Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER'

One of the core strategies to transform the United States national healthcare system is the implementation of key technologies such as the electronic patient medical record. Such key technologies improve patient care and help the organization gain competitive advantage. With a high demand for strategic and operational change, healthcare providers are turning to their own internal Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) for integrated technology solutions (e.g., clinical systems, robotics, infrastructure) in order to reduce costs, improve patient care, and unlock new value through innovation. Due to the overreliance on advanced technology solutions for revamping the US Healthcare System, the role of internal HIT needs to evolve into that of an effective strategic business change partner. As such, the purpose of this study was to test an a priori conceptual model of five competencies that would enable HIT to be an effective strategic business change partner. An on-line survey instrument was used to collect data from hospitals across the country and the data was analyzed through quantitative methods. Results suggest that the perception of internal healthcare information technology (HIT) organizations as an effective strategic business change partner is determined by its competence as a Healthcare Strategists, Change Driver, Collaborator, Agile Leader, and Technology Service Provider.

Purpose: Nonprofit-Business collaboration (NBC) is widely regarded as a value creation mechanism for society and business. Research, however, has typically overlooked NBC from the perspective of nonprofit organizations (NPOs). The focus of this thesis concerns the means (a guiding framework) to help NPOs engage in NBC. Through being strategically proactive rather than reactive to what businesses might offer, it is argued that NPOs can increase the scale of their cross-sector collaborations and thus enhance their sustainability. This is a timely issue given the fact that NPOs are typically struggling to maintain their viability in the current economic climate. Theory and methodology: The research has been carried out in two phases. The first concerns the conceptualization of a theoretical framework, being underpinned by stakeholder theory, cross-sector collaboration and the nonprofit literature. In the second phase, the framework has been assessed using primary and secondary qualitative data obtained from 26 ‘active in collaboration’ NPOs. In doing so, three data collection techniques have been utilized, namely: semi-structured interviews (n=38), website content analysis of the 26 NPOs, and document reviews. Key contributions: The thesis contributes to the understanding of the NBC phenomenon by developing and initially validating a framework that captures the complexity of considering NBC as a strategy from the viewpoint of NPOs. The framework integrates the factors that are critical in the development of NBC strategy and the interaction between them. Overall, the evidence obtained indicates that the framework is relevant to NPOs, and corroborates the argument that being proactive and strategic are important ways for NPOs to yield successful collaborations with the business sectors.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-81). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global wine market has faced varying challenges in the first decade of the 21st century; over production brought a power shift in favour of buyers which resulted in a decline in profit margins per bottle sold. The main gainer in these uncertain times has been the consumer. As more regions enhance their wine making skills and embrace superior technology, the wine quality has improved and competition intensified. The growing consumers' wine knowledge has altered quality expectations, placing an added pressure on new brands entering the market. The United States of America (USA, but hereafter referred to as US) remains a growing wine market, with a population size of 303 million people and an appetite for luxury goods and services it continues to be a popular export destination for other wine regions. The latter trend persist despite a cost of entry into the US market being regarded high as a result of the country's three tier system, which allows for further three segments of the value chain from the producer to add their mark-ups on an exported bottle of wine before it reaches the end consumer. The pricing system has proven to be insufficient a deterrent, particularly to the New World wine producers. Australia has remained the most successful producer of the New World wines in the export market for the past three decades; the same cannot be said for South Africa wine industry. While market and strategic orientation, industry plan and interorganisational collaboration are identified as key factors in the Australian success, the partnership between government bodies and wine industry bodies are credited for their unified approach to the US market. The South African government have programmes aimed at promoting the county's export of goods and services. The adequacy of such programmes remains in doubt, particularly in the eminent challenges in the global wine market. The study investigates the extent and nature of a partnership between government bodies and the South African wine industry with regard to effective promotion of the country's wines in the US market. A qualitative methodology is employed to ensure credibility and accuracy of the primary data. Five participants are selected for a discussion, including an exporting wine producer, wine cellars association, wine export council and two government agencies. The Vision 2020 strategy by the South African wine industry is reviewed, with the main focus on the US market and the role of the exporting country's government given the changing international trade regime. The study concludes that the US remains a critical market for South African wine producers despite the high cost of entry, global wine surplus and economic recession, and that success for the country's wines is partly dependent on a unified approach by the industry, attainable though partnerships with government agencies. While acknowledging the continuing government support, it makes recommendations on how to strengthen existing partnerships with regard to the US export market for South African wines. The study lacks generaliseability; however since it is meant to assist design effective export promotion programmes for South African wines in the US market, the absence of generaliseability is considered unproblematic.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die globale wynmark het in die eerste dekade van die 21ste eeu voor verskeie uitdagings te staan gekom. Dit sluit in oorproduksie wat tot 'n magskuif ten gunste van kopers gelei het en winsmarges per bottel wyn wat verkoop is laat daal het. Die grootste voordeeltrekker in hierdie onsekere tye is die verbruiker. Soos al meer streke hul wynproduksievaardighede versterk en die beste tegnologie benut, verbeter die gehalte van wyn en word mededinging strawwer. Soos verbruikers se kennis van wyn toeneem, verander hul verwagtinge ten opsigte van gehalte. Dit plaas bykomende druk op nuwe handelsmerke wat tot die mark toetree. Die wynmark in die Vereenigde State van Amerika (VSA) groei steeds. Met 'n bevolkingsgrootte van 303 miljoen mense en 'n aptyt vir luukse goedere en dienste bly die VSA 'n gewilde uitvoerbestemming vir ander wynstreke. Die tendens om wyn na die VSA uit te voer, bly sterk ondanks die hoë koste om tot die VSA-mark toe te tree. Dié hoë koste is die gevolg van die VSA se drie-vlak stelsel wat dit vir produsente moontlik maak om die waardeketting verder te segmenteer en hul prysverhoging by 'n bottel ingevoerde wyn te voeg voordat dit die eindverbruiker bereik. Hierdie prysbepalingstelsel blyk egter onvoldoende te wees as 'n afskrikmiddel, veral vir wynprodusente van die Nuwe Wêreld. Australië was die afgelope drie dekades die suksesvolste produsent van Nuwe Wêreld-wyne vir die uitvoermark. Dieselfde geld egter nie vir Suid-Afrika se wynbedryf nie. Hoewel strategiese en markoriëntasie, bedryfsplanne en interorganisatoriese samewerking as sleutelfaktore vir sukses in Australië geïdentifiseer is, kry die vennootskappe tussen dié land se regeringsliggame en wynbedryfsliggame die krediet vir hul verenigde benadering tot die VSA se mark. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het programme wat die land se uitvoer van goedere en dienste bevorder. Die gepastheid van sodanige programme bly onseker, veral in die lig van die groot uitdagings in die globale wynmark. Die studie ondersoek die omvang en aard van 'n vennootskap tussen regeringsliggame en die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf ten opsigte van doeltreffende promosie van die land se wyne in die VSA-mark. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie word gebruik om die geloofwaardigheid en akkuraatheid van die primêre data te verseker. Vyf deelnemers is vir 'n bespreking gekies: 'n produsent wat wyn uitvoer, 'n wynkeldervereniging, wynuitvoerraad en twee regeringsliggame. Die Visie 2020-strategie deur die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf word hersien en sterk klem word ook gelê op die VSA-mark en die rol van die uitvoerland se regering in die lig van die veranderende internasionale handelsregime. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die VSA 'n kritiese mark vir Suid-Afrikaanse wynprodusente bly ondanks die hoë koste van toetrede, die globale wynsurplus en die ekonomiese resessie, en dat sukses vir Suid-Afrika se wyn deels van 'n verenigde benadering tot die wynbedryf afhang wat deur vennootskappe met regeringsagentskappe moontlik gemaak kan word. Hoewel die verslag erkenning gee aan voortgesette regeringsondersteuning, word aanbevelings ook gedoen oor hoe om die bestaande vennootskappe ten opsigte van die VSA as uitvoermark vir Suid-Afrikaanse wyne te versterk. Hierdie studie het 'n gebrek aan veralgemeenbaarheid. Omdat dit egter daarop gerig is om doeltreffende promosieprogramme vir die uitvoer van Suid-Afrikaanse wyne na die VSA-mark te help ontwerp, word die afwesigheid van veralgemeenbaarheid as onbelangrik geag.

Aim – The aim of this study is to explore how Management accountants (MAs) participate in strategic management processes nowadays and to explain reasons for potential differences in involvement of MAs in strategic management processes between different organizations.Method - The study is based on a multi-case study approach conducted among three independent companies in Sweden. The information from semi-structural interviews with MAs and archival data in form of job announcements for Senior MAs positions is used to analyze and cross-check the relationship. The time-horizon is cross-sectional.Findings - The study shows that involvement of MAs in strategic management processes varies a lot within organizations being influenced by the following factors: personal traits, business knowledge, relationship with management and established role. Some major variations on cross-company level are identified between subsidiary and HQ, and between representatives of different capital ownership forms.Conclusions - The study suggests that power imbalance in organizations hinders applying critical thinking and expressing objective opinion by MAs, that makes it difficult to claim a fully explicit business-partner role. Process of MAs’ involvement in the strategic management decision making presents a product of interrelation between two strategies for legitimizing of truth claims proposed by Heizmann and Olsson (2015): executing power of authority and executing power of expertise.

The online media industry has undergone changes during the last decades. Driven by technology advancements, there has been an increasing number of actors that can enhance the value of service in the media industry. The fast changing environment calls for a dynamic lens when analyzing strategic alliances forming between actors in the industry, thus this study uses a Business Ecosystem perspective to analyze how alliances should be formed to enable competitive advantage. A xase study was performed on a world leading provider of broadcast and media services to analyze how the dynamic setting affects suitable strategic alliance forms, using a partner selection framework to identify possible alliances. The results showed most potential within alliance forms of lower intergration, such as Franchise, Licensing Agreement or  Arms-Lenght Market relation. Hurdels for the higher forms of integration were identified as mostly caused by requirements of low investments and implementation times in the fast moving dynamic environment.  Identified future work is presented as performing a similar study where these hurdels are nonexistent to further analyze which alliance forms are applicable in a dynamic industry.

Background: A majority of strategic alliances do not create value for the participants. One of the main reasons for the high failure rate is an inadequate process for partner selection. If the correct partner is not selected, it can have serious effects on the management of the partnership. This is a serious problem since failed alliances usually are very expensive for the involved companies.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate which theoretical factors are important when selecting a partner for a strategic alliance. Further we aim to investigate how these factors can effect partner selection for small and middle size technology intensive companies.

Realisation: The empirical part is based on interviews with persons holding key positions at four case companies. All the case companies are situated in Mjärdevi Science Park.

Result: Our research has shown that the strategic fit is the crucial factor. Other important factors are brand, network position, compatibility and attention when selecting a partner for a strategic alliance.

Background: Traditionally defined boundaries and borders between organizations are at present being re-evaluated because of new and tougher demands. Today we can see a trend where these boundaries are being lowered or even eliminated when organizations choose to co-operate instead of compete.

Purpose: In order to create an understanding for the partner selection process in the newly founded joint ventures between the companies which are building the Swedish 3G Network, the determining factors are being studied.

Delimitation: The studies companies are co-operating as network operators but are at the same time competing as mobile operators. This relationship is in the literature described as co-opetition, which will not be investigated in this paper.

Realization: Taking our starting point in Geringer’s task- and partner-related approach, a simple model has been created for the task. Empirical data have been collected through interviews, and have been analyzed with this model.

Results: Essentially the same factors have been found determining for the companies which have committed themselves for co-operation. These factors do however tend to differ partly between the two joint ventures that have been founded. In the Europolitan Vodafone” Hi3G joint venture, compatibility between top management and culture&structure seem to be the motivating factors. From a Telia - Tele2-perspective, the mutual factors seem to be financing and compatibility between top management. An important criterion has in both joint venture constellations to the access to existing real capital and infrastructure as well as having existing customers.

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This work aimed to raise the main challenges in the adoption of strategic planning in the management of human resources of public enterprises. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with human resource managers of federal enterprises located in Rio de Janeiro. The challenges and difficulties that the companies found were faced with the challenges identified in the literature and the conclusion was that companies are still in the traditional HR stage, while literature indicates that HR must be a strategic business partner. Finally, we recommended actions that human resources should take to overcome the challenges in order to become a strategic partner. It is expected that this research contribute to advance the debate on strategic planning in human resource management in the public sector. In addition, it is expected to contribute to the practice of companies, serving as a possible reference for public companies that are still in the early stages of adopting strategic planning in HR.
Esta dissertação teve por objetivo levantar os principais desafios na adoção do planejamento estratégico na gestão de recursos humanos das empresas públicas. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com gestores de recursos humanos de empresas estatais federais localizadas no Rio de Janeiro. Os desafios e dificuldades encontrados pelas empresas foram confrontados com os desafios apontados na literatura e chegou-se à conclusão que as empresas ainda estão no estágio de RH tradicional, enquanto a literatura aponta que o RH deve ser um parceiro estratégico do negócio. Por fim, foram recomendadas ações que a área de recursos humanos deve tomar para superar os desafios para se tornar um parceiro estratégico. Espera-se com esta pesquisa contribuir para o avanço no debate sobre planejamento estratégico na gestão de recursos humanos na área pública. Além disso, espera-se contribuir para a prática das empresas, servindo como uma possível referência para as empresas públicas que ainda estão em estágio inicial de adoção do planejamento estratégico no RH.

The graduation theses deals with economics relations between Czech Republic and Russian Federation. The aim of the theses is to analyze business relations between these two countries and their potential, considering economic recession. The first chapter gives basic information on the territory. The second chapter describes Russian economy, its history and present condition. The following chapter deals with bilateral economics relations of the countries. The fourth part of the theses describes government support of Czech exporters and investors. The last chapter focuses on entrepreneurial environment in Russia.

Business partners have developed from the controller profession in recent times. The role is divided into the use of financial information and guidance and is expected to contribute in strategic decision-making. The study intends to contribute to the research gap, business partners within small companies. The research question of the study was "What parts and to what extent of the strategic decision-making process in small companies can the business partners influence and why?". The purpose of the study is to create understanding, which means answering how- and why questions which is achieved when answering the research question. The representative of the business partner in small companies was the CFO and not the controller as in larger companies. Interviews were conducted with four companies where a decision-maker and a CFO were interviewed. The questions were asked according to a semi-structured questionnaire. The questions were about the pillars of the study, which are the expectations of business partners from both interviewees, the use of financial information, guidance, and recommendations. Finally, questions were asked regarding the companies' strategic decisions and the involvement of business partners in the form of contributing financial information and guidance to discussions and documents. After collecting data, these were compiled and analyzed in themes similar to the questionnaire. The study's contribution provides indications for future researchers and the conclusions of the study showed that business partners in small companies had an influential part in strategic decisions where guidance and financial information are the role's biggest tools. The business partner has personalized roles with added responsibilities in these small businesses. The business partner's involvement is noticeably influenced by the characteristics of small businesses, but not as high as the study's original expectation. The characteristics, on the other hand, showed tendencies for even smaller companies to have a higher demonstrated degree of these characteristics. The proposed analysis model can be considered a representative model, it shows the context and how all parts are connected.
Business partners har utvecklats från controlleryrket på senare tid. Rollen är uppdelad i användning av finansiell information och rådgivning och förväntas bidra till strategiska beslut. Studien avser att bidra till forskningsgapet business partners inom småföretag. Forskningsfrågan studien besvarade var “Vilka delar och i vilken omfattning av den strategiska beslutsprocessen i småföretag kan business partners influera och varför?”. Syftet med studien är att skapa förståelse vilket innebär besvarande av hur- och varför frågor vilket uppnås vid svar av forskningsfråga. Representant för business partnern i småföretag var CFO och inte controller som i större företag. Intervjuer gjordes med fyra företag där en beslutsfattare och en CFO intervjuades. Frågorna ställdes enligt ett semistrukturerade frågeformulär. Frågorna handlade om studiens grundpelare vilket är förväntningarna på business partners från båda intervjuade, användningen av finansiell information, rådgivning och rekommendationer. Slutligen ställdes frågor hur företagens strategiska beslut såg ut samt business partners involvering i form av bidragande av finansiell information och rådgivning till diskussioner och underlag. Efter insamlat underlag sammanställdes och analyserades dessa i teman likt frågeformuläret. Studiens bidrag ger indikationer till framtida forskare och slutsatserna av studien påvisade att business partner i småföretag hade en påverkande del vid strategiska beslut där rådgivning och finansiell information är rollens största verktyg. Business partners arbete och åsikter är högt värderade, de arbetar i skräddarsydda roller med ytterligare ansvarsområden i småföretagen. Business partnerns involvering är märkbart påverkad av småföretagens karaktärsdrag men inte lika hög som studiens ursprungliga förväntan. Karaktärsdragen visade däremot tendenser till att mindre småföretag hade en högre påvisad grad av dessa karaktärsdrag. Den föreslagna analysmodellen kan anses vara en representativ modell, den visar sammanhanget och hur alla delar hänger ihop.

Organisations experience increased social, political and economic pressure that is evident in the increased pressure that stakeholders place on organisations. Organisations increasingly realise that stakeholders’ values and objectives need to be incorporated into organisational strategy as well as the day-to-day management of the organisation. Organisational success and survival consequently depends on the organisation’s network of relationships, which provide the organisation with otherwise inaccessible resources and a competitive advantage. Organisational relationships offer the best solution towards illustrating the value of public relations and communication in the organisation. These relationships enable the organisation to attain its long- and short-term goals. Communication is a key influencer of the success of these relationships and communication managers are consequently better adept to manage these relationships. The relationship perspective of communication posits that public relations and communication managers should act in a boundary spanning role by balancing the interests of companies and stakeholders through effective relationship management. A shift has consequently occurred from purely communication management towards building mutually beneficial relationships between an organisation and its key stakeholders. There has also been an increased recognition of the need for strategically managed communication programs that can effectively contribute to organisational success. Strategic communication assists an organisation to adapt to its stakeholder environment by feeding into the organisation’s strategy formulation process intelligence with regards to strategic stakeholders, which, in turn, assists in building mutually beneficial relationships with these stakeholders. Communication managers’ efforts towards the effective management of organisational relationships has been hampered by the lack of current literature on organisational relationships, a lack of knowledge regarding the factors that influence these relationships, as well as the lack of a reliable and quantifiable definition of organisational relationships. Knowledge on these key areas could enable communication managers to manage these relationships effectively through strategic communication that is characterised by open and two-way communication. This study aimed to determine the connection between organisational relationships and organisational success by investigating the relationship between organisational alliances (as a specific form of organisational relationship) and goal attainment. The three-stage model of organisational relationships proposed by Grunig and Huang (2000:34) was applied to organisational alliances in order to determine this relationship, as well as to determine the influence of key constructs like type of industry, type of alliance, duration of the alliance and the size of the organisation. The reliability of using this framework, specifically the relationship outcomes proposed by the three-stage model, was investigated. The relationship outcomes (trust, commitment, relational satisfaction and control mutuality) were positively related to perceptions of goal attainment. This implies that if trust, commitment, relational satisfaction and control mutuality increases in an organisational alliance, the perceptions of goal attainment also increase within that organisational relationship. These findings suggest that effective communication contributes to perceptions of goal attainment within organisational relationships. It offers public relations and communication practitioners a means to demonstrate the contribution of this function to organisational success. High correlations between the relationship outcomes reflected current findings on these outcomes and a factor analysis indicated that only one factor was being measured – the organisational relationship itself. The study proposed an improved measurement instrument for reliably measuring organisational relationships (Cronbach Alpha = 0.93). The type of industry, type of alliance, duration of the alliance as well as the size of the organisation did not have a significant influence on the relationship outcomes or the proposed measure of organisational relationships. This implies that the current proposed measurement instrument can be applied to numerous contexts. A general linear model was applied to goal attainment (as the dependent variable) and the relationship outcomes (as the independent variables) in order to determine the specific contribution of each relationship outcome on perceptions of goal attainment. The regression analysis indicated that control mutuality was the greatest influencer of perceptions of goal attainment within alliances. A noticeably low influence of trust was also measured. These findings were obtained through the use of an e-mail survey that obtained cross-sectional data, where 154 alliances were observed (n=154). The study contributed to present literature on organisational relationships by using Grunig and Huang’s (2000:43) three-stage model to explain the relationship between perceptions of goal attainment and the relationship outcomes in alliances within the South African context. Strategic communication management provides a solution to a key organisational issue – the organisation’s interdependence with the stakeholders in its environment and how these stakeholders can better be managed in order to more effectively contribute towards organisational success. Communication managers can demonstrate their value by effectively managing key organisational relationships like alliances by integrating these relationships into organisational strategy. These successful organisational relationships also contribute towards organisational sustainability by enabling the organisation to attain its long- and short-term goals.
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2008.
Communication Management
MCom
Unrestricted

This thesis focuses on Human Resources in a company, it' s strategic managing and measuring it's contribution to the business. In theoretical part the main source is foreign literature and it analyses traditional and new conceptions of HR. It focuses on a role of HR director, as a main element of strategic level of HR and his/her role in a relation to the rest of a company and HR department. In practical part the thesis analyses a research, made among Czech companies, and comes into a conclusion, that the main cause of an unsatisfactory HR management in these companies is it's poor measurability. In the final, key part of the thesis it designs a process, which a company should follow in order to adopt a strategic HR and it's measurement by goals of a company.

Pharmaceutical companies experience new challenges in the face of steadily increasing costs for drug production coupled with a decrease in the number of approved drugs. While the pharmaceutical industry remains tentative in Sweden, it is extensively growing in China. Chinese businesses are now on the lookout for foreign experience and know-how in production and R&D. This provides an opportunity for both parties to engage in strategic alliances. Nevertheless, strategic alliances present risks that partner firms need to be aware of. This study investigates how Swedish pharmaceuticals can manage perceived risks when cooperating with Chinese pharmaceutical firms. Through academic journals, two main mechanisms were identified as being of particular influence in the management of perceived risk: trust and control. A qualitative study of nine interviews was conducted in order to determine how Swedish pharmaceutical companies manage risk when engaging in strategic alliances with Chinese partners. Six men and women employed in three different pharmaceutical companies were interviewed along with three experts from the industry. The empirical investigation results in a description of a sequence of trust-enhancing activities and control mechanisms. Network and communication are found to be essential trust-enhancing activities, enabled by a Chinese employee. The study conclusively determines that a Chinese connector is the key in the management of perceived risk.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to understand how partner alignment can be created in a business ecosystem to work towards sustainability in the construction industry. The following research questions will therefore be studied: RQ1. What incentives are important for the subcontractors in a business ecosystem to reach partner alignment in a construction context? RQ2. What factors are required to create norms in the business ecosystem to reach partner alignment in a construction context? RQ3. How can the relationship between incentives and norms in a business ecosystem affect partner alignment in a construction context? Method Through a qualitative, abductive, single case study, we aimed to find answers to the research questions presented above. The data collection was completed in three different waves, where the second phase was where the main data was collected through 25 semi-structured interviews. We aimed to understand the current situation in the first wave, understand the subcontractors view in the second wave and validate the result in the third wave. The analysis of the data was completed through a thematic analysis, where we transcribed and coded the data with themes mainly originated from the previously studied literature. Findings Our findings resulted in two frameworks showing (1) recommendations important to perform in diverse stages of a collaboration in order to use incentives and norms in the best way possible. The aim is to reach partner alignment in a business ecosystem in the construction industry and thereby influence the subcontractors to work towards sustainability. Further, it is shown in framework number (2) how both incentives and norms have an important role, where incentives are important for short-term motivation to confirm good behavior and will be significant in the beginning of a relationship. Norms on the other hand, evolve over time and clarify an expected behavior, but the implementation should still start in the beginning of the collaboration.  Theoretical implications We contribute to the literature by applying the ecosystem concept in the construction industry, where a project-based partnering structure has previously dominated. Further, we create a greater understanding for what is required to achieve aligned partners in a construction context and how the combination of incentives and norms can contribute to this. Lastly, we give a more thorough analysis of the interaction between incentives and norms and how they relate to each other.  Managerial implications We provide managerial guidelines of how to establish partner alignment and encourage subcontractors in a business ecosystem to work with sustainability. We provide recommendations of motivation drivers, in terms of incentives and norms, and drivers significant to implement in certain phases of a collaborative setting. We further describe the relationship between incentives and norms, and state that incentive confirms good behavior and creates short-term motivation, while norms clarifies an expected behavior.  Keywords Partner alignment, business ecosystem, collaborative strategies, sustainability, construction, incentives, norms, shared values
Syfte Syftet med studien är att förstå hur deltagarna i ett ekosystem kan enas för att jobba mot en hållbar byggindustri. Följande forskningsfrågor kommer därmed studeras: RQ1. Vilka incitament är viktiga för underentreprenörerna i ett ekosystem för att uppnå enade deltagare kring hållbarhet i byggbranschen? RQ2. Vilka faktorer krävs för att skapa normer i ett ekosystem för att uppnå enade deltagare kring hållbarhet i byggbranschen? RQ3. Hur kan relationen mellan incitament och normer i ett ekosystem påverka deltagarnas samtycke kring hållbarhet i byggbranschen? Metod Genom en kvalitativ, abduktiv, fallstudie, strävade vi efter att besvara forskningsfrågorna presenterade ovan. Datainsamlingen genomfördes i tre olika faser, där den andra fasen utgjorde insamlingen av data som slutligen möjliggjorde att vi kunde besvara forskningsfrågorna. Fasen utgjordes av 25 semistrukturerade intervjuer, varav 20 respondenter tillhörde externa företag och fem respondenter tillhörde fallstudiens studerade företag. Målet med första fasen var att förstå den nuvarande situationen, för att sedan förstå underentreprenörernas syn i den andra fasen och slutligen validera resultatet i den tredje fasen. Analysen av data genomfördes med en tematisk analys, där vi transkriberade och kodade data, med teman som huvudsakligen härstammar från den tidigare studerade litteraturen. Resultat Vårt bidrag resulterade i två modeller som visar (1) rekommendationer för olika faser av ett samarbete, för att incitament och normer ska användas på bästa möjliga sätt. Målet är att uppnå enade deltagare i ett ekosystem i byggindustrin and därigenom influera underentreprenörer till att tänka hållbart. Vidare visar modell (2) relationen mellan incitament och normer och hur båda har en betydande roll. Incitament är viktigt för kortsiktig motivation, för att bekräfta ett önskvärt beteende och kommer ha stor betydelse framförallt i början av ett samarbete. Normer utvecklas över tid och tydliggör ett förväntat beteende men där implementeringen bör fortfarande ske i samarbetets startskede. Teoretiska bidrag Vi bidrar till litteraturen genom att applicera ett ekosystemperspektiv i byggbranschen, där en projekt-baserat partnering struktur tidigare har dominerat. Vidare skapar vi en större förståelse för vad som krävs för att skapa enade deltagare kring hållbarhet i ett bygg-kontext och hur kombinationen av incitament och normer kan bidra till det. Slutligen ger vi en grundlig analys av hur interaktionen mellan incitament och normer kan ha betydelse för att uppnå hållbarhet. Praktiska bidrag Vi presenterar riktlinjer för hur en företagsledning kan skapa enade deltagare och uppmuntra underentreprenörer i ett ekosystem till att jobba med hållbarhet i åtanke. Vidare presenterar vi rekommendationer för motivationsfaktorer, i termer av incitament och normer, och vilka som bör implementeras i vilken fas av ett samarbete. Slutligen beskriver vi relationen mellan incitament och normer, och konstaterar att incitament bekräftar önskvärda beteenden och skapar kortsiktig motivation, medan normer tydliggör ett förväntat beteende. Nyckelord Ekosystem, samarbetsstrategier, hållbarhet, bygg, incitament, normer, värderingar

Thesis (MTech (Public Relations Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2015.
Public relations (PR) scholars and industry partners continue to emphasise the importance of a sustainable relationship between PR disciplines and key industry iii partners. This relationship seeks to respond to stakeholders that remain despondent with the quality of engagement between the South African PR academia and industry. Existing literature in this field argues that PR departments at South African universities are experiencing adverse scrutiny by industry as many current academic programmes do not produce students who are industry ready. To address this critical concern, building and sustaining relations with key stakeholders is imperative. This study examines engagement strategies that the PR programme at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology uses to build and sustain relations with key industry partners. The research draws on two Public Relations theories: stakeholder theory and two-way symmetrical communication to make sense of the strategies used by this programme. It is based on a qualitative approach and an exploratory case study research design. Empirical data were collected through one-to-one interviews and focus group discussions with PR programme staffs, final year PR students and employees from two external PR consultancies. The data were coded and thematically analysed. The main finding of the study is that current engagement strategies are ineffective for relationship building purposes between the PR programme and key industry partners. To sustain mutually beneficial relationships, it is recommended that existing strategies be revised in order to improve relations between the PR department at Cape Peninsular University of Technology (CPUT) and its industry partners, as well as to promote the advancement of both PR as an academic discipline and a profession.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The international relations of regions, cities and towns include a variety of activities of which the phenomenon of twinning, or the establishment of a relationship with a community in a foreign country, is normally the most prominent and long lasting. Twinning originated in the aftermath of World War Two in Europe and the concept soon spread to America, where it was defined as a new form of “citizen-to-citizen” diplomacy. Twinning has since evolved through three distinct phases: the reciprocal phase; the associative phase; and the commercial exchange phase, and an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 cities and towns globally are involved in such relationships. This study, which aimed to identify and assess the extent of international twinning relations of South African provinces (regions) and local communities (in cities and towns) and to establish guidelines for twinning success, was conducted in an interdisciplinary manner and had to cover a wide terrain as the field of twinning worldwide is under-researched. The twinning between two communities in different countries was defined as a strategic alliance, and the bodies of literature on strategic alliances in the private sector as well as on the factors that lead to twinning success were investigated. A systems approach was followed and the twinning phenomenon was investigated from a macro perspective by investigating the context, content and process of the phenomenon worldwide; from a meso perspective by investigating the context of twinning in South Africa; and from a micro perspective by investigating the content and process of South African twinnings. The literature study revealed duplication and confusion in the terminology used to describe twinning and its related concepts, and conceptual clarification was necessary to develop a common terminology for the future. In this study, therefore, an important distinction is also made between the twinning of municipalities, and the twinning of communities. From the literature study, success factors for twinning were identified. Based on these, a conceptual model of twinning was developed which embodies the best-practices content and process elements of twinning, and this model was used to construct the primary research questionnaire. Elements of the conceptual twinning model were subjected to significance testing. It was confirmed that similarities of the personalities on both sides, partner commitment, understanding, cultural sensitivity, positive partner attitude, community awareness of the twinning, existence of a business plan, quality of management, management commitment and active marketing relate significantly positively to alliance success. The primary research conducted amongst all provinces and municipalities in South Africa, combined with secondary research sources, revealed the number and extent of the twinnings of South African communities and municipalities with foreign partners. Altogether 35 relationships were identified that have lapsed, 130 current relationships exist, and 41 new ones are in the process of being concluded. Another 60 relationships exist on the provincial level. These twinnings represent non-central-government-level linkages with 45 foreign countries, but only a few of these relationships are successful in meeting their original objectives. Some of the key findings of the study are that twinning is becoming more important globally as multilateral organisations acknowledge the importance of international relations at the local level and that twinning can play a big part in local economic development and promoting unity on the African continent, but is lacking in South Africa due to an absence of back-up and support, a lack of coordination and synergies between the three spheres of government, a lack of marketing, a lack of municipal capacity at local level, and the non-compliance of municipalities with official policy. The main positive outcomes of South African relationships were reported in the areas of knowledge sharing and training, and financial benefits. Key recommendations are that on the macro level, global coordination and assistance schemes for twinning be improved and that community ownership of twinning be put back at the centre of the focus of twinning; on the meso level, an organisation be formed to facilitate South African twinnings and to provide support; and at the micro level, alternative sources of funding be sought and that the process model developed in the study be used to increase the possibility of twinning success.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die internasionale verhoudinge van streke, stede en dorpe sluit ‘n groot verskeidenheid aktiwiteite in waarvan die verskynsel van tweelingbande (“twinning”), of die vestiging van ‘n verhouding met ‘n gemeenskap in ‘n vreemde land, normaalweg die prominentste en langslewende is. Die vestiging van tweelingbande het sy oorsprong in die nagevolge van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog in Europa, waarna die konsep spoedig versprei het na Amerika waar dit gedefinieer is as ‘n nuwe vorm van “burger-tot-burger”-diplomasie. Tweelingvorming het intussen ontwikkel deur drie duidelike fases: die wederkerige fase; die assosiatiewe fase; en die kommersiële-uitruilfase, en ‘n geraamde 15,000 tot 20,000 stede en dorpe wêreldwyd is betrokke in sulke verhoudinge. Hierdie studie, wat ten doel gehad het om die internasionale tweelingbande van Suid- Afrikaanse provinsies (streke) en plaaslike gemeenskappe (in dorpe en stede) te identifiseer en die omvang daarvan te bepaal en om riglyne vir tweelingbandsukses vas te stel, is onderneem op ‘n interdisiplinêre wyse en moes ‘n wye terrein dek aangesien daar min navorsing oor tweelingbande wêreldwyd bestaan. Die tweelingvorming van twee gemeenskappe in verskillende lande is gedefinieer as ‘n strategiese alliansie en die literatuur oor strategiese alliansies in die privaat sektor, sowel as die literatuur oor faktore wat lei tot tweelingbandsukses, is ondersoek. ‘n Stelselbenadering is gevolg en die tweelingverskynsel is ondersoek vanuit ‘n makroperspektief deur ‘n ondersoek na die konteks, inhoud en proses van die verskynsel wêreldwyd; vanuit ‘n mesoperspektief deur ‘n ondersoek na die konteks van tweelingbande in Suid Afrika; en vanuit ‘n mikroperspektief deur ‘n ondersoek na die inhoud en proses van Suid-Afrikaanse tweelingbande. Die literatuurstudie het duplikasie en verwarring ontbloot in die terminologie wat gebruik word om tweelingbande en verwante konsepte te beskryf, en konseptuele verheldering was nodig om ‘n gemeenskaplike terminologie vir die toekoms te ontwikkel. ‘n Belangrike onderskeid is gevolglik ook getref tussen die tweelingbande van munisipaliteite en die tweelingbande van gemeenskappe. Vanuit die literatuurstudie is suksesfaktore vir tweelingbande geïdentifiseer. Op grond hiervan is ‘n konseptuele model van tweelingvorming ontwikkel wat die bestepraktyk-inhoud en -prosesse omvat, en hierdie model is gebruik om die primêre navorsingsvraelys saam te stel. Elemente van die konseptuele model is daarna onderwerp aan beduidendheidstoetsing en dit is bevestig dat ooreenkomste in die persoonlikhede aan beide kante, vennootverbintenis, begrip, kulturele sensiwiteit, positiewe vennoothouding, gemeenskapsbewustheid van die tweelingband, bestaan van ‘n sakeplan, gehalte van bestuur, bestuursverbintenis, en aktiewe bemarking ‘n beduidende positiewe verhouding met alliansiesukses het. Die primêre navorsing wat onderneem is onder alle provinsies en munisipaliteite in Suid- Afrika, gekombineer met sekondêre navorsingsbronne, het die aantal en omvang van tweelingbande van Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteite en gemeenskappe met vennote uit vreemde lande blootgelê. Altesame 35 verhoudings is geïdentifiseer wat verval het, 130 huidige verhoudings bestaan, en 41 nuwes is in die proses van finalisering. ‘n Verdere 60 verhoudings bestaan op die provinsiale vlak. Hierdie tweelingbande verteenwoordig niesentraleregeringsvlakbande met 45 vreemde lande, maar net ‘n aantal van hierdie verhoudinge is suksesvol wat die bereiking van oorspronklike doelwitte betref. Van die sleutelbevindinge van die studie is dat tweelingvorming wêreldwyd meer belangrik word aangesien multilaterale organisasies die belangrikheid van internasionale verhoudings op die plaaslike vlak erken en dat tweelingbande ‘n groot rol kan speel in plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling en die bevordering van eenheid op die Afrika-kontinent, maar dat tweelingvorming in Suid-Afrika te kort skiet as gevolg van ‘n tekort aan ondersteuning, ‘n tekort aan koördinasie en sinergie tussen die drie regeringsfere, ‘n tekort aan bemarking, ‘n tekort aan munisipale kapasiteit op plaaslike vlak, en die nie-nakoming van amptelike beleid deur munisipaliteite. Die belangrikste positiewe uitkomste van Suid-Afrikaanse verhoudinge is gerapporteer in die areas van kennisdeling en opleiding, en finansiële voordele. Sleutelaanbevelings is dat op die makrovlak, wêreldwye koördinasie van en hulpskemas vir tweelingvorming verbeter word en dat gemeenskapseienaarskap van tweelingbande weer die fokus van tweelingvorming word; op die mesovlak, dat ‘n organisasie in Suid-Afrika gevorm word om Suid-Afrikaanse tweelingbande te fasiliteer en om ondersteuning te verskaf; en op die mikrovlak, dat alternatiewe befondsingsbronne gesoek word en dat die prosesmodel wat in die studie ontwikkel is, gebruik word om die moontlikheid van tweelingbandsukses te verhoog.

There are several participants in the renewable energy sector, each one having their own perspective, according to their interests. One renewable source of energy is wind. Development of wind energy projects is complex and implies the conjunction of several endeavors that are hard to be undertaken by only one organization. The complexity of wind energy projects demands the interaction among actors, that is, the creation of partnerships.

 

The purpose of this study is to question the nature of partnerships as a response to strategic decisions for the implementation of wind energy projects and to provide arguments to state that partnerships are indeed strategic. By making a comparison of the different roles of the actors involved in the sector and having a theoretical support created by a literature review of the subject, authors’ arguments are based on the analysis of six different perspectives from those actors in the wind energy arena: Utilities company, wind energy projects developers, government, financial institutions, international organization and consultants.

A qualitative approach guided the identification of the role of these wind energy participants as their perspective in the sector. Perspective cases were formed through interviews made to representatives of different actors and through secondary data.

Having an empirical approach, some wind energy projects and their involved partnerships were identified and analyzed. In addition, by analyzing the critical success factors of partnerships that influence crucial aspects for implementation of wind energy projects, it was confirmed that good partnerships are based on trust and their success is the result of establishing clear objectives and defining the roles and responsibilities of each partner. Besides, considerations regarding control management of partnership deployment among actors of the energy sector are suggested.

Latterly, it was uncovered that organizations sometimes do not recognize their relationships as partnerships, due to the bare understanding of the scope of partnership concept. In practice, partnership is conceived as a long-term relationship, while relationships for a limited time are commonly identified as contracts. However, it was concluded that in any case a partnership is developed, as partners gather their own expertise to achieve common goals.

 

 

This research is meant to be a reference for decision-making individuals or project managers that need to evaluate ways to implement strategies. Also this study is conceived for those that need to decide if it is worthy to establish a partnership and its considerations, as a response to strategic decisions.

 

Purpose/objectives: The study considered international Joint Venture projects (‘IJV’) and international acquisitions (for recognition purposes, the term of international Mergers & Acquisitions ‘IM&A’ is used even though mergers are not specifically part of the study) with a focus on automotive suppliers in the passenger car market and regionally on US partners. The objective was to analyse how suppliers in the automotive industry can close their strategic deficiencies through these IJV and IM&A transactions. The regional focus on US partners was chosen, as the USA is a major market for automotive suppliers (volumes/size and innovation-focus). The idea was to identify, categorise, and subsequently analyse decision-making parameters of the engagement in IJV and IM&A. Design/methodology/approach: The research had two main areas: a general literature review and an empirical part with a case study approach. As the research drew on a constructivist perspective, the empirical part of the research was conducted with a qualitative approach. At the centre were three case studies of a major German supplier analysed in depth: one IM&A, one IJV and one ‘hybrid’ transaction. These studies examined good practices, highlights, and challenges through semi-structured interviews. Senior experts in the Business Units and collaboration teams involved in these strategic projects were interviewed. Documentation reviews and the researcher’s own observations flanked these interviews. Findings: Bringing together ideas from the existing literature, and enriching them with insights from projects in the real automotive world, the current study contains valuable considerations about these complex strategic transactions. In order to enhance the deliberate use of these collaborations, the research reflected on the possible alignments of the various parameters and strategic factors. Contributions: The study represents a contribution to the practice and to the academic world, since it is a study to bridge the relevant theory/practice literature with real casestudy- based insights of German-USA inter-firm collaborations in the automotive industry. On that basis, an ‘advisory framework’ was developed to enhance decisionmaking in that area of corporate strategy. It focuses on important factors to consider when engaging in cross-border IJV and IM&A in a specific industry. Research limitations/implications: The research results would need to be further explored in practice, which could be the subject of future research. Limitations from the current study stem from the chosen research design and sample size.

Cette recherche a pour but d'étudier le rôle joué par les parties prenantes et plus spécifiquement par l'une d'entre elles, la famille, sur les décisions stratégiques des entrepreneurs de PME/TPE, en étudiant d'éventuelles différences de genre. Le cadre conceptuel retenu est celui des effets de proxémie en PME/TPE tels que définis par Torrès (2003) à partir des travaux en psycho-sociologie de l'espace de Moles et Rohmer (1978). La loi proxémique montre qu'un individu tend à privilégier tout ce qui est proche au détriment de ce qui est lointain. Torrès montre comment les entrepreneurs n'échappent pas à cette loi et comment leurs décisions stratégiques peuvent s'expliquer par ces principes hiérarchiques. Nous testons la validité d'un principe proxémique à partir de la théorie des couches de Gibb (1988) qui propose une hiérarchie des parties prenantes de la PME. L'étude est conduite à partir d'une expérimentation définie par le cadre de l'économie expérimentale. Les résultats ouvrent des perspectives innovantes dans la compréhension des décisions stratégiques des femmes entrepreneures, et mettent en évidence l'intérêt théorique de la loi proxémique pour les étudier à partir de leur réalité propre (Carrier, et al, 2006) et non pas en comparaison aux hommes
The scope of the research is an analysis of stakeholders' influences on strategic decisions, focusing principally on the role of family, within a gender perspective. The theoretical framework is the proxemic influence in Small Businesses. This framework was defined by Torrès (2003) based on the work of psycho-sociologists Moles and Rohmer (1978). The proxemic theory emphasizes the prevalence of things, people and elements that are close compared to those which are more remote. Torrès shows how strategic decisions of entrepreneurs are embedded by this proxemic influence. We test the validity of this law through the layers of theory defended by Gibb (1988) which identified a hierarchic influence of the stakeholders. The empirical study is based on an experiment structured from the experimental economics field. Men and women entrepreneurs are the subject of the experiment.Results show, innovative opportunities to better understand the strategic decisions of women entrepreneurs. They also highlight the theoretical interest of the proxemic principle to survey women from their own perspective, rather than only from the male comparison

Dans la littérature récente en management, l’enseignement de la gestion est décrit comme une activité commerciale qui s’exerce sur un marché dont le produit phare est le MBA. En cherchant à promouvoir leurs MBA respectifs dans cet univers concurrentiel, les écoles de commerce sont ainsi amenées à renouveler ce cursus en permanence. De ce fait, l'industrie de l’enseignement de la gestion est devenue un important terrain de recherche en management.Le MBA bénéficie désormais d’une reconnaissance quasi mondiale et il a connu une croissance remarquable au cours des dernières décennies. Il est par ailleurs abondamment critiqué, notamment au regard de la teneur et l'organisation des enseignements qui y sont dispensés. Cette étude porte sur les relations et les influences croisées des parties prenantes dans le développement du cursus du MBA, en particulier en ce qui concerne l'introduction de modules liés au leadership. Cette étude qualitative longitudinale, menée sur un échantillon de MBA en France, permet de préciser les rôles stratégiques et les influences respectives des principales parties prenantes que sont les régulateurs, les fournisseurs et les « clients » dans le processus d'élaboration d’un programme MBA. La constante amélioration de ce diplôme répond en effet aux recommandations des régulateurs et à la perception des organisateurs, mais rarement aux souhaits de demandeurs. Nous proposons un modèle de croissance en spirale des parties prenantes dans l’organisation du MBA, qui met en évidence une dynamique permettant à la fois à l’industrie et à ses acteurs d’accroitre leur efficacité
In recent literature, Management Education is frequently described as a business industry, with the MBA program as its flagship product. Whilst attempting to position their programs in an increasingly competitive market, business schools continuously develop and renew the MBA. As a result, Management Education has become a new area of management study. The MBA has enjoyed a remarkable growth in recent decades, to the point that is has become a globally recognised degree. However, it has also received considerable criticism, especially regarding its curriculum content and organization. Using a qualitative interview-based research on French MBA programs and curricula development, this study focuses on the interaction of stakeholders in the MBA curriculum development, notably in light of the introduction of leadership-related modules. Its main findings evidence the strategic role and influence of the main stakeholders, i.e. regulators, suppliers and “clients”, in the MBA curriculum development process. The continuing improvement of the MBA curriculum reflects the recommendations of the regulators as well as the perspective of the suppliers, but the influence of demanders is more limited. This research led to the identification and the specification of a spiral evolution model, for the interaction of stakeholders in the organization of MBA and Management Education creates a synergistic growth in the industry that enables both organizations and the industry to be more efficient

碩士
國立清華大學
高階經營管理碩士在職專班
102
This study is to measure how the following theories work in the real company： 1.SHRM (Strategic Human Resources Management): To find how human resources strategies carry on company strategies; 2.Competencies: To find how compentencies affect human rescoures strategies; 3.Busienss Partner: To find how the human resources department plays the roles of business partner in the company. After empirical observation and analysis to the company, the conculsions are as follows: − Human resources strategies do carry on company strategies and develop a specific achievable plan. − Competencies become the fundamental of SHRM as well as a part of the company culture. − Competencies are well implemented through the functions of SHRM in terms of recruitment、training development and talent management. − Human resources department do play the roles of business partner. Based on the degree of involvement, they are administrative partner, employee champion, strategic partner and change agent in sequence.

In order to sustain in this evolving global market with changing needs and practices , it is imperative to adapt to modern day approaches and methodologies which address the issues effectively. The retention of talented workforce with diverse culture and varied geographies via HR practices has become one of key objectives of the Human Resource Department today. HR analytics can be leveraged to improve productivity and efficiency of the workforce. In order to become a strategic partner in the true sense it has become crucial to understand the very importance of HR analytics and leveraging to empower the HR to have a say in the board to make key business decisions.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Business Administration.
Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 187-233). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNR11623

碩士
國立政治大學
經營管理碩士學程(EMBA)
108
Since 1985, the first Department of Electronics Engineering has been established in National Chiao Tung University, the Taiwan electronic industry has been started, after 50 years developing history, Taiwan become the role with integrated supply chain for global electronic industry, the supply chain include from the semiconductor manufacturer to electronic manufacturer service, the yearly revenue is also reached to six trillions NT dollars, besides, because the current requested function and applications of electronic system become diversity and more complicatedly, it makes electronic system manufacturer need to put more attention on operation issues such as components preparation, material stock control or financial management, thus, how to choose the right semiconductor distributor as partnership for reducing those operational pressure become the significant strategies for each of them. Furthermore, in those semiconductor components, Memory chips is different as other components, whose price always follows the global economic boom changed with fluctuation, while it goes to transact, the strong Futures characteristics obviously reveals on the trading procedure, it is very similar as the goods of crop or oil trade by daily price decided, but such feature of price fluctuation makes the procurement staff of electronic system manufacturer who needs the stable profit become very difficult and challengeable to control the BOM (Bill of Material) cost. This dissertation is based on “4C Framework of Strategic Marketing Analysis” those 4 different sorts of cost to find out the key elements of advantage and disadvantage, whose could help to select the comprehensive semiconductor distributor or professional semiconductor distributor while the procurement staff of electronic system manufacturer want to buy Memory chips, after do the research and analysis, we discover the several strategies which could reduce the 4C, such as purchase Memory Chips with professional Memory Chips distributor in price up trend by strategy of fixing order base price and with comprehensive semiconductor distributor in price down trend by fixing delivery base price, also set those strategies with distributor as “build up long term partnership”, “collaborative development”, “one-stop procurement”, “sign Purchase Contract”, “select franchise distributor”, and “self-learning deeply know-how of Memory Chips”.

Prior research shown that export performance has always been a central topic in international business. There are three main theoretical approaches used in export performance studies: the structure-conduct-performance approach, the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities approach and the relational or behavior perspective. Based on these theories we created an approach to identify which are the most important factors that influence export performance, dividing export performance into noneconomic and economic performance and how they connect with the relationship capabilities and internal and external factors. This study, based on a sample of 93 Portuguese wine producers, develops and tests, using structural equation modelling (SEM), specifically the partial least squares method (PLS), a conceptual model of the influence of internal factors, external factors and partner relationship capabilities in export performance. Results indicate that internal factors and partner relationships have an impact in the firm’s noneconomic performance which influences economic performance. It is also shown by the results that external factors doesn´t affect the noneconomic performance neither the economic performance. Moreover, the results show the moderation effect of the noneconomic variable. Internal factors and relationship capabilities have an impact in economic performance throw the mediation effect of noneconomic performance. Overall, firms’ internal factors and relationships capabilities are crucial to achieve a better export performance for Portuguese wine companies.
Estudos anteriores mostram que o desempenho de exportação é um tópico central no tema de Negócios Internacionais. Existem três teorias fundamentais abordadas nos artigos sobre desempenho de exportação: a teoria do structure-conduct-performance, o resource-based view e dynamic capabilities e a perspectiva comportamental e relacional com parceiros. Com base nestas três teorias desenvolvemos um modelo conceptual, onde identificamos quais são os fatores fundamentais que mais têm influência no desempenho das exportações. Para isso, dividimos o desempenho de exportação em desempenho não-económico e desempenho económico e interligámos estas variáveis com os fatores internos e externos da empresa e as suas capacidades de relacionamento com parceiros. Para a realização deste estudo, usámos uma amostra de 93 empresas de vinho portuguesas, onde a testamos usando equações de modelação estrutural, mais especificamente o método PLS. Os resultados demonstraram que os fatores internos e a capacidade de relacionamento com parceiros, contrariamente aos fatores externos, apresentaram uma influência significativa no desempenho não-económico, que por sua vez influência o desempenho económico. Os resultados mostram também o efeito mediador do desempenho não económico. Os fatores internos e a capacidade de relacionamento têm influência indireta no desempenho económico através do efeito mediador do desempenho não económico de exportação. Podemos então afirmar que os fatores internos e a capacidade de relacionamento têm influência no desempenho geral de exportações nas empresas de vinho portuguesas.

by Ng Ka-Hing.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 37-40).
ABSTRACT --- p.iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv
CHAPTER
Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1
Chapter II. --- REVIEW OF LITERATURE --- p.3
Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY - THE PARTNER SELECTION MODEL & CRITERIA --- p.9
Chapter IV. --- THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC UTILITY -THE CASE STUDY --- p.13
Chapter V. --- THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE SHOWN BY THE CASE STUDY… --- p.19
Chapter VI. --- DISCUSSIONS & CONCLUSIONS --- p.34
BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.37

by Chan, Man-Kuen Christine.
Thesis submitted in: July 1997.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-101).
Abstract also in Chinese.
ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.i
ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv
LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi
LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii
Chapter CHAPTER I --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter CHAPTER II --- Literature Review --- p.6
Strategic Aspect --- p.6
Cultural Aspect --- p.11
Social Aspect --- p.12
The Critique of Previous Research --- p.13
Chapter CHAPTER III --- Hypotheses --- p.18
Interdependence --- p.18
Cultural Congruence --- p.25
Social Connectedness --- p.32
Chapter CHAPTER IV --- Methodology --- p.38
Sample --- p.38
Measurement --- p.43
Statistical Methods --- p.54
Chapter CHAPTER V --- Results --- p.56
Hypotheses Testing --- p.56
Chapter CHAPTER VI --- Discussion and Conclusion --- p.74
Implications --- p.79
Limitations and Future Research --- p.82
Conclusion --- p.84
APPENDIX A --- p.87
Summary of the Literature on Global Strategic Alliance Survival --- p.87
REFERENCES --- p.90

碩士
長榮大學
經營管理研究所
93
In recent years, strategic alliance emerges with the trend of the time. Via strategic alliance, the enterprises construct the relationship of alliance and partnership which allow them to upgrade their competitiveness and create competition advantage that is actually the tendency of many industries at present. However, when participating in strategic alliance, in order to comply with the business and demands of the alliance and adjust the organizational structure of the enterprises, the said enterprises must re-distribute the human resources which will further affect the performance of the companies and the alliance. Therefore, this research started from the strategy of human resources of the enterprises of the strategic alliance and explored the relationship among alliance partner perception, human resource planning and alliance performance. This research focused upon the enterprises which have participated in strategic alliance in Taiwan. There were 105 effective samples. The statistical analysis includes the methods of Multiple Regression, LISREL and ANOVA and further verified the following hypothesis of this research, the findings are shown as follows: 1. The alliance partner perception can influence human resource planning strategy and alliance performance. 2. The human resource planning can influence the alliance performance. 3. Both of alliance partner perception and human resource planning have direct positive effect on the alliance performance. In addition, the alliance partner perception can influence the alliance performance through the intermediary affect of the human resource planning. 4. As to the characteristics of the enterprises: the enterprises with different annual business volumes, the number of employees, years of establishment and types of alliance reveal prominent difference with respect to alliance partner perception, human resource planning and alliance performance.

There have been tremendous economic developments in all parts of the world including developing nations. One of the major drivers of these developments has been from the Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These businesses have enabled many nations to create employment, resulting in an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In as much as SMEs have well documented benefits, they also require many support, capital and business skills. This has led to the establishment of SME incubation centres where start-ups are hosted and trained to have the business skills. However, despite the incubation initiatives, SMEs still fail to grow and always have challenges. At times, the challenges are not finance related but lack of proper business strategies. This could be addressed by considering business models. This dissertation considers the initiatives that have been taking place on SMEs. A case study of SMEs in Namibia within the Khomas region is used. A mixed research approach was adopted. Specific research methods used were interviews and observations with questionnaires being used as the instruments to gather the required information. SMEs from the Bokamoso Entrepreneurial Centre in Windhoek were selected for the research population. One of the popular Business Model Canvas tools was used as a sample of a guide in data collection, where SMEs engaged were to indicate how they apply certain categories of the canvas. Results show that SMEs engaged do not have specific business models they are applying. However, there were many elements and understanding of the categories from the business model canvas. At the same time, SMEs mentioned incorporating technologies in their businesses and using ICTs to reach customers and make an effort to cut on the cost of bringing in stock. It was also clear that SMEs work independently and have long working hours when they are to meet specific orders. It was concluded that SMEs’ needs are different and that it may be difficult to use one business model. However, a mixture of a few business models could be combined to cater for the changing environment and address business needs. The Business Model Canvas could be applied for the Namibian SMEs but there is need to consider some other business models such as cutting out the middleman, business partnership models and bricks and clicks models.
Business Management
M. Com. (Business Management)