Dissertations / Theses: 'Organisational strategy'

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Smirnov, Vitaliy. "Business strategy and organisational development : organisational archetypes and sociocognitive processes in the frameworks of configurational approach." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/622112.

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A large number of studies suggest that the content of strategy becomes more multifaceted and elaborate and characterised by progressive development over time. Recently, a growing number of researchers argue that strategy can become simple, stable and inert over time. This study investigates how changes of sociocognitive processes at individual, group and organisational levels influence organisational processes and strategic decisions. It adopts configurational approach to strategy development and its concepts (configurations, transformations, archetypes) as a framework. Thus, the purpose is to provide a characterisation of strategy development by analysing the integration of four key research dimensions (social, cognitive, organisational performance and contextual) into one coherent theoretical structure - the model of organisational archetypes. This four-dimensional model is developed from the analysis of fifty one Ukrainian organisations using quantitative and qualitative research methods (questionnaire, interview and group interview) according to the logical structure of configurational research (modelling the sociocognitive basis, modelling the "fit between research dimensions and modelling configurations and archetypes). Following on from this, the model of organisational archetypes is validated in four other organisations through the development of a test of organisational internal creative environment in order to identify their configurations (current conditions) and archetypes (strategic perspectives). The procedure of this test includes the following sequence of actions: identifying sociocognitive characteristics of organisational members and the organisational internal creative environment, identifying periods of transformation and configuration in the process of organisational development, researching characteristics of the business-environment, and identifying appropriate organisational archetypes. The model of organisational archetypes developed in this thesis allows the identification of current and prospective organisational conditions and making relevant strategic decisions that reflect and anticipate changes in organisational internal and external environments. Thus, changes in the organisational internal creative environment (sociocognitive characteristics of organisational members) reflect changes in the business-environment and organisational performance and transform the characteristics of strategic decisions from multifaceted and elaborate to simple and inert and vice versa.

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Coule, Tracey M. "Sustainability in voluntary organisations : exploring the dynamics of organisational strategy." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2008. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/19503/.

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This thesis aims to develop further understanding of organisational sustainability in the voluntary sector, as a complex and dynamic phenomena inextricably linked to capacity for survival. In taking a holistic approach to exploring the dynamics of sustainability, the study considers the influencing factors, both internal and external, that can drive strategic change within voluntary organisations through an extensive multi-method research programme incorporating exploratory focus groups, descriptive survey fieldwork and multiple-case studies. Specifically, the research outlines the major internal and external systems that are important for voluntary organisations to consider when developing strategies for sustainability and, perhaps more importantly, explores the interconnections between them. The thesis departs from much of the dedicated voluntary sector literature, which often adopts a rationalist prescriptive approach to organisation and management. In aiming to advance something of a more critical approach, which considers what may be termed the 'emotional' side of strategy, the study makes a key contribution to the voluntary sector strategy literature. Ultimately, the author argues that to study, govern and manage voluntary organisations involves thinking about philosophy, politics and ethics. In the context of developing strategies for sustainability, this equates to considering who says what the job is, how it should be done, and how people are affected by doing it one way rather than another. In this regard, it would appear that acceptance and legitimisation of certain (pluralist or unitary) approaches to strategy and change is associated with the coherence between that approach and the social values expressed in the organisation's service work. It is argued that there is potential for voluntary organisations to utilise the strategy process to surface, articulate and test assumptions across organisational functions and hierarchy. This is especially relevant because of the turbulent environment that many organisations in the voluntary sector face and the diversity of the many stakeholders who have an interest in the organisation's long-term ability to achieve its mission. In these circumstances, it is unlikely that those individuals at the apex of the organisation (be they trustees and/or senior management) will be able to 'figure it out from the top' and have everyone else 'following the orders'. The practical implication of the thesis is that if strategy is, at least partly, about collective purpose and shared visions of the future, trustees and managers of voluntary organisations must recognise this explicitly in the way they create strategy. Indeed, the study demonstrates how some voluntary organisations have deeply involved individuals throughout the organisation in the strategy process as a means of creating, raising and sustaining commitment to a cocreated future vision of the organisation.

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Baumann, Stuart Andrew Craig. "Papers on organisational governance and strategy." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/25737.

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The papers of this thesis all look at different aspects of organisational governance and strategy. In particular these papers look at organisations that seem to be behaving in counterintuitive ways. For instance all around the world governments often spend disproportionately large amounts of money in the few months at the end of the fiscal year and in the private sector firms often advertise against their rivals even though by doing so they may face greater competition from these rival firms. In these papers I look into whether these behaviours are as a result of a strategy or perhaps reflect some form of a problem in organisational governance. I try to analyse the effects on market efficiency and what steps a government or regulator might take to improve the outcome of the market. The approach is generally theoretical but in the case of the first paper on government spending I calibrate a theoretical model to Northern Ireland spending data. In the rest of this document see non-technical abstracts for my three papers. Note that in order to avoid maths I had to simplify papers considerably so these nontechnical abstracts should not be cited.

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Jordan, Ernest. "Information strategy: a model for integratingcompetitive strategy, organisational structure and information systems." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1993. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31233582.

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Lanc, David. "Holistic information systems strategy for organisational management (HISSOM)." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/105.

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Reddy, Melissa. "The effect of organisational culture on strategy execution." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/59757.

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The results of this study showed that there is an overall positive relationship between captive solar PV technology and economic growth. Furthermore, it was identified that finding an ideal penetration level is possible, however there are a number of constraints and variables that need to be considered when modelling the ideal penetration level. Participants mentioned a few approaches to how the ideal penetration level may be found. One approach could be to align the motivators for solar penetration, and the motivators for the need to find an ideal penetration and ensure that the one does not overly influence the other, i.e., they need to meet at a neutral point. Moreover, it can be deduced that the ideal penetration will be at a point where the economic benefits are high. Additionally, there are a number of drivers that motivate the need to find an ideal penetration level, and these were found to be similar to those that were mentioned in existing studies. Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. nk2017 Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted

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Ambrutytė, Zita. "Management control : linking strategy with inter-organisational relationships /." Linköping : Department of Management and Engineering, Linköping University, 2008. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2008/arts458s.pdf.

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Richards, Jonathan David. "Implementing strategic decisions : an analysis of decision content, organisational context and managerial strategy." Thesis, University of Manchester, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.631235.

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The management of strategic change has come to be viewed as a complex and difficult area of organisational analysis, both from a theoretical academic and practical management point of view. However, much of the literature on the subject is typically characterised by high levels of normativism and a general lack of analytical depth or sophistication. Empirical studies attempting to capture the complex, dynamic and contextually-embedded character of strategic decision implementation are rare. Those that exist are typically long on description and short on analytical insight. Comparative studies in this field, guided by coherent conceptual frameworks, remain largely unexplored. In recognising these problems, the research presented in this thesis sets out to examine and compare strategies and processes of decision implementation across a diverse range of organisational contexts. The theoretical framework adopted for the study is predicated on the idea that the nature and form of processes of implementation is critically influenced by the interrelationship between three central determining factors - the managerial strategies employed to effect change, the nature or content of the decision issue being implemented, and the wider institutional setting within which the process occurs. The essence of this interrelationship is captured in the concept of implementation system congruence, which identifies the extent to which strategies of implementation adequately address the requirement for staff and employees not only to understand the decision issue, but also to demonstrate sufficient levels of commitment to ensure it is translated into action. The programme of research is conducted using a qualitative case study method within eight British organisations, examining the process of implementation relevant to one decision in each case. All eight decisions are strategic in nature in that they are perceived to be important or consequential by the organisations concerned. Two of the organisations are in the motor component manufacturing industry; the others are a financial institution, a charity, a power station, a printing company, a telemarketing agency and a grammar school. Each detailed study is analysed in a comparative manner alongside the other seven in an effort to derive valid analytical generalisations on the process of strategic decision implementation. The concept of implementation system congruence is found to be extremely useful in understanding relationships between the strategies, content and context of change, and their association with ultimate process outcomes. The research also underscores the nonlinear and dynamic nature of change and the critical need for change managers to assimilate and respond to unforeseen contingencies as processes of implementation unfold over time. In this respect, the notion that the implementation of consequential business decisions seems to require strong commitment, patience, perseverance and repetition fits well with the empirical fmdings of this study. Finally, the broader context in and around the organisation is also revealed to have an important influence in creating a social backdrop against which implementation activities and decision issues are shaped, interpreted and evaluated by others. Levels of trust between sponsors and recipients are singled out as an especially prominent element of an organisation's social context influencing the former's capacity to effect change. 22 No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. 1. Copyright in text of this thesis rests with the Author. Copies (by any process) either in full, or of extracts, may be made only in accordance with instructions given by the Author and lodged in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Details may be obtained from the Librarian. This page must form part of any such copies made. Further copies (by any process) of copies made in accordance with such instructions may not be made without the permission (in writing) of the Author. 2. The ownership of any intellectual property rights which may be described in this thesis is vested in the University of Manchester, subject to any prior agreement to the contrary, and may not be made available for use by third parties without the written permission of the University, which will prescribe the terms and conditions of any such agreement. Further information on the conditions under which disclosures and exploitation may take place is available from the Head of the Faculty of Business Administration, Manchester Business School.

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Brunninge, Olof. "Organisational Self-understanding and the Strategy Process : Strategy Dynamics in Scania and Handelsbanken." Doctoral thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, EMM (Entrepreneurskap, Marknadsföring, Management), 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-166.

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This thesis investigates the role of organisational self-understanding in strategy processes. The concept of organisational self-understanding denotes members’ understanding of their organisation’s identity. The study illustrates that strategy processes in companies are processes of self-understanding. During strategy making, strategic actors engage in the interpretation of their organisation’s identity. This self-understanding provides guidance for strategic action while it at the same time implies understanding strategic action from the past. Organisational self-understanding is concerned with the maintenance of institutional integrity. In order to achieve this, those aspects of selfunderstanding that have become particularly institutionalised need to develop in a continuous manner. Previous literature on strategy and organisational identity has put too much emphasis on the stability/change dichotomy. The present study shows that it is possible to maintain continuity even in times of change. Such continuity can be established by avoiding strategic action that is perceived as disruptive with regard to self-understanding and by providing interpretations of the past that make developments over time appear as free from ruptures. Self-understanding is hence an inherently historical phenomenon. Empirically, this study is based on in-depth case studies of strategy processes in two large Swedish companies, namely the truck manufacturer Scania and the bank Handelsbanken. In each of the companies, three strategic themes in which organisational self-understanding has become particularly salient are studied.

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Jordan, Ernest. "Information strategy : a model for integrating competitive strategy, organisational structure and information systems /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1993. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13645997.

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Kenny, John Daniel, and jonk19@bigpond net au. "Exegesis: Strategy and Learning: a path to organisational change." RMIT University. Education, 2005. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20060308.125308.

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This Exegesis and the Portfolio document referred to herein report on the outcomes of my research towards a PhD in education (by Project) between mid 2001 and July 2005. The Portfolio contains a collection of ten papers written during the research and also a summary of the key tools and processes resulting from the research. This Exegesis contains the major theoretical arguments leading to the development of the research outcomes, the methodology employed and a description of the organisational context operating during the study. It also draws links between the various data sets as presented in the Portfolio. The research began with a consideration of a major change project at RMIT University: the Implementation of the Distributed Learning System (DLS). The problems associated with this project highlighted the need for holistic organisational approaches to change and the uncertain nature of radical change projects. This led into a consideration of broader questions to do with organisational change and managing uncertainty. The generalisability of the research findings was enhanced by the wide ranging literature review and data from a range of stakeholders. This ultimately led to the development of a

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Iyamu, Tiko Osayande. "The impact of organisational politics on information technology strategy." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10958.

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Includes bibliographical references (p. 286-307). The study consulted literature from both academic and professional domains. None of the literature referred to has done any study on the impact of organisation politics on IT strategy. The research conducted empirical case studies in two South African organisations. The two organisations are different in terms of cultural and transformative settings. The study included the involvement of people, processes and technology in the development and implementation of IT strategy.

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Guo, Kaijun. "Strategy for organisational change in state-owned commercial banks in China : a developing organisational development view." Thesis, Liverpool John Moores University, 2006. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/5789/.

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Phillips, Paul A. "Organisational strategy, strategic planning system characteristics, and business performance in the UK hotel sector." Thesis, Cardiff University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.318978.

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com, an99war@hotmail, and Mohd Anuar Arshad. "Organisational Learning: An Exploration of Learning Strategy Practices in Malaysia." Murdoch University, 2008. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20081104.104824.

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This study explores the Malaysian understanding and definition of the concept and terminology of organisational learning (OL) as well as the learning strategies and practices Malaysian organisations use to implement learning. As part of Malaysia's Vision 2020, the government has made a substantial and public commitment to promoting organisational learning to assist industry move to a first world economy status. A number of authors have defined organisational learning as a process of knowledge acquisition that involves continuous change to create, acquire, and transfer knowledge (Garvin 1993; Miller 1996; Williams 2001). The objective is to explore if this conceptualisation has been accepted and implemented within Malaysia and if not, where opportunities exist to improve both the understanding and practice of Organisational Learning. The study explores the understanding of OL and the learning strategies practiced by Malaysian organisations. In-depth interviews were conducted among human resources managers, executives, professors and lecturers from the manufacturing, health, government and academic sectors in Malaysia. The information gathered was analysed using Nudist (v6) software to interrogate and explore similarities and differences in responses within and across the sectors. Trends emerging from the data were drawn together to present a picture of what happens in practice and to identify opportunities to improve and better manage the implementation of organisational learning and knowledge management strategies. The results suggest Malaysian industry representatives were, in general, able to define OL as a concept, however there was variable evidence that it is being implemented effectively in organisations. The manufacturing respondents had a higher level of understanding of OL than other industries. In practice, learning strategies also vary; health organisations emphasize seminars and conferences, the manufacturing sector emphasizes experiential learning, government departments focus more on attachment and exposure, whereas academic respondents were more reliant on self-learning. Overall, the most popular learning strategy is structured training and development programs, which suggests more needs to be done to inculcate learning strategies within the various industries. Those industries with stronger implementation patterns favoured a specialist department to provide a hub for handling knowledge and skills acquisition, for both internal and external learning sources. In contrast, the understanding of knowledge management was much lower, and indeed, the term was unfamiliar to some respondents. These findings may be limited due to the small size of the sample and the findings being from a management perspective. Nonetheless, given the government's strong commitment to organisational learning and the current lack of empirical industry studies within Malaysia, this study serves as a benchmark. It does identify that the uptake of OL is still relatively limited and more needs to be achieved to promote a greater understanding of OL if it is to be successfully implemented in Malaysia.

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Arshad, Mohd Anuar. "Organisational learning : an exploration of learning strategy practices in Malaysia /." Access via Murdoch University Digital Theses Project, 2007. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20081104.104824.

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Arshad, Mohd Anuar. "Organisational learning: an exploration of learning strategy practices in Malaysia." Thesis, Arshad, Mohd Anuar (2008) Organisational learning: an exploration of learning strategy practices in Malaysia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2008. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/435/.

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This study explores the Malaysian understanding and definition of the concept and terminology of organisational learning (OL) as well as the learning strategies and practices Malaysian organisations use to implement learning. As part of Malaysia's Vision 2020, the government has made a substantial and public commitment to promoting organisational learning to assist industry move to a first world economy status. A number of authors have defined organisational learning as a process of knowledge acquisition that involves continuous change to create, acquire, and transfer knowledge (Garvin 1993; Miller 1996; Williams 2001). The objective is to explore if this conceptualisation has been accepted and implemented within Malaysia and if not, where opportunities exist to improve both the understanding and practice of Organisational Learning. The study explores the understanding of OL and the learning strategies practiced by Malaysian organisations. In-depth interviews were conducted among human resources managers, executives, professors and lecturers from the manufacturing, health, government and academic sectors in Malaysia. The information gathered was analysed using Nudist (v6) software to interrogate and explore similarities and differences in responses within and across the sectors. Trends emerging from the data were drawn together to present a picture of what happens in practice and to identify opportunities to improve and better manage the implementation of organisational learning and knowledge management strategies. The results suggest Malaysian industry representatives were, in general, able to define OL as a concept, however there was variable evidence that it is being implemented effectively in organisations. The manufacturing respondents had a higher level of understanding of OL than other industries. In practice, learning strategies also vary; health organisations emphasize seminars and conferences, the manufacturing sector emphasizes experiential learning, government departments focus more on attachment and exposure, whereas academic respondents were more reliant on self-learning. Overall, the most popular learning strategy is structured training and development programs, which suggests more needs to be done to inculcate learning strategies within the various industries. Those industries with stronger implementation patterns favoured a specialist department to provide a hub for handling knowledge and skills acquisition, for both internal and external learning sources. In contrast, the understanding of knowledge management was much lower, and indeed, the term was unfamiliar to some respondents. These findings may be limited due to the small size of the sample and the findings being from a management perspective. Nonetheless, given the government's strong commitment to organisational learning and the current lack of empirical industry studies within Malaysia, this study serves as a benchmark. It does identify that the uptake of OL is still relatively limited and more needs to be achieved to promote a greater understanding of OL if it is to be successfully implemented in Malaysia.

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Arshad, Mohd Anuar. "Organisational learning: an exploration of learning strategy practices in Malaysia." Arshad, Mohd Anuar (2008) Organisational learning: an exploration of learning strategy practices in Malaysia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2008. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/435/.

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This study explores the Malaysian understanding and definition of the concept and terminology of organisational learning (OL) as well as the learning strategies and practices Malaysian organisations use to implement learning. As part of Malaysia's Vision 2020, the government has made a substantial and public commitment to promoting organisational learning to assist industry move to a first world economy status. A number of authors have defined organisational learning as a process of knowledge acquisition that involves continuous change to create, acquire, and transfer knowledge (Garvin 1993; Miller 1996; Williams 2001). The objective is to explore if this conceptualisation has been accepted and implemented within Malaysia and if not, where opportunities exist to improve both the understanding and practice of Organisational Learning. The study explores the understanding of OL and the learning strategies practiced by Malaysian organisations. In-depth interviews were conducted among human resources managers, executives, professors and lecturers from the manufacturing, health, government and academic sectors in Malaysia. The information gathered was analysed using Nudist (v6) software to interrogate and explore similarities and differences in responses within and across the sectors. Trends emerging from the data were drawn together to present a picture of what happens in practice and to identify opportunities to improve and better manage the implementation of organisational learning and knowledge management strategies. The results suggest Malaysian industry representatives were, in general, able to define OL as a concept, however there was variable evidence that it is being implemented effectively in organisations. The manufacturing respondents had a higher level of understanding of OL than other industries. In practice, learning strategies also vary; health organisations emphasize seminars and conferences, the manufacturing sector emphasizes experiential learning, government departments focus more on attachment and exposure, whereas academic respondents were more reliant on self-learning. Overall, the most popular learning strategy is structured training and development programs, which suggests more needs to be done to inculcate learning strategies within the various industries. Those industries with stronger implementation patterns favoured a specialist department to provide a hub for handling knowledge and skills acquisition, for both internal and external learning sources. In contrast, the understanding of knowledge management was much lower, and indeed, the term was unfamiliar to some respondents. These findings may be limited due to the small size of the sample and the findings being from a management perspective. Nonetheless, given the government's strong commitment to organisational learning and the current lack of empirical industry studies within Malaysia, this study serves as a benchmark. It does identify that the uptake of OL is still relatively limited and more needs to be achieved to promote a greater understanding of OL if it is to be successfully implemented in Malaysia.

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Hockey, Julia Marilyn. "Attempts to link organisational strategy and training strategy in the new Civil Service : an evaluation." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2000. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3611/.

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The literature on strategic human resource management (HRM) includes much discussion about the importance of linking organisational strategy and HRM strategy and little agreement about how the integration of these strategies should be achieved. As an integral part of HRM, training strategy is an important element in this on-going debate. This thesis seeks to add to the existing body of knowledge in the research area by focusing on a large decentralised public sector organisation that has experienced fundamental change over two decades and has tried to link its organisational strategy and its training strategy. The evaluation of the attempt by the Civil Service to make these links in strategy forms the basis of the case study research. Middle managers working in Civil Service departments and agencies have been selected as the primary source of information that has been collected by using a combination of focus groups, a survey questionnaire and one-to-one follow-up interviews with a selection of survey respondents. In addition, documentary evidence has been used to help explain the organisational strategy and the training strategy of the Civil Service, and to corroborate evidence from other sources. The research findings confirm the difficulties experienced by decentralised organisations when trying to link their organisational strategy and their training strategy, and the need for the corporate centre to understand how strategies will translate into action on the ground. The thesis argues that unless the linking mechanisms selected in the training strategy are compatible with the organisational strategy and complementary and compatible with one another, linkages will be incomplete. The conflicting pressures on line managers to achieve business and people objectives have been identified from the research. Their crucial managerial responsibilities for linking organisational strategy and training strategy is emphasised together with recommendations for strengthening this role in the future.

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Smith, Brian D. "The effectiveness of marketing strategy making processes in medical markets." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/1123.

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This thesis contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of marketing strategy making processes. It examines how such effectiveness is contingent upon the internal and external environments in which the process operates and, therefore, how the requisite process is contingent upon its organisational and market context. It builds on the fields of strategy content and strategy process and of organisational effectiveness, organisational culture and organisation theory. It tests and develops Burrell and Morgan’s congruency hypotheses as an explanation of the effectiveness of marketing strategy making processes. That work postulates that effectiveness results when the process is congruent with both its internal environment (i.e. microcongruent) and external environment (i.e. macrocongruent) This work takes a pragmatist epistemological perspective. The methodology is qualitative, using multiple-informant case studies. The congruency hypotheses are operationalised using a model and constructs based on the extant literature. The work is restricted to the medical products market in order to optimise insight and understanding. The findings support the congruency hypotheses. Strong strategy is associated with simultaneous macrocongruence and microcongruence. Further, a mechanism for the hypotheses is identified. Interactions between the strategy process and organisational structure, systems and habits provide an underlying mechanism of microcongruence. Failure or success of the process to manage market complexity and turbulence provide an underlying mechanism of macrocongruence. This work contributes to theory, confirming the congruency hypotheses, extending them into marketing strategy making and making a new contribution concerning the mechanism of congruency. To methodology, this work confirms the use of case studies, extends it to consider simultaneously internal and external environments and makes a new contribution concerning the construct of strategy quality. To practice, the work confirms the value of planning in complex markets, extends the concept of a “requisite” process and contributes new ideas for the deliberate management of marketing strategy making processes.

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Lichtenstein, Scott. "Strategy co-alignment : strategic, executive values and organisational goal orientation and their impact on performance." Thesis, Henley Business School, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.413573.

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Hallehn, Philip, and Victor Lindgren. "Modular Internationalisation Strategy." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-253331.

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Purpose – Previously, modularity has mainly been studied in a production context. This paper highlights the opportunities and challenges of a modular strategy in an internationalisation context. It identifies which module components become active when entering new markets and suggests a model for how a modular internationalisation architecture can be designed. Design/methodology/approach – Results from a single case study of a multinational corporation in the vehicle industry, where managers of different departments involved in the internationalisation process support the possibility to create a modular internationalisation architecture. Findings – The findings suggest that the most important opportunities arising from modularity when entering new markets are the clear structure and shorter time to market. The main challenges to overcome are the risk of loss of flexibility and the issues of designing a modular architecture. Based on the key components in the case firm, one initial project-based departmentalised matrix structure is designed which can also help overcome the issues of choosing between standardisation and adaptation. Practical implications – The modular internationalisation architecture may help managers in multinational corporations who are already working with modularity in production to also organise the internal structure of their internationalisation process. Originality/value – This study includes a new model for multinational corporations entering new markets – the modular internationalisation architecture – which makes it possible to structure processes depending on internationalisation factors. The model should be seen as an initial suggestion of how a modular internationalisation architecture can be designed, but it may need to be further developed and tested. Keywords – International business, Internationalisation strategy, Organisational structure, Modularity, Modular processes, Modules, Components Paper type – Master’s thesis

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Stokes, Robyn L., and n/a. "Inter-Organisational Relationships for Events Tourism Strategy Making in Australian States and Territories." Griffith University. School of Tourism and Hotel Management, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040218.160232.

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This research examines the impact of inter-organisational relationships of public sector events agencies on events tourism strategy making within Australian state/territories. The global expansion of events tourism and sustained interest in networks and relationships as conduits to strategy underpin this topic. Although public sector institutional arrangements exist in many countries including Australia to develop events tourism, there is no known empirical research of inter-organisational relationships for strategy making in this domain. Against this background, the research problem of the thesis is: How and why do inter-organisational relationships of public sector events agencies impact upon events tourism strategy making within Australian states and territories? Based on a review of themes and issues within the two parent theories of tourism strategy and inter-organisational relationships, a theoretical framework and four research issues are developed. These issues are: RI 1: How does the public sector institutional environment impact upon events tourism strategies and the inter-organisational relationships that shape them, and why? RI 2: How do events tourism strategy forms and processes reflect and influence events agencies' inter-organisational relationships, and why? RI 3: What are the forms and characteristics of events agencies' inter- organisational relationships for shaping events tourism strategies, and why? RI 4: What are the incentives and disincentives for events agencies to engage in inter-organisational relationships for events tourism strategy making, and why? Because this research explores a new field within events tourism, it adopts a realism paradigm to uncover the 'realities' of events agencies' inter-organisational relationships and strategies. Two qualitative methodologies are adopted: the convergent interview technique (Carson, Gilmore, Perry, and Gronhaug 2001b; Dick 1990) and multiple case research (Perry 1998, 2001; Yin 1994). The convergent interviews serve to explore and refine the theoretical framework and the four research issues investigated in the multiple case research. These cases are represented by the inter-organisational relationships of events agencies in six Australian states/territories. Findings about the public sector institutional environment (research issue 1) show that events tourism strategies are influenced by different public sector policies and influences, the organisational arrangements for events tourism, the roles of events agencies and the lifecycle phase of events tourism in each state/territory. In relation to events tourism strategy forms (research issue 2), reactive/proactive strategies that respond to or address arising events or opportunities are common with a limited application of formal planning strategies. However, events agencies' strategy processes do reflect a range of strategic activities of importance. Inter-organisational relationships of events agencies (research issue 3) are typified by informal, government-led networks that influence, rather than develop, events tourism strategies. Finally, the importance of a number of incentives and disincentives for agencies to engage in inter-organisational relationships for events tourism strategy making is established. The final conceptual model depicts the themes within all four research issues and links between them to address the research problem. The conclusions of this research make a major contribution to events tourism theory and build upon theories in tourism strategy and inter-organisational relationships. Further research opportunities are presented by these conclusions and the conceptual model which may be explored using other methodologies or alternative research contexts. Practical implications of the research for policy makers and agency executives relate to policy-strategy linkages, public sector organisational arrangements for events tourism, strategy forms and processes and frameworks to engage stakeholders in inter-organisational relationships for strategy making. Knowledge of incentives and disincentives for these inter-organisational relationships also provides a platform for events agencies to reflect upon and revise their modes of governance for events tourism strategy making.

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Choi, Keetag. "Evaluating the value chain model for service organisational strategy : international hotels." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2000. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/843570/.

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Strategic models like Porter's (1985) value chain have not been fully evaluated in the strategy literature and applied to all industries. To theoretically redefine the value chain technique, this research evaluates the value chain's use with various strategic issues by applying it to a specific aspect in the service field, namely the hotel industry. The study defines five key questions by which to evaluate a strategic model and the value chain model is examined using them. This research is a strategic theory-based study involving in depth field work on five hotels in order to seek answers for the five key strategic questions. In particular, the value chain of the hotel rooms divisions is discussed based on the field research findings. The research results show that the value chain technique is a useful strategic tool in most areas and that it can be also developed for hotel strategy. However, some of the commonly accepted issues about the value chain model have been challenged by this research. To further the theoretical development of the value chain, these issues are argued in each answer of the five strategic questions. Applying the value chain model for hotel strategy seems to require somewhat different factors from applying it for manufacturing. These are the key findings of this research. First, for strategic process, the hotel value chain model can be developed in the combination approach which combines the planning school and the incrementalism school. Second, the value chain is a very useful tool analysing most strategic issues, especially a firm's internal analysis, designing structure and performance measurement. Finally, unlike the traditional value chain for manufacturing, this study identifies that the value chain technique for service could be a more useful strategic tool for soft factors such as politics, culture and leadership than hard factors such as cost and margin.

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Al-Surmi, Abdulrahman Mohamed. "The impact of triadic strategic alignment on organisational performance in Yemen." Thesis, University of Bedfordshire, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10547/622701.

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To survive and succeed in the very competitive business environment, firms should have a clear business strategy supported by appropriate information technology (IT) and marketing strategies. Whilst many prior studies argue that strategic alignment between, for example, business strategy and IT strategy generally enhances organisational performance, strategic alignment including multiple factors has received little attention and strategic orientation of firms is rarely considered. This research, drawing on configurational theory and strategic management literature, aims to understand the performance impact of triadic strategic alignment between business, IT, and marketing strategies based on strategic orientation of firms. A number of hypotheses are proposed to examine the relationship between triadic strategic alignment and organisational performance through the use of structural equation modelling, and to identify generic types of triadic strategic alignment. The hypotheses are tested through MANOVA using data collected in a questionnaire survey of 242 managers in Yemen. The findings indicate that (1) there is an ideal triadic strategic alignment for prospectors and defenders; (2) triadic strategic alignment has a positive impact on organisational performance; and (3) triadic strategic alignment provides a better indication of the nature and performance impact of strategic alignment. Follow-up interviews were also conducted to support the arguments and to clarify how strategies should be aligned. This research also contributes to managers’ knowledge and understanding by suggesting how a firm should coherently align its strategies to improve organisational performance.

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Morton, Josh. "Legitimation through openness : managing organisational legitimacy through open strategy in a pluralistic context." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2017. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/28410.

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This research explores how an open strategy approach can be used to manage organisational legitimacy in a pluralistic context, characterised by the competing demands of key stakeholders. Open strategy demonstrates an interest in strategising processes becoming more inclusive and transparent (Hautz et al., 2016). Open strategy work to date has focused on its uses and implications, and how strategic inclusion and transparency are being displayed in different organisational contexts. Much open strategy literature also associates the central purpose of open strategising activity with organisations seeking to manage legitimacy (e.g. Chesbrough and Appleyard, 2007; Whittington et al., 2011; Tavakoli et al., 2017), particularly through ensuring that their actions are desirable in the opinion of key stakeholders (Suchman, 1995). Whilst a small number of studies have explicitly focused on open strategy and legitimacy, these do not go beyond illuminating legitimacy as a potential effect (Gegenhuber and Dobusch, 2017) or outcome (Luedicke et al., 2017). Absent has been research attempting to specifically understand open strategy as a process of legitimation (Uberbacher, 2014), and there remains a need to unpack and elevate the significant potential of open strategy approaches for managing legitimacy further. To address this gap, this research presents an in-depth single case analysis of an organisation undertaking the development of a new four-year strategic plan using an open strategy approach. A number of data collection methods were used, including completion of 30 semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and collection of significant social media and documentation data, to explicate the concepts of open strategy and organisational legitimacy, addressing the question; How does an open strategy approach represent a process of legitimation for managing the competing demands of organisational stakeholders? . A pluralistic context, a UK-based professional body, is the basis for the empirical work. It is acknowledged that interrogating the intricacies of strategising in pluralistic contexts, and the inherent competing demands of stakeholders, might offer new perspectives, and a useful means of expanding the contextual base of practice-based strategy work (Jarzabkowski and Fenton, 2006). However, studies of open strategy in pluralistic contexts remain near non-existent in the literature (Lusiani and Langley, 2013). In the organisational legitimacy literature, there is much discourse on how legitimacy is managed and gained through specific legitimation processes and strategies, and increasingly such a focus has been adopted to recognise how organisations might manage legitimacy demands in contexts defined by plurality, amidst diffuse power and divergent objectives (Denis et al., 2007). In this study, a practice-based activity theory framework is used (Jarzabkowski 2005; Jarzabkowski and Wolf, 2015) to explore legitimacy in relation to organisational direction and priorities, and as a means of redefining the organisation s core goals in an enactment of strategic openness. The work here conceptualises how the case organisation has adopted a plethora of open strategising practices for legitimacy effects (Suddaby et al., 2013), providing a detailed account of how different dynamics of open strategising activity connect to specific forms of legitimation over time. The findings indicate that different open strategy dynamics represent the case organisation switching between distinct approaches to legitimation, as a means of managing the competing legitimacy demands of organisational stakeholders in a flow of activity. Through this narrative, a greater perception of legitimation as a core purpose of open strategy is provided. Overall, this research offers an important contribution by accentuating the principal relevance of organisational legitimacy in open strategising, particularly through elevating legitimacy beyond being understood as an effect or outcome in open strategy work. Further, this more explicitly brings open strategy into close alignment with the organisational legitimacy literature and its theoretical conceptions (Lawrence et al., 2009; Suddaby et al., 2013), which is imperative for understanding the potential importance of open strategy as a means of legitimation.

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Milliken, J. "The organisational structure, dynamics and strategy of integrated education in Northern Ireland." Thesis, Queen's University Belfast, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.273390.

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Rodrigues, Susana C. S. F. "Business strategy and organisational performance : an analysis of the Portuguese mould industry." Thesis, University of Wolverhampton, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/2436/96290.

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Wieczorek-Fojcik, Franciszka. "Leadership by subjectives : a communications strategy for emergent personal and organisational transformation." Thesis, Middlesex University, 2004. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13639/.

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Strategic leadership is understood in this thesis to operate through the interaction of 'personal' and 'impersonal' communications between stakeholders in an organisational learning context. The thesis illustrates the impact of these 'emergent' and 'structured' 'forms of text' on strategic performance, competence and delivery. It explores the complex-dynamic consequences for the areas of Innovation (pertaining to knowledge leadership), Social Architecture (pertaining to human resource development) and Reputation (pertaining to the strategic management of organisational behaviour and information). Communications are interpreted from a neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) perspective, which the thesis calls Nanopsychology (NLPS). The focus is on how persons' self-reference can influence strategic change through leadership in action. This person-centric focus contrasts with modernist forms of intervention such as Management by Objectives (MBO), hence the title 'Leadership by Subjectives' (LBS). The thesis draws on current management literature on the strategic leadership of organisational behaviour to critique MBO as a modernist meta-discourse. It argues that the modernist 'meta-text' frames human decision-making within a singular, 'massively modular', serial solution for transforming organizations and the people in them. Instead, the thesis employs a post-modern understanding of information in the New Economy by applying a Complexity perspective to explore the impact of the 'post-human condition' on work-based learning relationships. Within a modernist evolutionary paradigm, research is conducted either a-priori (or deductively) or a-posteriori (or inductively). The thesis considers that such approaches fail to transcend and/or include effective strategies to address the issue of subjectivity as a form of emergent information. It develops a practicemethod- theory iterative approach which is based around a process of 'abductive discovery' called Q Methodology. Three case studies are presented which illustrate how to apply Non-parametric statistics, Emergent-Participative Strategy and Q Factor Analysis as forms of Psychographic (as opposed to psychometric) research. The objective is to explore how to assist learners, change consultants, corporate managers, and national policy makers, as well as academics and other participants to add value to the ethical, social and financial 'triple bottom line' by paying attention to how their emergent communications structure information. The 'Q' thesis is a Technology Futures Analysis (TFA) method which applies a number of meta-frameworks drawn from relationship, counselling and evolutionary psychology, to interpret subjective data as communicative information. By conceptually integrating the frameworks as methods for TFA, it shows how it is possible to 'pattern' a multi-level 'synchronicity in action' between Human Capital, Identity, Relationships, Learning and Knowledge. The thesis concludes that MBO may be an efficient organisational strategy for behavioral control in organisations. However it cannot work, without an in-depth understanding of the effect upon the triple bottom line of the complex-dynamic interaction between a changing economy, human relationships and personal identity.

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King, Zella Marian Eleanor. "The development and initial test of a theory of career self-management." Thesis, Birkbeck (University of London), 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.324640.

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Dyerson, Romano. "The implications of technical change for economic organisation in the CAD/CAM sector - a suggested transaction cost approach." Thesis, Heriot-Watt University, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10399/596.

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Ahmad, Albakri Bin. "A pluralist perspective of team syntegrity : design and intervention strategy for organisational change." Thesis, [S.l.] : [s.n.], 1999. http://aleph.unisg.ch/hsgscan/hm00250490.pdf.

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Lagunas, Diego, and Björn Hellman. "Organisational Advantages through the development of Information Systems : An Information System Design Strategy." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Technology and Design, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-1546.

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Information systems design was investigated and a model was developed aimed obtaining organisational advantages through quality and participation. This was developed by connecting high quality information assurance in an IS to the needs of the organisation and incorporating the users in the development through participation factors.The model generates a instruction that connects the impact on the individual and organisation when developing an IS to the organisational benefits. Its purpose is to enable the benefits of motivation, awareness and empowerment.We applied the model using the case study approach for connecting the model to a real life situation. The results provided a blueprint to implement the IS design strategy and may be investigated later to verify if the advantages were reached.The work is of great interest to project managers, software developers and programmers Design av informationssystem var undersökt. En modell togs fram med målet att knyta organisatoriska fördelar från kvalitet och medverkan av organisationen i framtagandet av ett IS. Modellen skapades utifrån två ståndpunkter, hög kvalitet på datasäkerhet och de behov som finns inom organisationen samt en inkorporerad medverkan av användarna i framtagandet av IS.Modellen fungerar som en instruktion med målet att koppla påverkan på organisationen samt individen av att implementera ett IS till de organisatoriska fördelarna genererade av förändringen. Resultatet möjliggör fördelarna av motivation, medvetenhet och empowerment hos organisationen samt individen.Vi applicerade modellen i ett verkligt företag. Resultatet blev en beskrivning för realisering av en IS designstrategi. Denna strategi bör senare bli utvärderad för att säkerställa att det önskade målet har uppnåtts.Detta arbete skulle kunna intressera projektledare, mjukvara utvecklare och programmerare.

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Lloyd, Bruce. "The future of offices and office work : and the implications for organisational strategy." Thesis, London South Bank University, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.245089.

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Erenmalm, Leo, and Kim Runesson. "Kunskapsfabrikens rötter." Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Social and Health Sciences (HOS), 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-682.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate, through a qualitative survey, the need of knowledge and strategy in organisations today and tomorrow. The empirical investigation is built on a semi structured interview that was conducted on nine different companies in Gislaveds community. The companies were from three different branches namely: tree, metal and polymer. Three interviews were conducted in each branch.The result from the interviews showed that the globalisation had put the companies under hard competition which had made the need for rationalisation and effectivness more apparent. Having said this, the demands on the organisation and the individuals within it will constantly increase. In order to enhance the individuals and the organisation there are an increased need for flexibility and openness and the responsibility and authority must be with in the individuals in the organisation. Our work show that the individuals with in the organisation shall be some kind of “superhuman” that can perform most of the tasks in the organisation, he or she should be flexible and open minded.Our findings shows the way an organisation can create this “superhuman” and what an organisation needs to do to become a learning organisation.

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Gordon, Wayne Barry. "Corporate culture and strategy in environmental sustainability interventions." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/29655.

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The influence of corporate culture on the strategies used by firms to meet the environmental sustainability challenge has been explored in this dissertation. This was investigated through web-based questionnaires that were administered to employees in companies who would have knowledge of both their employer‟s corporate culture and corporate sustainability practices.To determine this, the respondents were requested to rate both the corporate strategies undertaken to meet the environmental challenge, as well as the corporate culture where they work. The corporate strategies were evaluated using a bespoke instrument which was constructed from various strategy instruments found in the literature. The corporate culture was evaluated using a well-known organisational culture instrument available in the literature. Potential contextual variables pertaining to the perceptions of the respondents, as well as to the business and industry sector characteristics, were evaluated as well.The findings indicated that the contextual variables had little or no effect on either the corporate culture or the corporate strategies undertaken by the firm, and that a strong comprehensive culture correlated strongly with positive corporate strategies. Corporate cultures that emphasise social coordination (or organic culture forms) exhibited stronger correlations with positive corporate strategies than those which emphasise formal control methods (or mechanistic forms). The focus of the firm, whether on internal dynamics or the external environment, did not show a significant effect on the corporate strategies that were undertaken by the firm.A sustainability culture was synthesised from the findings of the research, which concludes with recommendations regarding further research into this topic. Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) unrestricted

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Page, Odette. "What factors differentiate an effective employment equity implementation strategy from an ineffective strategy in South African organisations and how does this impact on employees' perceptions of organisational justice?" Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/52287.

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The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that differentiate an effective employment equity implementation strategy from an ineffective employment equity implementation strategy within South African organisations. This study made use of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and drew upon existing South African literature around the Employment Equity Act to construct four dimensions which could be used to determine the overall efficacy of an organisation s employment equity strategy. Four South African organisations participated in this study and were measured against the four constructs, which were developed from literature review, to determine whether their employment equity strategy was effective or ineffective. The analysis of organisational justice perceptions of employees within each of the organisations was one of the four constructs examined. The organisations which were identified as having an effective employment equity implementation strategy was then compared with organisations identified as having an ineffective strategy to determine and identify the key areas of differentiation. The findings indicate that there are clearly identifiable thematic differences between organisations that had an effective employment equity strategy in comparison with organisations that had an ineffective strategy. Mini-disseration (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. nk2016 Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted

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Christiansen, Flordeliza Rosario Castro. "The alignment of HR strategy and business strategy and its relationship to effective organisational performance : an investigation of Danish companies." Thesis, Henley Business School, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.436204.

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Ivory, Sarah Marie Birrell. "Legitimising sustainability : how individuals gain legitimacy for an emerging corporate strategy from internal organisational actors." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/16164.

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Legitimacy is widely accepted as an important resource for an organisation, strategy, or individual to possess. However, the process of gaining legitimacy has received limited attention in the academic literature. This thesis examines the strategies and actions that individuals employ in the process of legitimising their sustainability strategy within an organisation. Based on semi-structured interviews with 51 Heads of Sustainability, the research extends the existing ‘conformance, selection, manipulation’ legitimising strategy model, becoming one of the first to demonstrate how these legitimising strategies are interrelated both concurrently and temporally. It finds that multiple legitimising strategies are used simultaneously by individuals. Moreover, a pattern emerges whereby individuals begin with conformance-only legitimising when sustainability has limited integration, but employ all three legitimising strategies where sustainability integration is extensive. In addition to this, the research articulates two specific categories of actions that are used by individuals in the process of deploying these umbrella legitimising strategies: framing and developing coalitions of support. Framing actions comprise micro-reframing, disassociation, contextualisation, analogy, and differentiation and personalisation. Developing coalitions of support actions comprise leveraging sponsorship, networking, enhancing employee engagement, and continually promoting. From this empirical research a generalised legitimising pathway is proposed which demonstrates the progression of legitimising from using conformance-only through to using all three legitimising strategies, and the actions employed by the individual in these different stages.

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Herman, Stephen Andrew. "Adaptability and survival in populations of small and medium enterprises." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/9930.

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There is disagreement in the literature about the relative roles of selection (competition) and adaptation in explaining industrial change. For some, the possibilities for adaptation by individual firms are highly limited, and instead the key drivers of industry-level change are the extinction of some firms and the birth of others. Others stress that survival is all about the ways in which a firm can choose to adapt to changes in the external environment and to changes in competition. This dissertation takes the view there is a false dichotomy between adaptation and selection, that they are not opposites and that adaptation is an essential an unavoidable part of any relevant evolutionary process. Even if selection generates larger industry-level outcomes, adaptability is still important. It is then an empirical matter of the relative strengths of adaptability and selection in particular circumstances. The work makes a clear distinction between an adaptation, a change to an individual (firm) that enables the individual to be better fitted to its environment, and adaptability, the potential to adjust to changes in the selection environment. In looking for causal explanations, the approach adopted here acknowledges that causes relate to potentialities or dispositions and not to effects or events. Using this approach, the adopted methodology maintains that business routines, even when defined as capacities or dispositions rather than behaviours, can still be measured and used to generate an adaptability instrument. It is then possible to look at the relationship between the adaptability instrument and survival. The research looks particularly at the adaptability and survival of small and medium size firms, as they constitute the majority of enterprises in the UK and are empirically under-represented in previous research. This thesis looks at the evolution of populations of such firms through the mix of firm-level adaptation and selection in the population. The methodology concentrated on the four constituent areas of any firm: sales and marketing, production, administration and human resources, and corporate strategy. It examined not the quantities of operation in routines as in many previous studies but the levels of adaptability firms perceive they actually achieve or believe they would experience in the face of both continuous and discontinuous internal and external change. The adaptability instrument is the composite measure of the potential to adapt routines across the four constituent areas, capturing a picture of the interactions between the strategies, structures and procedures within the firm. The methodology also involved a relatively large sample of observations of a representative set of small and medium-sized enterprises, addressing the lack of previous empirical work on datasets of a whole population of firms taken from multiple industries and sectors. It was also possible to re-sample respondents in the depths of a recession 18 months later in order to look at the relationship between previously calculated adaptability and the subsequent degree of survival. The results challenge the exclusive role of selection only in explaining industry attributes and suggest that adaptability is important for firm survival. Even if selection generates larger industry-level outcomes, adaptability is still important. The research demonstrates that both competitive selection and developmental adaptability combine to explain industrial change and that any differences in adaptability between firms are of significance. In a sharp recession, however, only the firms with more potential to adapt their output in response to falling demand, and so better protect their cash flow against any contracting credit availability, have an advantage relative to their rivals that can confer relatively greater longevity and survivability. Other factors contribute to survival more strongly in recession than in more stable times and, while adaptability still matters, the slightly lower adaptability of older cohorts of firms masks the positive value of adaptability. At the individual firm level during sharp recession, indirect competition through customers choosing not to spend, or spend scarce resources elsewhere, rapidly de-selects those with weak cash flow management, poor cash reserves or poor credit worthiness. The criteria adopted for degrees of failure were heavily dependent on the context of use but reflected common parlance among the survey respondents. The findings of this research point to the merits of a theoretical framework different from much textbook economics, strategy-choice theory and organisational ecology. The findings support an evolutionary approach that in turn corresponds with recent developments in the theoretical framework known as Generalised Darwinism.

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Berg, Arjen van den. "Strategy as evolving interpretation : a closer look at the organisational impact of the Euro." Thesis, University of Warwick, 2004. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/2841/.

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Recent strategy formation process literature has claimed organisations increasingly have to adjust dynamically their characteristics to the requirements of the environment by constantly changing their strategies and strategic capabilities (e.g. Brown & Eisenhardt, 1997; Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1998; Mintzberg, 1994). Behind these claims lies the interest to develop an interdisciplinary view of strategy that captures the interplay between the company and its business environment. This thesis makes a marked contribution to this debate by arguing that a key component in a firm’s strategic response to a change in market conditions is the result of the interpretation people develop about the event itself. It is argued that this development is a context dependent process, with outcomes emerging not merely as a product of bounded rational debates, but also shaped by the interest, commitment, and perception of individual organisational members. This study therefore argues that an understanding of the development of this cognition/action relationship is critical. This research seeks to shed light on the question: “How do managers of multinational firms perceive and respond to the impact of the Euro over time?” A qualitative case study methodology was used to examine the context dependent cognition/action relationship in eight multinational organisations by tracing the intended strategy before the event took place, and compare it with the realised strategy after the Euro was introduced. In total 87 interviews and 16 focus group discussions were conducted to capture the plausible and coherent explanations. Our study suggests the probability of firms introducing new strategies quickly and proactively depends on the anticipation, interpretation and capability of managers to recognise and to exploit changes. Motivation to do so is based on the perceived match or mismatch of the developments with the strategy in use prior to change.

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O'Mara, Charles Edward, of Western Sydney Macarthur University, and Faculty of Business and Technology. "An examination of the linkages between organisational performance measures and strategic objectives." THESIS_FBT_XXX_Omara_C.xml, 1996. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/48.

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To be successful, in the competitive, global business environment, firms must have a sound understanding of all their operations and the factors which impact upon them, combined with a performance management system which allows them to assess their progress towards achieving the organisation's objective. The thesis examines 3 propositions : that managers are unaware of the need to link performance measures to strategic goals and that, as a consequence, performance measures do not change to reflect a change in strategic direction; that the link between the performance measurement system and organizational goals is weak because the organization's structure inhibits a coordinated approach towards achieving strategic objectives through the use of performance measures; and, that the dynamic environment in which firms operate serves to disassociate strategic objectives from the performance management system, and the lack of managerial attention to the link between the two will result, over time, in a set of performance measures which provide insufficient, late or wrong information. The research indicated that awareness of the need to link performance measures with strategy rose with managerial responsibility; that the wider the scope of the performance measurement system, the better it would be at accommodating and monitoring changes in strategic direction; that, where the performance management system covered a broad range of activities it could be better used by managers to coordinate and integrate those activities; that managers' perceptions of the reliability, validity and timeliness of the information provided by their performance management system were positively related to the level of ownership of the system; and, in a dynamic business environment, the more comprehensive the information provided by the performance management system, the less likely the organisation would respond inappropriately to external factors. Additional research needs to be done on ways to make performance management systems more reactive to management's needs Master of Commerce (Hons)

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Haxhiraj, Suela. "'Lege artis' : exploring the strategizing craft of consultants through the examination of (analytic) strategy tools in use." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2013. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:a0ed32fb-aeb1-4248-80a6-c1b3587f3912.

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Strategy tools are an important part of strategy work. However, there is considerable debate in the management literature about their actual role, deployment, and conceptualization. Scholars claim that there is a lack of fine-grained analyses to explain strategizers’ activities with regard to their interactions with strategy, their supporting knowledge base, and associated artefacts or tools, despite growing contributions towards the understanding of strategy work dynamics. This study aims to contribute to this gap by discussing research undertaken through ethnographic methods on the day to day work of in-house strategy consultants. By interacting with in-house consultants through active participation and observation, this study observes and analyses the enactment of strategy tools in action. The study focuses on the use of strategy tools, the process they are placed in, and the ultimate purposes they serve. A “strategy-as-practice” lens is adopted, theoretically accessing the use of strategy tools through “reflection in action” and sensemaking. By working with and for consultants, this dissertation obtains insights related to both frontstage and backstage aspects of strategy work, obtaining results that contribute to the skewed existing evaluations on the use of strategy tools. This study proposes a reflexive account on the roles of strategy tools in everyday work by laying out a variety of data items and rhetorical devices. Analysing data, obtained from observations, interviews, written material, and focus groups, takes the findings into first and second order analysis. Based on hundreds of pages of observations, 47 interviews, two focus groups, numerous data files, and other follow up talks, the continuous engagement with data is conveyed to the reader through data outputs, including narratives, vignettes, and visual representations, which give space to a vivid display of what was encountered in the field through this ethnographic study. The findings show that strategy tools are used more than we think, especially in the backstage work of strategy teams. In addition, the use of strategy tools tends to be sequential (some strategy tools are used more in specific phases of strategy projects). In addition, their presence in strategy projects is not always evident at first sight – tools tend to be disassembled and reassembled by their users to create new tools, which are thereafter addressed explicitly or implicitly by strategizers and their audiences. Hence, the thesis proposes an “invisible presence of strategy tools”, especially as observed in the work of experienced strategy workers. By embarking on a journey of Cheshire cats and continuous reconfigurations of sensemaking cues, the reader is invited into what makes the adventurous work of strategy practitioners, and the lege artis their work encompasses.

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Wring, Dominic James. "Political marketing and the Labour Party : the relationship between campaign strategy and intra-organisational power." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.368298.

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Spiteri, Joseph. "A critical analysis of occupational and organisational strategy in UK : architectural and quantity surveying practices." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.391654.

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Dahlmann, Frederik. "Between inertia and adaptation : state and evolution of corporate environmental strategy." Thesis, University of Bath, 2009. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.512335.

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Companies in the 21st century are exposed to a variety of pressures to respond to a plethora of environmental issues. Understanding how these issues impact companies over time is, therefore, important for corporate practitioners and policy makers alike. This thesis investigates the state and evolution of corporate environmental strategy with the help of a multi-study, longitudinal research design. Theoretically grounded in complexity theory, a conceptual framework is developed that portrays organisations as open systems within which agents interact and attempt to improve organisational fitness. By conceptualising the organisational metaphor of ‘rugged fitness landscapes’, firms are depicted as complex adaptive systems searching for peaks on a constantly changing fitness landscape in order to guarantee economic long-term profit and survival. While study one examines environmental responses among a stratified sample of UK companies through repeated interviews both in 2006 and 2008, the second study draws on KLD data from S&P500 corporations for the period 1991 to 2006 by distinguishing between changes at firm and at population level. The findings suggest that the state and evolution of corporate environmental strategy are effectively subordinated to contributing towards firms’ fitness, whereby firms mostly attempt to remain profitable and obtain social legitimacy. Even over longer periods of time this behaviour has not changed markedly, except that starting from around 2004 higher levels of oil prices and lower interest rates have spurred more proactive environmental changes among a number of firms. Equally, different motivations, individuals and contextual factors appear to influence the varying patterns of evolution. The thesis fills a gap in the existing literature with respect to the lack of conceptual and empirical contributions about the evolution of corporate environmental strategy by providing new insights into how firms are responding to environmental issues over time and by extending various strands of theory.

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Serfontein, Jacob Jacobus. "The impact of strategic leadership on the operational strategy and performance of business organisations in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/5187.

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Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The turbulent and rapidly changing world, including South Africa, has created a society craving for speed and action. Future leaders, therefore, face incredible pressures to deliver immediate results, to do more with less and to manage an ever-increasing personal workload. The pace and urgency of daily demands can make it difficult to be more than the step ahead into the future. But in a world of changing conditions and priorities, leaders and individual contributors alike must be able to look beyond the ‘now’ and take a more strategic leadership approach to their work and responsibilities. Global mega-trends are leading to increasing levels of complexity, dynamism and uncertainty in the corporate environment. In an uncertain economy, organisations need effective strategies that will enable them to thrive. Traditional leadership approaches have been rendered insufficient by the rapid changes in the knowledge economy. Businesses need to practise systemic innovation in this fast-changing, knowledge-driven global business landscape in order to remain competitive. Despite heightened awareness and interest by both scholars and practitioners in the field of strategic leadership, the subject will always be an emerging field of inquiry. Furthermore, limited research has thus far been conducted on the impact of strategic leadership on the operational strategy and performance of business organisations in South Africa. A review of strategic leadership literature revealed a research gap that culminated in the following research question: “What is the impact of strategic leadership on the operational strategy and performance of business organisations in South Africa”? To address the research question stated above, a literature review on the impact of strategic leadership on the operational strategy and performance was conducted, and an empirical study was executed. The literature review emphasised the three interrelated strategic leadership constructs of action, coherence and discipline that explored the relationship between strategic leadership and the organisation’s operational strategy and performance. In this study, operational strategy includes strategic orientation as well as the operational excellence of the organisation. The factors which influence strategic orientation were identified as the organisation’s ability to create and formulate their strategy as well as the discipline of all people in the organisation to execute the strategy. Operational excellence, was influenced by product differentiation, cost management and integration. The literature review also emphasised the influence of adaptive leadership, autonomy, communication, knowledge, processes and systems, and values on self reported organisational performance which was directly related to strategic leadership. To address the research problem, empirical cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted. The sample selected for the study was the top 200 listed organisations for 2008, as published in the Financial Mail. The key respondent was the chief executive officer (CEO), or a member of the executive team. The sample consisted of 200 organisations of which 118 valid responses were received with a response rate of 59 percent. Measurement instruments were adapted, developed and revised where necessary to ensure the reliability and validity of the data. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study indicated that strategic leadership is directly and indirectly positively associated with operational strategy and organisational performance. It is positively associated with strategy orientation as well as operational excellence of business organisations in South Africa. Furthermore, strategic leadership can also be related to return on assets (ROA) and earnings per share (EPS). Self reported performance is also associated with higher organisational performance. Strategic leadership is unrelated to the size of the organisation, but is more likely to occur in a turbulent business environment. Product differentiation and cost management were also directly linked to strategic leadership. The most important contribution of this study is based on the testing of successful strategic leadership practices in business organisations in the South African context. Competition in the 21st century’s global economy will be complex, challenging and filled with competitive opportunities and threats. This study asserted that effective strategic leadership practices could help business organisations in South Africa to enhance their performance while competing in turbulent and unpredictable environments. Measurement instruments have also been developed, which may be used by executives, consultants and other researchers to measure these phenomena in future. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die turbulente en vinnig veranderende wêreld, Suid-Afrika inkluis, het ‘n gemeenskap geskep wat gewoond geraak het aan spoed en aksie. Toekomstige leiers is dus blootgestel aan oneindige druk om dadelik te presteer, resultate te lewer, om meer met minder te doen en om ‘n vootdurende en toenemende werkslading te bestuur. Die vinnige pas en dringendheid van daaglikse vereistes kan dit baie moeilik maak om ‘n stap voor die toekoms te wees. Maar, in die wêreld van veranderende omstandighede en prioriteite, moet leiers en individue oor die vaardighede en kennis beskik om verby die ‘huidige’ na die toekoms te kyk en daardeur ‘n meer strategiese leierskapsbenadering te volg ten opsigte van hulle werk en verantwoordelikhede. Die impak van globalisering het aanleiding gegee tot verhoogde vlakke van kompleksiteit, dinamika en onsekerheid in die korporatiewe omgewing. Organisasies het, veral in ‘n onsekere ekonomie, ‘n effektiewe strategie nodig om te presteer. Tradisionele leierskapbenaderings is nie meer voldoende in ‘n kundigheidsekonomie wat vinning besig is om te verander nie. Dit het dus noodsaaklik geword vir leiers in organisasies om effektiewe stelsels en ander innoverende praktyke te implementeer om kompeterend te wees in die toekoms. Nieteenstaande die verhoogde bewustheid en belangstelling van beide studente en persone wat in die praktyk werksaam is teenoor strategiese leierskap, sal dit altyd nodig wees om hierdie vakgebied verder te ontwikkel en te bestudeer. Voorts is daar tot op hede slegs beperkte navorsing gedoen oor die impak van strategiese leierskap op die operasionele strategie en prestasie van besigheidsorganisasies in Suid-Afrika. ‘n Oorsig van strategiese leierskapliteratuur het getoon dat daar ‘n navorsingsgaping bestaan wat aanleiding gegee het tot die volgende navorsingsvraag: “Wat is die impak van strategiese leierskap op die operasionele strategie en prestasie van besigheidsorganisasies in Suid-Afrika”? Om die bogenoemde navorsingsvraagstuk aan te spreek, is daar ‘n omvattende literatuuroorsig asook ‘n volledige empiriese studie gedoen ten opsigte van die impak van strategiese leierskap op die operasionele strategie en prestasie van besigheidsorganisasies. Die literatuuroorsig het beklemtoon dat die drie interafhanklike konstrukte van aksie, samehorigheid en dissipline, (wat strategiese leierskap verteenwoordig), ‘n nou verband het met operasionele strategie en prestasie in besigheidsorganisasies. In hierdie studie het strategiese oriëntasie van die organisasie sowel as die vermoë om die strategie uit te voer die beginsel van operasionele strategie verteenwoordig. Die faktore wat strategiese oriëntasie beïnvloed het, is geïdentifiseer as die organisasie se vermoë om ‘n strategie te ontwikkel en te formuleer, asook om die nodige dissipline te handhaaf om die strategie op alle vlakke suksesvol uit te voer en te implementeer. Operasionele uitnemendheid is beïnvloed deur produkdifferensiasie en die effektiewe bestuur van kostes. Die literatuuroorsig het ook die belangrike invloed van adaptiewe leierskap, outonomie, kommunikasie, kundigheid, effektiewe prosesse en sisteme asook gevestigde waardes bevestig as aspekte wat ‘n direkte en indirekte impak het op die selfgerapporteerde prestasies in besigheidsorganisasies, wat ‘n direkte verband getoon het met strategiese leierskap. Die navorsingsprobleem is aangespreek deur empiriese kruisseksionele telefoononderhoude te voer met gelyste besigheidsorganisasies in Suid-Afrika. Die geselekteerde populasie was die 200 top organisasies vir 2008, soos gepubliseer in die Financial Mail van 2009. As gevolg van die strategiese aard van die studie, was die sleutelrespondente die Hoof Uitvoerende Beampte (HUB), of ‘n lid van die uitvoerende bestuur van die organisasie. Die populasie het bestaan uit al 200 gepubliseerde organisasies waarvan 118 geldige vraelyste geprosesseer is, met ‘n respondentkoers van 59 persent. Die meetinstrument is aangepas, ontwikkel en verander waar dit nodig was om die geldigheid en toepaslikheid van die data te kon verseker. Die versamelde data is met beskrywende en inferensiële statistiek ontleed. Die bevindinge van die studie het aangetoon dat strategiese leierskap direk en indirek positief verbind kan word met operasionele strategie sowel as die self gerapporteerde prestasie van organisasies. Dit kan ook positief geassosieer word met strategiese oriëntasie sowel as operasionele uitnemendheid van besigheidsorganisasies in Suid- Afrika. Voorts kan strategiese leierskap ook verbind word met die opbrengs op bates sowel as die verdienste per aandeel. Selfgerapporteerde prestasie van die deelnemende organisasies kon ook direk verbind word tot verbeterde prestasie van hierdie organisasies. Daar is egter ook bevind dat strategiese leierskap geen verband het met die grootte van die organisasie nie, maar is wel geneig om ‘n positiewe impak te hê op die prestasie van organisasies in ‘n turbulente besigheidsomgewing. Produk- differensiasie en die effektiewe bestuur van kostes kan ook direk geassosieer word met effektiewe strategiese leierskap. Die belangrikste bydrae van hierdie studie is gebaseer op die toetsing van suksesvolle strategiese leierskapspraktyke in besigheidsorganisasies in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Kompetisie in die 21ste eeu in ‘n globale ekonomie gaan kompleks en uitdagend wees, gevul met kompeterende geleenthede en bedreigings. Hierdie studie het empiries bevestig, dat effektiewe strategiese leierskapspraktyke besighede in Suid- Afrika kan help om uitnemend te presteer asook om winsgewendheid te verhoog, alhoewel hulle deel is van ‘n turbulente en onvoorspelbare omgewing. Meetinstrumente is ook ontwikkel wat deur uitvoerende beamptes, konsultante en ander navorsers gebruik kan word om hierdie verskynsels in die toekoms te kan meet.

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Tjaturpriono, Hendro Adiarso. "New product development portfolio management : a systematic literature review." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2013. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/12469.

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Product innovation is a key driver of any company’s growth. The biggest challenge in managing product innovation is in determining the most promising new product development (NPD) projects from the many ideas generated, known as portfolio management. In practice, NPD portfolio management still bears some problematic issues, including focusing mainly on portfolio selection rather than managing the entire process, the vague links between the process and business strategy, and a lack of formal process. Therefore, a study that looks at NPD portfolio management through different perspectives is required. NPD portfolio management deals with dynamic decision-making processes, involving not only selection decisions, but also decisions to delay, continue or even terminate projects. To understand this integrative process, a systematic literature review that explored four knowledge domains, i.e., NPD portfolio management, decision- making, strategy and organisational routines, was carried out. It involved 40 articles published from 1981-2012. The review focused on revealing how decision-making processes in NPD portfolio management are conducted and how they relate to the strategy process and organisational routines. The key findings show that decisions in the NPD portfolio management process are made through interaction between cognitive and political factors, overlooking the organisational factors in the process. Furthermore, the extant literature does not explicitly explain how to link the NPD portfolio management process to the strategy process. Also, the findings indicate that the concept of organisational routines had not been used when investigating NPD portfolio management. These are the research gaps that led to the three research questions: 1) How are organisational factors involved with the cognitive and political factors in the decision-making processes in NPD portfolio management?; 2) How do the decision-making processes in NPD portfolio management link to the business strategy?; and 3) To what extent are organisational routines related to the decision-making processes in NPD portfolio management?

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Wemby, Annika. "Crafting a Dual-Market Strategy : A case study of Burberry." Thesis, Kristianstad University, School of Health and Society, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-6889.

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In today’s competitive environment, companies compete for the same customers. Therefore, it is important to be able to satisfy the ever changing needs of customers. Companies can satisfy customer demand by learning about the customer and by alternating offerings in accordance to changing needs. These are actions undertaken by market driven companies. Alternatively, market driving companies satisfy customer demand by being creative and by focusing on customers’ future needs, an action which implies educating customers. However, there are also companies which pursue both of these strategies simultaneously. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how companies implement a dual-market strategy, and how the strategy is incorporated into the business. Based on literature on closely related research fields, a framework is developed. This framework suggests that certain components influence a dual-market strategy. A study is conducted on the luxury fashion company Burberry. Through semi-structured interviews with employees at Burberry, this study investigates how the company’s use of a dual-market strategy affects the organisational culture and vision. The results indicate that the phenomenon of duality is noticeable in the company’s culture and vision. Due to the lack of research on a dual-market strategy, this study attempts to provide a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of duality. Companies can use the conclusions drawn from this study, as guidelines for how to pursue a dual-market strategy. However, more research is necessary before any generalisations can be made.

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Strydom, Kariena. "The impact of diversity and organisational culture on effective strategy implementation in a higher education institution." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21691.

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Diversity should be included in an organisational culture and be aligned with the corporate strategy. South African institutions face diversity and multiculturalism challenges which affect their operation and strategies. Managers in South Africa regard organisational culture as a very useful tool to manage their diverse workforce. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to investigate and analyse how workforce diversity and organisational culture impact on strategy implementation at a higher education institution, namely Walter Sisulu University (WSU). The study identified dimensions of diversity and organisational culture and strategy implementation from theoretical models supporting the study. A hypothetical model portraying these factors was constructed, displaying each factor and their relationship with strategy implementation. Furthermore, the relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes was indicated. Given the nature of the problem statement and the research objectives presented in this study, the positivistic research paradigm was adopted. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to executive and senior management, senior academic and senior support staff at WSU. In total, 266 usable questionnaires were returned. The data obtained from these questionnaires were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the key statistical analysis tool. As the hypothetical model did not load onto SEM in total, it was re-specified into four sub-models. Each sub-model was subjected to SEM to test the hypothetical model and to indicate the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent, mediating and dependent variables. Eight statistically significant relationships were identified in the study. The factors identified as having a statistically significant relationship with organisational culture included the following: degree of flexibility, degree of teamwork, task directiveness, degree of formalisation, leadership styles and decision making. In addition, a statistically significant relationship was found between organisational culture and strategy implementation. Furthermore the findings indicated a statistically significant relationship between strategy implementation and strategic outcomes in a higher education institution. There was no statistically significant relationship found between diversity and strategy implementation. This finding is contrary to empirical evidence by various other researchers. The study makes a contribution to multicultural higher education institutions by highlighting the crucial role of organisational culture in effective strategy implementation. It was clear from the results of the study that the nurturing of human capital is critical if higher education institutions wish to successfully aligning culture with strategy implementation. This study provided constructive and very practical guidelines to higher education institutions to ensure effective alignment of culture with strategy implementation and so enhance local and global competitiveness and long term sustainability. University councils throughout South Africa can apply the findings of this study in their respective institutions to support effective strategy execution.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Organisational strategy'

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