Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Strategic management models'

The target of this dissertation thesis is to verify a relationship between strategic planning and prosperity of the company. Opinions of many experts about expediency of strategic planning vary. Some believe that strategic planning is a base for successful growth, while others demonstrate through results of many different researches that a direct relationship between strategic planning and success of the company cannot be proven. Therefore an empirical research was made to test hypotheses about the impact of strategic planning on prosperity of the company. The theoretical part of the thesis describes the development of strategic management followed by a description of internal and external business environments and the impacts which influence them. The theoretical part also describes the characteristics of strategic management and planning, tools and models as well as methods for measurement of efficiency of strategic planning. As the sub-target of this thesis is also to propose a simplified model of strategic planning which could be applied in small and medium size companies, the theoretical part is concluded by description of specifics of small and medium size companies. The analytical part of the thesis consists of detailed analyses of data collected through questionnaires. Based on results of those analyses, profiles of different categories of companies are synthesized. Conclusions of performed analyses and syntheses are used as a base for testing of validity of defined hypotheses. A new concept of the “4-segments model” of strategic planning is presented in the proposal part of the thesis. Benefits for theory and for practical use are evaluated at the end of the thesis.

The objective of this research is to present a theoretical framework and to describe a computational representation for the mental models that a manager uses when implementing a strategic plan or when attempting to improve an organization's productivity. A mental model consists of some dynamic internal representation that reflects the essential features and relationships in a corresponding real-world system. An integral part of a mental model includes procedures for examining and manipulating its contents and its structure in order to answer questions about the status of goals or the progress of plans. It is suggested that, for an effective manager, these models incorporate a highly integrated network of concepts and propositional relationships that this manager uses to understand strategies and organizations, to infer relationships among indirectly related concepts, and to initiate communication with other managers. The design for this research includes two case studies which were used to clarify and refine the theoretical concepts about the structure and processing of mental models in strategic management tasks. First, the implementation of a Total Quality Management strategy was studied from the perspective of the Director of Quality Assurance at one division of a large financial services organization. The second study was conducted at a computer manufacturing organization where coordination among functional managers was investigated as they introduced new products to manufacturing. The computational model developed as part of this research, called SPRINT (Strategic Plan and Resource INTegration), is implemented as a frame-based semantic network using a hypertext interface and is programmed in Smalltalk/V286. This model is used to represent some of the knowledge gathered in the case studies as a means to evaluate the adequacy of the representation scheme and to provide insights into the use of a management support system for similar tasks. The contribution of this research consists of: (1) clarifying the notion of mental models as used in managerial decision making; (2) specifying a computational representation which accommodates the theoretical framework and the empirical evidence from these case studies; (3) implementing a computational model which embodies the representation scheme; and (4) suggesting how this computational model would be applicable in a management support system for actual management tasks.

Com suas origens há mais de meio século atrás e um auge experimentado nos últimos 20 anos, \"Modelo de Negócios\" é um termo frequentemente presente nas conversas tanto acadêmicas quanto corriqueiras. Apesar deste uso massivo, parece existir pouca clareza na compreensão do seu significado em ambas as esferas, dando-se este como subentendido em muitos casos. Referências na literatura falam sobre a falta de consenso sobre questões básicas na sua definição até poucos anos atrás. Outros autores citam uma situação paradoxal devido a sua grande popularidade em domínios relacionados à prática junto a seu uso em inúmeras publicações acadêmicas, e certa relutância por alguns setores na Academia. Por fim, vários autores se mostram esperançados com os avanços atingidos na procura de estabelecer o constructo de modelo de negócios como robusto e passível de progressos na direção de seu uso em pesquisa. Ante este panorama, a presente investigação se propôs, por uma parte, fazer uma revisão das principais abordagens discutidas até a data, com o intuito de se aproximar de melhor forma a sua compreensão, e por outra, explorar em campo os temas identificados na revisão, realizando estudos de caso múltiplos em três empresas relacionadas ao setor de tecnologia no Brasil. Valendo-se de uma busca bibliográfica sistemática em bases científicas como são as da Web of Science, Scopus, Google Acadêmico e portal CAPES de periódicos, apresenta-se uma aproximação do Estado da Arte sobre o assunto e se propõe um constructo sobre modelo de negócios. Como resultado se identificou que os elementos \"Valor\", \"Atividades\" e \"Modelo de lucro\" são importantes para a definição do conceito. Funções como alinhamento; análise e formulação estratégicas; e exploração, foram identificadas. Propriedades como mutabilidade, dinamismo e imitabilidade são apresentadas e discutidas. Pela sua importância, uma seção é dedicada à discussão da relação entre estratégia e modelo de negócios. Aplicando o método de estudo de caso e suas técnicas específicas de análise, respondemos algumas questões. De forma geral, pode-se dizer que os estudos realizados em campo corroboraram com muitas das ideias propugnadas na teoria revisada, porém, diferenças e novos insights também surgiram. No fim, são apresentadas todas as considerações decorrentes da interpretação dos dados na pesquisa, as limitações desta, e as sugestões de pesquisa futura. Considerando que aportes nesta direção permitem esclarecer ainda mais a compreensão sobre modelo de negócios, ao explorar seus fundamentos teóricos e suas conceitualizações na prática, espera-se que o estudo contribua ao debate e linha de pesquisa empreendidas globalmente e, por sua vez, aporte com os seus resultados a pesquisas futuras na área de Administração Estratégica e a outras linhas de pesquisa relacionadas.
With its origins almost a half century ago and a heyday experienced during the last 20 years, \"Business model\" is a term frequently present in academic and commonplace talks. Despite this massive use, it seems that not much clarity exists on its understanding in both circuits, in many cases taken it for granted. References in literature speak about lack of consensus about basic issues in its definition, until not long ago. Other authors speak about a paradoxical situation due its huge popularity in domains related to practice, together with its use in countless academics publications, and some kind of reluctance by some scholarly sectors. Finally, some authors manifest themselves as hopeful with the achieved advances in the search of a business model construct as robust and susceptible of progress on its use in research. Facing this panorama, the present study propose to itself, on one side, to do a review about the main approaches discussed until today, with the intention of getting closer, in the best manner, to its comprehension, and by other side, to explore in field, the topics identified on the review, conducting multiple-case studies in three organizations related to Brazil\'s technology sector. Resorting to a systematic bibliographic search in scientific bases as Web of Science, Scopus, Scholar Google and CAPES journals portal; an approximation to State of Art about the topic is presented and a construct about business model is proposed. As a result, it was identified that elements as \"Value\", \"Activities\", and \"Revenue model\" are important to define the concept. Functions as alignment, strategic formulation and analysis, and exploration-exploitation, were identified. Properties as mutability, dynamism and imitability are presented and discussed. Because of its importance, a section is devoted to the discussion about the relationship between strategy and business model. Applying the case study method and its specific analytical tools, we answered some questions. In general, it can be said that the studies conducted in field corroborate many of the ideas stated in the theory reviewed, although some differences and new insights also appeared. In the end are presented all the considerations derived from the data interpretation in the research, its limitations, and future research suggestions. Regarding that contributions in this direction, allow to clarify even more the understanding about business model, by exploring their theoretical underpinnings and their conceptualizations in practice, we hope that the study will contribute to the debate and research line undertaken globally, and also, subsidize with its findings to future research in Strategic Management and other related research streams.

This thesis is entitled The Role of Management in the Turnaround Process and is presented for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration at the University of Manchester by Ian Roberts in April 2015. Inquiry into turnaround has largely has been carried forward in two broad areas of study: strategy and management. Strategy research has attempted to identify a single or limited number of strategies which apply in all turnaround situations, while management studies have concentrated on managers themselves or some of the techniques they employ. Neither school has systematically analysed how turnarounds are actually implemented in dysfunctional organisations and both schools are weak in extant theory. As a consequence, a holistic explanation of the process leading from crisis to viability is lacking. This thesis addresses these lacunae in three ways. Firstly, it provides a systematic study of how professional turnaround managers implement the turnaround process over time. Secondly, it applies a unique and complementary mix of extant theory which addresses both cognitive and organisational aspects of strategy formulation and implementation. Thirdly, it presents a holistic turnaround model based on six core constructs which are argued to be necessary and sufficient to explain the dynamics of the turnaround process. The thesis adopts a mixed-methods approach. A survey is used in order to gather data from turnaround professionals on implementation methods. This data is then subjected to statistical analysis in order to identify the most important factors for implementation. These concepts are then blended into a conceptual framework which is tested for its explanatory and predictive power on a matched pair of turnaround case studies of two mid-sized UK manufacturing companies in the household goods sector, one of which executed a successful turnaround and one of which failed in the attempt. The model is able to explain and predict the outcome in both cases. The thesis is one of only a handful of turnaround studies which employs a rigorous case study research protocol. Its principal contribution is that of a middle range turnaround theory of the causal factors leading from organisational crisis to dissolution or viability.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Given the increased uncertainty and unpredictability prevalent in the business environment, there is heightened pressure for organizations to become radically innovative and to constantly reinvent themselves, and ultimately change the rules of the game in their industry. The concept of new business models is relatively new to business literature. However, its significance cannot be underestimated where operating in a turbulent competitive landscape has made the traditional way of doing business ineffective, and consequently has changed the nature of competitive advantage. Despite the obvious importance of creating new business models, there seems to be inadequate understanding and definition of the term "business model", thereby hindering the understanding of the nature of new business models and the approaches needed for creating new business models. This paper initially investigated the concept of "business model" and its core dimensions, which revealed that the term lacks an adequate and comprehensive definition. In response to this, a comprehensive working definition for the concept was formulated after an analysis of the various definitions proposed in the business literature. Since the key elements of a business model are important sources of competitive advantage, this definition has been used to illustrate how organizations can create new business models by manipulating the basic aspects of the business model. Approaches and techniques that enable organizations to create new business models and to become radically innovative have been selected from those put forward by Govindarajan and Gupta (2001) and Amit and Zott (2001). Finally, an analysis was made of the performance measurement tools for new business models. This revealed a lack of such an evaluation tool and this study has proposed a framework from which its dimensions can be used to expand and develop a measurement instrument for proposed business models and/or industries.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gegee die verhoogde onsekerheid en onvoorspelbaarheid wat teenwoordig is in die besigheidsomgewing, is daar meer druk op organisasies om radikaal innoverend te word, om hulself konstant te herontdek en uiteindelik om die reels van die spel in hulle bedryf te verander. Die konsep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle is relatief nuut in die besigheidsliteratuur, maar die belangrikheid van die konsep kan nie onderskat word nie, waar die tradisionele besigheidsbenaderings ondoeltrefferd geword het binne 'n fluktuerende mededingende omgewing. As gevolg hiervan, het die hele wese van mededingende voorsprong verander. Ten spyte van die duidelike behoefte aan die skep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle, blyk daar ook om onvoldoende begrip en definisie van die term "besigheidsmodel" te wees. Dit belemmer die begrip van die oorsprong van nuwe besigheidsmodelle en die benaderings benodig vir die skep van nuwe besigheidsmodelle. Hierdie skripsie het eerstens die konsep "besigheidsmodel" en sy kerndimensies ondersoek, wat aan die lig gebring het dat die term ontbreek aan 'n voldoende en volledige definisie. Nadat die verskeie definisies in die besigheids-literatuur is, is 'n volledige gangbare definiesie vir die konsep geformuleer. Aangesien die sleutelelemente van 'n besigheidsmodel belangrike bronne van mededingende voorsprong bied, is die definisie gebruik om te illustreer hoe organisasies nuwe besigheidsmodelle kan skep deur die basiese aspekte van die besigheidsmodel te manipuleer. Benaderings en tegnieke wat organisasies in staat stel om nuwe besigheidsmodelle te skep en om radikaal innoverend te word, is geselekteer vanuit die voorgestel deur Govindarajan en Gupta (2001) en Amit en Zott (2001). Ten slotte, is 'n ontleding gedoen van die instrumente wat gebruik word om die prestasie van nuwe besigheidsmodelle te meet. Dit het aan die lig gebring dat daar nie so 'n evalueringsinstrument is nie, en hierdie studie het dus 'n raamwerk voorgestel waarvan die dimensies gebruik kan word om 'n meetinstrument vir voorgestelde besigheidsmodelle en/of industrieë uit te brei en ontwikkel.

The Sustainable Restitution Support – South Africa (SRS-SA) program aimed at the development of a post-settlement support model that could be used to support beneficiaries of land reform in South Africa, especially those who received the land through restitution. The two land restitution claims were identified namely Mashishimale in the Limpopo Province and Nkumbuleni in KwaZulu Natal Province in South Africa. The main objective of the study is to determine the essential elements of two post-settlement support models to successfully implement and manage land reform projects in a sustainable manner namely: Mashishimale Farm Management Model (FMM) and Nkumbuleni Strategic Partnership Model (SPM). The data was collected through meetings and interviews with different stakeholders or role players. “Farm management can be described as the rational decision-making to achieve the objectives of the particular farming enterprise” (Van Reenen and Marais, 1992: 2). The Community Property Association (CPA) with the support of the Mashishimale community and the Tribal Authority decided to manage the farm by themselves and appointed a knowledgeable and skillful CEO and managers to manage the farm. The Mashishimale Farm Management Model has a definite management structure that is responsible for various activities on the farm. The management structure consists of a CEO, six (6) managers and two (2) assistant managers. Three steering committees were established to help in the decision-making processes. The Oxford dictionary (1979) defines partner as “person associated with others in business of which he shares risks and profits.” Nkumbuleni Community Trust (CT) has appointed a Strategic Partner and form the Nkumbuleni Strategic Partnership Model. Nkumbileni CT together with the Strategic Partner formed a company consisting of five (5) Directors aimed to manage the farm as a business. The Mashishimale CPA and Nkumbuleni CT were assisted by specialists from the University of Pretoria to develop the Interim Business Plan for the farms. The specialists from the University of Pretoria together with the Strategic Partner, CT and Project facilitator/coordinator developed a Financial Plan for Nkumbuleni CT. The specialists, the CPA and Project facilitator/coordinator further developed a Financial Plan for Mashishimale CPA. No funds were available for the FMM to manage the farm. At the SPM, the Strategic Partner made funds available to manage the farm. Both farming enterprises applied for financial assistance from CASP but didn’t receive anything. FMM and SPM received training that was developed by the SRS-SA specialists and facilitated by Project facilitator/coordinator. The Limpopo Department of Agriculture is not visible at Mashishimale and as such the roles of local municipality and extension officers are non-existence. There is no a single extension officer that the CPA knows at this juncture. The Nkumbuleni CT members are uncertain about the role of the division of Agricultural extension (Provincial Department of Agriculture and Conservation, KwaZulu Natal) can play to support them because they only attend meetings but there is nothing from them or from their Department. Both FMM (CPA) and SPM (CT) are getting advisory and other support from the private sector and other stakeholders. The Transvaal Suiker Beperk (TSB) entered into a partnership with the Trusts of Siphumelele Community and Ingwenyama Community (separately) through its Agricultural services company known as Shubombo Agricultural Services (Chiyoka, 2009). Strategic Partnership Model has a definite management structure. Extension services are rendered in a joint venture whereby the TSB extension officials and the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration extension officials work together to assist farmers. The South African Sugar Association is providing technical advices on production and other relevant aspects such as market trends, etc. TSB provides training on leadership, conflict resolution management and finance management, while extension managers and production managers provide mentorship to the trustees. The Business Plans, Financial Plans and Work Skills Plans were developed by TSB (TSB, 2009). Training is regarded as part of a developmental program that is aiming at building capacity on trustees and other beneficiaries. There is well developed communication policy which outlines the possible communication strategy. A comparison of the two models discloses several similarities namely according to FMM and SPM structures and their responsibilities to manage, control of farm assets on behalf of the communities; they use the same communication channel systems to communicate with the community and other stakeholders and the appointment of the project facilitator/coordinator to facilitate and coordinate the activities. The most important differences between the two models are:

• A scientific company was formed by the SPM to manage the farm as a business while the CPA kept that responsibility to itself in the FMM.
• The Traditional Authority at the FMM attend all CPA meetings while at the SPM do not attend all the CT meetings.

The study reveals that the following actions are essential for the successful post-settlement to restitution farms:

• The execution of baseline study (survey) to determine the socio-economic situation in a community (beneficiaries).
• The appointment of an independent Project facilitator/coordinator to ensure effective and efficient communication.
• A well defined management structure and the appointment of a knowledgeable, skilful and experienced farm manager(s) or Strategic Partner.
• The development of a business plan for the farm with the support of professional agriculturist.
• The identification of qualified professional extension advisor to provide advice and guidance to the manager(s) or Strategic Partner.
• Appointment of a mentor to guide, advice and train the manager(s) or Strategic Partner.
• Financial support to manage the farm (Grants; Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program; financial institutions and specifically the Land Bank)

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Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
unrestricted

Enterprise is often described as risk for reward, but it may be possible to reduce the risk while improving returns. According to SEDA, failure rates of SMMEs in South Africa range from 70 to 80 percent. The need for this study arose when it was found that most SMMEs did not have a formal system in place to mitigate their risks right from the outset in the feasibility study, the business plan design and the start–up of the business. This lack of mitigation controls could be a result of a lack of understanding of the enterprise risk management (ERM) methodology or an inappropriate ERM decision–making model to assist them in a way that would mitigate their risk and minimise financial losses. The ERM approach can anticipate unplanned occurrences and is a systematic way of foreseeing the future. Entrepreneurs and business owners take on risks to pursue new business objectives within their respective risk appetites. This study also evaluated several models of risk identification and the ERM methodology. In this study an ERM model, ISO 31000, was applied in a business case and a comparison was made between the risks identified in the business plan and the ERM approach.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The development of new business models in the emerging Business-to-Business electronic transacting arena is demanding answers to a new set of questions being asked of businesses. Amongst the issues identified are the viability and sustainability of these new business models and their applicability in addressing identified business problems, especially those related to procurement. In assessing the benefits, obstacles and opportunities for procurement a clearer picture emerge about the value of these marketplaces. The value of marketplaces is analysed using Porter's value chain discussion and other research that highlights value creation in the digital age. Obstacles to value creation are also discussed using Zwass's hierarchy to understand the marketplace architecture. Discussing the marketplace innovation at three distinct levels assist with the definition of key challenges, such as telecommunication infrastructure, SME development, legal, security, taxation, and technology standards. Also discussed are the issues that revolve around the various business models, their uniqueness and their ability to unlock value. The comparative matrix developed in the study report confirms that competition in narrowly defined areas is intensifying and will result in a shakeout with a few marketplaces remaining in South Africa.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwikkeling van nuwe besigheidsmodelle in die opkommende Besigheid-tot- Besigheid elektroniese transaksie arena vereis antwoorde op 'n nuwe stel vrae wat aan besigheid gestel word. Van die geïdentifiseerde kwessies is die lewensvatbaarheid en volhouding van die nuwe besigheidsmodelle en hul toepassing in die oplossing van geïdentifiseerde besigheidsprobleme, veral met betrekking tot aankopebestuur. Deur die voordele, struikelblokke en geleenthede van elektroniese aankopebestuur te ondersoek, word 'n duideliker beeld van markruimtes verkry. Die waarde van markruimtes word geanaliseer deur Porter se waardeketting bespreking en ander navorsing wat die waardeskepping uitlig in die digitale era. Struikelblokke in die pad van waardeskepping word ook bespreek deur Zwass se hierargiese model word gebruik om die waardeskepping van markruimte se argitektuur te verstaan. Om die Markruimte innovering op drie belangrike vlakke te bespreek help met die definiering van die sleutel uitdagings, soos telekommunikasie infrastruktuur, klein en medium besigheids, regs-, sekuriteit-, belasting-, en tegnologiestandaarde. Die vergelykende matriks wat in die studieverslag ontwikkel is, bevestig dat kompetisie in goed geidentifiseerde areas meer intensief word en 'n uitskudding to gevolg sal hê met slegs 'n paar oorblywende markruimtes in Suid Afrika.

Strategijski model upravljanja savremenim marketing koncepcijamapovezuje upravljanje razvojem novih proizvoda, upravljanje brendom iupravljanje odnosima sa potrošačima na platformi upravljanjaukupnim kvalitetom. U model je ugrađen i merni sistem na osnovuuravnoteženog pristupa merenju performansi preduzeća. Istaživanjeje pokazalo da su nabrojani elementi kompatibilni i da imajupotencijal za stvaranje sinergije, što model čini efektivnijim iuniverzalnijim. Rezultati merenja u trogodišnjem periodunedvosmisleno su potvrdila funkcionalnost modela, odnosno njegovusposobnost da pozitivno utiče na performanse preduzeća.
The strategic model for managing modern marketing concepts connectsmanagement of developing new product, brand management and customerralationship management on the total quality management platform. Ameasuring system based on a balanced scorecard is built in this model.Research has shown that previously mentioned elements are compatible andhave the potential to create synergies, making this model more effective andmore universal. Measurement results obtained over a three-year periodunambigously confirm the functionality of the model, i.e. its ability to positivelyaffect company performance.

The starting point of the project was the observation that strategic management is absent in small businesses. The first objective of the project was to examine the reasons causing this situation in Greece, the second one, to examine the appropriateness of the contemporary models of strategic planning for the Greek S.M.E.s, and the third to examine the appropriateness of the alternative approaches to strategic management for the Greek S.M.E.s. The term appropriateness includes (a) the ability of managers to use the models and (b) the ability of the models to assist the managers. The results of the research indicate that none of the two above conditions exists, hence, it is suggested that the contemporary models of strategic management are inappropriate for the Greek S.M.E.s. Many previous research projects on the topic suggest that since the strategic decision making process in S.M.E.s is informal, the whole process is absent or ineffective. Current trends in S.M.E.s' strategic management do not consider the informality of the strategic decision making process as a kind of managerial illness, but as a managerial characteristic. The use of sophisticated data collection and analytical methods does not indicate successful strategic decisions, but it indicates the method large firms use to manage their strategy. According to the literature review, the S.M.E.s' managers avoid the use of the contemporary models of strategic management, because they do not have the knowledge, the resources or the time. Another thesis, expressed by some firms' specialists, suggests that small firms are different from large ones, hence their practice of strategic management should not follow the large firm's prototypes.

This thesis introduces new theoretical models and concepts in support of strategic thinking about the dynamics and complexities of organisational relationship positioning that could improve public relations education and professional development linked to strategic management careers in international organisations. An exploration of public relations in the United Kingdom and Nigeria illustrates that there is a significant practice mainly concerned with communication that develops strategies and tactics in support of already established strategic organisational goals. Progress with professionalisation of the practice also shows an increasing need and want to operate at senior management levels, although it questions if the academic preparation to do so is adequate. Advances in communication technology and education approaches provide opportunities to better understand complex networks and relationships. The emphasis in this thesis is on strategic planning. Most frequently used tools and approaches are briefly discussed. They are mainly descriptive and often provide snapshots of current situations that can help with formulating a future desired situation. Most of these tools and approaches expand the brainstorming horizon providing opportunities for vertical (deeper) and horizontal (broader) thinking about organisational relationships. This thesis introduces additional models, namely the revised public relations catalyst model and the public relations lava lamp model, and concepts such as organisational personality that could be used to further the strategic thinking about the dynamics of such relationships. The new insights and perspectives on strategic planning presented here stem from qualitative explorative research based on observations and interpretations from applying strategic thinking exercises in seminars at the University of Central Lancashire, and from action research approaches by leading strategic planning and organisational change activities at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) which involved in-depth interviews, workgroup sessions and online questionnaires. Positioning of organisational relationships is an increasingly important function of strategic management in international organisations such as IITA. This is driven by pressure for more engagement, transparency and accountability by public investors and partners related to providing the essential resource base in terms of finance and implementation capacity essential for the organisation’s existence. Improving strategic planning competences relating organisational relationships not only provides opportunities for public relations practitioners to be part of senior management but also is essential for an organisation’s continuity and relevance. It was found that strategic thinking improves by stimulating both vertical and horizontal thinking about initial surface problems. Problem based learning approaches in public relations education should be considered as they can help prepare future practitioners to improve their strategic planning competences. Advances in communication technology have the potential to maintain and improve organisational relationships far beyond current organisational network boundaries and creates opportunities for advancing strategic thinking and planning. Logical framework planning and other problem-based tools can help to identify solutions for a central problem. However, they require the facilitation of planning teams with different personalities that are encouraged to think deeper and wider to ensure that alternative solutions are considered and that enough cause-effect relationships are established for strategic interventions to be successful. The use of the lava lamp metaphor also stimulates strategic thinking about the dynamics of organisational relationships aided by different perspectives that stimulate vertical and horizontal thinking. The concept of organisational personality has potential to identify which organisations would be potential collaborators in finding better solutions and help to understand potential relationship issues better.

Since its establishment as an emerging area of research in strategic management over a decade ago, business model research has had little consensus towards adopting a single definition or common language for this rapidly growing management concept.  However, strong agreement as to the relevance of value creation within organizations underlies existing business model literature. Moreover, applications of business model frameworks outside the private sector have been limited. Recent literature has identified business model innovation and design as a critical tool in effective implementation of organizational strategy, and empirical research in business models from new and alternative perspectives may reveal linkages between strategic management issues and effectiveness in creating value in public and citizen sector organizations.  Nevertheless, existing academic literature has not yet explored applications of traditional business model frameworks within a public sector context, nor has the need for empirical research linking the business model concept with public sector management been addressed. The main purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of how business models can be defined, redefined, and applied in city economic development agencies for application as a strategic public management tool. An analysis of how the business model of a prominent city economic development agency has been employed and how value is created within this model will be undertaken.  This empirical study also aims to determine conceptual linkages between business model applications in city economic development and to contribute a theoretical foundation towards development of future research.   Given the multi-faceted applications of the business model concept, the authors have conducted exploratory research targeting the application of current business model concepts and frameworks to a city economic development agency representing an influential global center of finance and commerce, the City of New York. The significance of conducting empirical studies on city economic development agencies is due to the influence in which these organizations have on industrial cluster growth, national economic competitiveness, and citywide and regional transformation. In considering this context, The New York City Economic Development Corporation is the primary economic growth engine for the City of New York, and strives to create and deliver value to citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders of New York City.   Findings from this study suggest that economic development professionals have not adequately clarified the term ‘business model’ for promoting common language between strategists, project managers, consultants, and executives to support strategic business model design within city economic development agencies.  The authors conclude that equally relevant to framing and applying theoretical foundations grounded in the business model concept, is the identification of value-creating activities within economic development agencies and development of citizen-focused value propositions.  This empirical study aims to define, clarify and explore the former, while calling upon a need for future research of the latter.

Introduction – Project-based organizations face a series of challenges when trying to implement and manage their project portfolios successfully in line with their strategic goals. Good project portfolio management (PPM) practices play a crucial role in maintaining well performing portfolios, but PPM is still a fairly new academic field. And it was found that the current PPM literature embodies a gap in providing explicit governance criteria to assure consistent portfolio decision-making. Problem – What are the criteria of portfolio governance that contribute to better aligning the project portfolio to organizational strategy? Do project-based organizations in fact not implement a governance framework to guide their decision-making rationale? If there is some sort of a governance framework, do project-based organizations implement it in a consistent manner every time they take portfolio-related decisions? Purpose – The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, we attempt to fill a gap in the current PPM literature by proposing a portfolio governance framework that could enhance project portfolio decision-making. Secondly, it is our goal to find out whether decision makers in project-based organizations consistently cover all issues related to portfolio governance at portfolio meetings. Methodology – The study employs both qualitative & quantitative methods to fulfill the two-fold nature of the study. A Portfolio Governance Framework, comprising 26 statements, was developed on the grounds of existing literature on PPM, strategy & governance. The proposed Framework was then used as a basis to carry out an online survey in which 31 respondents (executive level) from 25 project-based organizations (operating in Sweden) were asked about how consistent they are in discussing relevant portfolio governance issues. Conclusion – The empirical findings of this study indicate that the majority of project-based companies do not employ a governance framework when it comes to portfolio decision-making. In the few cases that they do, it is mostly a set of policies that is not applied on a consistent basis.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design and Management Program, 2006.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-131).
It is broadly accepted among software managers and architects that maintaining the integrity of software designs is important for the long-term health and viability of software product platforms. The use of modular, information-hiding architectures is considered beneficial in this regard, because they enable the addition of new features and the correction of software defects without widespread changes (Parnas, 1972; Parnas, 1978). Moreover, modular architectures in general add value to system designs by creating options to improve the system by substituting or performing experiments on individual modules (Baldwin and Clark, 2000). Recent research has sought to clarify and to define formally these notions of modularity, and their value in the software domain, though the use of software dependency models and software design structure matrices. These models provide a graphic representation of the relationships between the building blocks of large software systems, which can be used to aid visual understanding of their structure, and which also form the basis for quantitative metrics for evaluating the degree of modularity of a software system (MacCormack et al., 2005; Sangal et al., 2005; Sullivan et al., 2006).
(cont.) The goal of this thesis is to contribute to the development and validation of formal models of modularity and value, by examining the design evolution of two similar software systems through the lens of software-dependency-based design structure matrices. We find that the design structure matrix model demonstrates a form of information-hiding modularity that allows different rates of experiment in different software modules, and that also allows substitution of a software module without substantial change to the rest of the software system. Moreover, the cases demonstrate that such a substitution scenario can confer distinct strategic advantages to a firm. Based on these results, we suggest that software managers and architects explore modular architectures that localize areas of risk - technical and otherwise - in software modules with well-defined interfaces.
by Matthew J. LaMantia.
S.M.

In the first part of this thesis, we study revenue management in resource exchange alliances. We first show that without an alliance the sellers will tend to price their products too high and sell too little, thereby foregoing potential profit, especially when capacity is large. This provides an economic motivation for interest in alliances, because the hope may be that some of the foregone profit may be captured under an alliance. We then consider a resource exchange alliance, including the effect of the alliance on competition among alliance members. We show that the foregone profit may indeed be captured under such an alliance. The problem of determining the optimal amounts of resources to exchange is formulated as a stochastic mathematical program with equilibrium constraints. We demonstrate how to determine whether there exists a unique equilibrium after resource exchange, how to compute the equilibrium, and how to compute the optimal resource exchange. In the second part of this thesis, we study the estimation of risk measures in risk management. In the financial industry, sell-side analysts periodically publish recommendations of underlying securities with target prices. However, this type of analysis does not provide risk measures associated with underlying companies. In this study, we discuss linear regression approaches to the estimation of law invariant conditional risk measures. Two estimation procedures are considered and compared; one is based on residual analysis of the standard least squares method and the other is in the spirit of the M-estimation approach used in robust statistics. In particular, Value-at-Risk and Average Value-at-Risk measures are discussed in detail. Large sample statistical inference of the estimators is derived. Furthermore, finite sample properties of the proposed estimators are investigated and compared with theoretical derivations in an extensive Monte Carlo study. Empirical results on the real data (different financial asset classes) are also provided to illustrate the performance of the estimators.

La recerca que he desenvolupat a la meva tesi doctoral està centrada en la comprensió del paper que desenvolupa el innovative performance per influir en la presa de decisions estratègiques a nivell individual i d’organitzacions, en un context intensiu de coneixement. La meva tesi doctoral s’articula en tres capítols principals, que corresponen a tres articles d’investigació de la meva línia de treball actual. Basant-me en la investigació prèvia sobre els nivells d’aspiració i presa de decisions a nivell de gerència, en el primer article s’examinaran les condicions en què les empreses farmacèutiques canvien el seu partnering behavior a través del temps. En línia amb el pensament actual en Behavioral Theory and Evolutionary Theory of the firm, sostenim que qualsevol canvi en partnering behavior és considerat de risc, i es posa en marxa per la diferència (o el gap existent) entre el rendiment actual i el rendiment desitjat. Hem estudiat una mostra de 988 empreses farmacèutiques entre 1990 i 2006 –els resultats confirmen la idea central del treball- que suggereixen que el tipus de performance (financer o innovador) té una marcada influencia en el associated feedback loop amb les subseqüents conseqüències a nivell organitzatiu de l’empresa. Quan la performance financera s’allunya de les expectatives (tan per sobre com per sota) les empreses farmacèutiques disminueixen la magnitud dels canvis en partnering behavior. Per contra, quan la innovative performance s’allunya de les expectatives (tan per sobre com per sota) les empreses farmacèutiques augmenten la magnitud de canvi en partnering behavior. El segon article, a partir d’investigacions anteriors i actuals de la mobilitat dels treballador, és un intent exploratori que busca construir sobre la Behavioral and Prospect theory més concretament sobre la literatura de managerial risk taking amb l’objectiu d’explorar les influències “motivacionals” sobre la mobilitat individual a través de les empreses de la industria farmacèutica –específicament com les desviacions del rendiment des de punts de referència específics expliquen la probabilitat de la mobilitat (una acció amb risc). En línia amb les teories del coneixement mencionades prèviament, els nostres resultats suggereixen que: quan un inventor performs per sobre del seu nivell d’aspiració/expectativa (tan històrica com social), trobem un recolzament pels arguments d’aversió de risc quan un inventor performs per sota les seves expectatives està més predisposat a participar en la mobilitat entre organitzacions, considerada com a acció arriscada, però només quan es compara la seva actuació amb les aspiracions socials (per exemple, considerant el risc del perfil). Finalment, en el tercer article s’intenta donar llum a les preguntes “per què els inventors es mouen?” Estudis recents proposen respostes a aquesta pregunta fonamental centrant-se principalment o bé en l’estructura d’incentius en els contractes d’inventors (mercat, és a dir laboral intern) o bé en les oportunitats externes del mercat laboral. Nosaltres creiem que aquestes teories econòmiques suposen una explicació parcial de per què els treballadors amb talent participen en la mobilitat entre organitzacions. De fet, no tenim una idea clara sobre els fonaments sociològics que caracteritzen la mobilitat, concretament desconeixem les raons que porten l’inventor a assumir aquests riscs/ que hi ha darrera de la inclinació dels inventors a assumir aquests riscs. Per tant, el present article és un intent d’oferir un model més comprensible per explicar els antecedents de mobilitat entre organitzacions. Prenent com a base la Behavioral and Prospect theories i més concretament, la literatura sobre managerial risk taking el document té com a objectiu principal el d’explorar i subratllar les influencies motivacionals sobre la mobilitat individual a través de les empreses de la industria farmacèutica –específicament es centra en com la desviació del “rendiment” respecte punts de referència específics (aspiracions socials) explica la probabilitat (la inclinació a la) mobilitat (una acció arriscada). Els resultats de la nostra investigació confirmen i amplien els estudis anteriors sobre la mobilitat; juntament amb l’estructura d’incentius d’empresa per retenir els empleats i inventors amb talent, el mercat laboral explica la inclinació a la mobilitat, la desviació en la performance dels inventors des de social aspiration levels i també pot predir a tendència a la mobilitat dels inventors. En conclusió, a la meva tesi doctoral intento millorar la comprensió, i per tant oferir a la comunitat acadèmica de managment, de com organitzacions i individus aprenen de les seves accions en el passat i prenen (decisions basades en la subseqüent strategic decision-making) com a resposta a la interpretació de la performance necessària per millorar la performance i aconseguir competitivitat exitosa.
La investigación que he desarrollado durante mi tesis doctoral se centra en la comprensión del papel que desempeña el rendimiento innovador para influir en las decisiones estratégicas a nivel organizacional e individual en contextos intensivos en conocimiento. Mi tesis doctoral se articula en tres capítulos principales, que representan tres papeles de trabajo actuales. Basándose en la investigación previa sobre los niveles de aspiración y toma de decisiones gerenciales, en el primer documento de trabajo se examinará las condiciones en que las empresas farmacéuticas cambian su partnering behavior a través del tiempo. Usando fundamentos de Behavioral Theory y Evolutionary Theory of the firm, sostenemos que cualquier cambio en el partnering behavior se considera riesgoso, y es accionado por la brecha entre el rendimiento real y el rendimiento de aspiración. Prueba de una muestra de 988 empresas farmacéuticas a partir de 1990 a 2006, nuestros resultados confirman la idea central del trabajo - que el tipo de desempeño (financiero o innovador) tiene una fuerte influencia en el circuito de retorno correspondiente y la acción organizativa posterior: cualquier desvío de desempeño financiero de aspiraciones predice risk aversión behavior (i.e. menos cambio en partnering behavior) mientras cualquier desvío de desempeño innovador de aspiraciones predice risktaking behavior (i.e. mas cambio en partnering behavior). El segundo documento de trabajo, a partir de investigaciones anteriores y actuales de la movilidad de los empleados, es un intento exploratorio que busca construir sobre Behavioral Theory y la perspectiva, sobre todo, en la literatura de managerial risk taking con el fin de explorar las influencias motivacionales sobre la movilidad individual a través de las empresas de la industria farmacéutica - específicamente cómo las desviaciones del rendimiento desde los puntos de referencia específicos (aspiraciones) explican la probabilidad de movilidad (una acción arriesgada). De acuerdo con las tradiciones teóricas mencionadas anteriormente, nuestros resultados sugieren que: cuando un inventor realiza por encima de su nivel de aspiración (tanto histórica como social), encontramos apoyo para los argumentos de aversión al riesgo (es decir, menos propensos a cambiar de empleador), cuando un inventor realiza a continuación sus niveles de aspiración es más probable que participen en la movilidad entre organizaciones, como la acción arriesgada, pero sólo cuando se compara su desempeño con las aspiraciones sociales (es decir, teniendo riesgo de perfil). Finalmente, en el tercer documento de trabajo se intenta responder a las preguntas "¿por qué los inventores se mueven?" Estudios recientes que proponen respuesta a esta pregunta fundamental se centran principalmente en la estructura de incentivos en los contratos de inventor (es decir, mercado laboral interno) o oportunidades externas del mercado laboral. Nosotros creemos que estas tradiciones económicas teóricas presentar una representación parcial de por qué los empleados talentosos participan en la movilidad entre organizaciones. De hecho, no tenemos una idea clara sobre los fundamentos sociológicos que caracterizan a la movilidad, en particular, las razones motivacionales del inventor detrás de la participación en tal toma de riesgo (es decir, movilidad). Por lo tanto, el presente articulo es un intento que busca ofrecer un modelo más amplio para explicar los antecedentes de la movilidad entre organizaciones. Sobre la base de Behavioral Theory y tomando la perspectiva, sobre todo, de la literatura managerial risk taking, el documento tiene como objetivo principal de explorar y llamar la atención a las influencias motivacionales sobre la movilidad individual a través de las empresas de la industria farmacéutica - específicamente cómo las desviaciones de rendimiento de los puntos de referencia específicos (aspiraciones sociales) explican la probabilidad de movilidad (una acción arriesgada). Los resultados de nuestra investigación confirman y amplían los estudios anteriores sobre la movilidad: junto con la estructura de incentivos de la empresa para retener a los empleados talentosos y a las dinámicas de mercado de laboral externo que explican los inventores la posibilidad de la movilidad, las desviaciones del inventor de su rendimiento desde los niveles de aspiración sociales también predicen la probabilidad de inventor de la movilidad. En conclusión, en mi tesis doctoral intento de comprender mejor, y por lo tanto ofrecer a la comunidad académica de administración de empresa, como las organizaciones y los individuos aprenden de sus acciones pasadas y deciden posteriores tomas de decisiones estratégicas como respuesta a la interpretación del rendimiento, necesario para mejorar el rendimiento y reunir el éxito competitivo.
The research I developed during my doctoral dissertation focuses on the understanding of the role that innovative performance plays in influencing strategic decision-making at the organizational and individual level in knowledge intensive contexts. My doctoral dissertation is articulated in three main chapters, which represent three current working papers. Building on the prior research on aspiration levels and managerial decision making, in the first working paper we examine the conditions under which pharmaceutical firms change their partnering behavior across time. Using insights drawn from behavioral theory and evolutionary theory of the firm, we argue that any change in partnering behavior is considered risky, and is triggered by the gap between actual performance and aspirational performance. Testing a sample of 988 pharmaceutical firms from 1990 to 2006, our results confirm the central idea of the paper - that the type of performance (financial or innovative) has a strong influence on the associated feedback loop and subsequent organizational action: any deviation of financial performance from aspirations predicts risk aversion behavior (i.e. less change in partnering behavior) while any deviation of innovative performance from aspirations predicts risk taking behavior (i.e. more change in partnering behavior). The second working paper, building on previous and current research of employees’ mobility, is an exploratory attempt that seeks to build on behavioral and prospect theory, particularly, on the literature of managerial risk taking in order to explore the motivational influences on individual mobility across firms in the pharmaceutical industry - specifically how performance deviations from specific reference points (aspirations) explain the likelihood of mobility (a risky action). In line with the theoretical traditions mentioned above, our results suggest that: when an inventor performs above her aspiration level (both historical and social), we found support for risk adversity arguments (i.e. less likely to change employer); when an inventor performs below her aspiration levels is more likely to engage in inter-organizational mobility, such as risky action, but only when comparing her performance to the social aspirations (i.e. risk taking profile). Finally, in the third working paper we attempt to answer to the questions “why do inventors move?” Recent studies propose answer to this fundamental question focusing mainly either on incentives structure in inventor’s contracts (i.e. internal labor market) or external labor market opportunities. We believe that these theoretical economic traditions present a partial representation of why talented employees engage in inter-organizational mobility. In fact, we do not have a clear understanding on the sociological underpinnings characterizing mobility, in particular about the inventor’s motivational rationales behind the engagement in such risky decision. Building on behavioral and prospect theory, particularly, on the literature of managerial risk taking, the paper mainly aims to explore and to bring attention to the motivational influences on individual mobility across firms in the pharmaceutical industry - specifically how performance deviations from specific reference points (social aspirations) explain the likelihood of mobility (a risky action). The results of our research confirm and extend previous studies on mobility: along with firm’s incentive structure to retain talented employees and inventors’ labor market explain the likelihood of mobility, inventor’s performance deviations from social aspiration levels also predict inventor’s likelihood of mobility. In conclusions, in my doctoral dissertation I attempt to better understand, and therefore offer to the academic management community, how organizations and individuals learn from their past actions and decide on subsequent strategic decision-making as a response to performance interpretation necessary to improve performance and gather competitive success.

This research assisted the Yuma, Arizona citrus orchard manager in his strategic planning for achieving a low-cost position in a focused segment of the citrus industry. Citrus growers in the Yuma district are faced with major changes in their competitive environment and must adopt new strategic plans in order to continue to compete effectively in what has recently become a global industry. Since the planning horizon for new citrus orchards is in excess of 20 years, a long range planning model was developed to aid in evaluating alternative operating strategies. This research established the interrelatedness of water, nitrogen, and phosphorous relative to the yields of Valenica Oranges, Lisbon Lemons, and Redblush Grapefruit on Rough Lemon, Sour Orange, and Troyer rootstocks. A computer simulation model was used to evaluate optimal operating policies for a variety of resource prices and market conditions. The methodology utilized in development of the simulation model was unique in that it emulates individual tree performance from the time of planting until maturation. Four operating strategies were investigated and the profit maximizing and cost minimizing strategies were found to be significant. Evaluation of market selling prices indicated that the profit maximizing strategy was optimal except at very low market prices where the cost minimization strategy was optimal. Price sensitivity for water and fertilizer resources was investigated. Operating strategies were not affected by water price increases over the foreseeable future, however, price changes in nitrogen and phosphorous were found to affect the optimal operating strategy primarily through the substitution of manure in the system. Existing horticultural practices in the Yuma growing area were confirmed by the research. Additional optimal operating strategies were suggested relative to market prices. The long run policy decision making process for orchard managers was enhanced.

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the relationships between performance change or increase and strategic management or strategy implementation, based on Learning Networks Groups of SMEs in Brazil. The research is based on a group of medium-sized South American companies that participate in the “Learning Network Programme” (or LNC, Learning Networks Companies). The LNC Programme encourages the exchange of experiences while discussing management models, putting management and strategic tools into practice, and training the participating companies’ employees in managerial instruments. A hypothetical Global Performance model based on Strategic Management Elements and also on Learning Network Elements was developed and, subsequently, tested through a field survey with 300 Brazilian SMEs, being 150 from companies that have experimented the LNC Programme and 150 organizations that have never gone through a similar project. In order to test the empirical validity of the model, structural equation modelling was used, with reference to both main and unfolded hypotheses, and analysed the variables of strategic management and learning networks and their possible impact on the companies’ global performance. The proposed model demonstrated to be able to predict 62% of the variance in the global performance construct considering the LNC Group and 5.6% considering the Non-LNC Group.

The purpose of this research is to explore the business strategies of a firm seeking to develop and profitably market a mobile smartphone application to understand how small, digital entrepreneurships may build sustainable business models given substantial market barriers. Through a detailed examination of one firm’s process to try to commercialize their mobile app, we identify various business model decisions and marketing strategy approaches that hindered the company’s efforts. The case study describes two distinctly different business models adopted in succession, as well as the various adjustments the firm makes to its target market, distribution and pricing approach that led to their current strategy. This research looks closely at business-to-business-to-consumer distribution arrangement for mobile apps and in doing so challenges the rising positive bias that exists for the app store as the dominant actor in the mobile value chain. For practice, this paper suggests unanticipated hurdles small digital entrepreneurs may face if they rely heavily on mobile advertising and the app store to launch and sustain their business.

Enterprise Architecture is so far the highest development step in IT's architectural description of enterprises. At the beginning, just technological architecture existed. However, with the quickly growing complexity of IT other domains occurred, that had to be described. Information or application architectures can serve as examples. IT then realized, that it needed to add to its IT architectures a business view and consequently the discipline Enterprise Architecture came into being. Strategic management is crucial for the development of each enterprise. The thesis focuses on the strategic management of business and the strategic management of IT. The strategic management of business consists of a business strategy and an operating model. To the strategic management of IT then belongs an information strategy and IT governance. Business-IT alignment further explores and ensures the accord between the strategic management of business and the strategic management of IT. The aim of the thesis is to describe the relationship of Enterprise Architecture and the different forms of strategic management and to express to which rate Enterprise Architecture supports them. The explored relationships are: - The relationship of Enterprise Architecture and business strategy - The relationship of Enterprise Architecture and operating models - The relationship of Enterprise Architecture and information strategy - The relationship of Enterprise Architecture and IT governance - The relationship of Enterprise Architecture and business-IT alignment The goals of the thesis are reached via theoretical research and subsequent deduction. The author's personal asset consists of creating a hierarchical model of Enterprise Architecture, of defining Enterprise Architecture's reaction to business strategies, of modifying the methodology MMDIS in respect of information strategy, of depicting, how Enterprise Architecture can be used in IT governance, of illustrating, where Enterprise Architecture contributes to business-IT alignment and of assessing, to which rate Enterprise Architecture supports the different forms of strategic management.

The diploma thesis deals with the topic of strategic management of a construction company development. Based on theoretical knowledge together with the internal and external corporate environment analysis, the main goal of the work is to propose such a business strategy, where the company operates succesfully on both private and public procurement markets.

The thesis is focused on management analysis of the selected organization in terms of components and factors that are then used to design of the system of strategic management Balanced Scorecard. The first part is focused on describing the theoretical background concerning the issue of the effect of the organizations administration and management. Comprehensive evaluation of the level of management is performed in the second part. Organizational performance is assessed using the Balanced Scorecard method. Particular perspectives, strategy, targets and their measurements are determined for organization. The interdependence of the targets is presented in the Strategic Map. The conclusion is made by evaluating the achieved findings and formulating specific recommendations for the selected organization.

This diploma thesis focuses on the issue of the impact of legal regulation on the business model during its formulation and implementation. This work outlines the theoretical background in which are described the key concepts of work, strategic management and strategy, the insured strategy of corporate and business strategy and innovative approach as a business model Canvas. Furthermore, the basic characteristics of the level and method of legal regulation are outlined. The analytical part presents a specific business model, which will be used to reveal key areas subjected to legislation, which will then be compared with the solutions of the most successful companies in the given area. Based on these findings, the design part deals with the formulation and implementation of the business model so that it is legally compliant at both national and supranational levels, with the economic impact of the selected solution according to the degree of complexity and risk.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The idea of deliberately planning and measuring the work of congregations does not settle easily with many church leaders and theologians. This study suggests that churches are becoming increasingly socially ineffective because they do not understand and apply scientific management knowledge and methods. Strongly held ideologies and dichotomies characterise the milieu of this topic. There remains a very real social problem concerning the role of churches. That is what this study has based its relevance on. The study is encouragingly supported by its finding that 90% of church leaders surveyed, disagreed with the notion that the church has no responsibility to society at large for its actions. 92% of respondents further agreed that the role of the church is the well-being and upliftment of its communities and not just to create converts. This study presents evidence that questions the success claims of the Church Growth body of knowledge. Evangelism world-wide has recently experienced the most extraordinary acceleration in the number of conversions in the history of the Church, but research in the countries where this phenomenon has been more prevalent, has found little equivalent growth in church membership. The work of researchers in the USA has repeatedly drawn attention to the alarming levels of "unchurched" Christians and the falling away of Pentecostal churches. This study confirms the trend in South Africa and reveals our unchurched level to be 53%. Analysis of congregational development interventions attempted by the sample reveals an almost three times greater success rate reported by churches that did not apply the church growth principles or combined them with management methods. The aim is to present explanations and solutions for the difficulties churches are having both in the areas of managing their own development and in retaining committed members for a nobler purpose than to laud their size over smaller, but possibly more caring and socially effective churches. An objective of this study is to present existing knowledge and methods from the field of management science as a conceptual framework for systematically fitting disconnected elements of contemporary Church Growth Theory into a holistic and integrated development approach that goes deeper than a mere mechanistic extrapolation of theoretical ideas and praxis from one context into another. The survey found a 74% support base from the South African church leaders surveyed for a synthesis of the best of both Church Growth and business management methods in fulfilment of its mission. The most compelling finding that this research contributes to social knowledge, however, is that local churches found to have reported significantly more externally focused growth such as evangelism, community work and church planting, applied strategic thinking, formal planning and management methods to their development without compromising the Gospel message that the Church is called bring to society.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie beweer dat kerke word meer sosiaal oneffektief omdat hulle nie wetenskaplike bestuurskennis verstaan en metodiek toepas nie. Dit is waarop hierdie studie se relevansie gebaseer is. Die studie is bemoedigend ondersteun deur die bevinding dat 90% van die kerkleiers wat aan die ondersoek deelgeneem het, nie met die mening saamstem dat die kerk geen verantwoordelikheid teenoor die gemeenskap in sy geheel het en daartoe bydra nie. 92% van die respondente het ook saamgestem dat die rol van die kerk is om by te dra tot die opheffing en welgesteldheid van die gemeenskap, en nie net om bekeerlinge te skep nie. Hierdie studie lewer bewys wat die sukses-aansprake van die Kerkgroei Beweging teenspreek. Wereldwye evangelasie het onlangs 'n buitengewone versnelling ondervind in die aantaI bekeerlinge in die geskiedenis van die kerk, maar navorsing toon dat in die lande waar hierdie verskynsel die sterkste voorgekom het, baie min ekwivalente groei in kerklidrnaatskap plaasgevind het. Hierdie studie bevestig die tendens in Suid Afrika en wys dat ons vlak van ongekerktes op 53% staan. Ontleding van die gemeente se ontwikkellings-intervensies wat deur die kerke in die proefskrif onderneem is, wys dat kerke wat nie kerkgroei beginsels toegepas het nie, of hierdie met bestuursmetodes kombineer, amper drie maal groter sukses behaal het. Die doeI is om verduidelikings en oplossings aan te bied vir die probleme wat kerke in beide die areas om hul eie ontwikkeling te bestuur asook die toegewyde lede te behou vir 'n meer eerbare doel as om af te kyk op kleiner, maar moontlik meer sorgsame en sosiaaI effektiewe kerke. 'n Doel van hierdie studie is om bestaande kennis en metodes in die bestuurswetenskappe as 'n konseptuele raamwerk aan te bied vir die sistematiese passing van ontwrigtende elemente van kontemporere Kerkgroei Teorie binne 'n holistiese en geintegreerde ontwikkelingsbenadering wat dieper gaan as sIegs die meganistiese ekstrapolering van teoretiese idees en praktyk van een konteks na 'n ander. Die navorsing het 'n ondersteuningsbasis van 74% bevind onder die Suid Afrikaanse kerkleiers wat aan die ondersoek deeIgeneem het, vir 'n sintese van die beste van beide kerkgroei en besigheidsbestuursmetodes in vervulling van die kerk se missie. Die mees afdwingbare bevinding wat hierdie navorsing bydra tot sosiale kennis is egter dat plaaslike kerke wat aansienlik meer in eksterne areas van evangelasie, gemeenskapwerk en kerkplanting groei, het toegepaste strategiese denke, formele beplanning en bestuursmetodes aangewend sonder om die Evangeliese boodskap waarvoor die kerk geroepe is om aan die gemeenskap te bring, te kompromitteer.

Mestrado em Ciências Empresariais
A identificação de Competências e a sua gestão têm vindo a assumir um papel relevante no pensamento sobre a ação estratégica das organizações. Nesse enquadramento, como fator decisivo para a Eficácia, a função dos gestores de topo tem suscitado particular interesse. No universo das organizações, o sistema educativo ou a Escola, orientada pela sua missão e pressionada pelo aumento de solicitações e necessidade de otimização de recursos, não pode ser estranha a esse pensamento. Na Escola a função do gestor de topo é assumida pelo seu órgão executivo, o Diretor. Estão a função e o desempenho dos diretores das escolas alicerçados num modelo de competências? A presente dissertação pretende lançar um olhar sobre a gestão das escolas identificando o modelo de competências necessário para depois o confrontar com eventuais lacunas existentes na realidade concreta das instituições. Para realizar o estudo debruça-se sobre uma parcela específica do sistema de ensino (os agrupamentos escolares do município da Amadora) inquirindo os seus primeiros responsáveis. A metodologia seguida utiliza uma ferramenta baseada no modelo SERVQUAL. O estudo conclui que o modelo de competências existe e o desempenho efetivo dos diretores é realizado com base nesse modelo.
Competences' management and their identification have been assuming a relevant role on the strategic organizational thinking. In this framework, and of particular interest, is the top management's actions decisive role on Efficacy. In the organizational universe, the educational system (i.e. the School) must be part of this thinking either because of its own mission, the pressing demand effects or the need for optimizing resources. The school's principal assumes the school's executive body. He embodies a top management role. Are this role and the school's principals' performance grounded on a competences based model? This dissertation aims to analyze the school's management by identifying the proper model of Competences, which will also be tested with potential institutional gaps. This study draws on a particular sector of the educational system, namely Amadora's municipality grouping of schools. The methodological main instrument is the SERVQUAL model, used to interview Amadora's schools key actors. The study concludes that the competences based model exists and the principals' effective performance builds on it.

One of the main concerns with the introduction of competition in the power sector is the strategic behaviour of market participants. Computable models of strategic behaviour are becoming increasingly important to understand the complexities of competition. Such models can help analyze market designs and regulatory policies. In this thesis, further developments on the modelling and analysis of strategic behaviour in electricity markets are presented. This thesis work has been conducted along three research lines.

In the first research line, an oligopolistic model of a joint energy and spinning reserve market is formulated to analyze imperfect competition. Strategic behaviour is introduced by means of conjectured functions. With this integrated formulation for imperfect competition, the opportunity cost between generation and spinning reserve has been analytically derived. Besides, inter-temporal and energy constraints, and financial transmission rights are taken into account. Under such considerations, competition in electricity markets is modelled with more realism. The oligopolistic model is formulated as an equilibrium problem in terms of complementarity conditions.

In the second research line, a methodology to screen and mitigate the potential exacerbation of market power due to the ownership of financial transmission rights is presented. Hedging position ratios are computed to quantify the hedging level of financial transmission rights. They are based on the actual impact that each participant has in the energy market, and on the potential impact that it would have with the ownership of financial transmission rights. Thus, hedging position ratios are used to identify the potential gambling positions from the transmission rights bidders, and, therefore, used to prioritize critical positions in the auction for transmission rights.

In the last research line, alternative equilibrium models of markets for financial transmission rights are formulated. The proposed equilibrium framework is more natural and flexible for modelling markets than the classic cost-minimization markets. Different markets for financial transmission rights are modelled, namely: i) forwards, ii) options, and iii) joint forwards and options. Moreover, one-period, multi-period and multi-round markets for forwards are derived. These equilibrium models are proposed to analyze the bidding strategies of market participants. The potential impact of bidders on congestion prices is modelled by means of conjectured transmission price functions.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Organisations are continuously striving to attain and maintain a competitive advantage over their peers. The innovation process provides an excellent vehicle for driving this sustained quest for competitiveness, whether on product, process or strategic level. However, in reality the increased availability and adoption of technology force organisations to increase the speed and effectiveness of their innovation processes to match not only those of their competitors, but to deal with the ever-increasing power of the individual – the empowered, consuming, producing “prosumer”. The innovation process itself should therefore undergo dramatic alterations to cope with – and include – these empowered prosumers. It is for this reason that the evolution of the innovation process has undergone changes, and is now moving towards the notion of Open Innovation. Although Open Innovation has been adopted by various organisations, it was found that a wellformulated, standardised set of Open Innovation models is lacking from existing literature. This research bridges the gap between the previous innovation models and the notion of an open approach to internal innovation, to improve the speed and effectiveness of the innovation process. It does this by investigating two primary research fields: innovation and Open Innovation, and then merging the two fields to provide a standardised framework to incorporate Open Innovation in the standard innovation process. The fundamentals of innovation are investigated, whereafter the focus moves to understanding a specific, existing innovation process framework, the Fugle Innovation Process Model. The second field (Open Innovation) is introduced, whereafter various literature sources (real-life examples, case studies and interviews) are used to develop (categorise, define and describe) five standard Open Innovation models. The five developed Open Innovation models are then allocated to the investigated, standard innovation process, according to what is needed in that particular phase of the innovation process and the beneficial offerings of each Open Innovation model. The allocated models therefore provide a potential substitute for the existing internal activity associated with each of the specific phases. The result is an existing innovation process model, populated with implementable Open Innovation models to increase not only the value of the innovation process model, but also the value to organisations who wish to deploy Open Innovation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Maatskappye is voortdurend besig om ’n mededingende voordeel bo hulle mededingers te probeer verkry en te handhaaf. Die innovasieproses bied ’n uitstekende metode om hierdie doel na te streef, hetsy op produk-, proses- of strategiese vlak. Die realiteit is egter dat die tempo waarmee tegnologie aangeneem en aanvaar word, en sodoende vrylik gebruik word, konstant toeneem. Dit dwing maatskappye om die spoed en effektiwiteit van hulle innovasieproses volhoubaar te verbeter, nie net om by te hou by hulle mededingers nie, maar ook om die maatskappy korrek te posisioneer ten opsigte van die moderne, bemagtigde verbruiker. Die innovasieproses moet dus self ’n gedaanteverwisseling ondergaan om ruimte te bied vir die insluiting van hierdie bemagtigde verbruikers. Daarom verander die evolusionêre progressie van die innovasieproses voortdurend en is dit besig om in die rigting van “Oop Innovasie” te beweeg. Alhoewel Oop Innovasie reeds deur verskeie maatskappye toegepas word, is daar gevind dat goed geformuleerde, standaard-, implementeerbare prosesse (of modelle) steeds in die literatuur ontbreek. Hierdie navorsings oorbrug dus die leemte tussen die meer konvensionele “geslote innovasie” en die nuwerwetse neiging na “Oop Innovasie”, om sodoende die spoed en effektiwiteit van die interne innovasieproses te verbeter. Dit word bereik deur die twee kernnavorsingsvelde te ondersoek: innovasie en Oop Innovasie, en dan die twee velde te kombineer om ’n gestandaardiseerde model te skep wat Oop Innovasie by die standaard-innovasieproses insluit. Die metodiek fokus eerstens op die kernaspekte van innovasie om ’n beter begrip van die veld te ontwikkel. Daarna verskuif die klem na die beskrywing van ’n reeds bestaande innovasieprosesmodel, die Fugle-innovasieprosesmodel. Hierna word Oop Innovasie bekend gestel, waarna vyf implementeerbare Oop Innovasie-modelle ontwikkel word aan die hand van verskeie werklike voorbeelde, gevallestudies en onderhoude, om sodoende die modelle te groepeer, te definieer en te beskryf (voordele, nadele en vereistes). Die vyf Oop Innovasie-modelle word hierna toegedeel aan die verskillende fases van die innovasieprosesmodel deur ’n vergelyking te tref tussen die behoeftes van elk van die fases en die proposisie wat elk van die Oop Innovasie-modelle bied. Die resultaat is dus ’n bestaande innovasieprosesmodel waarvan die waarde verhoog is deur die insluiting van implementeerbare Oop Innovasie-modelle. Dit voeg waarde toe vir organisasies wat graag ’n Oop Innovasieproses wil instel.

Esta dissertação analisa os resultados e o papel da maturidade no gerenciamento de projetos em um ambiente corporativo por meio do estudo de três modelos de maturidade. Durante o processo de estudo, identificação e análise de cada modelo, será realizado um mapeamento de seus principais pontos fortes e fracos, bem como das oportunidades e ameaças identificadas pela aplicação de cada um desses modelos de maturidade. Para complementar, um estudo de caso real foi aplicado com o objetivo de avaliar o nível de maturidade no departamento de engenharia de novos projetos em uma grande empresa multinacional de manufatura eletrônica. Esta dissertação aborda ainda a contribuição positiva que as estruturas, ferramentas e técnicas de gerenciamento de projetos representam na conversão de projetos em sucesso e crescimento organizacional. Crescimento esse, sendo acompanhado e medido por meio do nível de maturidade em gerenciamento de projetos. Outro ponto também explorado está na importância do alinhamento das estruturas organizacionais com os objetivos corporativos da empresa, sustentado pelo planejamento estratégico de médio e longo prazo, mediante planos e estratégias organizacionais.
This dissertation analyzes the results and the maturity role in project management in a corporative environment through the study of three maturity models. During the study, identification and analysis process of each model, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats identified in the application of each one of these maturity models will be mapped. In addition, a real case study was applied aiming to evaluate maturity level in new products engineering department?s of a large electronic manufacturing company. This dissertation also addresses the positive contribution given by project management, on helping projects turning into success and organizational growth by means of its structures and supporting tools. With such growth being tracked and measured by the project management maturity level framework. Other aspect also analyzed, is the importance on aligning the organizational structures within the company\'s corporative goals, supported by the medium and long term strategical planning, using the organizational plans and strategies.

Abstract Radio spectrum is a scarce natural resource whose efficient management has been the source of contentious debate for over a century. The mobile communication ecosystem has created a tremendous business that is reliant on the availability of spectrum for wireless networks. The growth of mobile communications has increased the rivalry between the different wireless ecosystems that compete over gaining access rights to radio spectrum. Due to the scarcity of unallocated spectrum bands without incumbent users, sharing-based governance models for spectrum management have gained increasing attention in regulation, industry and academia. Spectrum sharing allows two or more wireless systems to operate in the same spectrum band. These systems often come from different wireless ecosystems that have conflicting goals. Spectrum sharing, and specifically the development of new sharing-based governance models for more efficient management of the scarce resource, is a strategic management topic that calls for the development of rules and conditions by regulators that are agreeable to all involved stakeholders. This thesis presents a novel framework for the development of upcoming sharing-based spectrum governance models that bring together stakeholders from different wireless business ecosystems with conflicting goals. The framework is built upon the theoretical basis of governance models, stakeholder analysis, and business ecosystems. Spectrum management is here seen as governance of common pool resources, and the tool of stakeholder analysis from strategic management is formally introduced into the development of new sharing-based spectrum governance models where different business ecosystems collide. The developed three-step stakeholder analysis is applied to two case studies for mobile communications including the future use of the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band, and the licensed shared access (LSA) concept. For the UHF band case study, the thesis identifies the stakeholders, analyses their relations and saliences to reach long-term compromises between broadcasting and mobile communication ecosystems. For the LSA case study, the thesis identifies the stakeholders and their relations, and develops management actions through a work flow for the main phases and stakeholders’ tasks. It then presents the world’s first live field trial with mobile communication systems, where the conflicting requirements of all stakeholders were considered. The developed stakeholder analysis model formally introduces the strategic management of stakeholders into the spectrum management domain, and it provides regulators, industry and academia a new tool for reaching long-term compromises in spectrum management through sharing
Tiivistelmä Radiotaajuudet muodostavat rajallisen luonnonvaran, jonka tehokas hallinta on ollut vuosikymmenten ajan kiistanalainen keskustelunaihe. Matkaviestinnän ekosysteemi on luonut suurta liiketoimintaa saamalla käyttöönsä radiotaajuuksia, joilla matkaviestinverkot voivat toimia. Matkaviestinnän kasvu on lisännyt eri langattomien järjestelmien ekosysteemien välistä kilpailua radiotaajuuksien saatavuudesta. Taajuuksien yhteiskäyttöön perustuvat hallintamallit ovat herättäneet kasvavaa kiinnostusta taajuushallinnoissa, teollisuudessa ja tutkimusmaailmassa, koska lähes kaikki radiotaajuudet on jo annettu erilaisten langattomien järjestelmien käyttöön. Taajuuksien yhteiskäyttö mahdollistaa kahden tai useamman radiojärjestelmän toiminnan samalla taajuusalueella. Usein nämä järjestelmät edustavat erilaisia langattomia ekosysteemejä, joilla on ristiriitaiset tavoitteet. Taajuuksien yhteiskäyttö ja siihen liittyvien hallintamallien kehittäminen rajallisen luonnonvaran tehokkaamman käytön mahdollistamiseksi on strategisen johtamisen aihealue, joka edellyttää, että taajuushallinnot kehittävät säännöt ja ehdot, jotka ovat hyväksyttäviä sidosryhmille. Tämä väitöskirja esittelee uuden viitekehityksen taajuuksien yhteiskäyttöön perustuvien taajuuksien hallintamallien kehittämiselle tuomalla yhteen eri sidosryhmät, jotka edustavat erilaisia langattomia liiketoimintaekosysteemejä, joilla on ristiriitaiset tavoitteet. Kehitetyn viitekehyksen teoriapohja koostuu hallintomalleista, sidosryhmäanalyysistä sekä liiketoiminnan ekosysteemeistä. Tässä työssä taajuuksien hallinta nähdään yhteisresurssien (common pool resource, CPR) hallintana, ja strategisen johtamisen työkaluista sidosryhmäanalyysi on valittu taajuuksien yhteiskäyttömallien kehittämiseen erilaisten liiketoiminta-ekosysteemien kohtauspisteessä. Työssä kehitettyä kolmiaskelista sidosryhmäanalyysiä sovelletaan kahteen matkaviestinnän tapaustutkimukseen sisältäen UHF-taajuuden tulevaisuuden käytön sekä taajuuksien lisensioidun yhteiskäytön (licensed shared access, LSA). UHF-taajuuden tapaustutkimuksessa väitöskirjassa tunnistetaan sidosryhmät ja analysoidaan niiden riippuvuuksia ja painoarvoja pitkän tähtäimen kompromissin löytämiseksi yleisradioliikenteen ja matkaviestinnän ekosysteemien välille. LSA-tapaustutkimukselle väitöskirjassa tunnistetaan sidosryhmät ja niiden riippuvuudet sekä kehitetään johtamismalleja työnkulkukaavion avulla. Lisäksi työssä esitellään maailman ensimmäinen todellisella matkaviestinjärjestelmällä tehty kokeilu, joka ottaa huomioon eri sidosryhmien ristiriitaiset vaatimukset. Työssä kehitetty malli on ensimmäinen strategisen johtamisen sidosryhmäanalyysin sovellus taajuuksien hallintaan ja tuo taajuushallinnoille, teollisuudelle ja tutkimusmaailmalle uuden työkalun pitkän tähtäimen kompromissien löytämiseen taajuuksien hallinnalle yhteiskäytön avulla

O presente trabalho foi estruturado a partir de um estudo qualitativo baseado na experiência de planejamento estratégico em uma universidade. Teve por objetivo identificar as variáveis que intervêm na implementação daquele processo com a utilização da metodologia de desdobramento de diretrizes. O estudo qualitativo realizado adotou procedimentos que incluíram pesquisa individual com representantes dos segmentos da universidade. Os entrevistados representam os responsáveis pelas finalidades de planejamento, de supervisão geral e setorial, de execução do ensino, bem como de apoio técnico e assessoria. Os principais procedimentos adotados no desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram descrição, análise e interpretação. O planejamento estratégico, usualmente descrito como processo integrante da gestão empresarial, é apresentado como um recurso que capacita a instituição de ensino superior a atuar com eficiência e eficácia e a reagir com rapidez às demandas do seu entorno social. O desdobramento das diretrizes é mostrado como uma ferramenta que pode ser aplicada no detalhamento do plano estratégico, assim que as linhas de ação anuais estejam definidas. Resultaram do estudo a confirmação de que professores e funcionários necessitam de incentivo para atuar nesse processo e que fatores como liderança e comprometimento com resultados, esforço para o compartilhamento do propósito comum, motivação dos envolvidos e acompanhamento dos processos são essenciais para a implementação, com sucesso, do plano estratégico.
This paper is structured on qualitative studies carried out considering the strategic planning process in a university. Its aim is to identify variables which intervene in the implementation of the process using the policy deployment methodology. The qualitative study was carried out using procedures that included individual survey with the persons who are responsible for planning, general and sectorial supervision, teaching, as well as technical support and consultantship, of the many sectors of the university. Description, analysis and interpretation were the main procedures used in developing the survey. Strategic planning, usually described as a process of integration in management, is presented as a resource that enables a college or a university to act efficiently and effectively and react promptly to the demands of the social environment. The policy deployment is presented as a tool which can be applied in detailing the strategic planning as soon as the annual procedures have been defined. As a result of the study carried out it was confirmed that faculty and staff need stimuli in order to take part in the process and that aspects like leadership, commitment to results, effort in sharing common purposes, motivation of all involved individuals and the following-up of the processes are essential to the successful implementation of a strategic plan.

Recognizing the responsibility businesses has in sustainable development, a rising number of entrepreneurs are attempting to innovate business models together with digital technology to address environmental and societal needs. Circular business models is an example of how businesses can become more sustainable. However, there is a growing phenomenon of entrepreneurs suggesting digital platforms as a supportive element in an enterprise to enable circular features. This research aims to investigate the role of a single entrepreneur as a transition intermediary to sustainable development by using digital platforms. Additionally, this research aims to explore the success factors and challenges this entrepreneur can uncover. Contrary to most studies, this thesis adopts the entrepreneur's perspective as being a key actor in sustainable development but also as an innovative force in a socio-technical system. A case study was conducted on the Swedish online secondhand store Sellpy. The qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews. Given the thesis' exploratory research design, the finding can be used in further research as artifacts for more conclusive and generalizing research. The entrepreneur, as a transition intermediary, can establish valuable partnerships and networks to accelerate circulation and sustainability awareness. Additionally, the entrepreneur can influence others by spreading knowledge to engage other entrepreneurs to innovate businesses towards sustainability. The main success factors found in this case study is the approach to develop with the user community, digital ownership, skilled and diverse workforce, and partnerships with similar businesses. The challenges discovered was to maintain and find new users to enter the circular system and the external skepticism towards sustainability-oriented businesses.

This thesis with title "Strategic Analysis of Company and Improvement Suggestions" deals with the theory and practice of strategic management. The theoretical part describes a general methodology of the strategic analysis of an enterprise from which the optimal strategic plan is generated. In the practical part a real company is analyzed, according to the methodology mentioned in the theoretical part. Complex analysis of its internal and external environment are carried out. Based on the acquired information the SWOT analysis is made, which serves as groundwork for developing appropriate strategy and comparison with the current strategic plan.

Analysis of the company using internal and external analysis, integrated management model. Description of the competitive environment, market size and existing marketing activities. Outline the trends and developments in the industrial sector. Result of this work is optimize the financial issues, analysis of the internal state of the company and the possibility of change, proposal of company strategy.

Free and Open Source Software has not only increased researchers’ interest about community-driven software development, but lately, interest from commercial actors increased as well. In addition, some scientists have claimed that Open Source Software has entered a new phase: OSS 2.0. Even so, a coherent way of analyzing commercial Open Source ventures is still missing.

Commercial Open Source firms’ strategies are often described using the term “business models”. However, these models often lack stringent structures and have been used primarily to describe the firms’ offerings and methods to earn revenue.

Through the adaptation of an existing, firmly theoretically-based analytical business model framework, this thesis suggests a new analysis model for studying for-profit Open Source companies. In addition, the framework is generically constructed, ensuring its usability for other industries as well. The model consists of three elements: market positions, operational platform and offering.

This particular study concerned four software product vendors, all of which base their products on Open Source Software. When analyzing their business, insights were made about how these firms operated. The result show that there are certain key elements and factors that determine if a company has a sustainable business or not. From the analysis framework, three elements were refined. The main Open Source Software project connects the market positions and the operational platform; and from the offering, the product and service and the revenue model were very important.

The study identified eight key factors which influenced the elements: brand for the product, the company and the Open Source Software project; community, that is the sum of the non-paying users and developers connected to Open Source Software projects; resources, which are community-based resources such as development and testing; legitimacy, the perceived legitimacy regarding licenses and the revenue models; control, i.e. the control the firm has of the software; ability to charge, or how the company can charge for its services; customers, the paying users; and finally volume, which is the number of paying customers.

The findings also indicate that companies interested in working with the open-source community have to be able to balance the demands from both their customers and the community in order to benefit and gain competitive advantage.

Report code: LiU-TEK-LIC 2008:26.

This diplom thesis with title „Strategic analysis of cheese shops“ deals with an analysis of real company which offers foreign cheese and specialities. The theoretical part defines general metodology and tools of strategic management. The analythic part shows how these tools are implemented into this real company and provide us internal and external strategic analysis. On the base of these facts are suggested future steps to improve economical situation of that company.

The concept of the Balanced Scorecard taking a part in the strategic management of a company, is a main focus of this thesis. There are the theoretical and methodological parts of the Balanced Scorecard characterized individually, as well as the development and the history of this concept. This thesis is dealing with a draft of the practical implementation of the mentioned methods. The practical part of the thesis is following the theoretical introduction where the practical part is focused on a practical application of the Balanced Scorecard method for a specific company. The company is specified by the Corporate Performance and Business Model Canvas by using the PESTEL Analysis, Porter's Five Forces Model and Financial SWOT Analysis. The company strategy is specified based on the previous conclusions. The set strategy is an underlies for a follow-up Balanced Scorecard, where causal links between the intended targets and the strategy are displayed in the Strategic Map. The implementation of the strategy to the everyday use of the company is a part of the thesis, as well.

A l'estat de la qüestió s'inicia l'aproximació conceptual i terminològica mitjançant l'anàlisi de la evolució històrica de la planificació estratègica des del punt de vista miliar, de la Teoria dels Jocs, de la Teoria Organitzacional i del Management per tal de, a continuació, exposar com es concebeix la funció directiva comunicativa en tant que àmbit d'estudi, tot establint les distincions establertes des de l'Escola Organitzacional, l'Escola de les Relacions Públiques i l'Escola de la Comunicació Integral (Comunicació Total i Comunicació Corporativa).
Un cop exposats els conceptes fonamentals de les Relacions Públiques (Imatge i Reputació; Percepcions, Actituts i Conducta; Identitat; Cultura Organitzacional; Visió, Misió, Valors i Credo Corporatiu; Entorn i Resposabilitat Social Corporativa -RSC-; Conflicte i Issues Management -Gestió de Conflictes Potencials-; i Públics i Stakeholders), s'aborda la descripció de diversos models de Planificació Estratègica en la Teoria de les Relacions Públiques i de la Comunicació Integral, a partir del Model RACE establert per Marston, com a pas previ a la formulació d'una aportació d'un Model Global de Planificació Estratègica, d'aplicació tant en Relacions Públiques com en Comunicació Integral.
A continuació es presenta el treball de camp empíric dut a terme amb la finalitat de verificar l'adequat ús de la Planificació Estratègica per part d'algunes agències de Relacions Públiques i Comunicació de l'estat espanyol i, en últim lloc, es detallen les conclusions de la tesi doctoral.
En el estado de la cuestión se inicia la cuestión conceptual y terminológica a través del análisis de la evolución histórica de la planificación estratégica desde el punto de vista militar, de la Teoría de los Juegos, de la Teoría Organizacional y del Management para, a continuación, exponer cómo se concibe la función directiva en tanto que ámbito de estudio, estableciendo las distinciones establecidas desde la Escuela Organizacional, la Escuela de las Relaciones Públicas y la Escuela de la Comunicación Integral (Comunicación Total y Comunicación Corporativa).
Tras exponer los conceptos fundamentales de las Relaciones Públicas y de la Comunicación Integral (Imagen y Reputación; Percepciones, Actitudes y Conducta; Identidad; Cultura Organizacional; Visión, Misión, Valores y Credo Corporativo; Entorno y Responsabilidad Social Corporativa -RSC-; Conflicto e Issues Management -Gestión de Conflictos Potenciales-; y Públicos y Stakeholders), se aborda la descripción de diversos modelos de Planificación Estratégica en la Teoría de las Relaciones Públicas y de la Comunicación Integral a partir del Modelo RACE establecido por Marston, como paso previo a la formulación de una aportación de un Modelo Global de Planificación Estratégica, de aplicación tanto en Relaciones Públicas como en Comunicación Integral.
A continuación se presenta el trabajo de campo empírico llevado a cabo con el fin de verificar el adecuado uso de la Planificación Estratégica por parte de algunas agencias y consultoras de Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación del estado español y, por último, se detallan las conclusiones finales de la tesis doctoral.
The goal of this study is to propose a model of strategic planning in Public Relations and Corporate Communication. The literature review initiates the conceptual and terminological approach to the model. This is done by means of an analysis of the historical evolution of strategic planning from a number of points of view: the military one, game theory, and organizational and management theory. This is followed by a description and comparison of the communicative managing function as an area of study as conceived by the Organizational school, the Public Relations school, and the Corporate Communication school. Following the presentation of the main Public Relations concepts (i.e. image and reputation; perception, attitude, and conduct; identity; organizational culture; vision, mission, values, and corporate credo; environment and corporate social responsibility; conflict and issues management; audiences and stakeholders) the RACE model by Marston is used as a reference to describe a number of strategic planning models within the theory of Public Relations and Corporate Communication. On the grounds of such a description, a contribution to a model of strategic planning is made, which is applicable to both Public Relations and Corporate Communication. An empirical study follows which verifies the appropriate use of strategic planning by a number of Public Relations and Corporate Communication agencies in Spain. Finally, the conclusions to the doctoral dissertation are presented.

Examensarbetets mål har varit att utveckla en modell för att värdera och prioritera utvecklingsprojekt som verkar för att projektportföljen som helhet ska stödja företagets strategier. För att uppnå målet gavs studien syftet att förklara en process samt vilka styrmedel och parametrar som skapar en projektportföljhantering med koppling till strategin. Bakgrunden till syftet grundas både empiriskt och i vetenskapen. Den empiriska grunden sammanfattas i fyra utmaningar som identifierats genom en förstudie och genom beställaren Propias erfarenhet i följande fyra punkter: a) Företagen upplever en saknad av översikt över hur projekten uppfyller strategin. b) Önskar ökad transparens kring hur strategiska värderingar och prioriteringar görs. c) När externa förutsättningarna genom strategi ändras är det inte säkert att projektet omvärderas. d) Projekt växer och blir mer komplexa utan att omvärderas och har på så sätt svårt att motivera resursåtgång. En förstudie av befintlig vetenskap påvisade att koppling mellan projektportföljhantering och strategi behövde undersökas vidare. För att svara på företagens utmaningar och samtidigt bringa klarhet i hur strategi kan kopplas till projektportföljhantering gjordes en teoretisk utveckling av en modell och analysmodell som sedan låg till grund för att analysera data från en empirisk studie. Den empiriska insamlingen gjordes genom kvalitativa intervjuer på tre företag på koncernnivå och inom ett av företagen gjordes en mer omfattande studie där även enskilda affärsområden studerades.Arbetet resulterade i en modell som innefattar en process som beskriver stegen från identifiering av initiativ till utvärdering samt utifrån vilka styrmedel och värderingsparametrar, prioritering samt beslut inom processen ska baseras på. Stegen i modellen är identifiering, klassificering, balansering, urval, prioritering, optimering, sekvensering, beslut och utvärdering. De styrmedel som kopplas till processen och som lämpar sig för att koppla strategi till projektportföljhanteringsprocessen(PPH) är främst riktlinjer, budget, mål och mätetal samt strategiska perspektiv. Hur stegen kopplas ihop med styrmedel och parametrar visualiseras i Figur 1.För utmaningarna a, och b, föreslås att företag har identifiering, klassificering och balansering av projekt och placerar projekten i rätt portfölj samt att företag använder sig av en projektportföljhanteringsprocess (PPH-process) som skapar transparens och en översikt. För utmaningarna c, och d, föreslås att företag kopplar sin strategi till sina projektportföljer, skapar en synkronisering mellan strategi- och PPH-processen samt parkerar projekt som inte är aktuella för denna iteration av PPH-processen.
The goal of the thesis is to develop a model to valuate and prioritize development projects to ensure that the project portfolio is in line with strategy. To reach the goal the report was given the purpose to explain a process and which management control instruments and valuation parameters that creates a project portfolio management process that is connected to strategy. The background is based both in theory and empirically, which was ensured during the pre-study. The empirical background can be summed up in four main points: a) Businesses experience a lack of overview regarding how projects contribute strategy. b) Businesses wish for increased transparency regarding how strategic valuations and prioritization are being made. c) When external factors incorporated in strategy is changing it does not mean the all projects are re-valuated. d) When projects grow to be gradually more complex there is a tendency of not revaluating, hence resulting in trouble allocating resources for the project.A pre-study was conducted which showed that research finds a gap between strategy and how project portfolios are managed and that gap needs to be further examined. To fill the gap and answer to the empirical challenges a theoretically developed model has been developed combined with a model of analysis which was the foundation of the analysis of empirical data. The empirical data was collected through qualitative interviews from three different companies on corporate level as well from business level in one of the companies.This report has resulted in a process, management control components and parameters to be able to evaluate and prioritize project in a portfolio. The process consists of the steps identifying, clustering, balancing, selecting, prioritizing, optimizing, sequencing, deciding and evaluating. Meanwhile, guidelines, budget, performance measurement with goals and strategic perspectives are suitable formats for transferring strategy into the project portfolio management process.To handle point a) and b) above the study suggests that the process steps identifying, Clustering and balancing are used to place the projects in the appropriate portfolio and by that facilitate balance between projects and initiatives. To ensure transparency and enable overview the process needs to be formal and followed by the users. Regarding point c) and d) it is suggested that the project portfolio management process need to be adjusted for compatibility with the strategy development process and that projects.

The Master's thesis "Application of an Integrated Model of Management and Design of Balanced Scorecard in the Organization" focusing on the definition of internal management analysis with target to evaluate the economic success of the company TOPAZ s.r.o. with using of Balanced Scorecard method. The analyzed entity operates in the glass industry and is engaged in the production of luxury domestic glass. Thesis is devided on three parts. First theoretical part defines the current company problems and the potentials for the solving of. The second part - practical, uses an genuine integrated model of management together with Balanced Scorecard method as a tool for definition, continous measurement and performance monitoring of company growth. The results and outputs from should brings the real feed-back to the company with target to prepare strategic map and benchmark for the right strategic company objectives and goals definition. As a key point for performance measurement system was set up Economic Value Added (EVA) indicator. Third part includes conclusion and complete evaluation of the thesis from the view of value added positives reached on.