) influences an organization's competitive advantage. The objective of the research questions was to determine KM's role in a competitive advantage. Knowledge is the critical asset of any organization whether profit or nonprofit. This paper will discuss the meaning of the competitive advantage focusing attention in a non-profit organization, which will serve as a framework for subsequent argument and the remainder of the study. Research into KM's relation with business issues such as leadership, IT for KM, organizational structure was conducted. The objective was to determine the readiness of the institution in implementing Knowledge Management as a basis for its competitive advantage and also to determine the role of the leadership for KM and IT for KM and to propose a new agenda for the Chief Knowledge Officer. This paper is organized around six chapters. It begins with introduction and background chapters where the research question, research setting and KM's competitive advantage are discussed. An in-depth literature review follows in chapter two. Chapter three deals with the detailed description of the methodology followed to compile this paper. A data report and analysis in chapters four and five followed by recommendations for rolling out of KM initiative are considered. Research concludes in chapter six.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studiestuk is geskryf met die bedoeling om die wyse waarop Kennisbestuur (KB) 'n organisasie se mededingende voordeel beïnvloed, te ondersoek. Die oogmerk van die navorsingsvrae was om KB se rol met betrekking tot mededingende voordeel te bepaal. Kennis is 'n belangrike bate vir enige organisasie met of sonder winsbejag. In hierdie stuk word die betekenis van mededingende voordeel bespreek met die klem op 'n organisasie sonder winsbejag wat as raamwerk sal dien vir daaropvolgende argumente en die res van die studie. Navorsing is oor die verband tussen KB en sake-aangeleenthede soos leierskap, inligtingstegnologie (IT) en organisatoriese struktuur gedoen. Die oogmerk was om die gereedheid van die instelling te bepaal vir die implementering van KB as 'n grondslag vir sy mededingende voordeel en ook om die rol van leierskap vir KB en IT vir KB vas te stel en om 'n nuwe agenda vir die Hoof Kennisbeampte voor te stel. Hierdie stuk bestaan uit ses hoofstukke. Dit begin met 'n inleiding en 'n hoofstuk met agtergrondinligting waar die navorsingsvrae, navorsingsomgewing en KB se mededingende voordeel bespreek word. 'n Deeglike literatuur-oorsig volg in hoofstuk twee. Hoofstuk drie handel oor 'n gedetailleerde beskrywing van die metodologie wat gevolg is om hierdie stuk te lewer. 'n Dataverslag en -ontleding word in hoofstukke vier en vyf oorweeg, gevolg deur aanbevelings vir die uitrol van 'n KB inisiatief. Die navorsingsgevolgtrekking is in hoofstuk ses vervat.
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Köhnke, Johanna, Ewa Chmiel, and Pawel Kuska. "The dilemma of Polish subcontractors : A study of sustaining competitiveness in a changing environment." Thesis, University of Kalmar, Baltic Business School, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hik:diva-376.
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Our interest in this thesis is based on the discussion we had in previous courses about the development of emerging countries. Since two of the writers of this thesis are from Poland we tried to found a common interest, hence the relationship between the Polish subcontractors and Swedish customer is analyzed.
Poland is also known as a low cost country and that make it favorable when it comes about hiring subcontractors. The subcontractors in Poland are also known for the skills and expertise to produce quality. Something that is important for many foreign companies. IKEA has more than 40 subcontractors in Poland; the reason is just the factors mentioned above, to be able to produce good quality to low cost. (www.ikea.com)
Earlier research indicate that Poland is developing rapidly compare to other emergent countries in Eastern Europe. There have been and will be changes in the environment that most likely will affect the competitive advantage that the subcontractors are the leader in. In other words these changes might lead to that Poland loses its customers which choose other markets that still are able produce at lower costs.
The main problem for the thesis is to investigate how can polish subcontractors cope with environmental changes to sustain competitive advantage?
In order to answer this, we used a qualitative approach where the characteristics of a case study are conducted. We collected and analyzed data in an abductive way. The interviews with the three Polish subcontractors were made in a semi structure form via telephone. To be able to solve the above problem an environmental analysis of Poland was done, in order to found those factors that are mentioned as worries and are likely to change in the future. The changes are presented from subcontractors’ perspective and recommendation how to cope with them is given.
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Oliveira, Fabiano Alves de. "Criação de valor compartilhado : um estudo no setor de papel para embalagem." reponame:Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFRGS, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/171445.
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O presente trabalho analisou a propensão dos executivos do setor de papel para embalagem no Brasil à aplicação dos conceitos de Criação de Valor Compartilhado (CVC) como forma de aprimorar a vantagem competitiva das empresas do setor. O conceito de Valor compartilhado foi lançado por Porter e Kramer em 2011, através do artigo publicado na Harvard Business Review chamado de: A Grande Idea – Como consertar o capitalismo. De acordo com Porter e Kramer, o conceito de valor compartilhado redefine as fronteiras do capitalismo ao conectar melhor o sucesso da empresa com o progresso da sociedade, este conceito abre muitas maneiras de atender a novas necessidades, ganhar eficiência, criar diferenciação e expandir mercados, tornando-se mais competitiva. De acordo com os autores, se as empresas utilizarem as mesmas ferramentas que norteiam suas escolhas no core business para analisarem as oportunidades socioambientais, deixa de ser um custo ou filantropia para se tornar uma fonte de oportunidade e de vantagem competitiva (PORTER; KRAMER, 2011). Para a realização do trabalho, procedeu-se à revisão de literatura disponível sobre o tema CVC, sobre estratégia e competitividade, o que permitiu conhecer melhor os conceitos para que uma empresa possa coloca-los de fato em prática. Após a revisão da literatura, realizou-se a pesquisa de fontes secundárias, que utilizou dados coletados através de materiais internos e externos sobre o tema disponíveis no Brasil e no mundo, tais como: publicações de revistas, vídeos, apresentações em fóruns, artigos, dissertações e teses acadêmicas, publicações em sites e notícias vinculadas. Os dados secundários ajudaram a tangibilizar o conceito de CVC realizado na revisão literária, através de exemplos de empresas de classe mundial, que já estão aplicando e desenvolvendo projetos e iniciativas de CVC. A partir dos dados recolhidos através de entrevistas de profundidade com executivos e especialistas em sustentabilidade, verificou-se que o tema é pouco disseminado e, ainda, confundido com os conceitos de sustentabilidade, porém, indicam a propensão às práticas de CVC pelas empresas do setor.The present work analyzed the application of the concepts of Creating Shared Value (CSV) by executives of the area of paper packaging in Brazil as a way to improve the competitive advantage of companies in the sector. The concept of Shared Value was devised by Porter and Kramer in 2011 through the Harvard Business Review article called "The Great Idea How to Fix Capitalism." According to Porter and Kramer, the concept of shared value redefines the boundaries of capitalism by better connecting the company's success with the progress of society, this concept opens up many ways to meet the new needs of this society, such as gaining efficiency, creating differentiation and expand markets, making it more competitive. According to the authors, if companies use the same tools that guide their choices in the core business to analyze socio-environmental opportunities, it is no longer a cost or philanthropy to become a source of opportunity and competitive advantage (PORTER, KRAMMER, 2011). In order to carry out the work, a review of available literature on the CSV topic on strategy and competitiveness was carried out, which allowed a better understanding of the concepts for a company to actually put into practice. After reviewing the literature, secondary sources were searched, using data collected through internal and external materials available in Brazil and in the world, such as: magazine publications, videos, presentations in forums, articles, dissertations and academic theses, publications on websites and related news. The secondary data helped to underpin the CSV concept addressed in the literary review, through examples of world-class companies that are already implementing and developing CSV projects and initiatives. Based on data collected through in-depth interviews with executives and sustainability experts, it was verified that the theme is poorly disseminated and also confused with the concepts of sustainability, but indicate the propensity to CSV practices by companies in the sector.
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Olivier, Vanessa. "Managing mobile learning in a higher education environment / Olivier V." Thesis, North-West University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/7297.
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The aim of this study is to conduct a thorough theoretical study on mobile learning (mlearning)
in order to achieve the primary objective of the study which is to develop a general
framework to implement and manage mobile technologies in a higher education
environment.
The focus of the literature study was to research the state of mobile technologies and their
relevance to teaching and learning. The literature study investigate the implications of mobile
technologies for students, lecturers and thus for the institution and provided an overview of
frameworks found in literature with the emphasis on the management of m–learning within
the higher education institution.
M–learning is part of a new mobile conception of society, with the mobility of the
technologies impacting on the mobility of the students, the lecturers and ultimately on the
mobility of higher education. Literature suggests that, while m–learning is proving to be
innovative, the factors that most strongly impact on the ultimate success or failure of mlearning
will depend on human factors, the balancing of technological ideals and
pedagogical imperatives, and the successful management of the interface between human
educational systems and technology systems. The proposed general framework focuses
on addressing key issues related to m–learning from the perspective of the student, the
lecturer and thus the institution. In order to remain competitive higher education needs to be
diligent in maintaining the complex technology infrastructure that supports a thriving
mobile culture that will meet and exceed the expectations of both lecturers and students.
The empirical research conducted had as objectives to investigate the mobile technology
assets of respondents with regard to the hardware and the software that they own, the mobile technology actions of respondents in regard to what they do with the mobile
technology that they own and to investigate the respondent's attitude towards mobile
technologies. A survey was designed and distributed to a sampling of the academic staff
and students of the North–West University (NWU) in South Africa, specifically the
Potchefstroom Campus.
There is ample proof from the empirical study that there is a gap with regard to the level of
accessibility, usage, and attitude with regards to the different interest groups in the higher
education environment. Higher education institutions should invest in investigating these
gaps further and in leveraging off the benefits of the effective management of these
technologies to improve teaching and learning.
The final chapter concludes with a summary of the secondary objectives researched in the
literature (Chapter two) and empirical research (Chapter three) chapters in order to support
recommendations towards the primary objective of this study. The rapid pace of adoption
and advancement of mobile technologies creates opportunities for new and innovative
services provided through such mobile devices. Higher education finds itself in the early
innings of the mobile Internet pulling both lecturers and students towards the same place:
smaller, faster, cheaper devices working together in a web of connectivity.
Recommendations were made in this final chapter on how higher education institutions can
leverage the benefits of the effective management of mobile technologies to improve
teaching and learning. M–learning has the potential to increase the capacity of higher
education through improving efficiency and productivity of teaching and learning. Mlearning
could address challenges related to quality of teaching such as continuous
professional training, lifelong upgrading, connecting with academics worldwide and
communicating effectively with students. Higher education is discovering the potential of mlearning
to promote student engagement and improving the quality of learning.
Management of higher education institutions and systems, management of policymaking
including storage and analysis of data, construction and assessment of policy scenarios, and
tracer studies or academic tracking systems can be improved through the use of m–learning.
Mobile technologies will continue to increasingly become an integral part of students' and
lecturers' private and day to day lives and m–learning will be integral in educational content
delivery. Additional research is required to study the effective and optimal implementation of
m–learning. A better understanding of the benefits and leverage thereof is required and
additional research should provide answers to these questions.Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
18
Thulesius, Marie, and John Viner. "The Triple Bottom Line : Can profit maximising organisations create social, environmental and economic value? With the Swedish cases Ericsson, Tetra Pak, Max Hamburgers and Mitt Liv." Thesis, Blekinge Tekniska Högskola, Sektionen för management, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-2425.
Full textAbstract:
Traditional concepts in economic theory state that the sole purpose of a company is to make as much money for its owners (or shareholders). This paper explores discussions and theories regarding alternatives to this model, and in doing so examines whether a business can simultaneously contribute to social and/or environmental issues in a meaningful way or benefit a wider group of interested parties beyond the traditional definition of owners. The paper discusses traditional neo-liberal economic views of the company as well as various topics relating to Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainability, development and stakeholder theory. It then develops a condensed theory that the authors abstract from the literature on this subject, drawing on the similarities in theories developed by a range of theorists and academics. Once the theoretical framework is presented, the results of a number of interviews, questionnaires and surveys are analysed in order to discuss the applicability of theories regarding a Triple Bottom Line to real business cases. Yin’s (2009) Case Study Method is used to collect and analyse evidence drawn from the corporate sector, academia and social entrepreneurs. The Swedish cases; Ericsson, Tetra Pak, Max Hamburgers and Mitt Liv are analysed. They are three very different companies but to a certain extent alike when looking from a “Triple Bottom Line” view. Tetra Pak and Max are both private owned enterprise that do not have to struggle with myopic quarterly earnings to please the stock market and can therefore work with a longer time horizon in mind. Mitt Liv, which is a social enterprise and not a profit maximizing enterprise, on the other hand, has social issues as their core value proposition. The authors conclude that despite considerable scepticism from academics, business people and development practitioners, particularly in Sweden perhaps due to relying too much on “the Nordic model”, more and more organisations, though, (small and large) are working in ways which generate profit while benefiting the environment as well as societies or communities where the business activity is conducted.Marie Thulesius +46-70-6637222
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Mansidão, Rui Manuel Mendes. "A logística como fator de competitividade para a melhoria da eficiência e da performance das pequenas e médias empresas." Doctoral thesis, Universidade de Évora, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10174/23100.
Full textAbstract:
Num ambiente altamente competitivo da economia atual, onde as empresas se
deparam com uma intensa concorrência, escassez de recursos e conjunturas económicas
desfavoráveis, as organizações empresariais necessitam de encontrara processos e
métodos de gestão que permitam o seu desenvolvimento, maior eficiente e melhores
resultados.
Neste contexto económico, de grande competição por clientes e recursos, a
Logística desempenha um papel de relevo na sua relação com o mercado ao disponibilizar
os produtos e serviços aos clientes.
Por esse motivo, nos últimos anos têm sido consideráveis as publicações que
reconhecem a importância da Logística e Gestão da Cadeia de Abastecimento no
desempenho das empresas. No entanto, esta relação tem sido estudada à escala das
grandes empresas e numa perspetiva de supply chain managemen”. Têm sido
relativamente escassos os estudos sobre a importância da função logística nas pequenas e
médias empresas.
Essa escassez foi uma das razões da escolha como foco central desta tese, do
estudo da relação entre o desempenho da função logística, as vantagens concorrenciais e
o desempenho organizacional nas PMEs, as quais assumem grande importância para a
economia nacional.
Nesse sentido foi realizada uma revisão da literatura e desenvolvido um quadro
conceptual onde se definem três eixos da análise, que são o Desempenho Logístico,
definido como o grau de eficiência, a eficácia e a diferenciação associado com a
realização das atividades logísticas, as Vantagens Competitivas e o Desempenho
Organizacional.
Ao analisar a influência do desempenho logístico no desenvolvimento de
vantagens perante o mercado e numa melhor rentabilidade nas PMEs, esta tese pretende
contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do enquadramento da função logística nas
PMEs nacionais, desenvolver um modelo de análise para o estudo do desempenho
logístico e das vantagens competitivas nas PMEs e compreender a influência do
desempenho logístico na performance das pequenas e médias empresas. Os constructos do modelo de investigação são validados através de uma
combinação de dados recolhidos por um instrumento de pesquisa desenvolvido, para o
efeito e aplicado a uma amostra de pequenas e médias empresas nacionais e por dados
secundários obtidos em duas bases de referência.
O modelo proposto foi estimado através do método Partials Least Squares (PLS),
com a ferramenta informática SmartPLS. A análise estatística dos dados confirma a
validação do modelo e corrobora os objetivos subjacentes a este trabalho de investigação.
Por fim e como complemento à aplicação da técnica do PLS, as variáveis latentes
do modelo de investigação foram sujeitas à análise dos efeitos combinatórios através do
método do fsQCA. Os resultados obtidos reafirmam a importância do desempenho
logístico no desenvolvimento de vantagens competitivas e na performance
organizacional.
No cômputo global, esta tese encontrou suporte empírico para concluir que o
desempenho das atividades logísticas, através da eficiência, eficácia e da diferenciação
do processo logístico, tem influência no desenvolvimento de vantagens ao nível
concorrenciais e no desempenho organizacional, a nível financeiro, das pequenas e
médias empresas; Abstract:
In today’s highly competitive economic environment, where companies are faced
with intense competition, lack of resources and unfavorable economic conjectures,
business organizations need to find processes and management methods that enable the
development of a more efficient company with better results.
In this economic context of great competition for customers and resources,
logistics plays a key role in its relation with the market by providing products and services
to customers.
Thus, in recent years there has been significant publications that recognize the
importance of the Logistics and Supply Chain Management on company performance.
However, this relation has been studied in a panorama of large enterprises and a supply
chain management perspective and it has been relatively few the studies that focus on the
theme of logistics function at the level of small and medium enterprises.
The central objective of this research was to analyze the relation between the
performance of the logistics function, competitive advantage and organizational
performance at the level of SMEs, with a great importance to the national economy
enterprises.
For this purpose it was developed, based on the literature, a conceptual framework
which defines three axes of analysis to develop, which are Logistics Performance, defined
as the level of efficiency, effectiveness and differentiation associated with the realization
of logistics activities, the Competitive Advantages and Organizational Performance.
The constructs of the research model are validated through a survey tool
developed for this purpose and applied to a sample of small and medium sized enterprises
nationwide.
In a second stage the proposed model was estimated by the method Partials Least
Squares (PLS) through SmartPLS software. Statistical analysis of the data confirms the
model validation and the corroboration of the underlying objectives of this research work.
In the last stage of data analysis and as a complement to the implementation of the
PLS technique, the latent variables of the research model were subjected to analysis of
the combinatorial effects by fsQCA method. The obtained results reaffirm the importance of logistics performance in the development of competitive advantage and organizational
performance.
Overall, the results indicate that the performance of logistics activities through the
efficiency, effectiveness and differentiation of the logistics process, influences the
development of advantages in a competitive level and organizational performance at the
financial level in small and medium-sized enterprises.
20
Pospíšilíková, Ľudmila. "Posouzení finanční situace společnosti." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2007. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-221428.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis asses the financial health of company WAX, s.r.o., in the years 2004 to 2006 at the basis of selected methods of the financial analysis. It contains proposals of possible solutions of identified problems which should result in the improvement of financial situation of the firm in future years.
21
Lin, Juan Carlos. "A study of Brazilian green innovation and its impact on financial performance." reponame:Repositório Institucional do FGV, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10438/18349.
Full textAbstract:
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The aim of this study is to examine the links between developed environmental innovations and its impact on the financial performance of Brazilian manufacturing industries. This affects how firms choose their technological resources in market competition, and slowly affects society’s sustainable development. It seeks answers to the question: Do Brazilian manufacturing firms that choose a green line of innovation perform financially different – compared to firms operating with conventional innovative strategies? Using multiple linear regression, from empirical data, it shows the impact of using innovative green technology on organizational financial results. The empirical evidence is based on the dataset gathered from 4545 Brazilian companies by Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) from the Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnologica (PINTEC) and the Pesquisa industrial Anual (PIA) survey. Brazilian firms which have developed one or more environmental or traditional innovations, evidencing its impact over material reduction(MR), energy reduction(ER) water reduction(WR) and environmental impact(waste and pollution) reduction(EIR). The data cover 3 years from 2011 to 2014 and focus on firms which have developed one or more innovations, showing its impact on WR, MT, ER and EIR and the effect on the Superior Financial Performance (SFP) of the firms. SFP is a composition of Superior Sales Growth(SSG) and Superior profitability(SP). Descriptive statistic and regression were perform with the intent to determinate first, the prevalence of each type of Green Innovation (GI), in the Brazilian manufacturing industry and second, how each affects financial performance. Result shows that only innovation related to WR have a positive relation with SSG (foreign controlled companies) but not in all manufacturing industry. Showing that most GI implemented by Brazilian manufacturing firm are inefficient. Other type of GI do not affect financial performance, in the manufacturing industry or in foreign controlled manufacturing companies. This study hopes to provide three contributions to academic literature. First, to deepen the existing knowledge of how environmental innovations are associated with financial performance. Second, to demonstrate how financial performance can be enhanced along successful innovation processes. Furthermore, the aim is to propose a practical contribution by giving a clearer roadmap of the sustainable technology choices, as well as bringing forth an environmental discussion about strategical choices. And last but not least, to confirm the importance of environmental technology, enabling a public and private united effort to further a sustainable development.
O objetivo deste estudo é examinar a relação entre inovações ambientais implementadas por empresas da indústria manufatureira brasileira e seus impactos em suas performances financeiras. Esse exame pode afetar a escolha de recursos tecnológicos durante a competição no mercado, impactando gradualmente o desenvolvimento sustentável da sociedade. Procura-se responder à pergunta: Empresas manufatureiras do Brasil que escolhem inovação verde performam de maneira diferente de empresas que operam com estratégias de inovação tradicional? Neste estudo é utilizada regressão linear múltipla com dados empíricos, para mostrar o impacto no resultado financeiro de uso de inovações tecnológicas verdes. A evidência empírica é baseada na análise de 4.545 empresas, cujos dados foram coletados pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), da Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnológica (PINTEC) e da Pesquisa Industrial Anual (PIA), bem como de empresas brasileiras que tenham desenvolvido uma ou mais inovações, evidenciando seu impacto em Redução de Material (MR), Redução de Energia (ER), Redução de Água (WR) e Redução de Impacto Ambiental (resíduo e poluição) (EIR). Os dados englobam os anos de 2011 a 2014, focando em empresas que tenham desenvolvido e implementado uma ou mais inovações, mostrando seu impacto em WR, MT, ER e EIR e seu efeito em sua Performance Financeira Superior (SFP). SFP é um construto do estudo, que é composto de Crescimento de Receita Superior (SSG) e Rentabilidade Superior (SP). Foi realizada a estatística descritiva e análise da regressão, com o intuito de determinar a predominância de cada tipo de Inovação Verde (GI) na indústria manufatureira brasileira e como isso afeta a performance financeira. O resultado mostra que apenas inovação relacionada a WR apresenta correlação positiva com SSG, mas apenas nas empresas de controle de capital estrangeiro, e não em toda a indústria manufatureira. Isso mostra que a maioria das GI implementadas na indústria manufatureira brasileira carecem de eficiência. Outros tipos de GI não afetam a performance financeira, seja na indústria manufatureira como todo ou apenas em empresas com controle de capital estrangeiro. Este estudo busca contribuir com a literatura acadêmica de três seguintes maneiras: Primeiro, aprofundar o conhecimento de como inovações ambientais são associadas com a performance financeira. Segundo, demonstrar como a performance financeira é melhorado por inovações sucedidas. Terceiro, buscar contribuir, de modo prático, com uma visão clara de escolha tecnológica sustentável, levando a discussão ambiental para um nível estratégico nas organizações. E, por último, confirmar a importância de tecnologias ambientais, permitindo o esforço único entre o público e privado, para aprofundar o desenvolvimento sustentável.
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Yaacob, Mohd Rafi. "An Investigation of the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry’s Environmental Strategies, Stakeholders’ Pressure, Environmental Effectiveness and Competitive Advantage." Thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/30617.
Full textAbstract:
Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosphy (PhD)Over the last three decades there has been increasing pressure from stakeholders on businesses to be environmentally responsible. Business organisations cannot help but take this consideration seriously because it has a far-reaching impact on their very survival. This research is intended to bring insights into how and why a business’s management responds to environmental pressure from stakeholders. How a business responds to its stakeholders is known as environmental strategy. In addition, this study also investigates how proactiveness in implementation of each type of environmental strategy impacts on a business’s environmental effectiveness and competitive advantage. In Malaysia palm oil is the most important agricultural commodity in the country, and contributes substantially to the economy. Unfortunately, its activities are not without environmental costs. Deforestation, depletion of flora and fauna, excessive use of chemicals, air and water pollution are the results of the industry’s activity. But due to stakeholders’ pressures, the industry has embraced environmental management in its activities, albeit at a slow pace. Against this background, this study seeks to investigate the efficacy of corporate environmentalism, using a number of palm oil companies as case studies. This study is paramount as no such study has previously been conducted in Malaysia. The Malaysian palm oil industry offers an interesting case for studying corporate environmentalism in developing countries. Using a mixed-methods or triangulation of analysis of nine palm oil companies, which are listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, as case studies, this research investigates the environmental practices of the palm oil companies, and the relationship of these practices with stakeholders’ pressures, environmental effectiveness and competitive advantages. The results of the study reveal that three levels of overall environmental strategy are adopted by the participating palm oil companies. They are labelled by the researcher as minimalists - four companies; intermediators - two companies; and proactivists - three companies. The minimalists refer to companies that exercised the lowest environmental strategy, while the proactivists are those who exercised the highest environmental strategy. The intermediators are in the middle, that is, those companies that seem to be in the early stage of becoming proactivists, but have yet to achieve such a level. The proactivists were classified as those who exercised a proactive strategy, but both intermediators and minimalists exercised a reactive environmental strategy. In terms of the relationship between environmental proactiveness and stakeholders’ pressure it was found that the management of the more proactive companies tended to perceive a wider range of threats from environmental stakeholders compared with reactive companies. Apart from regulatory stakeholders, they also perceived pressure from primary stakeholders, especially their top management, as well as secondary stakeholders including ENGOs, competitors, and the media. On the contrary, reactive companies only perceived threats from regulatory stakeholders. Not only did proactivists differ in terms of stakeholders’ pressure, they were at the same time perceived to be more environmentally effective and to gain more competitive advantages than less proactive companies. Based on the research findings it seems there is a significant positive correlation between a proactive environmental strategy and both environmental effectiveness and competitive advantage among Malaysian palm oil companies. In this study measurement of the environmental strategies and environmental effectiveness was solely based on a triangulation of surveys (seven-point scale items) and in-depth interviews. In order to increase the validity of the study, future researchers need to triangulate these data with other quantitative data. For instance, at a company level, a company’s resources can be measured based on its financial statistics such as sales, net profit, return on investment, and the amount spend on research and development. Moreover, the environmental effectiveness of a mill can be measured in terms of monthly data of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), of palm oil mill effluents and Ringelmann Chart of air emissions, and the amount of money expended on de-sludging for certain periods of time. In both plantations and mills, future researchers can gather data related to environmental accidents, fines and court cases. The key findings of this research are instructive. The majority of the participating palm oil companies in Malaysia adopted reactive environmental strategies. Only a few adopted proactive environmental strategies, and they were more likely to exercise environmental practices at strategic and tactical levels such as top management involvement in environmental issues as well as deploying environmental management systems which mostly related to the bottom line of their businesses. Serious attention towards the destruction of the tropical rainforest as a result of their activities is lacking among participating companies.
23
Yaacob, Mohd Rafi. "An Investigation of the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry’s Environmental Strategies, Stakeholders’ Pressure, Environmental Effectiveness and Competitive Advantage." 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/30617.
Full textAbstract:
Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosphy (PhD)Over the last three decades there has been increasing pressure from stakeholders on businesses to be environmentally responsible. Business organisations cannot help but take this consideration seriously because it has a far-reaching impact on their very survival. This research is intended to bring insights into how and why a business’s management responds to environmental pressure from stakeholders. How a business responds to its stakeholders is known as environmental strategy. In addition, this study also investigates how proactiveness in implementation of each type of environmental strategy impacts on a business’s environmental effectiveness and competitive advantage. In Malaysia palm oil is the most important agricultural commodity in the country, and contributes substantially to the economy. Unfortunately, its activities are not without environmental costs. Deforestation, depletion of flora and fauna, excessive use of chemicals, air and water pollution are the results of the industry’s activity. But due to stakeholders’ pressures, the industry has embraced environmental management in its activities, albeit at a slow pace. Against this background, this study seeks to investigate the efficacy of corporate environmentalism, using a number of palm oil companies as case studies. This study is paramount as no such study has previously been conducted in Malaysia. The Malaysian palm oil industry offers an interesting case for studying corporate environmentalism in developing countries. Using a mixed-methods or triangulation of analysis of nine palm oil companies, which are listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, as case studies, this research investigates the environmental practices of the palm oil companies, and the relationship of these practices with stakeholders’ pressures, environmental effectiveness and competitive advantages. The results of the study reveal that three levels of overall environmental strategy are adopted by the participating palm oil companies. They are labelled by the researcher as minimalists - four companies; intermediators - two companies; and proactivists - three companies. The minimalists refer to companies that exercised the lowest environmental strategy, while the proactivists are those who exercised the highest environmental strategy. The intermediators are in the middle, that is, those companies that seem to be in the early stage of becoming proactivists, but have yet to achieve such a level. The proactivists were classified as those who exercised a proactive strategy, but both intermediators and minimalists exercised a reactive environmental strategy. In terms of the relationship between environmental proactiveness and stakeholders’ pressure it was found that the management of the more proactive companies tended to perceive a wider range of threats from environmental stakeholders compared with reactive companies. Apart from regulatory stakeholders, they also perceived pressure from primary stakeholders, especially their top management, as well as secondary stakeholders including ENGOs, competitors, and the media. On the contrary, reactive companies only perceived threats from regulatory stakeholders. Not only did proactivists differ in terms of stakeholders’ pressure, they were at the same time perceived to be more environmentally effective and to gain more competitive advantages than less proactive companies. Based on the research findings it seems there is a significant positive correlation between a proactive environmental strategy and both environmental effectiveness and competitive advantage among Malaysian palm oil companies. In this study measurement of the environmental strategies and environmental effectiveness was solely based on a triangulation of surveys (seven-point scale items) and in-depth interviews. In order to increase the validity of the study, future researchers need to triangulate these data with other quantitative data. For instance, at a company level, a company’s resources can be measured based on its financial statistics such as sales, net profit, return on investment, and the amount spend on research and development. Moreover, the environmental effectiveness of a mill can be measured in terms of monthly data of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), of palm oil mill effluents and Ringelmann Chart of air emissions, and the amount of money expended on de-sludging for certain periods of time. In both plantations and mills, future researchers can gather data related to environmental accidents, fines and court cases. The key findings of this research are instructive. The majority of the participating palm oil companies in Malaysia adopted reactive environmental strategies. Only a few adopted proactive environmental strategies, and they were more likely to exercise environmental practices at strategic and tactical levels such as top management involvement in environmental issues as well as deploying environmental management systems which mostly related to the bottom line of their businesses. Serious attention towards the destruction of the tropical rainforest as a result of their activities is lacking among participating companies.
24
"Corporate environmental behavior and competitive advantage." Thesis, 2006. http://library.cuhk.edu.hk/record=b6074176.
Full textAbstract:
Data are collected from twenty-nine corporations in Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, Beijing, and England. Concurring with the conceptual framework, competitiveness, legitimacy, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are identified as key motivations of CEB. Among these three motivations, CSR has the most obvious direct impact on CEB. Notably, attitudes toward CSR vary significantly among corporations, and CSR is critically linked to the extent of managerial engagement in CEB. With some corporations successfully linking CEB with competitive advantage, the findings clear the causal ambiguity between engagement in CEB and competitive advantage. Several strategies in terms of reputation building, productivity improvement, market positioning, and capability enhancement are identified. The study enriches theory development of the two divergent perspectives: (a) strategic management and (b) CSR by suggesting a theory of strategic management embracing CSR in building competitive advantage, and the latter affirming engagement of CEB in improving corporate financial performance.Existing views on how corporations resolve environmental problems are polarized with one side seeing corporate environmental investment as a cost with an inherent trade-off between economic and environmental concerns; and the other side asserting the moral obligation for corporations to do so. This study adopts a holistic view to resolve the problem by proposing a conceptual framework of corporate environmental behavior (CEB) through the linking mechanism to synthesize the seemingly diverged views.
Croft Kan, Man Ping Lena.
"December 2006."
Adviser: Shige Makino.
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-08, Section: A, page: 3457.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-279).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
School code: 1307.
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Mamabolo, Ledikoa Josias. "Intellectual capital as leverage for creating competitive advantage." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12452.
Full textAbstract:
M.Com. (Business Management)Imperative changes in the global economy continue to change the complexion of many organisations in their quest to remain competitive. Hitherto, their strive to have sustainable competitive advantage is challenged by factors such as increased competition, market volatility, geographically dispersed operations, customer awareness, raising workforce diversity and stringent regulatory regimes. These factors have driven, and in turn, have been driven by an increasing complexity of products, services and the processes that create value, resulting in changes in the structural and functional dimensions of the organisation. Equally, industry captains and scholars alike acknowledge the shift in value creating assets from the traditional land, labour and capital to intangible assets such as knowledge and information becoming the most important resources an organisation can muster. The combination and integration of intangible assets such as human resources, structural and relational resources have been grouped under the umbrella of intellectual capital. This study sheds light on the unique variables which accelerate intellectual capital as leverage for optimising competitive advantage and collates them with the case study findings of the research conducted at an international oil and gas company headquartered in South Africa. These variables include human capital attributes, such as competencies, tacit knowledge or experience, communities of practice, and competitive intelligence; relational capital attributes such as brand, customer loyalty, corporate social responsibility, and partnerships or joint ventures; and structural capital attributes such as corporate culture, leadership philosophy, and technology or systems. The research design follows a case study approach and applies the method of content analysis of annual reports and of analysing the content of the oil and gas company, Sasol's, four-year annual reports to establish the disclosure of intellectual capital. In conclusion, this study finds that the realisation of sustainable competitive advantage for any organisation, particularly blue chip companies like Sasol, is the choice to implement a unique wealth-creating strategy, namely leveraging its intellectual capital. This study highlights that intellectual capital has the potential to offer companies sustainable long-term benefits through intangible assets that are inimitable, that is, current and potential competitors would not be able to duplicate of imitate.
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Wu, Pao-Chiung, and 吳寶瓊. "The Influences of Corporate Environmental Consciousness and Environmental Commitment upon Environmental Competitive Advantage." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37055429214206832927.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立雲林科技大學
商管專業學院
97
ABSTRACT The environmental protection pressure and environmental protection regulation were considered to be a kind of corrosive strength for corporate competitiveness in the past, so most of enterprises would select to resist, escape. The whole world faces the serious greenhouse effects in recent years that arouses people to pay more attention on the environmental protection problem. The green environmental management is rising to a new trend between industry and business. The enterprise''s environmental management policy always implement under the forcing of external environmental protection pressure. Enterprises carry on the change complied with the external environment in green management, be able to look forward, fast action strength, sharp observation to promote the efforts at environmental protection, become the environmental protection leader. This research is the foundation of significances with the community responsibility and enterprise''s environmental consciousness and its importance born of enterprises, and then in order to complement with the two of a new line of environmental consciousness and the regulation (for example Kyoto Protocol that will come into force in 2005 ) of the international environmental protection convention, to probe into enterprise community responsibility and enterprise''s environmental consciousness for the industry in domestic to affect the competing advantage, it can offer the references for the industry manufacturer, the main purpose is to probe into enterprise''s community responsibility and enterprise''s environmental consciousness and compete for the influence of the advantage on enterprises, study ‘environmental consciousness'' with ''environmental protection promise'' to ''environmental protection competes the advantage'' exert an influence. And offer the community responsibility and investment correct appraisal and position of environmental protection. The corporate investment of environmental protection and green management say to be the inevitable trend in the future, enterprises invested early can also obtain the advantage of entering the market early, to hesitate to move forward to environmental protection, will not merely take the risk disciplined as a warning by the regulation of environmental protection in the future, and will cause a lot of manage difficulty that go to, enterprise should pay attention to itself and inter-dynamic of surrounding environment, enable the enterprise body to protect activity participant''s high-quality life too while be able to get the rational profit, this is not only community responsibility of an enterprise, and the environmental consciousness that should all possess of enterprises even more, so as to reach the goal of the green environment, and improve the competition advantages of enterprises by this. Key words: environmental consciousness, green management, environmental competitive advantage
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Munshi, Sayed Zubair. "Achieving sustainable competitive advantage through the effective management of human resources." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7729.
Full textAbstract:
M.B.A.Organisations today face increasing challenges and operate in climates of increasing turbulence, complexity and surprise (Manning, 1998: 27 - 35). Some of the realities that paralyse managers of organisations in these turbulent times are: • Socio-political and economic uncertainties threaten the unwary • Competition is escalating rapidly • The power of many stakeholders is increasing rapidly • Technology is transforming the way products and services are created, delivered and bought The aim of this research is to determine the effective human resource management practices applied by organisations that have sustainable competitive advantage.
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Yang, Chun-Ho, and 楊淳荷. "The Effectiveness of Asset-light Strategy on Competitive Advantage - Applied PC industry." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/61304304207834595700.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立交通大學
企業管理碩士學程
100
This study investigates how asset light strategy applied in PC industry. Defining competitive advantage as the ability for a company to generate return in excess of its normal return, one regression models is developed to describe the relation between assets-light operation and competitive advantage. An empirical study on PC industry in Taiwan, Japan, and China is conducted, which describes three relations. (1) The higher degree of asset lightness leads to a better competitive advantage, (2) The effect of asset-light strategy has no significant difference in manufacturer and in manufacturer, and (3) the effect on asset light strategy is the highest in Taiwan, followed by China and Japan. The result shows that asset-light strategy is an effective way to generate competitive advantage, and asset-light operation is more important for the companies in developing countries.
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Dai, Hui-Fen, and 戴彙芬. "The relationship amongst corporate environmental consciousness, green procurement, environment performance and competitive advantage." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/99533789769941360488.
Full textAbstract:
碩士淡江大學
會計學系碩士班
101
This article aims to explore the relationship amongst corporate environmental consciousness, green procurement, environment performance and competitive advantage. This study emphasizes green procurement as the vital position of supply chains and the trigger of operating activities. Both on-site questionnaires and mail questionnaires are implemented in Taiwan’s manufacturing industry. The results of structural equation model (SEM) indicate that corporate environmental consciousness positively affects green procurement and environmental performance and competitive advantage. The findings also suggest that corporate environmental consciousness affect environmental performance not only by a direct way, but also by an indirect way via green procurement. Specifically, corporate environmental consciousness promotes the environmental performance through green procurement, and environmental performance further boosts corporate competitive advantage. Therefore, the manufacturing industry in Taiwan ought to cultivate corporate environmental consciousness and well manage green procurement to achieve environmental performance and enhance their competitive advantages.
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Fletcher, David Macpherson. "Do ‘green’ architectural decorative products deliver a competitive advantage for Australian companies?" Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1051221.
Full textAbstract:
Professional Doctorate - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)Decisions to invest in green initiatives (green products and green innovations) are generally made after considerable discussion and market research by any organisation. Green initiatives cover a wide range of business activities which can result in positive and negative outcomes along the entire supply chain. Organisations are being encouraged by governments, societies and other stakeholders to conduct their business activities in a manner that minimises risk and damage to the environment, economy and society, while still pursuing improvements in product life cycle performances. Green initiatives are a management tool that can assist in meeting these demands with the rewards of delivering benefits back to the company through creating a competitive advantage and contributing to the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility profile. The aim of this study is to explore the reasons why organisations initiate green strategies and the effectiveness of the introduced ‘green’ initiatives in the Australian marketplace. A positivism philosophy is adopted in this empirical research, which includes using a deductive research approach with a quantitative research instrument to collect and measure responses from 53 Australian green product manufacturers. The collected data is analysed using causal analysis to investigate the hypotheses developed to answer the research question. A quantitative approach is justified as the research is based on similar work conducted in the northern hemisphere. Environmental investment research has received considerable interest in the northern hemisphere in the domain of corporate ‘green’ initiatives. However, this research focuses on Australian organisations that have implemented ‘green’ initiatives to investigate if their investments are delivering the sought after benefits. The findings from the research support the research question that green product strategies can both deliver a competitive advantage and contribute to enhancing an organisation's corporate social responsibility profile. The research findings suggest that green strategy actions will indirectly increase financial improvements in the process of corporate social responsibility. In a similar fashion, green strategy actions will indirectly increase price premiums through having a competitive advantage. The analysis reveals that corporate social responsibility and competitive advantage are important mediators of the relationships between variables. Implications from the research are discussed and future research opportunities are presented, along with the limitations of the current work.
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Madondo, Lancelot Nyaradzai. "Creating competitive advantage through combined assurance in South African organisations." Thesis, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/27845.
Full textAbstract:
South Africa has institutionalised the application of combined assurance’s Three Lines of Defence Model (TLDM) through the 3rd and 4th editions of the King Code. Albeit, failure of the TLDM has been documented in recent corporate governance scandals in South Africa. These failures point to the inadequacy of the model in its theoretical underpinnings that place more emphasis on compliance than moral development (acts vs virtue ethics). In this research study, the adequacy of the TLDM was assessed, as well as its effectiveness in dealing with Agency. It was further sought to establish whether competitive advantage could be created through TLDM implementation in South African organisations and to quantify in relative terms, the scope for competitive advantage creation through TLDM application. A mixed research methodology (convergent design) was used to gather quantitative and qualitative insights from governance practitioners in South Africa (concurrently over a cross-sectional time frame). 204 survey respondents and 11 interviewees participated in the study. A statistically valid model for creation of competitive advantage was developed from the quantitative findings while a framework for competitive advantage was developed from the qualitative findings. The findings of the study confirm the inadequacy of the TLDM that it lies in poor implementation by South African organisations than in the model’s theoretical underpinnings. It was concluded that competitive advantage can be created though TLDM implementation in South African organisations, and the scope for creation of competitive advantage is relatively significant. The implementation of TLDM with compliance fixation mediates the creation for competitive advantage through TLDM, while moral development focus in TLDM implementation moderates the relationship between TLDM Adequacy in ethics underpinnings and competitive advantage creation. While the inadequacy of the TLDM was established through this study, the support for the TLDM was still overwhelming, although support for additional levels as contemplated in the Five Levels of Assurance Model (FLAM) was considerable.Graduate School of Business Leadership
D.B.L. (Strategy and Governance)
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Lin, Yu-Shan, and 林余珊. "The Impact of Green Supply Chain Management Practices on Environmental Performance and Competitive Advantage." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/42338734486242411507.
Full textAbstract:
碩士致理技術學院
服務業經營管理研究所
97
Globalization of markets and increasing awareness of environmental protection have both led to greater emphasis on conservation of environment and sustainable development as well as the enactment of related legislations such as the WEEE and RoHS. For enterprises to be international and to operate on global basis, traditional supply chain management approaches in practice for years can no longer comply with the rising concern of environmental protection and have thus been replaced by the Green Supply Chain Management Practices (GSCP). This study aimed to explore the impact of plant environmental management adopted by enterprises on environmental performance and competitive advantage, and whether GSCP adopted jointly by both suppliers and customers will enhance environmental performance and competitive advantage. With reference to the literature and after collecting comments and suggestions from both practitioners and the academia through interviews, this study developed an instrument for assessing GSCP. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the developed instrument. The subjects included Taiwanese enterprises engaged in information and electronics as well as those with ISO14001 accreditation. A total of 154 valid replies were collected and the developed instrument was found to possess both validity and reliability. Factor analysis was conducted on five dimensions of GSCP, namely （1）environmental cooperation with suppliers, （2）environmental control and monitoring with suppliers, （3）environmental cooperation with customers, （4）customers’ control and monitoring of environmental, and （5）plant environmental management. In addition, structural equation modeling （SEM）was employed to examine the relationship between GSCP and environmental performance and competitive advantage. Results show that both of environmental control and monitoring with primary suppliers and plant environmental management have a direct, positive impact on environmental performance. Moreover, with environmental performance serving as a mediate variable, environmental control and monitoring with primary suppliers and plant environmental management have indirect positive influence on competitive advantage. Also, customers’ control and monitoring of environmental can have a direct positive impact on competitive advantage. Thus, we can conclude that the firms with higher levels of GSCP can lead to improved environmental performance, and enhanced competitive advantage. Our findings can serve as useful reference for enterprises in their adoption of GSCP to achieve environmental conservation and sustainable operation.
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Chen, Yih-Min, and 陳奕旻. "A Study on the Relationships of Corporate’s Environmental Strategies, Green Innovation Technologies and Competitive Advantage." Thesis, 2005. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/95506586298745761353.
Full textAbstract:
碩士大葉大學
事業經營研究所
93
A very important position that enterprises are acting in the environment, natural environment, market, government regulation and environmental interested party. In this main purpose of research, how to influence enterprise's competition advantage in the green innovation technologies. To understand that domestic enterprises are under paying attention to the basic idea of environmental protection, could we creating enterprise's competition advantage. About high pollution and highly energy-consuming industry are sampling to production and manufacture process to the manufacturing industry of Taiwan, regard to environmental protection executive as the target , this study choose the Clustering Analysis, Factor Analysis, Regression and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis etc., carry on the hypothesis to verify. The research results indicated: Firstly, different industry would be influenced the type of enterprise's environmental protection tactics, ISO14001,OHSAS18001 and no test’s industry, that they have not significant influence on corprate’s environmental strategies. ;Secondly, different industry' would be influenced the green innovation technologies, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001,that they have not significant influence on the green innovation technologies.; Thirdly, the positive attitude to response and think pollution prevents technology would be solved the production manufacture process in the pollution best way; Fourthly, enterprises think that adopting conduct pollution could be promoted the competitive advantage at present; To sum up, it is the key that to adopt the interaction type of competitive advantage’s environmental protection tactics.
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Chen, Wei-jin, and 陳威錦. "The Influences of Business Environmental Strategy on Green Supply Chain Integration Capability and Competitive Advantage." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/79688964318795995759.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立臺灣科技大學
資訊管理系
101
Many Enterprises had begun gradually to value the impacts of ecological hazards incurred by their operations. In order to respond this environmental trend, enterprises need to adopt proactive environmental strategy so as to survive or even obtain competitive advantage in the competitive environment. This study believes the more enterprises invest in Green Supply Chain integration capabilities which include Information Technology (IT) infrastructure integration for Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) and Green Supply Chain process integration, the more likely enterprises can efficiently manage Green Supply Chain. Also, The Green Supply Chain integration capabilities are the foundation of sustainable development for organizations. However, there are few studies have investigate the role of IT infrastructure integration for GSCM. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to investigate the influences of proactive environmental strategy on IT infrastructure integration for GSCM and Green Supply Chain process integration as well as to explore whether such integration can assist enterprises in obtaining competitive advantage. This study is conducted with data collected from the top 1000 Taiwanese manufacturers issued by Commonwealth magazine of Taiwan in 2012. The research results reveal that: (1) “proactive environmental strategy” is positively associated with “IT infrastructure integration for GSCM” and “Green Supply Chain process integration”. (2) “IT infrastructure integration for GSCM” significantly influences “Green Supply Chain process integration”. (3) “Green Supply Chain process integration” has a significant effect on “Competitive Advantage”. Therefore, enterprises should adopt a proactive environmental strategy and enhance their investment in Green Supply Chain integration capability so that they can gain more competitive advantages than competitors.
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Tsen, Su-Cheng, and 曾素貞. "Exploring the influences of absorptive capacity and relationship learning on green innovation performance and environmental competitive advantage." Thesis, 2009. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/81838122803067894779.
Full textAbstract:
碩士雲林科技大學
企業管理系碩士班
97
Under the formulation of various international environmental conventions, agreements and higher standards of environmental protection from clients around the world, environmental issue have become one of the most important business agenda in the 21th century. Enterprises who pay attention to those issues even become more competitive. Therefore, how to transfer environment performance into company’s substantial competitive advantage and gain the niche market is an emerging issue for most companies. This research conducted a questionnaire survey to measure absorptive capacity, relationship learning, green innovation performance, and environmental competitive advantage. 750 questionnaires were sent, and 238 were available. The valid response rate of questionnaires was 31.7%. Regression analysis model was applied to test the relationships between absorptive capacity, relationship learning, green innovation performance, and environmental competitive advantage. This study also provided several managerial and theoretical implications through empirical test, and proposed several suggestions to future studies.
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Chiu, Chia-nan, and 邱嘉南. "THE EFFECTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION AND SERVICE INNOVATION ON COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: MODERATING EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS." Thesis, 2019. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/9h8hw5.
Full textAbstract:
博士大同大學
資訊工程學系(所)
107
Although the effect of information technology (IT) adoption on competitive advantage is well documented, the mechanism that explains this effect and the magnitude of the effect that is contingent on other variables remain unclear. The motivation of this study is to quantify the reciprocal causation between IT adoption and service innovation, determine the respective roles of service innovation and IT adoption in competitive advantage and to estimate the moderating effects of environmental factors. To confirm the causal relationship of constructs and develop reliable and valid instruments, this study adopted the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory technique to analyze and resolve the problems related to complex and interrelated groups. There are two tap water supply systems in Taiwan, namely the Taiwan Water Corporation (TWC) and Taipei Water Department (TWD). Based on information revealed by the official websites of the two organizations, the latter’s metrics are better than the former; therefore, TWD should be used as a benchmark organization. Data analysis reveals a bidirectional relationship between IT adoption and service innovation. In contrast to the findings of most related studies, service innovation has a positive effect on competitive advantage; however, IT adoption has a negative effect on competitive advantage. A high level of environmental factors is more likely to increase the positive effect of service innovation on competitive advantage, but it is also more likely to decrease the negative effect of IT adoption on competitive advantage.
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Szu-YuKuo and 郭思瑜. "Dynamic Capabilities, Service Capabilities, Competitive Advantage, and Organizational Performance in Container Shipping: The Moderating Role of Environmental Dynamism." Thesis, 2016. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/fw4sht.
Full textAbstract:
博士國立成功大學
交通管理科學系
104
The purpose of this study is to examine the linkages between dynamic capabilities, service capabilities, competitive advantage, and organizational performance in container shipping and the moderating role of environmental dynamism. Using data surveys from 134 respondents in container shipping firms in Taiwan. A confirmatory factor analysis was employed to identify the constructs of dynamic capabilities, service capabilities, competitive advantage, environmental dynamism, and organizational performance. Results from the analysis of structural equation modeling (SEM) indicate that dynamic capabilities positively influence competitive advantage and service capabilities; and that service capabilities and competitive advantage are positively related to organizational performance. This study also investigates the moderating role of environmental dynamism on the effects of dynamic capabilities on competitive advantage and organizational performance. The results indicate that dynamic capabilities have a greater positive impact on financial performance and competitive advantage when the environmental dynamism is high than when it is low. Practical implications of the research findings for container shipping firms are discussed.
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黃子虔. "The Study of Environmentally Friendly Practices , Perceived Value and Competitive Advantage: The Moderating Effect of Consumers’ Environmental Responsibility." Thesis, 2014. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/60248743238102297662.
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碩士國立高雄師範大學
人力與知識管理研究所
102
Nowadays, “Green” is viewed as a sign of civilization. New concepts such as green economy, green consumption, and even green tourism have been gradually brought up. People gradually know that living with the environment in harmony is better than developing at any cost. To tourist spots, drawing environmental concepts means a kind of transformation and opportunity. Environmental protection not only triggers novel ways of thinking and creates new markets but also lowers the cost and attracts green consumers in the economy respect. This can even obtain reputation. However, not every tourist is willing to respond to the environmental protection and then sacrifices the extent of their enjoyment and comfort when touring. In the perspective of the executives of tourist places, in addition to analyzing the influences of environmentally friendly practice to tourists’ perceived value, it is also very important for them to further discuss the mediating effect of perceived value on environmentally friendly practices and competitive advantage. Besides, we added consumers’ environmental responsibility as moderation into this research. This research used questionnaire to make the survey with a total of 268 participants. The hypotheses were examined by path analysis of SEM and hierarchical regression. The result indicated that environmentally friendly practices have a positive significant impact on perceived value. Perceived value has a positive significant impact on competitive advantage. The mediating effect of perceived value on environmentally friendly practices and competitive advantage is also supported. And the moderating effect of consumers’ environmental responsibilities is supported, too. Finally, we provided some suggestions to government, executives of tourist places, and tourists. Key words: Green tourism, Environmentally friendly practices, Perceived value, Competitive advantage
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Smits, Marieke. "Improving competitive advantage through corporate social responsibility in South Africa : the role of social and environmental impact levels." Diss., 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/45042.
Full textAbstract:
The question as to whether companies can “do well while doing good” has been investigated by academics for over four decades. Conclusive evidence of a positive link between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Financial Performance (CFP) so far has however remained elusive.
In building on previous research findings, this study aimed to provide a deeper understanding into the mediating and moderating factors that impact a firm’s ability to generate returns from social investment. In particular, the moderating effect of social and environmental (SEI) impact levels on CSR returns were further investigated. Following the risk-reduction and value-creating hypotheses, it was asserted that sustainable firms with high SEI would yield superior CFP as compared to their peers with lower levels of social and environmental impact.
The findings revealed that sustainable firms with high levels of social and environmental impact indeed had higher CFP than their peers with medium and low social and environmental impacts levels. However, the same results were yielded for non-sustainable companies.
Although the main hypothesis did not yield the expected outcomes, the study provided important insights into the role of moderating factors on the ability for firms to generate returns from CSR. Moreover, the study uncovered previously unexplored areas of CSR and thereby opened up new avenues for future research.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
lmgibs2015
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
Unrestricted
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Potgieter, Deidré. "An analysis of a selected aviation company's competitive environment in South Africa / Deidré Potgieter." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10394/13407.
Full textAbstract:
Competitiveness and gaining a sustainable competitive advantage are very important factors when analysing the success of companies involved in the aviation industry in South Africa. The success of these companies will depend on their ability to maintain technological capabilities in the areas of human resources and product development. Global aviation currently is concentrated in a few countries, with the USA being the largest contributor to an industry which is regarded as one of the fastest globalizing industries in terms of market structure and production systems. In South Africa, companies have managed to develop skills in aviation manufacturing. The opportunities that will be created, owing to changes in global production chains, will enable South African companies to establish themselves further as global suppliers.
The aviation industry contains high risks, especially because it is considered to be the industry which acts as a driver for innovation. Complexity of production, the capital-intensive nature and high risks involved in developing new products and services have linked the industry to inevitable political influence and support. The industry can broadly be divided into two main sectors: military and commercial. Analysts predict that opportunities in the global aviation markets in future will increase considerably. This is attributed to more Asian, African and Latin-American regions capitalizing on opportunities that exist mainly within the commercial sector. They will form strategic alliances which will enable them to perform on low-cost platforms and offer exceptional services to major players in the aviation sector.
To capitalize on these opportunities, companies need to analyse their external and internal environment. The main objective of this study is to analyse and to evaluate the competitive environment of a selected aviation company, to ensure that the best strategy is chosen and adopted and to confirm that the company can create and sustain a competitive advantage over competitors.
The planning tools utilized in this study are the PEST and SWOT analyses. Both have been used in the strategic planning process of many other firms. These analyses have proved to be the key element needed to formulate an action plan to be and to stay
competitive in the aviation industry. This study evaluates both of these planning tools and applies them to the company chosen for this case study.MCom (Management Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014
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Huang, Pi-Hsuan, and 黃碧璇. "Total quality environmental management, the types of green innovation and competitive advantage—an empirical study of information industry in Taiwan." Thesis, 2012. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/42958465760498120546.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立臺北商業技術學院
商學研究所
100
With the rising of global environmental consciousness, the most important issue for enterprises management is environment improving, pollution preventing, green home developing, and sustainable growth promoting. By executing green innovation and green management activities, enterprises not only could achieve the goal of preventing environment, but also enhance enterprises’ competitive advantage. The aim of this research is to analyze how enterprises use Total Quality Environmental Management (TQEM) to improving the green innovation to satisfy the green demand, reduce environmental harm from manufacturing process, and improving consumers’ quality satisfaction. These activities could strengthen the core capabilities of companies to improve the competitive advantages. In this study, the empirical data were from Taiwan information firms and using structure equation modeling(SEM) to test hypothesis. Finally, the result of research indicated that the TQEM is positively related to green innovation, the green innovation is positively related to competitive advantages, but the relationship between TQEM and competitive advantages isn't significant. The empirical results confirmed that managers can enhance the competitiveness of enterprises by the effective implement of TQEM and green innovation activities.
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Chen, Pei-Yu, and 陳姵羽. "A study on the relationship of environment driving forces, business environmental commitment, interdepartmental integration and competitive advantage: The empirical analysis of manufactures in Taiwan." Thesis, 2004. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/44982510650732558146.
Full textAbstract:
碩士國立東華大學
企業管理學系
92
Title of Thesis: A study on the relationship of environment driving forces, business environmental commitment, interdepartmental integration and competitive advantage: The empirical analysis of manufactures in Taiwan. Number of Pages: 90 Graduate School and University: Graduate School of Business Administration, National Dong Hwa University Category of Abstract and Graduate Time: Thesis for Master Degree, The Second Semester, and 2003 Academic Year Name of Student: Chen, Pei-Yu Adviser: Dr. Tsai, Yuh-Yuan Abstract In recent years, the concerns about environment issues have been a worldwide trend. Enterprises have to take environmental policy into consideration. There are many regulations, costs, and competitive factors which push enterprises to facilitate environmental activities into action. Meanwhile, many stakeholders, such as consumers, suppliers, and stockholders, may also influence enterprises in environmental activities. Confronting with so many environment driving forces, enterprises not only have to make invisible commitment to environment, but have to put it into business practices so as to achieve environmental benefit. In addition, it is still controversial about environmental competitive advantage. Some researchers indicate that environmental activities could bring innovation, and enhance resource utility, quality, and reputation. However, the others think that such action could just increase costs instead of advantages. This research focuses on studying the effect of environment driving forces of business environmental commitment, and investigating how the invisible business environmental commitment influence the interdepartmental integration, and examining the effect of interdepartmental integration on business competitive advantage. Finally, some recommendations are proposed for enterprises based on the research results. In this study, the overall model is supported, and the empirical results reveal the positive relationships among environment driving forces, business environmental commitment, interdepartmental integration, and competitive advantage: (1)when the degree of environment driving forces are greater, the business environmental commitment will be highly strengthen. (2)when the business environmental commitment is more, interdepartmental integration is closer. (3)when the interdepartmental integration is closer, the competitive advantage is greater. Key words: Environment Driving Forces, Business Environmental Commitment, Interdepartmental Integration, Competitive Advantage
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Lin, Chu-fong, and 林珠鳳. "From the view of cross culture to search the international joint venture and its competitive advantage--based on A company in the field of Environmental protection." Thesis, 2007. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35c6ch.
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碩士國立中山大學
高階經營碩士班
95
As the component partners of the international joint venture (JV) are from different nationalities of which have the diversities of cultural and concepts and the other factors of societies or the political impact. All these factors not only increased the complexity in organization management, but also reduced efficiency of organization. The case company is an international JV specialized in the field of Environmental protection with professionalism recognition and reputation in Taiwan. The mutual cooperation between both parties mainly based on project execution with the foreign joint venture company providing specialized technique and know-how assistance in project execution. And the case company responsible for internal management mechanism and daily operation under mutual common consensus. However, learning after the execution of few joint venture projects, we found out further improvements could be taken in considering of the diversity of culture, concepts and management from both sides. This research is focused on how to efficiently implement the value of JV and gain competitive advantages via case study, the research conclusion summarized as below. 1.The cultural diversity from both sides mainly displays on ideology as well as the values aspect. Therefore, to enhance understanding with each other is necessary in order to effectively reduce the cultural diversity from both sides. To minimize the cultural diversity will increase harmony in communication and coordination and promote higher chance to avoid the possibility of potential conflicts. 2.Before the cooperation taking place, both parties should align their concepts in company goal as well as strategy, management, operation etc., to ensure the achievement of win-win situation. 3.The experience shares: The knowledge exchange and sharing will be contributive to both sides in the way of more understanding both present situations. In the process of mutual cooperation, the occurrences of miscommunication can be attributable to the foreign joint venture company does not fully understand the local market trend and is doubtful about its potential risks. To optimize the joint venture company to have a comprehension of Taiwan enterprises and to share the experiences gained from previous mutual cooperation to facilitate mutual understanding in view of each other standpoint. 4.Increases own organization wisdom capital: The foreign joint company indeed has more specialized technology and finance resources and always takes trust attitude on mutual cooperation. Nevertheless, the foreign joint company still has the hesitancy on the executive capability of project experiences of the case company. The case company should accelerate to accumulate its own organization wisdom capital on professionalism and the technical knowledge in order to lowering risk appraisal by the foreign joint venture company. In this regard, the case company could create more opportunities of mutual cooperation in future special case cooperation in terms of utilizing its own wisdom capital.
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Jooma, Sahin Aboobaker. "A study of the extent of environmental scanning undertaken by manufacturing industries in Pietermaritzburg prior to the adoption of significant corporate strategies to gain a competitive advantage." Thesis, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/2761.
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In this rapidly growing and competitive business environment, each firm attempts to gain and retain competitive advantage. The marketplace is a dynamic and changing environment. Globalisation has had a profound influence on the business environment. Strategy formulation involves matching a company's internal strengths and weaknesses against the opportunities and threats offered by the industry and external macro environment. Strategy formulation involves more than the environmental scan of local markets. This scan has to be broadened to include the broader global arena. Companies do not work in isolation. Hence it is essential for companies to examine the role that competition plays, and how such companies position themselves relative to the competition. This study investigates the extent to which manufacturing industries in Pietermaritzburg undertake environmental scanning before adopting a strategy, or making strategic changes. It further attempts to determine the extent and ratio that business strategists seek competitive advantage from environmental scanning of their particular industry, and from the broader macro environment, and evaluate whether increased or superior use of external macro environmental scanning is perceived to lead to increased competitive advantage, due to the rapid and extensive impact of global events. The findings suggest that many companies focus their attention purely on industry-based factors as a source of strategic competitive advantage. Further, most firms do not make use of services of essential consulting firms in the strategy formulation process. This study found that many companies undertook strategy formulation once a year, and no external environmental scanning was undertaken by their strategists. Firms appear to prefer internal analysis. For companies wanting to maximize their competitive strategy, it is essential for strategists to explore both the industry and macro environment for any advantages that can be 'identified. Globalisation is enforcing the expansion of the scope of macro environmental factors. Larger firms may have the resources to cope, but smaller firms would need to look at alternative ways of acquiring the proposed information, e.g. using the database of external consulting firms, Companies have to move away from the old mindset, and embrace the changes in the dynamic business environment, if they wish to remain competitive.Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.
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Melo, Carla Patrícia Martins. "Responsabilidade ambiental e vantagem competitiva: inquérito às perceções das empresas europeias e portuguesas." Master's thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1822/29329.
Full textAbstract:
Dissertação de mestrado em Economia Industrial e da EmpresaNum contexto de concorrência entre as empresas nos diversos setores de atividade, torna-se fundamental um elemento de diferenciação e é aqui que surge a responsabilidade ambiental, podendo conferir uma vantagem competitiva (Porter, 1985). Porter e van der Linde (1995) avançam com a hipótese de que o mercado recompensa as empresas que evidenciam responsabilidade ambiental e, tendo em conta esta aceção, o presente estudo incidirá sobre as empresas portuguesas e europeias, dotadas de práticas de gestão ambiental orientadas para a Responsabilidade Social e Ambiental, no sentido de se aferir se há, ou não, vantagem competitiva associada a esta prática. A aplicação de questionários às empresas referidas será a base metodológica do presente estudo. Estes dados permitirão estudar empiricamente a Responsabilidade Ambiental das empresas inquiridas e entender a relação entre a Responsabilidade Ambiental e a Vantagem Competitiva.
In a context of competition between companies in all sectors of activity, an element of differentiation is essential and it is in this context that the concept of environmental responsibility arises, which may give firms a competitive advantage (Porter, 1985). Porter and van der Linde (1995) put forward the hypothesis that the market rewards companies that demonstrate environmental responsibility and, given this, this study will focus on European and Portuguese firms, endowed with environmental management practices oriented Responsibility social and Environmental Report, in order to assess whether there is or not a competitive advantage from this practice. The application of questionnaires to companies will be part of the methodological basis of this study. These data will help study empirically the Environmental Responsibility of the surveyed firms and understand the relationship between Environmental Responsibility and Competitive Advantage.
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Boonsiritomachai, Waranpong. "Enablers affecting the adoption of business intelligence : a study of Thai small and medium-sized enterprises." Thesis, 2014. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/28817/.
Full textAbstract:
Complexities in making effective and timely business decisions in highly competitive markets
have driven many organisations to adopt data-driven, decision-making processes using
Business Intelligence (BI) applications. Despite these applications being suited for use in most
organisations regardless of size, only larger enterprises have reached a stage of maturity in BI
use, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still lag behind. Although there is a rich
body of literature on information technology (IT) adoption and implementation, literature
relating to BI adoption, especially in the SME context, remains limited. This study addresses
the lack of a research framework for examining the current state of BI adoption and the
identification of factors influencing decisions for BI adoption in SMEs. To address this
research gap and support the adoption rate of BI in SMEs, the study develops a comprehensive
research framework for categorising SMEs into different levels of BI adoption and explores the
enabling factors that influence BI adoption in SMEs. In order to classify organisations into
different BI levels, this study applies the information evolution model (IEM) used widely by
practitioners to evaluate the levels of BI adoption in organisations. In investigating factors
involved in adoption decisions, the study employs a multiple-perspective framework based on
three adoption models, including the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, the technology organisation-environment (TOE) model, and the information systems adoption model for small
business. The developed research framework contains eleven enabling factors covering four
characteristics: technological innovation, environment, organisation, and owner-managers.
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Figueiredo, André Chaves. "Responsabilidade social empresarial: Um caminho possível para a sustentabilidade e negócios competitivos a partir da perceção dos colaboradores." Master's thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10071/18646.
Full textAbstract:
A responsabilidade social empresarial (RSE) tem vindo a ganhar uma expressão cada vez maior no meio académico e empresarial, como também tem suscitado um crescente interesse por parte dos gestores e do público em geral.
Atualmente as empresas, para além dos objetivos de produção de bens e serviços, do aumento da produtividade e do lucro para o acionista, são confrontadas com a necessidade de investir no desenvolvimento de causas sociais. Esta mudança faz com que as empresas passem a incorporar na sua gestão estratégica, para além dos aspetos económicos, os aspetos sociais e ambientais de modo a se adaptarem às exigências dos diversos stakeholders. A revisão da literatura permitiu identificar diversas referências sobre a evolução do conceito de responsabilidade social, bem como de indicadores, teorias e abordagens referente à RSE. De modo a complementar a revisão da literatura e como estratégia de investigação, uma empresa foi escolhida como estudo de caso no que respeita a práticas de RSE. Foi aplicado um questionário aos seus colaboradores, assim como foi realizada uma entrevista a um dos dirigentes de topo com o objetivo de perceber eventuais evidências que esta mudança de paradigma tenha provocado na empresa.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been gaining increasing expression in academia, business, and has attracted interest from a number of managers and the general public. Today, companies, beyond the production of goods and services, increased productivity, and shareholder profit, are confronted with the need of investing in the development of social causes. This change allows companies to incorporate in their strategic management, beyond economic aspects, the social and environmental aspects to adapt to the demands of the various stakeholders. The literature review allowed us to verify several references about the enormous work that has been developed regarding the social responsibility concept evolution. At the same time, it was possible to verify several references about the enormous work that has been developed regarding the evolution of the concept of social responsibility, as well as indicators, theories and approaches concerning CSR. To complement the literature review and, as a research strategy, a company was chosen as a case study regarding CSR practices. A questionnaire was applied to its employees and an interview was held with one of the top managers with the aim of perceiving some possible evidence that the CSR paradigm shift has provoked in companies.
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Lohmeier, Wolfgang Johann Lambert. "The influence of the diesel scandal on traditional car manufacturers electric vehicle development as part of the automotive megatrends." Master's thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/25525.
Full textAbstract:
The automotive industry currently faces four megatrends which are challenging the competitive environment: Connectivity, Autonomous Driving, Shared Services and Electric Vehicles. On top of that, aftermaths from the Diesel scandal are still noticeable.
Therefore, the objective of this work was to find whether the Diesel scandal has an influence on the development of Electric Vehicles of traditional car manufacturers among the other trends.
First, consumers were asked to fill out a survey on the attractiveness of and their attention to-wards Electric Vehicles before and after the scandal. It was concluded that EV demand didn’t change because of the Diesel scandal, even though the attention of consumers increased. A main reason therefore is the dependency of EV demand on financial incentives rather than en-vironmental concerns.
Second, to measure the impact on EV development, selected employees from traditional car manufacturers were interviewed and the results were discussed with an industry expert. After collecting the drivers behind Electric Vehicle development, an indirect influence on EV devel-opment was revealed. To meet environmental targets set by governments or political unions, OEMs must focus on new technologies due to the lack of Diesel car sales.
When establishing a connection between the research findings and literature, the dynamic ca-pabilities framework was not found to be applicable as the development and adaptation of Elec-tric Vehicles is mainly dependent from external surroundings. Thus, Industrial Organization as underlying theory was found to be suitable.A indústria automóvel enfrenta atualmente quatro macrotendências que desafiam a envolvente competitiva: Conectividade, Direção Autónoma, Serviços Partilhados e Veículos Elétricos. Além disso, os resultados do escândalo “Diesel” ainda são visíveis. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descobrir se o escândalo “Diesel” tem influência no desenvolvimento de veículos eléctricos de fabricantes dentro da indústria tradicional automóvel, entre outras tendências. Em primeiro lugar, foi pedido aos consumidores que preenchessem um questionário sobre a atratividade e a atenção destes para com os veículos elétricos antes e depois do escândalo. Concluiu-se que a procura de veículos elétricos não mudou devido ao escândalo “Diesel”, embora a atenção dos consumidores tenha aumentado. Uma das principais razões, portanto, é a dependência de veículos elétricos de incentivos financeiros, em vez de preocupações ambientais. Em segundo lugar, para medir o impacto no desenvolvimento de veículos elétricos, foram entrevistados funcionários, seleccionados de fabricantes de automóveis tradicionais, e os resultados foram discutidos com um especialista do setor. Depois de recolher os drivers por detrás do desenvolvimento do Veículo Elétrico, uma influência indireta no desenvolvimento de VE foi revelada. Para atingir as metas ambientais estabelecidas pelos governos ou sindicatos políticos, os OEMs devem-se focar em novas tecnologias devido à falta de vendas de carros a “Diesel”. Ao estabelecer uma conexão entre os resultados da pesquisa e a literatura, a tese das capacidades dinâmicas não se mostrou aplicável ao desenvolvimento e adaptação de veículos elétricos. Assim, a Organização Industrial como teoria subjacente foi considerada adequada.