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1

Matsenko, Olga. "Competitive intelligence." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2009. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-18018.

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Competitive intelligence (CI) helps company to make right strategic decision in uncertain competitive environment. Many companies do different kinds of marketing research, but still have not adopted CI tools yet, especially in those countries where they have just started to implement instruments of free market economy. This could be related to Russian situation. The thesis is organized into three chapters. Competitive intelligence theory is explained in the first chapter. In the second chapter tools and techniques of competitive intelligence are discussed. Here the main tools are explained. Implementation of competitive intelligence tools is explained in third chapter of this thesis. Here we see developing new marketing strategy for restaurant chain by using competitive intelligence tools. 'Rosinter Restaurant Holding' is a leading casual dining chain operator in Russia. The main focus is made on 'Planet Sushi' restaurant chain in Omsk region. In this chapter we see implementation of competitive intelligence tools in marketing department while creating new strategy.
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Larsson, Fredrik, Oskar Christensson, and Carlos Ibarra. "Best Practices in Web 2.0 Climate : Competitive Advantage Through Social Networking Tools." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Informatik, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-16816.

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The usage of social media such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook has expanded drastically. Today almost every organization has a Facebook page and a Twitter account that complements their webpage and their physical stores. However, why and how are they using these social medias?  This research focuses on why and how organizations are using Facebook and Twitter in their business strategy. More specifically, what methods and organizational strategies are used. The requirement for our research was that the organization had to had some success on these social medias but due to time and budget limitations, the research is restricted to three local organizations that have a national presence. Conducting primary data with three face-to-face semi-structured interviews and obtaining secondary data such as books, theses and academic journals we had the data to make an analysis about how Facebook and Twitter could make these three organizations gain competitive advantage.  By correctly utilizing the tools that social networking sites (SNS) provide; organizations can make way for a differentiation path that provides competitive advantage, build brand awareness, and provide statistical tools for evaluating customer behavior. One of the benefits of SNS is that they are virtually free to implement, both from a capital and human resource investment point of view. This research shows that organizations utilizing SNS in order to gain competitive advantage need to focus on creating a committed and engaged user base. By keeping in mind the drivers of differentiation: timing, location, linkages and scale, organizations transform their competitive advantage into a sustained competitive advantage.
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Verníček, Marek. "Možnosti využitia Big Data pre Competitive Inteligence." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2016. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-261751.

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The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the use of Big Data for the methods and procedures of Competitive Intelligence. Among the goals of the work is a toolkit for small and large businesses which is supposed to support their work with the whole process of Big Data work. Another goal is to design an effective solution of processing Big Data to gain a competitive advantage in business. The theoretical part of the work processes available scientific literature in the Czech Republic and abroad as well as describes the current state of Competitive Intelligence, and Big Data as one of its possible sources. Subsequently, the work deals with the characteristics of Big Data, the differences from working with common data, the need for a thorough preparation and Big Data applicability for the methods of Competitive Intelligence. The practical part is focused on analysis of Big Data tools available in the market with regard to the whole process from data collection to the analysis report preparation and integration of the entire solution into an automated state. The outcome of this part is the Big Data software toolkit for small and large businesses based on their budget. The final part of the work is devoted to the classification of the most promising business areas, which can benefit from the use of Big Data the most in order to gain competitive advantages and proposes the most effective solution of working with Big Data. Among other benefits of this work are expansion of the range of resources for Competitive Intelligence and in-depth analysis of possibilities of Big Data usage, designed to help professionals make use of this hitherto untapped potential to improve market position, gain new customers and strengthen the existing user base.
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4

Hansson, Marcus, and Patrik Blomqvist. "Internal communication in B2B context : A case study at Electrolux." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-35758.

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Effective internal communication is an important factor for organizational success. Organizations need to evaluate and improve their internal communication especially in an increasingly difficult and competitive economic environment. In this regard, measurement instruments enable organizations to monitor communication effectiveness of internal communication systems (Ruck & Welch, 2012). The focus for this study will be the concept of internal communication within an organization. In order to establish and identify the purpose of the study a literature review was        performed that examined the existing research within the field.The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the effectiveness of internal communication from the employee perception at the logistic department of Electrolux. Three research questions were then conducted in order to answer the purpose. The study has been conducted through a case study in the form of in-depth interviews. The study was carried out through 11 interviews with employees from the logistic department of Electrolux Laundry System AB in Ljungby. In the current business environment a formal way of strategically handle the              communication that is practiced within an organization is needed in relation to higher competitive advantage. The study reveals that Electrolux logistic center is not practicing this in any higher degree in accordance to the theory of effective communication. No clear goal regarding communication or measuring communication was identified. In accordance to this practical managerial implication was concluded based on these findings. The presented research model done was suggested to be developed as a further research
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Lisová, Martina. "Využití metod Competitive Intelligence pro podniky chemického průmyslu." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2015. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-261816.

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The content of this thesis is the introduction of Competitive Intelligence and its methods to companies in the chemical industry. The main objective of this work is to create particular solution of Competitive Intelligence for Lovochemie, a.s., i.e. to propose competent employee who will be periodically monitor the selected information resources using Competitive Intelligence software tools. The analyses were used to achieve this objective. At first analysis of the chemical industry was conducted in the Czech Republic and also in the world and analysis of the selected company has been created. Information resources that the company should follow through Competitive Intelligence tools were selected on the basis of this information. The first part deals with the introduction of Competitive Intelligence, intelligence cycle CI, strategic analysis methods and Competitive Intelligence tools for searching and monitoring of information on the Internet. The second part is devoted to the aforementioned analysis. At first the chemical industry is analysed and the world's biggest fertilizers producers are described. This section also introduces the company called Lovochemie, a.s., its competitors, suppliers and customers. In the last part of this thesis, the information resources available to the company and selected Competitive Intelligence tools are described. Finally, the particular solution for Lovochemie is created.
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6

au, c. smuts@murdoch edu, and Celia Smuts. "Development of diagnostic tools to improve the detection of Trypanosoma evansi in Australia." Murdoch University, 2009. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20090709.113425.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate new methods to improve detection and investigation of the effects of chronic or subclinical infection with Trypanosoma evansi in various mammalian species. Some of the more resistant host species, including pigs and buffaloes, are present in large feral populations in the northern parts of Australia, the area where T. evansi is most likely to gain entry to the country. Existing tests are not sufficiently reliable to detect all cases of disease and they cannot distinguish acute from chronic infections. Furthermore, the tests have different sensitivities in different host species. Surveillance for trypanosomiasis in Australia is problematic because of the need to work in remote parts of northern Australia where provision of a cold-chain for traditional blood and serum storage is difficult. An existing dried blood storage system was modified by treating cotton lint filter paper (Whatman #903) with a commercial post coating buffer (TropBio, Queensland). This treatment increased the longevity of antibodies to T. evansi in serum and blood stored on the paper (detected using an antibody-detection ELISA) compared to samples stored on plain paper, especially when the papers were stored under humid conditions and at high ambient temperatures. Attempts were made to improve the diagnostic utility and repeatability of antibody-ELISAs through the use of 2 recombinant T. brucei antigens (PFRA and GM6) and to optimize a competitive ELISA using RoTat 1.2 variable surface antigen and its monoclonal antibody. Antibody-detection using the two recombinant proteins was not sufficiently specific to enable their use for the detection of T. evansi. The RoTat 1.2 cELISA had good sensitivity and specificity (75% and 98% respectively) when used to test serum from cattle and buffaloes experimentally infected with T. evansi and uninfected animals. However, the test was not able to detect anti-T. evansi antibodies in serum from wallabies, pigs, a dog or a horse that were experimentally infected with T. evansi. The inability of the cELISA to detect anti-T. evansi antibodies may be due to the small number of samples tested or the lack of RoTat 1.2 specific antibodies in the animals tested. The feasibility of using an enzymatic test to detect trypanosome aminotransferase or antibodies to this enzyme was evaluated. Prior publications suggested that the detection of TAT was an appropriate diagnostic tool for the detection of T. evansi infection in camels. However, the results from this study did not support the use of this test for the detection of T. evansi infection in cattle or buffaloes with low to moderate parasitaemia. Trypanosomiasis is an immunological disease that affects most of the body’s organs, with more severe disease developing over time. Attempts were made to determine key cytokine and biochemical patterns that would distinguish infected from uninfected animals and acute from chronic infections. The results from this study showed that there was no specific pattern in serum cytokines or serum biochemistry that could be used to distinguish infected from uninfected animals, or different stages of disease. Immunohistochemistry was used on tissues from buffaloes and mice experimentally infected with T. evansi and T. brucei gambiense respectively to characterise the cellular immune response that was present. The immune response was predominantly cell mediated, with CD3+ T lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration occurring in most tissues. In end stage disease there was often suppression of the immune system with disruption of the architecture of the spleen and a decrease in B lymphocytes in the circulation. Trypanosomes were rarely visible in the tissues and were only seen in those animals with high parasitaemia. Lesions generally became more severe over time, but there was a large variation between animals, which suggests that immunohistochemistry is unsuitable as a diagnostic tool.
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7

Blank, Malin, and Anna Maria Persson. "The Swedish food retail market : An econometric analysis of the competition on local food retail markets." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Management and Economics, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-2521.

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The Swedish food retail market contains of three major actors, ICA, KF and Axfood, all in all dominating 75 percent of the total market shares. The scant number of retailing actors indicates that the Swedish food retail market is a highly concentrated oligopoly, which as a fact has given rise to definite discussions and argumentations concerning the market situation. But is the food retail market imperfect and how do we reach a workable competition? Economic theory does not provide any clear answer on these questions, but is rather divided into two fundamentally different approaches to define competition: the static and the dynamic perspective on competition.

In an attempt to examine the competition on local Swedish retail markets, the purpose of this study is to carry out an econometric model estimating the situation. The model serves to explain the variation of ICA’s achievements measured in terms of turnovers obtained in the company. The explanatory variables composing the model are divided into three separate groupings: degreeof market concentration, storespecific factors and region-specific factors. Furthermore, in order to find out which one of the competitive explanations best fits the reality, the regression results are interpreted from a static and a dynamic perspective of competition. In part, we also aim to compare the results with the outline of the Swedish competition law.

We found that the level of concentration obtained in our material is high and is steadily increasing. We also found that stores do not, in any great extent, use price, service and quality as competitive methods. Thus, to gain competitive advantage, market actors must find other ways to carry out strategic market activities. The region-specific variables had either none or very little influence on ICA’s turnover. According to these findings, neither the static nor the dynamic perspective of competition is solely able to produce an accurate method for reaching a state of a workable competition. Instead, a combination of the static and the dynamic ideas may be regarded as the most advantageous way to generate suitable conditions for competition to be efficient. Therefore, in order to promote workable competition, the Swedish competition law must consist of a balance between the static and the dynamic view of competition.

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Sewdass, Nisha. "The implementation of Competitive Intelligence tools and techniques in Public Service departments in South Africa to improve service delivery a case study of the Department of Home Affairs /." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2009. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09272009-154654/.

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9

Hradil, Martin. "Rozvoj konkurenceschopnosti podniku." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2019. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-399449.

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The diploma thesis is focused on developing the competitiveness of the company using proposals within the marketing mix. The business of the company is the production of photo calendars. The first part of the thesis is focused on theoretical background, which is followed by an analytical part, containing analysis of general and field environment and other analyzes that lead to the evaluation of the company. The last part includes suggestions for changes in the marketing mix, which will lead to the fulfillment of the goal of the work.
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10

Vrsajko, Milos, and Maja Fridsén. "Fysiska klädbutikers kamp mot e-handel : En granskning av de små fysiska butikernas konkurrensmedel gentemot e-handel." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för företagande, innovation och hållbarhet, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-43278.

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E-handeln växer mer och mer för varje år och det har aldrig någonsin varit lättare att köpa produkterän vad det är idag. För fysiska butiker är det därför viktigt att använda sina konkurrensmedel,marknadsföringsstrategier och handelsmiljö på rätt sätt för att överleva på marknaden och för attöverleva konkurrensen från den växande e-handeln. De fysiska butikerna behöver fokusera på hur dekan vara konkurrenskraftiga på marknaden för att inte bli utkonkurrerade av e-handeln. Syftet medstudien är att undersöka hur lokala klädbutiker utan e-handel överlever och bemöter konkurrensen fråne-handeln.Vi har använt oss utav en kvalitativ metod för att kunna besvara vår frågeställning och vårt syfte. Vigenomförde kvalitativa intervjuer med fyra butiksägare av fyra små butiker som inte har någon ehandel,och vi analyserade sedan deras svar genom att jämföra svaren som vi fick med det valdateoretiska ramverk som vi använt oss av i studien och även med tidigare forskning inom ämnet. Vigjorde även observationer hos dessa fyra butiker.Slutsatsen som dragits av undersökningen är att mindre butiker överlever på marknaden genom att haen god service och lojala kunder. Det är dessutom inte lönt för mindre butiker att starta en e-handel dådet resulterar i mer jobb och kostnader.
The e-commerce is growing every year and the opportunities to purchase products such as clotheshave never been easier than it is today. For the physical stores it is now important to use theircompetitive tools, marketing strategies, trading environment in the right way to survive the expand ofe-commerce. Their focus needs to be on how to conquer their market as a store and to not get outconquered by the e-commerce. The purpose of this study is while the e-commerce is expanding andtaking over more market shares how does the physical stores react and what kind of competitive toolscan they use to keep the sales up and going without an online store.We used a qualitative research method to answer that question. We conducted interviews with fourowners of shops that does not have an online store, and analyzed the answers by comparing them toour chosen theoretical framework and previous studies. We also made observations at these fourstores.The conclusion drawn from the survey is that smaller stores survive in the market by having goodservice and loyal customers. Furthermore, it is not worthwhile for smaller stores to start an ecommerceas this results in more jobs and costs.
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Leander, Arvid, and Niklas Hagewald. "Intern marknadsföring och dess påverkan på fullsortimentsbankers uppfattade konkurrensfördelar : - En fallstudie av Svenska Handelsbanken och Nordea." Thesis, Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för samhällsvetenskap, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-19245.

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Författarna finner att dagens teori saknar tydliga riktlinjer för hur praktiker i den svenska banksektorn bör använda sig av intern marknadsföring. Bristen av en klar definition av begreppet medför svårigheter att applicera teorin på strategiarbetet och använda de verktyg som finns att tillgå i befintlig forskning. Nuvarande forskning visar på vikten av intern marknadsföring i alla organisationer, och då främst inom servicesektorn. Studierna som har gjorts är emellertid baserade på sektorer utomlands, vilket innebär svårigheter för svenska banker att tillämpa resultatet inom sin egen organisation, menar författarna. Författarna ämnar därför undersöka intern marknadsföring och dess effekt på uppfattade konkurrensfördelar på den svenska banksektorn och författarna har valt att fokusera på svenska fullsortimentsbanker. Det genomförs genom en teoretisk bakgrund kring de begrepp och modeller som finns idag samt genom en kvalitativ undersökning av två aktörer inom den svenska banksektorn. Både ledning och medarbetare på de bägge bankerna har deltagit i undersökningen för att kunna återge en nyanserad bild av problematiken. Studien visar att det råder vissa likheter mellan forskningen och de undersökta fallen, men inom bägge fallstudierna råder det även vissa skillnader i hur den interna marknadsföringen används och vilka konkurrensfördelar den skapar för fullsortimentsbanker. Undersökningen bidrar med rekommendationer för praktiker som kan ge en tydligare bild för hur fullsortimentsbanker inom den svenska banksektorn kan agera för att skapa ytterligare konkurrensfördelar genom den interna marknadsföringen.
This paper examines the theoretical area about internal marketing and what competitive advantages it results in. Earlier research shows that internal marketing is vital for successful companies, especially in the service sector. However, there have been no published studies of the Swedish banking sector. That is why the authors have used two case studies within the Swedish bank sector to try to create guidelines that they can use to increase their competitive advantages by using internal marketing in their strategy planning.The theoretical part shows that most of the researchers agree that by using some effective tools and factors in the internal marketing a better and more adaptive organisation will be developed. Even though there are some vital tools, all the tools must be considered and implemented in the organisations. The case studies have been researched using qualitative methods, interviewing both leaders and employees, trying to give a nuanced description of the internal marketing. The result shows that there need to be an open dialogue between the employees and the leaders and that the dialogue will be better by effective use of tools within the internal marketing. The discussion shows that the Swedish banking sector can develop their internal marketing to gain even more competitive advantages.
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Nárožná, Gabriela. "Marketingový výzkum pro produkt Sticky Password." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-223253.

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This diploma thesis deals with marketing research for Lamantine software, a.s. software company. This company operates in the area of software development. Specifically this thesis aims on marketing research for the Sticky Password product, password manager and form filler. The stress is put on identification of competitive products, target groups and segments, their needs and expectations. With the help of marketing tools and web analytic tools the marketing environment analysis and survey are accomplished.
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Misciagna, Vincent J. (Vincent Joseph). "Gainsharing as a competitive tool." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/12816.

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Nielsen, Eric Douglas 1977. "Web-tools for streamlining ballroom dance competition management." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29703.

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Thesis (M.Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 465).
This thesis presents the design and development of the initial offerings in a potential suite of computer aids for ballroom dance competitions. The suite of tools is known by the name CompinaBox; while the initial module which handles on-line registration for competitions is named SlidingDoors. The tools have been developed using the PHP programming language a scripting language that is easily embeddable within the HTML used to create web-pages. The PostGreSQL database system is used to handle all data storage requirements. The registration component was selected as the initial tool because it provides the data needed by practically all of the other possible tools. SlidingDoors has been coded from scratch twice, under two radically different coding methodologies. The first was in accordance with "common" web-programming views and a completely dynamic page generation model. The second was along the more traditional software engineering model and used more static page generation. As the story of the tool development unfolds, trade-offs between the two approaches are discussed.
by Eric D. Nielsen.
M.Eng.
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15

Maia, Jonas Lucio. "Gestão competitiva em empresas brasileiras : a prática da estratégia por meio de suas visões, ferramentas e atores do processo." Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2010. https://repositorio.ufscar.br/handle/ufscar/3357.

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Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
The complexity assigned to the strategy term has been largely discussed in the literature. The large amount of theoretical contributions to this issue, brought by several knowledge areas; the different tools proposed by academicians and consultants to operationalize its concepts, the plurality of actors that play their roles inside the organizational field are just some examples of the building blocks of such complexity. Also relevant to this discussion is the movement named Strategy as Practice , initiated by European researchers in order to bring a sociological focus to organizational strategies, considering them as something a company does instead of something a company has. Thus, the main goal of this thesis is to identify and compare how Brazilian companies actually practice their competitive strategy, and to what extent/in which way such practice is aligned with the main firm s idiosyncratic variables and with their competitive environments. In order to achieve such goal, this work took advantage of a mixed research method, with a survey with companies listed on Brazilian Stock Exchange and six case studies. Concerning industry perception and company praxis, the main findings indicate that: (1) the internal and external views of competitive advantage are, indeed, perceived as complementary regarding firm strategies; (2) even in more traditional industries, companies perceive their environment as dynamic, due to companies´ mobility, group consolidations or internal rivalry; (3) even in industry with high barriers to entry, firms regularly adopt a surveillance approach to monitor newcomers; (4) innovation tends to be more focused on process than on products, and there is a gap between intended and implemented innovation; (5) the perception of resources and competences spread throughout company networks suggests that controlling these resources may be more important than owning them; (6) at least in the studied companies, low relevance has been assigned to knowledge as a strategic advantage. Regarding strategy practices: (7) an annual strategy planning cycle takes place, focused on formulation activities and perceived as static in nature; (8) workshops and performance meetings were the most often identified strategic events; (9) strategy tools were perceived as highly effective and mainly targeted at structuring analysis and ensuring strategy implementation, with special emphasis to the abundance of financial tools and lack of creativity ones. Concluding, concerning practitioners: (10) it could by empirically identified the existence of an organizational structure responsible for companies strategic planning, generally close to financial areas; (11) those generally involved in strategic activities show a primarily analytical profile, with low presence of women; (12) senior executives have developed their careers mainly inside the company or inside the industry, with relevant business knowledge, while middle management plays its role by implementing decisions made by high executives; (13) consultancies tend to be highly used, and their recontracting is contingent upon the patterns of their involvement in the strategy process; (14) business press has been assigned low relevance, being substituted in some cases by financial releases or by information from industry entities.
A complexidade do tema estratégia tem sido amplamente discutida por diversos autores na literatura. O grande conjunto de contribuições teóricas ao tema, prestadas pelas mais diversas áreas do conhecimento; as diversas ferramentas propostas por acadêmicos e consultores para a operacionalização de seus conceitos; e a pluralidade dos vários atores deste espaço organizacional são apenas alguns exemplos dos fatores constituintes desta complexidade. Relevante também ao tema é o movimento Estratégia como Prática , iniciado por pesquisadores europeus no sentido de trazer um enfoque sociológico às estratégias, considerando-as como algo que as empresas fazem e não algo que as mesmas puramente possuem. Desta forma, o principal objetivo desta tese foi identificar e comparar como as empresas brasileiras efetivamente praticam sua estratégia competitiva e como esta prática está alinhada com as diversas variáveis intrínsecas às firmas e aos seus ambientes competitivos. Para tanto, foi empregado um método de pesquisa combinado, com a realização de survey junto às empresas da BM&F Bovespa e seis estudos de caso. No que se refere à compreensão setorial e à práxis das empresas, as principais conclusões do trabalham apontam que: (1) as visões internas e externas da origem de vantagem competitiva são, de fato, percebidas como complementares no que tange às estratégias da firma; (2) mesmo em setores mais tradicionais, as empresas os percebem como dinâmicos, seja por mobilidade de empresas, por consolidação de grupos ou por rivalidades internas; (3) mesmo em setores com elevadas barreiras à entrada, as firmas adotam postura de vigilância permanente sobre novos competidores; (4) a inovação tende a ser mais focada em processos que produtos, e existe uma lacuna entre inovação pretendida e aquela efetivamente implementada; (5) a percepção de recursos e competências espalhados na rede indica que talvez seja mais relevante controlar do que efetivamente possuir tais recursos; (6) ao menos nas empresas estudadas, baixa relevância pode ser atribuída à questão do conhecimento como diferencial estratégico. No que se refere às práticas, tem-se que: (7) na maioria das empresas existe um ciclo anual de planejamento estratégico, com foco em atividades de formulação e que são percebidos como estáticos; (8) workshops e reuniões de resultado foram os eventos estratégicos mais frequentemente identificados; (9) as ferramentas de estratégia foram percebidas como de alta eficácia e principalmente voltadas para estruturação de análise e garantia de implementação, com destaque para abundância de ferramentas financeiras e escassez de ferramentas de criatividade. Por fim, acerca dos praticantes tem-se que: (10) ficou evidenciada a existência de uma estrutura organizacional com responsabilidade sobre planejamento estratégico da empresa, geralmente próxima a áreas de finanças; (11) os profissionais envolvidos possuem perfil eminentemente analítico e com baixa presença de mulheres; (12) o executivo sênior desenvolveu sua carreira eminentemente na empresa ou no setor, com relevante conhecimento do negócio, enquanto a média gerência assume papel de implementadora de decisões da alta direção; (13) as consultorias tendem a ser bastante utilizadas e a recontratação das mesmas é contingente à forma do envolvimento no processo estratégico da companhia; (14) a imprensa de negócios assume pouca relevância, sendo substituída, em alguma medida, por releases financeiros das empresas ou informações de entidades setoriais.
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Asanka, Srimal Waduge. "QUALITY AS A COMPETITIVE TOOL FOR TAILOR STORE AB." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Textilhögskolan, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-20116.

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"Customer Satisfaction is a Continuous Process which does not begin or end witha purchase".Slogans of “Quality" can be viewed all around the corners of factories, whichhas emerged as the managerial imperative from the past decade. But Qualityfailures, rejections & cancellations are still apparent. Therefore, we shouldinvestigate and prepare an action plan to experience the real achievementthrough producing quality products, to “Delight our Customers".The Author of this study has recognized the extent of misunderstanding, missmanagement of production process and Quality Systems and did select specificresearch methods in order to satisfy the aim of the investigation. Moreover, Authorhas selected one of Swedish based retailer namely Tailor Store AB, companywhich is very successful in web base mass customization.After analyzing the company Author has published a Quality handbook for theTailor Store AB.
Program: Textilekonomutbildningen magister
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Cox, M. Katherine. "Information technology : a competitive tool in real estate development?" Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/65203.

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Kostadinova, Mila Dimitrova, and Natalie Embaye. "Augment App: Potential Implications on E-commerce : A Multi-Case Study on Swedish Online Fashion Retailers." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Informatik, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-41220.

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Retail is shifting from physical shopping experience to a more online experience. However, the transition is not happening without pains and both consumers and companies alike face challenges when it comes to utilizing all the benefits that the flexibility brings. One of the biggest issues that the online fashion industry is facing, is product evaluation and the resulting high returns rate. Customers are unable to fully evaluate the products due to, for example, insufficient information, faulty information and the fact that size guides are not reliable, which are incentives for the customers to send the products back. Thus, the aim of this thesis is to investigate and determine what the key challenges that the online fashion companies face related to their most common product evaluation tools and what effects those challenges have on the companies. Further, this thesis evaluates how implementing an augmented reality tool, the Augment app would affect those challenges. Finally, this study investigates how implementing the Augment app would affect the Swedish online fashion retailers’ competitiveness. To answer these questions, a qualitative multi-case study was conducted with three Swedish online fashion retailers. Conducting an embedded multi-case study allowed for meaningful and generalizable findings as it allowed for both within-case analysis as well as cross-case analysis. The results of the study found that companies face challenges in regards to providing quality customer service, ensuring e-satisfaction as well as reducing the high percentage of customer product returns for the Swedish online retailers. Further, the study found that the Augment app could not automatically solve all of the challenges on its own. Rather, the Augment app would act as a complement to the current product evaluation tools and be a most welcome addition. Further, by implementing it, a company could build sustainable competitive advantage.
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Windahl, Johnny. "Competition on the assembly market : "With focus on air tools"." Thesis, KTH, Industriell produktion, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-140646.

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Chen, Hsinchun, Michael Chau, and Daniel Zeng. "CI Spider: a tool for competitive intelligence on the Web." Elsevier, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106357.

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Artificial Intelligence Lab, Department of MIS, University of Arizona
Competitive Intelligence (CI) aims to monitor a firm’s external environment for information relevant to its decision-making process. As an excellent information source, the Internet provides significant opportunities for CI professionals as well as the problem of information overload. Internet search engines have been widely used to facilitate information search on the Internet. However, many problems hinder their effective use in CI research. In this paper, we introduce the Competitive Intelligence Spider, or CI Spider, designed to address some of the problems associated with using Internet search engines in the context of competitive intelligence. CI Spider performs real-time collection of Web pages from sites specified by the user and applies indexing and categorization analysis on the documents collected, thus providing the user with an up-to-date, comprehensive view of the Web sites of user interest. In this paper, we report on the design of the CI Spider system and on a user study of CI Spider, which compares CI Spider with two other alternative focused information gathering methods: Lycos search constrained by Internet domain, and manual within-site browsing and searching. Our study indicates that CI Spider has better precision and recall rate than Lycos. CI Spider also outperforms both Lycos and within-site browsing and searching with respect to ease of use. We conclude that there exists strong evidence in support of the potentially significant value of applying the CI Spider approach in CI applications.
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Afonina, Anna. "Uplatnění nástrojů a metod strategického řízení." Doctoral thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2015. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-234420.

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Cílem disertace je ověřit existenci vztahu mezi využitím analytických nástrojů strategického řízení a výkonností podniků. Za tímto účelem bylo třeba nejdříve definovat množinu analytických nástrojů strategického řízení, které jsou v soudobé praxi našich firem nejčastěji používané a nalézt způsob, kterým lze hodnotit výkonnost podniků. K tomuto účelu byly připraveny dva výzkumy: výsledkem prvního bylo zjištění nejčastěji používaných analytických nástrojů strategického řízení a faktorů, které jejich využití ovlivňují, t.j. jejich znalost, spokojenost s nimi a velikost podniků. Výsledkem druhého výzkumu bylo navržení nového způsobu multikriteriálního hodnocení podnikového výkonu. Pomocí analýzy hlavních komponent (principal component analysis) byly definovány čtyři skupiny ukazatelů, které umožňují komplexní posouzení podnikového výkonu: ukazatele finanční výkonnosti, konkurenční pozice, orientace na zákazníky a organizační integrity. S použitím regresní analýzy (stepwise regression analysis) byl prokázán pozitivní vliv využití analytických nástrojů strategického řízení na výkonnost podniků.
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Lindblom, Filip, Rickard Pettersson, and Erik Lorentz. "City Branding : As a marketing tool in an increased competitive environment." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-18587.

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Mostert, Daniël Gerhardus. "Competitive analysis : a tool to enhance the process of strategy formulation /." Link to the online version, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/1122.

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Thomas, David Jordan. "Competitive intelligence, a self diagnostic tool applied in the telecom industry." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape2/PQDD_0017/MQ58512.pdf.

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Mostert, Daniel Gerhardus. "Competitive analysis : a tool to enhance the process of strategy formulation." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3311.

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Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.
It is well understood that the modern business environment has become a very complex and uncertain arena. The only way that the modern organization can survive under these circumstances, is by “crafting” a strategy that will differentiate itself from its competitors. The process of strategy formulation has been the victim of widespread criticism, from practitioners and academics, alike. Competitive analysis has been identified as a tool that can assist and facilitate strategy formulation. The objective of this assignment was to investigate the dynamic relationship that exists between competitive analysis and strategy formulation and to determine how competitive analysis can assist practitioners during the process of strategy formulation. The first part of the assignment consisted of a literature review that focused on the many facets of strategy and strategy formulation. This involved identifying and defining all the pertinent concepts. In order to understand the process of strategy formulation better, an analysis on the concepts of strategy, strategic planning, strategic management and competitive analysis was done. To enhance understanding of the process further, an analysis was done of the business environment that the organization is active in and that could influence strategy formulation. The assignment also focused on the different objectives of competitive analysis and an analysis was made of the different techniques that are available, because it could influence the technique chosen for the process of competitive analysis. Certain pitfalls and blind spots were also identified that could affect the process negatively and that have to be kept in mind when conducting a competitive analysis Finally, certain recommendations are proposed in order to enhance the understanding of competitive analysis and the process of strategy formulation, as it is applied in the modern business environment.
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Witzig, Nadja. "The Building as an Educational Tool - A Competitive Sport Boarding School." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/9638.

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As the topic for my master's thesis, I wanted to challenge myself with a project to which I have a personal connection and use my experience for designing. At 13 years old, I went ot a competitive sport boarding school for 5 years. This time left me with a very distinctive and also some negative impressions. The complex was made out of a couple, by a narrow hallway connected, buildings. On one hand a very practical concept, that shortend commuting intensively around the complex, but on the other hand the surrounding fabric had no influence and connection to it and the complex could be placed anywhere. That is why I would like to take a closer look at what this building can actually be and stand for while, being a place for education and also use it's design and intentions for part of the education. Thesis Questions: What is the place of education? How can the importance of the school be translated into architecture? What can stuidents learn from the building itself? How is the relationship between the school and the community defined?
Master of Architecture
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Fourie, Linda Ann. "The Competition Act as seen from a business perspective : discussion and helpful tools." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49707.

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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The recent enactment of the Competition Act 89 of 1998, has resulted in a world of speculation and discussion. The reason seems to be that the previously 'protected' monopolies who were allowed to continue with business without fear of retribution, have now been stopped in their tracks with the new legislation. South African legal application and protection has been rather one sided in previous years with specific reference to the protection of minorities. This was exasperated by the political and economical situation in South Africa in the eighties. Sanctions led to consolidation of companies and industries, because companies were not allowed to take money of the country. This had a negative result on the competitive situation and the little guys had to survive on the dregs. The new Act is based on the American anti-trust legislation as well as the competition law of the European Union. It is therefore of utmost importance to take note of this international law with specific reference to the interpretation of the Competition Act due to the fact that the Act is so recent. The Competition Act expressly provides for the use of foreign law in the interpretation of the Act. This project is not a comparative study between current competition legislation available in the world. It purports to be a more user friendly guide to business people to make the Act more useful and understandable. The project focuses on some helpful hints to assist the reader with interpretation and application. The project gives a short description of the development of competition legislation in South Africa in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is a discussion on the main sections of the Act that deal with prohibited practices, dominant position, mergers and remedies and enforcement. A few examples are given of uncompetitive behaviour. Chapter 4 deals with the helpful hints and illustrates thresholds as determined in section 11, with the help of diagrams, it also lists a few helpful references of handy resources. The project ends off with a short conclusion.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onlangse inwerkingtreding van die Wet op Mededinging 89 van 1998, het 'n wêreld van spekulasie en bespreking ontketen. Die rede hiervoor is dat die voorheen "beskermde monopolieë" tot op hede kon voortgaan met besigheid sonder stoornis, hierdie stuk wetgewing het hulle egter nou tot halt geroep. Suid-Afrikaanse regswerking en -beskerming was in die vorige jare van regering effens eensydig met betrekking tot beskerming van minderhede. Die verskynsel is aangehelp deur die politieke en ekonomiese situasie waarin SA homself bevind het in die tagtigerjare. Sanksies het gely tot konsolidasie van maatskappye en industrieë, aangesien firmas nie geld uit die land mag geneem het nie. Die resultaat hiervan was monopolieë en konglomerate. Hierdie verskynsel het negatief ingewerk op kompeterende ekonomiese toestande, en die "kleiner outjies" moes die krummels van die tafel af eet. Die nuwe stuk wetgewing is gebasseer op die Amerikaanse "anti-trust" wetgewing sowel as die kompetisie wetgewing van die Europese Unie. Dit is noodsaaklik om kennis te neem van hierdie Internasionale wetgewing, veral in terme van die interprestasie van die Wet op Mededinging, siende dat ons eie wetgwing baie resent is. Die Wet maak ook daarvoor voorsiening dat Internasionale reg in ag geneem moet word vir interpretasie van enige van die artikels van die Wet. Hierdie werkstuk is nie 'n vergelykende studie tussen die bestaande wetgewing wat in die wêreld beskikbaar is nie, maar poog om 'n meer gebruikers vriendelike gids te wees vir veral besigheidsmense om die Wet makliker bruikbaar en verstaanbaar te maak. Die studie fokus daarop om 'n opsommende beskrywing te gee van die Wet sowel as die formulering van bepaalde hulpmiddels om die leser van hulp te wees met interpretasie en toepassing. Die werkstuk gee 'n kort beskrywing van die ontwikkeling van Kompetisie wetgewing in Suid-Afrika in Hoofstuk 2. Hoofstuk 3 is 'n bespreking van die hoof artikels van die Wet wat handelaar beperkende praktyke, dominansie, samesmeltings en oornames, remedies en afdwinging. Daar volg ook 'n bespreking van 'n paar tipiese voorbeelde van onkompeterende praktyke. Hoofstuk 4 handel oor hulpmiddels en illustreer by wyse van diagramme, die drempels vir vasstelling van welke firma onderhewig is aan artikel 11, sowel as 'n paar verwysings van handige bronne. Die werkstuk sluit af met 'n kort gevolgtrekking.
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Carley, Ryan (Ryan Trenell) 1976, and Matthew 1973 Robinson. "Project Extranets : b a strategic necessity or a tool for competitive advantage?" Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32187.

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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2000.
Vitae.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-80).
An exploratory study was conducted to determine the strategic advantage that firms may gain by using project extranets on real estate development projects. Eight organizations were interviewed to determine their priorities, risk preferences, and needs regarding project communication technologies. Interviews were conducted with Corporate Owner/Occupiers, Owner/Non Occupiers, and Institutional Owner/Occupiers. The hypothesis tested was that owners and developers of real estate were looking to use project extranets to gain a competitive advantage. Research results indicated a resounding 'no' to our hypothesis. No owners or developers are currently looking at extranets as a source of competitive advantage at this time. However, the research data did provide insights into what is necessary for the technology to deliver for organizations to view a project extranet as a source of competitive advantage in the future. Owners were segmented into categories based on risk profile and needs regarding project extranets. Corporate Owner/Occupiers with real estate support needed assistance with predictability and execution. Corporate Owner/Occupiers of Manufacturing operations needed increases in speed. Institutional Owner/Occupiers needed certainty. Finally Owner/Non-Occupiers needed mitigation of market risks.
by Ryan Carley [and] Matthew Robinson.
S.M.
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Seidler, Harriet. "Real estate developers and child care centers : loss leader or competitive tool?" Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77519.

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Agrawal, Vaibhav. "A web-application tool for manufacturing systems strategic management and competitive performance monitoring /." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 2004. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p1426042.

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Nagler, Greg. "Sustaining competitive advantage in product development : a DFM tool for printed circuit assembly." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37805.

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Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1996, and Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1996.
by Greg Nagler.
M.S.
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Frischknecht, Markus. "The behavioural ecology of competition : computer simulations as tools and necessity for generating predictions /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 1994. http://www.ub.unibe.ch/content/bibliotheken_sammlungen/sondersammlungen/dissen_bestellformular/index_ger.html.

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Fay, TH, and JC Greeff. "A three species competition model as a decision support tool." Elsevier, 2007. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1000167.

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An overcrowding problem of nyala, and lately also of impala in the Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, has been detrimental to other species and vegetation structures over a period of two decades. In the present study a deterministic model for three competing species (where two species tend to be overpopulated while the third faces probable localized extinction) is constructed, while future trends coupled with their coexistence are projected. On a mathematical basis, we seek reasons for the failure of the cropping strategies implemented by management over the last two decades, and suggest alternative, scientifical-based approaches to the calculation of cropping quotas to ensure the future coexistence of all three species. A system of three first-order nonlinear differential equations is used, with parameter values based on field data and opinions of specialist ecologists. The effect of various cropping strategies, and the introduction of a fourth species (man as a predator) to the system, is investigated mathematically. This model was implemented as a harvesting strategy in 2002, and is being continuously tested. Final assessment can only be done over a 10–15-year period, but so far indications are promising.
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Paganelli, Filippo. "Cooperation and competition in the air transport market: current scenario, possible evolutions and analytical tools." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2012. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/4906/.

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dall'avvento della liberalizzazione, aeroporti e vettori hanno vissuto cambiamenti. Il maggior miglioramneto nella gestione degli aeroporti è una gestione più commerciale ed efficiente. Le forme di regolazione economica e le caratteristiche della gestione manageriale sono state indagate. Dodici paesi sono stati scelti per indagare la situazione del trasporto aereo mondiale, fra questi sia paesi con un sistema maturo sia paesi emergenti. La distribuzione del traffico è stata analizzata con l'indice HHI per evidenziare aeroporti con concentrazione maggiore di 0,25 (in accordo con la normativa statunitense); il sistema aeroportuale è stato analizzato con l'indice di Gini e con l'indice di dominanza. Infine, la teoria dei giochi si è dimostrata un valido supporto per studiare il mercato del trasporto aereo anche con l'uso di giochi di tipo DP
Since the advent of the liberalization process, both the airport and the airline have witnessed substantial changes. The greatest improvement in airport management has been the adoption of more commercial-oriented and efficient policies. Traditional forms of regulations as well as the characteristics of the commercial management have been investigated. A sample of twelve countries has been chosen in order to investigate the situation of air transport market worldwide, among those there are countries with a mature airport system as well as emerging countries. The traffic distribution at airports has been analysed with the HHI to highlight airports with a concentration higher than 0,25 (according to US normative); the airport system has been analysed through the use of both the Gini concentration index and the Dominance Index. Finally, the games theory has proven to be a valid support to the study of air traffic market, even by the use of simple Prisoner’s dilemma-like games.
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Grahn, Graeme Aubrey. "Mobile customer relationship marketing: a tool to create competitive advantage within the licensed liquor industry." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1704.

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Master of Technology Marketing Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013
The advent of IT technology in particular, mobile technology has forced most of the private sector to re-evaluate how they interact and communicate with their intermediaries. Since the early 1990s most businesses have put the intermediary at the centre of their business by means of business strategies like Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions. However, the speed at which technology is evolving is forcing businesses to evaluate new and alternative means of managing intermediary relationships, as intermediaries now drive the economy, not businesses. The very essence of a good CRM programme is its reliance on an IT system which is advanced enough to analyse the captured intermediary data, transform that data into usable knowledge, which is then stored in a centralised, crossfunctional database or data warehouse. Most businesses agree that the goal of CRM solutions is to maximise business profits by maximising the value of interaction with intermediaries. Successful CRM businesses have strong, clearly defined business strategies that focus on the intermediary and generate a process-orientated view of the organisation. CRM functionality therefore creates a single view of the intermediary and the business as well as support to the Marketing, Sales, Order, Production and Service processes. This dissertation investigated the CRM functionality within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) wholesale and retail liquor sector of the City of Cape Town, paying particular attention to the three channels that the liquor industry operate in. These three channels are segmented as the formal Off-premise consumption, formal On-premise consumption and the Informal Main market. The formal Off-premise consumption channel consist of the mainstream convenience and self-service liquor retailers where stock is purchased and consumed at another location by the end user. The formal On-premise consumption channel consists of venues where patrons purchase and consume liquor on the spot. The informal Main market, which is dominated by shebeens and taverns, is a combination of the Off- and On-premise consumption channels where bottle purchases and consumption occur on site together. This dissertation investigates one primary and four secondary questions within these channels. The primary question will establish whether a mobile CRM programme can be used as a marketing instrument to create a competitive advantage within the B2B licensed liquor industry of South Africa. The secondary questions establish whether intermediaries are willing to adopt CRM technology, what barriers exist, what the benefits are for both intermediary and company and whether there will be a reduction in communication costs for both parties. The South African government regulates the South African liquor industry in that only licensed outlets may trade in liquor. Within the Western Cape region, there are approximately 4,000 licensed outlets of which approximately 2,000 licences (data obtained from a leading liquor wholesalers company database) fall within the boundaries of Cape Town. A leading liquor wholesaler has legal contracts with each one of these accounts, providing a defined database from which primary research was conducted. Primary researches, in the form of quantitative interviews with a random sample of 150 intermediaries, across the three identified channels were conducted for this study. Questionnaires were used to establish how a competitive B2B mobile CRM programme can be implemented, while possible barriers and facilitators to mobile CRM were also considered. The findings produced two results: one result was expected but the second result was not expected by the researcher. The first results were that 57.5% of respondents, across all business channels, indicated their willingness to receiving a mCRM programme on their mobile devices. The unexpected finding was that 57.3% of respondents across all business channels had no idea or did not know what a CRM programme was. From these findings several recommendations are discussed namely: the implementation of a six month tactical marketing campaign which would expose intermediaries to the concepts and ideas of a CRM programme; the establishment of a comprehensively updated intermediary database; welltrained field sales staff who would support the CRM programme once implemented; a simple, easy to use and navigate mCRM programme to begin with. This programme would have to have the ability and capability to progress in the future as intermediaries become more familiar with the system; and a complete company philosophy, with a clear, holistic and coherent business strategy, that would embrace the mCRM concept to drive future growth opportunities. Key Words: business-to-business; customer relationship management; electronic customer relationship management; Information Technology and mobile customer relationship management.
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Andersson, Sabina, and Linn Folkesson. "Leveransservice hos utvalda svenska e-handelsföretag : En studie om leveransservice som konkurrensmedel och kraven från konsumenterna." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för samhällsvetenskaper, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-24647.

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Bakgrund: Svenskarna ligger idag i topp på listan över andelen internetanvändare i befolkningen. Hela 94 procent av Sveriges befolkning använder internet och av dem har hela 84 procent någon gång handlat på internet. E-handeln växer så det knakar och det gör att konsumenternas krav på leveransservice ökar. Man kan se det som att leveransservice har utvecklats till ett nytt konkurrensmedel för att kunna överleva på en hårt konkurrensutsatt marknad. Syfte och forskningsfrågor: Syftet med studien är att undersöka och analysera svenska ehandelsföretags leveransservice för att bidra till en ökad förståelse för betydelsen av leveransservice. För att uppfylla syftet har följande forskningsfrågor utformats: Hur arbetar utvalda svenska e-handelsföretag med leveransservice som konkurrensmedel? Hur lever utvalda svenska e-handelsföretag upp till konsumenternas krav på leveransservice? Metod och tillvägagångssätt: Datainsamling har skett genom två metoder. Utvalda ehandelsföretag har intervjuats i syfte att ta reda på hur de arbetar med leveransservice. Detta har kombinerats med en enkätundersökning där konsumenters förväntan på leveransservice undersökts. Datan har tolkats och analyserats på ett kvalitativt sätt för att skapa en förståelse för ämnet. Slutsats: Studien visar att svenska e-handelsföretag lever upp till konsumenternas krav på leveransservice samt att de arbetar kontinuerligt för att fortsätta med detta. Resultatet av studien har bekräftat att leveransservice är ett viktigt konkurrensmedel men att det är svårt för e-handelsföretagen att hitta den optimala nivån att ligga på. I takt med att konsumenternas krav på leveransservice ökar gäller det för företagen att följa denna utveckling och ständigt arbeta med effektiviseringar.
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Moreira, Iris Cristina de Oliveira Ricardo Domingos. "A introdução de mecanismos de competição e o quadro legal básico do Sistema Nacional de Saúde português : a perspectiva hospitalar." Master's thesis, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública. Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/5788.

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RESUMO - O presente trabalho de projecto visa analisar a introdução de mecanismos de competição do ponto de vista do quadro legal básico – Constituição e Lei de Bases da Saúde – que enforma o sistema de saúde português e principalmente, o seu impacte ao nível do meio hospitalar. Pretende-se aferir se a implementação de ferramentas de mercado no meio em apreço encontra previsão naqueles diplomas legais, sendo por isso, permissivos quanto ao seu desenvolvimento ou se, por outro lado, o nosso enquadramento legal se revela hostil ao seu desenvolvimento. O estudo foi desenvolvido com recurso, essencialmente, à pesquisa e revisão bibliográficas que serão transversais aos capítulos que compõem o enquadramento conceptual, à hermenêutica para efeitos de aplicação à temática da descrição do quadro legal básico e à análise das hipóteses de trabalho apresentadas. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que, via de regra, o quadro legal básico do sistema de saúde português é permissivo à introdução de mecanismos de competição, encontrando mesmo, alguns deles, eco legal em disposições datadas de final da década de ’60. Este grau de permissividade tanto é comprovável através de estatuições que directamente prevêem determinada ferramenta, como através da ausência de previsão que no nosso ordenamento jurídico, não é sinónimo de proibição. ----------------------------------ABSTRACT - This essay analyses the existing relation between the introduction of competition tools in the Portuguese health care system and its basic legal framework – the Constitution and the Health Bases Law – particularly from the hospital’s point of view. We aim to assess if the use and implementation of those tools are permissible by law or if, on the other hand, our legal system is hostile towards that introduction. Preferably we used bibliographical research in almost every chapter and hermeneutics allowed us to perform a detailed analysis of the basic legal framework. We conclude that, most of the times, the Portuguese basic legal framework is permissible to the use of such tools and some of the legislative acts date from the late sixties. That can be encompassed by existing or non-existing statutes – since in our legal system what is not specifically foreseen is not, necessarily forbidden.
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Brönmark, Riex Emma, and Elizabeth Karlsson. "SMEs gaining ground : How employer branding could be used as a strategic tool for competitive advantage." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för ekonomi och teknik (SET), 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-26836.

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Background: In a world that is becoming more knowledge-based and where it gets harder to find value-adding employees, employer branding could be used as a way to attract and retain employees, which later can create competitive advantage. Research Question: In order to experience competitive advantage, how do SMEs use the strategies and tools of employer branding as a way to attract and retain value-adding employees? Purpose: The purpose with this study was to explore how employer branding is used by SMEs as a way to experience competitive advantage. Method: A qualitative research method with six case studies of SMEs located in different industries was adopted. Primary data was based on semi-structured interviews with respondents at the different SMEs. Theoretical framework: With the basis of the RBV, theories about this and the human capital as a resource as well as a competitive advantage, is presented. This continues with theories about the employer brand, attractive attributes about employers, employer branding strategies, and what the outcomes of employer branding is.  Findings and Conclusions: SMEs do not use the strategies and tools of employer branding in the generic way. Instead, much communication is carried out first when the recruitment process starts, with the aim to find employees who could deliver competitive advantage through their fit with the organization. Once onboard, different benefits are provided in order to retain them. Involvement and engagement are the most prominent ones, due to SMEs ability to offer cross-functional management.
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39

Stenberg, Emma, and Xoan Vu-Thi. "The Impact of Competitor Intelligence on Strategy Building." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för ekonomi, teknik och naturvetenskap, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-33313.

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Previous studies have shown that information regarding competitors has great value for organizations, especially in terms of strategy, making strategic decisions, strategic plans, development of resources, innovation and change, etc. However, most studies tend to investigate competitive intelligence rather than competitor intelligence. Competitor intelligence may be an important factor for organizations to include in their strategy building but too few focus on its impact on such process. Therefore this paper modified one of the strategy tools which are utilized in the strategy building process of organization by including competitor intelligence, with the aim at having a better understanding how competitor intelligence has impact or contribution to the process of strategy building. The modified model shows that with the presence of competitor intelligence, the reliability and feasibility of strategic options are improved to achieve a competitive strategy, which facilitates to enhance competitive advantage and sustainability of the organization.
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Silva, Andréa de Oliveira. "Dinâmica competitiva e tecnológica da indústria de máquinas-ferramenta no Brasil." Universidade de São Paulo, 2012. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/3/3136/tde-26072013-114724/.

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Esta tese analisa as características e as condições do desenvolvimento industrial e tecnológico do setor de máquinas-ferramenta no Brasil. O trabalho parte do pressuposto de que há uma relação entre trajetória tecnológica, regime tecnológico e desenvolvimento econômico e considera que o arcabouço sobre Sistema Setorial de Inovação pode trazer importantes contribuições para o desenvolvimento tecnológico entre os setores industriais. A revisão teórica da tese aplicou a discussão sobre trajetória tecnológica, regime tecnológico e Sistema Setorial de Inovação ao caso do setor de máquinas-ferramenta mundial, destacando as características do desenvolvimento das tecnologias do setor na Inglaterra, EUA e Japão. A metodologia de pesquisa abrangeu uma análise sobre o setor de máquinas-ferramenta no Brasil. Esta análise considerou as características do desempenho industrial e tecnológico e as interações realizadas entre empresas de máquinas-ferramenta e grupos de pesquisa sediados no Estado de São Paulo. A partir da análise empírica e setorial, a tese constatou que o regime tecnológico do setor de máquinas-ferramenta do Brasil apresenta características distintas, relativamente ao setor de máquinas-ferramenta dos países analisados na revisão teórica. O Sistema Setorial de Inovação de máquinas-ferramenta no Brasil também apresenta algumas diferenças em relação ao Sistema Setorial de máquinas-ferramenta da Alemanha, Japão, EUA e Itália. A conclusão é que a escolha das empresas por trajetórias tecnológicas no passado pode repercutir um ambiente tecnológico distinto para um mesmo setor através dos países. Considera-se que as características do ambiente tecnológico de cada setor podem apresentar alguns efeitos positivos para a sua competitividade. Entretanto, no longo prazo, a dinâmica industrial e tecnológica do setor de máquinas-ferramenta nacional pode ser afetada pela escolha entre trajetórias tecnológicas.
This thesis analyzes the characteristics and conditions of the industrial and technological development of the machine tools industry in Brazil. The work assumes that there is a relationship between technological trajectory, technological regime and economic development and considers the framework of the Sectoral System of Innovation can make important contributions to technological development among industries. A theoretical review of the thesis applied the discussion on technological trajectory, technological regime and Sectoral System of Innovation in the case of machine tools industry, highlighting the features of the technology development sector in England, USA and Japan. The research methodology includes an analysis of the machine tools industry in Brazil. This analysis considered the performance characteristics of industrial and technological interactions between companies of machine tools and research groups based in São Paulo. From the empirical analysis and sector, the thesis found that the technological regime of the machine tools industry in Brazil has distinct characteristics to the machine tools industry of the countries analyzed in the theoretical review. The machine tools Sectoral System of Innovation in Brazil also have some differences from the System Sector machine tools from Germany, Japan, USA and Italy. The conclusion is that the choice of enterprises by technological trajectories in the past can influence a distinct technological environment for the same sector across countries. It is considered that the characteristics of the technological environment of each sector may have some positive effects on their competitiveness. However, in the long term, the dynamic industrial and technological sector of machine tools can be affected by national choice between technological trajectories.
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Gustafsson, Kristina, and Camilla Miedl-Ohlsson. "The Package : The Neglected Attribute The package´s role as a strategic tool in a competitive context." Thesis, Linköping University, Department of Management and Economics, 2002. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-1375.

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Background: When functionalities of todays products become increasingly alike, design plays a prominent role for product differentiation. Visuality becomes as significant as functionality and increases the importance for companies to work with, and use, packaging design as a tool for creating competitiveness.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to, from a corporate perspective, illuminate and create understanding for the role of packaging design as a strategic tool in a competitive context, where the core product is difficult to differentiate.

Realization: We have performed a qualitative study of packaging design as a phenomenon. Data have been gathered through interviews with influential employees from companies who produce beverages and from design consultants. In total, eight respondents have participated in the study.

Results: The package equals communication - an advertising tool that customers are recurrently exposed to. When the core products are difficult to differentiate, it becomes more important to express product identity and core values through packaging design. The effect is a product and packaging design with a strong mental position among consumers. The purpose of packaging design is therefore to create demand by depicting surplus value.

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Rossi, Jandira Ferreira de Jesus. "Uma metodologia para seleção e avaliação de software para apoiar o processo de inteligência competitiva nas fases da coleta e análise." Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2010. https://repositorio.ufscar.br/handle/ufscar/1043.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:16:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2865.pdf: 5042731 bytes, checksum: 2986b96028169c805c030febb21079ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-23
The Competitive Intelligence (CI) is a systematic and ethical process of collection, storage and information analysis so that Organizations can obtain the competitive advantage in their businesses. For the application of this process, the CI is represented in a cycle which contains the phases of identification of necessities; planning; collections; analysis; dissipation and evaluation. The information volume to be collected and analyzed, the urgency to obtain results and the complexity of the studies of the CI, all point to the importance of the use of computer tools that support this activity. This research proposes a methodology to identify a tool that would facilitate the activities of the CI collectors and analysts, especially in the information extraction of texts needed in the transition between the phases of collection and analyses. The exploratory descriptive research was the methodology used in this work, divided into two parts: the theoretical methodology and the experimental. The first was applied to identify potential collaborating tools for the complete CI cycle and to extract information between the phases of collection and analysis. The second, to select and validate a tool (software). The tool selected was the software Zotero, which acts as an administration of bibliographica and citations reference. To validate this tool, an experiment was elaborated which contained two simulations involving the collection and extraction of information with and without the use of such tool. Two CI teams particpated in the simulations: one from Manaus and the other from São Carlos, with a total of 6 collects and 1 analyst. As a result, it was possible to identify that the software Zotero supports collectors and analysts in realizing the activities in the phases of collection and analysis.
A Inteligência Competitiva (IC) é um processo sistemático e ético de coletar, armazenar e analisar informações para que as Organizações obtenham vantagem competitiva em seus negócios. Para a aplicação deste processo, a IC é representada por um ciclo contendo as fases de identificação das necessidades, planejamento, coleta, análise, disseminação e avaliação. O volume de informações a serem coletadas e analisadas, a urgência para obtenção dos resultados e a complexidade dos estudos de IC apontam para a importância do uso de ferramentas computacionais de apoio à atividade. Esta pesquisa propõe uma metodologia para identificar uma ferramenta que facilitasse as atividades de coletores e analistas de IC, especificamente na extração de informações de textos necessária na transição entre as fases de coleta e análise. A pesquisa exploratória descritiva foi a metodologia utilizada neste trabalho, dividida em duas partes: a metodologia teórica e a experimental. A primeira foi empregada para identificar potenciais ferramentas colaborativas para o ciclo completo de IC e para a extração de informação entre as fases da coleta e da análise. A segunda para selecionar e validar uma ferramenta (software). A ferramenta selecionada foi o software Zotero, que atua como gestor de referências bibliográficas e citações. Para validar a ferramenta foi elaborado um experimento contendo duas simulações envolvendo a coleta e extração de informação com e sem o uso da ferramenta. Participaram das simulações duas equipes de IC, uma de Manaus e outra de São Carlos, num total de 6 coletores e 1 analista. Como resultado foi possível identificar que o software Zotero apóia coletores e analistas nas atividades que realizaram nas fases da coleta e da análise.
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43

Carvalho, Paulo Miguel Nunes Soeiro de. "Scenarios as a tool to give context and sense to weak signals in a process of competitive intelligence." Lyon 3, 2010. https://scd-resnum.univ-lyon3.fr/in/theses/2010_in_carvalho_p.pdf.

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Ce travail de recherche vise à démontrer que, dans un contexte très turbulent et incertain, les entreprises doivent considérer les signaux faibles envoyés par (ou obtenus dans) l’environnement (interne et externe à l’organisation), et que ce type d’information doit être géré et encadré dans un processus de veille stratégique. La première section de la thèse constituera la base théorique et conceptuelle de la recherche, offrant le contexte nécessaire pour un travail de recherche plus spécifique et ciblé, visant à explorer si et comment les scénarios peuvent être utilisés comme un outil pour faciliter l'interprétation et à donner du sens aux signaux faibles dans un environnement d'entreprise. Après que les fondements théoriques et conceptuels de ce travail de recherche soient présentés, nous faisons une analyse comparative et critique des modèles conceptuels et des processus de veille stratégique, donnant une attention particulière aux étapes et approches connexes à l'amplification, l'interprétation et la construction du sens des signaux faibles. Notre contribution a l'intention de se concentrer sur la création d'un cadre conceptuel et l'expérimentation d'un processus (la deuxième partie de la thèse). Par conséquent, nous proposons un cadre générique et une procédure spécifique qui permet l'identification des signaux faibles dans une phase d'analyse environnementale et, postérieurement, l’exploration de l’impacte et la signification de ces signaux faibles dans un ensemble de scénarios alternatifs en fonction de l'orientation stratégique définie dans chaque expérience. Dans ce contexte, les scénarios assument un rôle crucial tels que contextes alternatifs où les signaux faibles peuvent être interprétés. Dans la troisième partie de la thèse on présente les propositions théoriques et opérationnelles, aussi qu’une prescription générique qui essaye de mettre en évidence et d'intégrer, de façon systémique, certaines des conclusions que nous avons atteint dans cette recherche, résultant de la confrontation de l’information théorique avec les expériences accomplies
This research work aims to demonstrate that, in a highly turbulent and uncertain context, companies must take into account the “weak signals” sent by (obtained in) the environment (internal and external to the organization), and that this type of information must be managed and framed in a process of competitive intelligence. The first section of the Thesis will form the theoretical and conceptual basis of the research, offering the necessary background for a more specific and focused research work, aiming at exploring if and how scenarios can be used as a tool to facilitate the interpretation and to give sense to weak signals in a corporate environment. After the theoretical and conceptual foundations of this research work, we make a comparative and critical analysis of conceptual models and processes of competitive intelligence, giving a particular attention to the stages and approaches related to the amplification, interpretation and sense-making of weak signals. Our contribution intends to focus on the design of a conceptual framework and experimentation of a process (second part of the Thesis). Therefore, we propose a generic framework and a specific procedure which allows the identification of Weak Signals in an environmental scanning phase and then the exploration of the impact and meaning of those Weak Signals in a set of alternative scenarios according to the strategic focus defined in each experiment. Here the scenarios assume a crucial role as alternative contexts where the Weak Signals can be interpreted. In the third part of the Thesis we present the theoretical and operational propositions and also a general prescription which tries to highlight and integrate, in a systemic way, some of the conclusions that we’ve reached in this research, resulting from the confrontation of the theoretical enquiry with the experiments made
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44

Persson, Malin. "Designing an interface for creating report templates in a test management tool using competitive analysis and prototype testing." Thesis, Linköpings universitet, Institutionen för datavetenskap, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-100235.

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Test management tools are used to structure and manage test processes in software and hardware development. The purpose of this project was to design a test report template editor for a test management tool with a focus on usability. Requirements analysis was made using domain analysis and stakeholder interviews. In the design phase, usage scenarios were developed as well as two paper prototypes. A final paper prototype was created based on feedback from the stakeholders. TDR reports is a WYSIWYG editor that provides a set of features that allow users to choose which information to include in their test reports. A basic usability evaluation was performed at the end of the study that indicated that the initial requirements were fulfilled.
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45

Kutzer, Bernhard W. "'Sustainability as a Design Tool' A Sustainable Biology and Chemistry Teaching Laboratory for Georgetown University in Washington D.C. 'Inform[ation]al Backbone'." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35088.

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Like much of the world, the United States is currently experiencing intense growth, especially in and around its cities. Unfortunately, this growth is often at odds with the natural environment. In order to reduce the demand of foreign energy resources designing with "green" or ecologically responsive design objectives in mind is vital. We may think of cars and factories as the most obvious enemies of the environment, but buildings consume half of the energy used world wide. The idea of this thesis project was to explore the possibilities of sustainable strategies.That is to develop an energy intensive building based on ecological principles as design tools that demonstrate the economic value of sustainability, and to highlight an energy intensive building type as an example of energy-responsive-living that actually 'looks good'.
Master of Architecture
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46

Clewer, Graham R. "Exploring the nature of industrial supply through the application of soft systems analysis to the machine tool industry." Thesis, City University London, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.389544.

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Kakar, Lisa. "Dynamic Capability as a tool in SME's : A qualitative study on successful enterpreneurs in Afghanistan." Thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för ekonomi, teknik och samhälle, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-79904.

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Introduction - Firms nowadays are trying to build a sustainable competitive advantage toensure their long term stay within the market. But as the business environment is rapidlychanging due to the new technology, it makes it difficult for firms to develop a competitiveadvantage. Moreover, SMEs in emerging economies are struggling with how to develop theircapacity to respond to the shift in the business environment. Purpose - The purpose of this study is to adopt Teece’s (2007) framework in the developingcountry to be able to understand and identify the capabilities that an entrepreneur needs tohave to be successful, especially emphasizing how Saffron produces SMEs in Afghanistancan perform the good competition in an unstable environment and provide factors on howentrepreneurs can get a sustainable competitive advantage using the DC framework. Method – This study was carried out by using a qualitative approach with an exploratorynature and a case study research design. The main data was collected by conducting in-depthinterviews with entrepreneurs in the saffron business. To analysis the collected data, the sixstep of thematic analysis method by Barun and Clarke (2016) was used. Findings – In the collected data, there is evidence that indicates that entrepreneurs inemerging markets can use the DC framework to gain and increase their capabilities to dealwith the uncertainty in the business environment and firms need to change theirorganizational structure from centralized to decentralized. Meanwhile, flexibility inoperations and adaptability to changes can afford SMEs with a greater possibility to gain acompetitive advantage in an unstable business environment. Further, while female'sparticipation in the value chain of the economy is more effective compared to males, theirrole in leading businesses remains marginal, therefore, firms cannot gain competitiveadvantage by systematically excluding some resources such a women’s. There is potentialloss of excluding women if international partners would prefer more diversity in products.Human resources is also a capacity of SMEs that is difficult to replicate. Hence, SMEs inemerging markets cannot gain a competitive advantage by workforce gender segregation.
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Groenewald, Jurie. "Improving competitiveness in businesses through the application of product design as a knowledge creation management tool." Thesis, [S.l. : s.n.], 2009. http://dk.cput.ac.za/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=td_cput.

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49

Tatli, Burcak. "The liberalisation of European energy markets : the use of competition law as a regulatory tool." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 2014. https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/52680/.

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The objective of this thesis is to examine the approach adopted by the European Commission in recently regulated energy markets. Antitrust investigations indicate that the European Commission increasingly tends to implement competition law, in particular through commitment decisions, in order to create a quasi-ex ante regulatory effect in the markets. The main conclusion of this thesis is that a lack of legal certainty and insufficient clarification of the law originating from this approach might have detrimental impacts on a single and competitive energy market design in Europe. This thesis consists of three substantial chapters in addition to the introductory and final conclusion chapters. The first chapter analyses long-term supply contracts concluded in the wholesale markets from both an economic and a legal perspective. The economic analysis of the contracts shows that the functioning of European energy markets remains ambiguous. The European Commission thus seems to adopt a strategy to balance spot market trading with long-term supply contracts and vertical integration through antitrust investigations. The second chapter aims at examining the tendency of European Commission to assess the foreclosure effects of a preferential use of cross-border energy transmission networks within the new liberalised energy markets. While a pro-entry bias approach of the European Commission is observed in the case law, it is difficult to find recognition by the Commission as well as secondary EU law of the likely pro-competitive effects of long-term cross-border transmission network reservations resulting from the associated long-term cross-border supply contracts. Besides, it can be observed from the case law that the European Commission and the European Courts tend to approve the preferential use of networks as long as the right holder engages in a major investment in these networks. As a consequence, the methodology adopted by the European Commission for the antitrust analyses of priority access rights to cross-border infrastructure might fail to correspond with legal predictability and economic accuracy. The aim of the third chapter is to show the tendency of the European Commission to finalise antitrust investigations through a public settlement procedure, which seems to be a convenient tool for the facilitation of market regulation through antitrust enforcement. The increased number of commitment decisions in the energy markets raises a concern regarding the possible detrimental effects of this trend. With the consideration of the importance of legal certainty in the regulated markets in terms of market building and social welfare, the chapter proposes a hypothetical framework guideline including certain measures which may increase the efficiency and sustainability of public settlement procedures and also improve legal certainty in the energy markets.
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au, A. Stebbins@murdoch edu, and Andrew Stebbins. "The Chinese Civilizing Process: Eliasian Thought as an Effective Analytical Tool for the Chinese Cultural Context." Murdoch University, 2009. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20100211.123651.

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This thesis is an effort to apply Elias’s thinking on social development to the Chinese social situation. At first glance his account of the civilizing process would appear incompatible with this context, in that, after state formation with the Qin and Han dynasties beginning in 221 BC, Chinese civilization remained both stable and highly traditional for well over two millennia. It is argued, however, that closer scrutiny reveals a process that was merely interrupted for a considerable period. The traditional system relied upon a symbiotic relationship between local society and the centre whereby the centre remained relatively small and aloof, not interfering with local social relations, as long as local society provided the required taxes and labour. In this situation the state had the monopolies of both violence and taxation that Elias would look for, but left local society to its own devices primarily because it was already pacified. This self-reinforcing system was enshrined and codified in the Confucian cannon over the course of centuries from the Han dynasty. Central control of the distribution of resources was eventually required to re-start the Chinese civilizing process, for this was the mechanism through which the local social structure would finally be altered. This only happened within the past century as the Chinese people struggled to grapple with their own ‘backwardness’ in the face of incessant Western and Japanese incursions. At this point the old system was toppled and replaced by progressively more aggressive central governments who saw as their most important task the destruction of the traditional social order in the interest of modernization. As the Chinese state consciously and forcibly took control of the distribution of resources at all levels of society, traditional social relations were stretched and warped, and the Chinese civilizing process re-commenced its long-stalled march toward modernization. This has been evidenced both by the dramatic growth in mobility and the rapidly extending chains of interdependence in the form of guanxi connections primarily during the Post-Opening period after 1978.
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