Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Strategic planning in agriculture'

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2013
The importance of achieving governmental goals within the spheres of government is a valuable dimension of service delivery through which communities realise the fulfilment of promises made by government. The strategic management process is one of the tools to be used to achieve governmental goals. This study shows the importance of using strategic management process in achieving governmental goals: A case study of Limpopo Department of Agriculture. The problems and challenges identified during the process are highlighted for probing. There is a need for the department to acknowledge and recognise the strategic management function by fully utilising the process thereof in order to see its positive contribution to service delivery. The following areas were investigated by the researcher; demographics profile of therespondents; the challenges in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategy; the importance of proper management of strategy; the role of strategy in achieving governmental goals, the mechanisms of communicating departmental strategies. The collected data was categorised into themes and subthemes to accommodate proper analysis and interpretation. In conclusion the study gave recommendations on how strategic management processes can be improved through proper consultations both internally and externally, effective communication processes, and bottom-up approach as part of the consultation processes. It also indicated the importance of management team taking ownership of the strategic management processes. However, the recommendations given are not cast in stone towards improving strategic management process. The senior management team of Limpopo Department of Agriculture should consider recommendations in this study together with other solutions to improve service delivery to the citizens of Limpopo in the agricultural sector.

This study is based on the premise that it is important to understand how niche marketers manage the process of farm level adaptive change. A review of the relevent literature revealed the limitations of research on the strategic planning process pertaining to small business. A normative model of the strategic planning process was synthesised and used as an anyalystical framework to assess the planning behaviour of agricultural niche marketers in the study. On completion of a review of research methodologies for the social sciences, the multiple-case holistic design was selected. Data was collected and analyzed. The principal analytical method used was pattern matching. The technique of explanation building was applied in order to draw conclusions about the correspondence between the normative model and the actual planning practices of agricultural niche marketers. A revise model of the planning process is then proposed.
viii, 100, vi leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.

Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Agricultural Economics))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
The planning processes involved in the design and development of strategic land information systems in a semantic context require a logical approach. An array of efficacy problems associated with the relevance of the information required and the data to be provided must be dealt with in terms of this logical approach so that wise decisions can be made about future land resource use options. This study applies the aforementioned statement to strategic decision-making regarding information management in the provision of accurate and relevant information about the characteristics of the land resource for use by both the public and private sectors in South Africa. With ever evolving human needs that increase pressure on the limited land resource, the need for accurate and relevant information for strategic purposes is increasing. However, even at the present time, land information systems design and development is characterised by a technical design orientation and a narrow cost-efficiency focus, with a lack of strategic envisioning. Strategic decisions require effective choices regarding what data should be collected and how this should be stored and processed to support landresource- use decisions in the future. Information systems can, however, not cater for too many variables due to cost implications. Hence, strategic choices in generating only the required information and data for storage and processing become necessary.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agricultural Economics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African table grape industry has evolved significantly in the last two decades. Ever improving supply chain technologies, post-harvest technology innovation, and more efficient production inputs have all stimulated the production of table grapes in all five South African production regions. While the industry in general is well developed, from the late 1990s the competitiveness status of the South African table grape industry has been negative as far as international competitiveness is rated. Prior to this, from 1961 to 1998, the industry had recorded positive trends in competitiveness. The recent decline, from as early as the 2000s, in the competitiveness of the industry can be attributed to rising competition from alternate Southern Hemisphere suppliers, increasing production costs and export costs, as well as inadequate market diversification. As a result of its negative competitiveness status, the table grape industry wants to diversify its export markets in order to improve and protect the industry‟s position in the global table grape markets. The objective of this study is to investigate the viability of specific export market diversification scenarios. The aim is to evaluate the potential impact on the table grape industry if export volumes were to be relocated from traditional to emerging markets, and the potential risk if the industry were to maintain the current market distribution. The study developed a deterministic farm-level model based on accounting principles as a tool for simulating and analysing the impact of changes in markets on the financial viability of farms under different scenarios. A scenario development process is adopted in this study as it offers the possibility of integrating various kinds of data in a consistent manner, and it can represent the views and expectations of several stakeholders simultaneously. Three scenarios were developed: (i) Scenario 1 presents the continuation of current market distributions (i.e. 85% of South African exports are marketed in Europe and another 15% are distributed to other global markets); (ii) Scenario 2A depicts a situation where export volumes are slowly redistributed to emerging markets; and (iii) Scenario 2B presents a situation where export volumes are rapidly redistributed to emerging markets. The targets for both Scenarios 2A and 2B are to market 60% of South African exports to Europe and 40% to other global markets. Scenarios 2A and 2B are driven by similar factors, including improving industry information, globalisation, increasing competition, and table grape prices An analysis of factors shaping the table grape export sector shows that the industry can no longer afford to send large export quantities predominantly to its traditional markets, due to increasing competition and diminishing market prices. Furthermore, the analysis shows that continuing with the current market diversification will have a negative impact on the industry, as farm returns, employment and farm units will decline under this scenario. The results suggest that the industry would be better off if export volumes were redistributed away from Europe to other markets.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die laaste twee dekades het die Suid Afrikaanse Tafeldruif Industrie met rasse skrede vooruitgegaan. Dit kan grootliks toegeskryf word aan verbeterde tegnologiese ontwikkeling en innovasie in die voorsieningsketting en na-oes tegnologie arenas, asook aan meer doeltreffende produksie insette wat produksie toenames in al vyf die Suid Afrikaanse produksie areas gestimuleer het. Alhoewel die industrie relatief goed ontwikkeld was sedert sy ontstaan, was die kompeterende status daarvan meestal negatief sedert die 1990‟s, gemeet aan internasionale kompetisie. Daar was egter tussen 1961 en 1998 ook positiewe mededinging tendense. Die onlangse verlaagde vlakke van mededingendheid van die industrie (veral sedert die vroeë 2000‟s) kan toegeskryf word aan verhoogde kompetisie vanaf ander Suidelike Halfrond verskaffers, verhoogde produksie- en uitvoerkoste, asook aan onvoldoende mark diversifisering. As gevolg van die negatiewe mededingendheid status, wil die tafeldruif industrie sy uitvoer markte diversifiseer om te verseker dat die industrie sy posisie in die globale tafeldruif mark kan beskerm. Die doel van hierdie studie is dus om die lewensvatbaarheid van spesifieke uitvoer mark diversifisering scenario‟s te ondersoek. Daarmee saam is die potensiële impak op die industrie ook bepaal vir (a) „n hoë persentasie uitvoer volumes wat verskuif vanaf tradisionele markte na ontluikende market, of (b) wat die risiko sal wees indien die huidige markverspreiding vlakke behou word. Die studie ontwikkel „n deterministiese plaasvlak model, gebaseer op rekeningkundige beginsels, om as hulpmiddel te dien vir die simulering en analise van die impak van verandering van teikenmarkte op die fnansiële lewensvatbaarheid van plase onder verskillende omstandighede. „n Scenario intwikkelings proses word in hierdie studie aangeneem aangesien dit toelaat vir die integrasie van verskillende tipes data op „n eenvormige wyse, terwyl dit ook die sieninge en verwagtinge van verskeie rolspelers terselfdertyd kan verteenwoordig. Drie scenario‟s word ontwikkel naamlik (i) Scenario 1: Dit verteenwoordig die huidige mark verspreiding (85% van Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere word in Europa bemark terwyl 15% versprei word na ander globale markte); (ii) Scenario 2A: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes stadig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte; en (iii) Scenario 2B: Hier word die situasie uitgebeeld indien uitvoer volumes vinnig herverdeel word na ontluikende markte. Die teikens vir beide Scenario 2A en 2B is om 60% van die Suid Afrikaanse uitvoere in Europa te bemark en 40% in ander globale markte. Beide scenario‟s word deur dieselfde faktore gestu wat onder andere verbeterde industrie inligting, globalisering, verhoogde kompetisie en produk pryse insluit. „n Ontleding van die vormende faktore van die tafeldruif uitvoer sektor toon dat die industrie nie langer kan bekostig om hoë uitvoer volumes na die tradisionele markte te stuur nie, as gevolg van sterker kompetisie en krimpende markpryse. Die ontleding toon ook verder dat, indien voortgegaan word met die huidige mark diversifiserings model, die industrie negatief beïnvloed sal word in terme van verlaagde plaas inkomste, werkverskaffing en die aantal boerdery eenhede. Die uitslae dui dus daarop dat die industrie beter daaraan toe sal wees indien die huidige uitvoer volumes herverdeel kan word na ander (nie-Europese) markte.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die besigheidsomgewing van die landbou industrie ondervind huidiglik baie veranderinge op makro sowel as teikenmarkomgewing met faktore wat nie noodwendig in die nabye toekoms gaan verbeter nie. Gebeure op die makro en teikenmarkomgewing het gelei tot meer onsekerheid en verhoogde mededinging binne die industie. Die doel van hierdie studie is om 'n perspektief te gee van 'n volhoubare besigheidsmodel vir Denau Boerdery, 'n familebesigheid, primêr betrokke in die produksie van tafeldruiwe en sagtesitrus. Met 'n analise van die eksterne en interne omgewing waarbinne Denau Boerdery opereer poog hierdie studie om die besigheid strategies kompeterend te posisioneer vir die langtermyn. Die navorsingsvraag van die studie is: Wat is die optimale besigheidsmodel vir Denau Boerdery om volhoubaar kompeterend geposisioneer te wees oor geslagte heen? Die ondersoekvelde wat op hierdie probleem impakteer is die rigting waarin die globale sagtevrugtebedryf neig ten opsigte van produksie, verpakking, verkoeling, distribusie en die dinamika binne die bemarkingswêreld vir tafeldruiwe en sitrus. 'n Kombinasie van interpretivisme (interpretivism) en subjektivisme (subjectivism) is as navorsingsfilosofie in hierdie studie gebruik. 'n Induktiewe benadering is in hierdie studie gebruik. Die resultaat van die induktiewe benadering sal wees om 'n teoretiese model te formuleer. Die benadering van hierdie studie is om 'n gevallestudie te doen met Denau Boerdery as die onderwerp van die gevallestudie. Kwalitatiewe data is ingesamel deur relevante literatuur en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. Vir die doel van hierdie studie is strategie gedefinieer as die kompeterende aksies en bestuursbenadering wat bestuurders gebruik om die besigheid te groei en om klante te trek en te bevredig. Hierdie kompeterende aksies en bestuursbenadering het ten doel om suksesvol mee te ding en operasionele aktiwiteite so uit te voer dat geteikende vlakke van organisatoriese prestasie bereik word. Waar tradisionele strategie gefokus het op die pas van bestaande hulpbronne op ontwikkelende geleenthede, probeer 'n dinamiese strategiese benadering om gapings vir organisasies sigbaar te maak tussen hulpbronne en aspirasies. Hierdie geidentifiseerde gapings skep die energie en motivering vir bestuur om aksie te mobiliseer wat die balans herstel. Die studie toon dat strategiese argitektuur beskryf kan word as 'n hoëvlak bloudruk vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe funksionaliteite, die verkryging van nuwe vaardighede of die migrasie van bestaande vaardighede en 'n omvorming van die interaksie tussen besighede en kliënt. Die strategiese argitektuur is 'n organisasie se kern logika om waarde te skep op 'n volhoubare basis en vorm daarom die grondslag van 'n organisasie se kompeterende potensiaal. Dit beïnvloed ook die huidige kompeterende optrede van 'n onderneming en kan daarom verduidelik hoekom 'n onderneming dalk nie kompeterend in huidige omstandighede is nie. Die strategiese argitektuur van 'n besigheid is nie dieselfde as die besigheidsmodel nie. Die strategiese argitektuur van 'n besigheid is 'n meer uitgebreide en omvattende strategiese beskrywing. Die besigheidsmodel is 'n integrale onderafdeling van die strategiese argitektuur. Volgens die litratuurstudie bestaan die hoofkomponente van 'n strategiese argitektuur die analise en ontwikkeling van: - beskrywings van kern aspirasie of 'n strategiese filosofie bestaande uit die missie, visie en organisasie waardes; - die eksterne omgewing - 'n konteksanalise wat die kompetisie in die industrie asook verbruikersneigings en -patrone reflekteer; - die interne omgewing - 'n konteks-analise bestaande uit 'n finansiële analise, interne waardeketting, kernvaardighede, produk posisioneringsanalise en strategiese kwessie-analise -'‟n besigheidsmodel-beskrywing wat die volgende insluit: o deelnemingstrategie o hulpbronstrategie o kompeterende strategie o winsstrategie - die scenarios en vooruitsigte; - die strategie-uitvoeringspraktyke wat die volgende insluit: o strategiese temas of fokusareas o strategiese padkaart wat strategiese doelwitte verteenwoordig o gebalanseerde telkaart wat strategiese metings verteenwoordig - 'n strategiese innovasiesiklus wat insluit: o besigheidsmodel-innovasie o interne en eksterne begrip o konvergerende en divergerende strategiese gesprekke. Die studie beklemtoon die belangrikheid van die implimentering van 'n strategie. Gesofistikeerde beleggers het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat uitvoering van strategie selfs belangriker is as visie. Navorsing toon dat twee woorde gereeld opduik waar deurbrake by uitvoering van strategie gemaak is naamlik: 'belyning' en 'fokus'. Strukture word ontwerp om die uitvoering van die strategiese plan te dryf. Strukture maak dit vir mense moontlik om verwagtinge waaraan hulle moet voldoen op so 'n wyse te definieer dat dit altyd fokus om die kapasiteit van die sisteem te verbeter en sodoende die bestaande verbruikers gelukkig te hou en nuwe verbruikers te trek. Om dit te bereik definieer die organisasie baie duidelik wat van mense op alle verantwoordelikheidsvlakke verwag word om hierdie doel te bereik. Volhoubaarheid van 'n besigheid beteken om besigheidsbedrywighede so uit te voer dat dit nie die vermoë van toekomstige geslagte om na hulself om te sien, benadeel nie. Vir hierdie studie is die term volhoubaarheid in 'n strategiese ekonomiese konteks gebruik en het nie op die natuurlike en sosiale aspekte gefokus nie. Uit die literatuur kan korporatiewe bestuur soos volg gedefinieer word: dit is die gepaste samestelling van die raad van direkteure se strukture, prosesse en waardes om te voldoen aan die vinnig veranderende vraag van aandeelhouers en belangegroepe oor hul besigheid Die King III verslag poog om aan die spits van internasionale korporatiewe bestuur te bly. Die filosofie van die verslag handel oor leierskap, volhoubaarheid en korporatiewe eienaarskap. Die onderwerp van studie in hierdie tesis is 'n gevallestudie van 'n familiebesigheid. Vir hierdie studie is 'n famliebesigheid soos volg definieer: - ten minste 51 persent van die besigheid besit; - ten minste twee familielede betrokke is by die bestuur van die besigheid; en - die oorgee van bestuur en eienaarskap na die volgende generasie in die familie in die vooruitsig gestel word. Uit die literatuur is dit duidelik dat in diepte kennis van 'n besigheid se eksterne en interne omgewing 'n voorvereiste vir bestuurders is om daarin te slaag om 'n strategie te formuleer en te belyn met die besigheid se situasie en omgewing om sodoende te bou op die mededingende voordeel en die besigheid se prestasie te verbeter. Dit is duidelik dat Denau Boerdery in 'n baie mededingende omgewing besigheid doen. Faktore in Denau Boerdery se makro-omgewing wat nie ignoreer kan word in hul strategiese posisionering is die onsekerheid wat 'n gebrek aan 'n groenskrif vir grondhervorming te weeg bring, die wisselvallige wisselkoers, MIV/Vigs se gevolge en klimaatsverandering se potensiele negatiewe gevolge. Faktore in die teikenmarkomgewing wat die grootste invloed op Denau Boerdery se strategiese posisionering kan uitoefen sluit in: - nuwe geleenthede en markte as gevolg van globalisering, - verandering in die koopkrag van supermarkte, - meer gesofistikeerde verbruikers, - intergrasie moontlikhede in die waardeketting, en - verhoudinge met sleutel besluitnemers in die mark. Denau Boerdery se interne analise toon dat die besigheid finansieel gesond is en oor 'n sterk balanstaat beskik. Denau Boerdery weeg goed op teen die meeste van die industrie se KSF'e, maar produksievolumes per hektaar kan verbeter. Voorwaardse integrasie van die besigheid deur as 'n produsente uitvoerder geposisioneer te wees pas in by huidige marktendense. Denau Boerdery volg 'n gefokusde gedifferensieerde strategie en die waardeproposisie is in opsomming op die volgende elemente gebou: - Effektiewe waardeketting na verbruikers. - Die Hoekstra Superfruit Handelsmerk. - Hoekstra Fruit Exporters se vermoë om druiwe vanaf November tot April te lewer. - Persoonlike identifisering met die Hoekstra handelsmerk en die deurlopende ontwikkeling van die handelsmerk. - Die lewering van 'n diens aan supermarkte om produkte op die regte tyd, in die gevraagde kwalitiet, in die ooreengekome hoeveelheid met die korrekte dokumentasie te voorsien. - Goeie, direkte verhoudinge met sleutel besluitnemers in die mark. - Voldoening aan alle internationale etiese en voedselveiligheidsakreditasies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The business environment of the agricultural industry is currently experiencing many changes on macro level as well as in the target market environment, with factors that may not necessarily improve in the near future. Events in the macro- and target market environments lead to more uncertainty and increased competition within the industry. The goal of this study is to give a perspective of a sustainable business model for Denau Farms, a family business involved mainly in the production of table grapes and soft citrus. With an analysis of the external and internal environments within which Denau Farms operates, this study aims to position the business for strategic competitiveness in the long term. The research question of this study is: “What is the optimal business model for Denau Farms to be positioned in a sustainable and competitive way over a number of generations?” The research fields that impact on this problem relates to the direction in which the global deciduous fruit industry tends regarding production, packaging, cooling, distribution and the dynamics within the marketing world of grapes and citrus. A combination of interpretivism and subjectivism is used as research philosophy in this study and an inductive approach was used. The result of the inductive approach will be to formulate a theory. The strategy is to do a case study with Denau Boerdery as the subject of the study. Qualitative data was collected through relevant literature and semi-structured interviews. For the purpose of this study, strategy is defined as the competitive action and management approach that managers use to grow a business and to draw and satisfy client's needs. These competitive actions and managment approach aims to compete successfully and perform operational activities in such a way that targeted levels of organisational performance can be reached. Where traditional strategy focuses on fitting existing resources to developing opportunities, a strategic aim points out gaps between resources and aspirations. The study shows that strategic architecture can be described as a high level blueprint for the development of new functionalities, the acquiring of new skills or the migration of current skills and the transformation of the interaction between businesses and clients. The strategic architecture is an organisation's core logic to create value on a sustainable basis and, therefore, forms the foundation of an organisation's competitive potential. It also influences the current competitive behaviour of an organisation and can, therefore, explain why an organisation is not currently competitive. The strategic architecture of a business is not the same as the business model. The strategic architecture of a business is more expanded and an extensive strategic description. The business model is only one subdivision of the strategic architecture. According to the literature, the main components of a strategic architecture is the analysis and development of: - descriptions of core aspirations of a strategic philosophy existing of the mission, vision and organisation's values; - the external environment – a context analysis reflecting the competition in the industry as well as the consumer trends and patterns; - the internal environment – a context analysis existing of a financial analysis, internal value chain, core skills, product positioning analysis and strategic issue analysis; - a business model description including the following; o participation strategy o resource strategy o competitive strategy o profit strategy - the scenarios and prospects; - the strategy implementation practices consisting of the following; o strategic themes of focus areas o strategic roadmap representing strategic goals o balanced scorecard representing strategic measures - a strategic innovation cycle including; o business model innovation o internal and external understanding o convergent and divergent strategic talks The study accentuates the importance of implementing a strategy. Sophisticated investors have come to the conclusion that the execution of a strategy is even more important than vision. Research shows that two words often surface where breakthroughs are made in the execution of a strategy, namely alignment and focus. Structures are designed to drive the execution of the strategic plan. Structures make it possible for people to define the expectations they must adhere to in such a way that it always focuses on improving the capacity of the system in order to keep the current consumers happy and to draw new consumers. To achieve this goal, the organisation clearly defines what is expected of people on all levels of responsibility. Sustainability of a company means to execute business activities in such a way that it doesn't disadvantage the ability of future generations to look after themselves. For this study, the term sustainability is used in a strategic economic context and doesn't focus on the natural and social aspects. From the literature, corporate management is defined as: the appropriate composition of the board of directors' structures, processes and values to comply with the fast changing demand of shareholders and interest groups about their business. The King III report aims to stay on the cutting edge of international corporate management. The philosophy of the report concerns leadership, sustainability and corporate ownership. The subject of the study in this thesis is a case study of a family business. For this study, a family business is defined as follows: - at least 51 percent of the business is owned by the family; - at least two family members are involved in the management of the business; and - there is the prospect of handing over the management and ownership to the next generation in the family. From the literature, it is clear that in-depth knowledge of a business' external and internal environment is a prerequisite for managers to be able to successfully formulate a strategy and to align it with the business situation and environment in order to build upon the competitive advantage and improve the business‟ achievement. It is clear that Denau Farms is doing business in a very competitive environment. Factors in Denau Farms' macro environment that cannot be ignored for their strategic positioning is the uncertainty that a lack of a green paper for land reform brings about, the fluctuating exchange rate, the effects of HIV/Aids and climate change's potential negative effects. Factors in the target market environment that can have the greatest influence on Denau Farms' strategic positioning include: - new opportunities and markets that is a result of globalisation, - changes in the buying power of supermarkets, - more sophisticated consumers, - integration possibilities in the value chain, - relationships with key decision makers in the market. Denau Farms' internal analysis shows that the business is financially sound and has a strong balance sheet. Denau Farms weigh up well against most of the industry's critical success factors (CSFs) but production volumes per hectare can improve. Forward integration of the business through being positioned as a producer-exporter fits in with current market trends. Denau Farms follow a focused, differentiated strategy and the value proposition is built on the following elements: - Effective value chain to consumers - Access to the Hoekstra Superfruit trademark - Hoekstra Fruit Exporters' ability to deliver grapes from November to April - Own interest - Good, direct relationships with key decision makers in the market - Compliance to all international ethical and food safety accreditation

Thesis (Master of Community Planning)--University of Cincinnati, 2009.
Advisor: David J. Edelman. Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Feb. 22, 2010). Includes abstract. Keywords: agricultural land loss;strategic plan;urban planning. Includes bibliographical references.

Climate change caused by green house gas emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, is today’s most debated environmental issue. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the legally binding Kyoto protocol, is the emission regulatory framework. Tanzania has ratified both the conventions supporting carbon reductions.

Tanzania has a very varied climate with two rainfall regimes dominating the country, bimodal and unimodal. Scientific literature predicts a 2,2-4°C average increase in temperature for Tanzania, all studies also predict a higher increase in the cooler period and lower in the warm period. Rainfall predictions are less certain but in general a 10 % average increase is expected but the distribution uneven, both between rain periods and geographically. Tanzanian reports estimate a 5-45 % increase in rainfall in bimodal regions and a 5-15 % decrease in unimodal regions. The distribution of increase in bimodal regions will be uneven, with an increase in the long rain period and a decrease in the short rain period.

Agriculture is indisputably the most important source of income in Tanzania standing for 80% of employment and 50% of GNP. Climate change will therefore inevitably affect the economy and livelihood of people. Developing countries are also more vulnerable due to lower adaptation capacity. Effects on Tanzania are predicted to be both positive and negative. Maize production, the major staple, is predicted an average 33% decline while cash crops like coffee and cotton are predicted to increase. To be able to adapt there first has to be a perception of need to adapt, adaption strategies then have to be developed and barriers worked through. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the level of awareness, strategies and barriers existing for adaption to climate change on national, regional and local level, Tanzania nationally and Babati regionally and locally. The research questions are; How do people perceive climate change? What are the strategies for adapting to climate change? What are the barriers for adaption to climate change? At national level policy framework and strategies were used to answer the research questions. At regional and local level a field study was conducted in Babati to answer the research questions at these levels.

The study showed that Tanzania nationally has declared their conviction in climate change and state that the issue has to be addressed. Agriculture is identified as one of the most vulnerable areas however climate change is not mainstreamed into agricultural and environmental policy framework. In Babati district no policy was found on climate change and official perception varied. Concerns were related to timing and amount of rainfall, the results were the same for farmers. Global climate change was also known for both studied groups and existed as a parallel truth with the local reason for changes. A number of adaption strategies are also identified nationally, both used and potential, where small scale irrigation is the primary adaptive step. Switching to draught resistant crops is also prioritized in the North eastern region. In Babati adaption strategies were promoted, even though there was not a general policy or perception, by officials to switch to short-term crops and planting of trees. Switching cops was also the most commonly used strategy by farmers along with traditional diversification. Nationally a large number of barriers are also identified including, lack of funding, poverty, HIV, lack of infrastructure and analytic capacity. Officials in Babati also mentioned the lack of money, deforestation, lack of clouds, education, irrigation and seeds. The farmers in Babati were not so clear about what they needed to adapt, irrigation, livestock backup, diversification and switching crops were mentioned, not differing much from used strategies.

Os distribuidores de insumos têm desempenhado um papel importante na comercialização e distribuição de insumos aos consumidores finais (agricultores). Além de vender os insumos, essas empresas são fornecedores de serviços importantes e também participam no processo de desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, conhecimento de mercado e, especialmente, de fornecimento de crédito. O planejamento é necessário para que o futuro seja levado em consideração, e o sistema de gestão é essencial na organização, tornando-se um diferencial competitivo e uma ferramenta de sucesso na implementação de estratégias. O diagnóstico das práticas de gestão nos canais de distribuição de insumos permite identificar os principais pontos de melhoria, e esses merecerão todos os esforços de tempo e investimento dos gestores. O presente trabalho busca responder à seguinte pergunta: como fomentar o processo de planejamento estratégico de um canal de distribuição de insumos agrícolas utilizando projetos previamente estruturados que podem ser aplicados dependendo do nível de gestão encontrado no canal? Para tanto, lança mão de uma pesquisa exploratória qualitativa que analisa cinco estudos de casos. Como resultado, foi proposto um modelo de classificação do nível de gestão de canais de distribuição de insumos agrícolas que subsidiou as análises dos projetos estratégicos relacionados com o nível de gestão existente no canal; e também uma gama de projetos estratégicos previamente pensados em função do nível de gestão. Percebe-se uma lacuna na proposição dos projetos estratégicos e o nível de gestão, sendo importante que no exercício do planejamento estratégico, tenha-se o conhecimento prévio desse.
Agricultural input dealers play an important role in the commercialization and distribution of the inputs to final users (growers). Besides selling inputs, these companies supply important services and participate in the development of new technologies, in sharing market knowledge and specially in funding growers\' activities. Planning is necessary to bring light to the future while the management system is essential for the organization, becoming a competitive advantage and a successful tool for the implementation of the strategy. The diagnosis of management practices in input dealers allows identifying the main improvement points which should deserve time spending and investment by the firms\' managers. This research aims to address the following question: how to promote the strategic planning process of an agricultural input dealer by using previously structured projects that could be applied based on the level of management standard? In order to do so, this qualitative and exploratory research analyzed five case studies. It resulted on a framework for classifying the level of management standard of agricultural input dealers, which was used to analyze the strategic projects related to the existing management standard of each dealer. It also resulted on a range of strategic projects previously thought according to the level of management standard. It became evident that there is a gap between the proposed strategic projects and the level of management standard, being important that managers have a previous knowledge of such level for planning the firm\'s strategies.

Cette recherche, engagée par un urbaniste professionnel, se fixe pour objectif d’explorer les modalités d’aménagement mises en œuvre dans les territoires, d’analyser les formes et conditions de la rencontre des politiques publiques dans les domaines de l’urbanisme et de l’agriculture, d’identifier les leviers à disposition des décideurs locaux pour réaliser cette rencontre et tendre ainsi vers les objectifs de développement durable fixés par le législateur. La gestion sectorielle des espaces agricoles et des espaces urbains a contribué à la perte du lien historique d’interdépendance et de complémentarité qui a longtemps organisé le rapport entre villes et campagnes. Au regard du constat d’une efficacité limitée des documents d’urbanisme pour réduire la consommation des espaces agricoles, le problème à gérer est celui du maintien de l’agriculture dans les espaces de concurrence avec d’autres usages. Par l’analyse des impacts territoriaux (environnementaux et socio-économiques) des politiques publiques mises en œuvre, dans le domaine de l’agriculture et de l’urbanisme, cette recherche vise à questionner les pratiques professionnelles à l’œuvre, les concepts et les méthodes d’urbanisme mobilisés. L’hypothèse de recherche pose la nécessité d’envisager la construction d’un cadre de pensée agriurbaine de l’action qui intègre l’ensemble des interactions entre l’agriculture, la ville et la nature, pour définir des connaissances et des méthodes permettant l’intégration de « l’agriurbanisme » dans l’action publique. Cette hypothèse conduit à mobiliser un corpus qui intègre une diversité de terrains vécus, passés et présents de l’urbaniste chercheur, et de terrains explorés dans le cadre de cette recherche (communauté d’agglomération du Bassin de Brive en Corrèze). La mobilisation de ce corpus vise à appréhender les conditions du passage d’un impensé agricole en urbanisme à la construction d’un cadre de pensée agriurbaine de l’action, puis à explorer comment la mise en œuvre d’un « agriurbanisme » opérationnel peut s’opérer. Ce passage de la pensée agriurbaine de l’action à l’agriurbanisme opérationnel questionne les pratiques des professionnels de l’urbanisme, interpelle les politiques locales dans leurs modalités de gouvernance et les acteurs de la société civile (notamment de l’agriculture), invite la transdisciplinarité et la controverse pour conduire à la gestion économe de l’espace ou à la préservation des sols agricoles. Ainsi la relation complexe de la ville avec son environnement naturel et vivant, les interdépendances agriurbaines, sont appréhendées pour définir une nouvelle approche de l’aménagement plus favorable aux attendus d’un développement durable des territoires
This research, undertaken by a professional urban planner, aims to explore already implemented regional planning methods, to analyze the forms and conditions of the convergence of public policies in the fields of urban planning and agriculture, to identify the tools available to local decision makers to achieve this convergence, resulting in sustainable development objectives set by the authority. The separate management of agricultural and urban spaces has contributed to the loss of the historical link of interdependence and complementarity, which has long defined the relationship between cities and countryside. With the existence of a limited effectiveness of planning documents to reduce the consumption of agricultural space, the problem to be managed is that of maintaining agriculture as it competes with other uses. By analyzing the regional impacts (both environmental and socio-economic) of existing public policies regarding agriculture and urban planning, this research aims to question the professional work practices, the concepts and existing urban planning methods. The research hypothesis posits the need to consider the construction of an agri-urban actionable framework, which integrates all interaction between agriculture, the city and nature, to discover new methods which will allow the integration of “agriurbanisme” into public action. This hypothesis integrates all previous studies, which include a diversity of personal experience, past and present, of the urban planner/researcher as well as specific project research experience (e.g. urban community of Bassin Brive in Corrèze). This endeavor aims to comprehend the conditions of the transition from an agricultural misconception of urban planning to the construction of an actionable framework and, ultimately to the implementation of an operational “agriurbanism” model. This shift from an agri-urban perspective to operational agri-planning questions the practices of urban planning professionals, challenges not only local politicians in their governance methods but civilians as well (particularly in agricultural areas), invites both transdisciplinarity and controversy resulting in economical space management or agricultural land preservation. As for the complex relationship of the city with it’s natural and living surroundings, the agri-urban interdependencies are challenged to define a new developmental approach more favorable to the needs of regional sustainable development

Cities are key locations where Sustainability needs to be addressed at all levels, as land is a finite resource. However, not all urban spaces are exploited at best, and land developers often evaluate unused, misused, or poorly-designed urban portions as impracticable constraints. Further, public authorities lose the challenge to enable and turn these urban spaces into valuable opportunities where Sustainable Urban Development may flourish. Arguing that these spatial elements are at the centre of SUD, the paper elaborates a prototype in the form of a conceptual strategic planning framework, committed to an effective recycling of the city spaces using a flexible and multidisciplinary approach. Firstly, the research focuses upon a broad review of Sustainability literature, highlighting established principles and guidelines, building a sound theoretical base for the new concept. Hence, it investigates origins, identifies and congruently suggests a definition, characterisation and classification for urban “R-Spaces”. Secondly, formal, informal and temporary fitting functions are analysed and inserted into a portfolio meant to enhance adaptability and enlarge the choices for the on-site interventions. Thirdly, the study outlines ideal quality requirements for a sustainable planning process. Then, findings are condensed in the proposal, which is articulated in the individuation of tools, actors, plans, processes and strategies. Afterwards, the prototype is tested upon case studies: Solar Community (Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna) and Hyllie Sustainable City Project, the latter developed via an international workshop (ACSI-Camp, Malmö, Sweden). Besides, the qualitative results suggest, inter alia, the need to right-size spatial interventions, separate structural and operative actors, involve synergies’ multipliers and intermediaries (e.g. entrepreneurial HUBs, innovation agencies, cluster organisations…), maintain stakeholders’ diversity and create a circular process open for new participants. Finally, the paper speculates upon a transfer of the Swedish case study to Italy, and then indicates desirable future researches to favour the prototype implementation.

This study examines the current retirement strategies of agricultural producers, determines farmers’ levels of investment and financial planning knowledge, and makes recommendations for the construction of a computer-based expert system to assist producers in developing retirement plans and strategies. The first two objectives are accomplished through the analysis of 336 self-administered and mailed surveys from producers in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington. The third objective is completed utilizing study results, information provided by individuals knowledgeable m personal finance, and literature dealing with personal financial management. Seventy percent of the survey respondents invest in non-farm assets. Farmers who do not invest off the farm cite a desire to pay down debt, little or no funds available, tax savings, and liquidity as their leading reasons not to invest off the farm, while those who do invest off-farm list tax benefits and diversification as their leading motivators. Respondents began retirement saving early and one-third of them wanted to begin withdrawing from the farming operation by the age of 60. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents with non-farm jobs invest in assets off the farm (p < .05). Producers with the highest levels of formal education are more likely to invest off the farm than the less educated producers (p < .005). Farmers with less formal education tend to delay investing for retirement until later in life (p < .001).
Master of Science

Master’s thesis is focused on draft of a corporate financial plan for agricultural cooperative Sněžné. Financial plan is created for period 2020 to 2023. In the first part, a literary research is performed theoretical knowledge related to financial planning, financial and strategic analysis. In the next part, the agricultural cooperative is introduced and analyzed on the basis of individual methods of strategic and financial analysis. The summary of these analyzes is performed by SWOT analysis. In the last part of this master‘s thesis, a financial plan is created in an optimistic and pessimistic variant with 4 years outlook. In the end, the financial plan is one more analyzed and assessmented.

The thesis explores strategic management and strategic planning at Ruskin College, an adult education college with a long history of contributing to lifelong learning and social inclusion. It has been written during a period of turbulence in the college - the collapse of a property strategy, the departure of a Principal, a failed inspection, the appointment of a new Principal and a successful re-inspection. Turbulence is a theme of the thesis and underpins some of the models for understanding strategy provided in the literature- The thesis reviews the literature, particularly that relating to further and higher education, on strategic thinking, strategic planning, strategic intent, organisational culture, mission and vision, governance, quality and inspection and how these relate to strategic management. These themes generate the research questions, which are explored using a triangulation of methods - documentary analysis, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observations - and respondent triangulation, involving all levels of staff and governors. The research findings show the strategy development process operates within a strong cultural dimension, but is subject to strong external forces. Internal and external perspectives of the college's experience of strategic planning are largely negative. Staff and governors take a cultural perspective on strategy and recognise how concepts of strategic management, such as strategic thinking and strategic conversations, might link to vision and mission. The culture of the governing body and its' changing role in strategic management are identified as significant. The research shows that the relationship between quality and strategic management is unclear and varies according to the definitions of these concepts. It shows that the inspectorate has sought to influence strategic management but the inspection framework does not recognise culture. The conclusion proposes a way forward for strategic processes and approaches in the college as well as for future research on strategic leadership.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1989.
Title from title page screen, viewed October 3, 2005. Dissertation Committee: John R. McCarthy (chair), Robert L. Arnold, Ronald S. Halinski, Rodney P. Riegle, David L. Tucker. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-99) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This report contains a strategic management model to assess the impact on the EVA тм of the individual business units and the consolidated group total of a Company, when manipulating any of the key business drivers. The model has been designed to deliver a solution to the end-user that is simple to operate and presents graphical outputs to enhance understanding and interpretation. The sensitivity analysis, the EVA тм tree and the financial statements are presented in Excel. A simulation technique is used to forecast NOPAT values from a set of key drivers. The theories used to construct the model are explained and a hypothetical example is provided. The appendices also provide the concept of EVA тм, simulation techniques, list of assumptions and model instructions. The report is comprehensive enough to allow the reader to develop, implement and test a model of this nature. Opportunities for further research are also provided.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bevat 'n strategiese bestuursmodel om die impak van individuele besigheidseenhede op ekonomiese waardetoevoeging (Engels: EVA тм) en die gekonsolideerde groeptotaal van 'n maatskappy, wanneer enige een van die sleutel besigheidsdrywers gemanipuleer word, te bepaal. Die model is ontwerp om 'n eenvoudige oplossing vir die eindgebruiker te verskaf en verskaf grafiese uiteensettings om verstaanbaarheid en interpretasie te vergemaklik. Die sensitiwiteitsanalise, ekonomiese waardetoevoegingsontleding en die finansiële state word in Excel weergee. 'n Simulasie tegniek is gebruik om NOPAT waardes van 'n stel sleutel drywers te voorspel. Die teorieë wat gebruik is om die model saam te stel, word aan die hand van 'n hipotetiese voorbeeld wat voorsien word, verduidelik. Die aanhangsels voorsien die konsep EVA тм, simulasie tegnieke, 'n lys van aannames en instruksies vir die model. Die verslag is volledig genoeg om die leser in staat te stel om 'n model van hierdie aard te ontwikkel, te toets en te implementer. Voorstelle vir verdere navorsing word voorsien.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division; in conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT, 2010.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-51).
Intel Corporation has recently implemented a "green building" policy, which states that Intel will design all new facilities to achieve a minimum LEED-Silver certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus-driven rating system used to distinguish high performance, sustainable buildings. Buildings earn "points" in different environmental categories, and the total number of points achieved determines the certification level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). While LEED certification has been successfully applied to many residential and commercial buildings, and occasionally to manufacturing facilities, it has not been applied to many wafer manufacturing facilities (fabs), which house the manufacturing and production of Intel's microprocessors. Wafer fabs have much higher energy and water consumption levels than typical buildings due to their strictly controlled temperature, humidity, and particulate requirements, making LEED certification more challenging for a fab than for a typical building. The objective of this study was to develop a planning strategy case study for Intel to achieve LEEDSilver certification for the construction of a hypothetical new wafer fab. The case study identified the main barriers to achieve LEED certification, including cost, risk, process, acceptance and alignment barriers, and outlined means to overcome them. The LEED criteria were then analyzed to determine the costs, benefits, and risks of pursuing each individual credit. The resulting "portfolio planning" model was then used to optimize a portfolio of credits for Intel to pursue. The final results indicated that for the optimized scenario, LEED-Silver certification could be achieved for a positive NPV of over $130,000. Significant cost savings were achieved through the avoidance of the credits related to energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy generation, credits that pose a significant risk to Intel due to the high energy consumption of a fab. Finally, process improvement recommendations were made for the planning, design, and construction of a LEED certified fab.
Angelo Michael Capuzzi.
S.M.
M.B.A.

The purpose of this thesis was to formulate a five year Strategic Plan for Real Plaza, covering the period 2019 to 2024. Real Plaza is the largest chain of shopping centers in Peru, an industry where many different trends are modifying the external environment, such as the increasing importance of e-commerce and environmental conservation, which are changing the whole industry and also demanding changes in the strategy of the company while reinforcing the importance of strengthening Real Plaza’s competitive advantage to compete through a differentiation strategy in the industry. The Sequential Model of the Strategic Process was used to formulate this Plan (D’Alessio, 2013). The main result of the Strategic Process shows the need for Real Plaza to develop a differentiation strategy to achieve the proposed vision for 2024 in eight major areas: (a) Financial performance, (b) Market penetration, (c) Brand recognition, (d) Mix of tenants, (e) Innovation, (f) Corporate Social Responsibility, (g) Digital transformation, and (h) Organizational Culture. Eleven strategies were retained (a) Increase penetration, (b) Increase market share, (c) Augment the quality and variety of stores, (d) Position the brand as entertainment centers for the family, (e) Create an omni-channel strategy, (f) Increase productivity of employees, (g) Brand loyalty, (h) Be environmentally and social responsible, (i) Diversify offering, (j) Transform shopping centers to entertainment centers, and (k) Strategic alliances to support the community.
Tesis

The extent of the application of the strategic planning process on dental education institutions was the problem in this descriptive study. The specific purpose was to describe the status of strategic planning based on the perceptions of the respondents. The organization, the characteristics and the impact of the strategic planning process would be investigated and described by this research. The total population of the doctoral and post-doctoral dental education institutions were included in the study. A specifically developed research instrument was used to elicit the perceptions of the respondents, both experts and chief executive officers (deans). All the experts (100 percent) completed and validated the research instrument and 65 percent of the dental education institutions completed the research instrument. The research instrument evaluated three areas of strategic planning: organization, characteristics, and the impact of strategic planning on their institutions. It was concluded that all dental education institutions participate in the strategic planning process and that the organization in the strategic planning process and that the organization and characteristics are generally similar to those in higher education institutions. The application of the strategic planning process has been proven beneficial in higher education institutions and there are perceived benefits in dental education. The study also concluded that there were conflicting perceptions that showed differences between dental and higher education institutions. These differences demonstrated that the dental education^institutions were not using the strategic planning process at the same functioning level as higher education institutions.

Strategic planning practices and superintendents' opinions regarding the effectiveness of strategic planning are different among small, medium, and large Texas independent school districts. This study sought to find areas of agreement and areas of disagreement among school district superintendents relating to the practice and effectiveness of strategic planning. Strategic planning practices examined include the development of a mission statement, operating plan, and budget; involvement of stakeholders, and strategic planning logistics. A stratified random sample of 96 superintendents each from small, medium, and large school districts was selected from a population of 1,042 school districts. Data was also collected and reported from the 7 mega school districts. Questionnaires were sent to 295 superintendents and 246 (83.4%) were returned. The questionnaire contained nine questions relating to 19 strategic planning practices and a five-part question relating to the effectiveness of strategic planning. The data was analyzed using Crosstabs, Chi-square, and one-way ANOVA statistics. The level of significance was established a priori at .05. School district size was an independent variable for six strategic planning practices of small, medium, and large school districts. Significant differences were found regarding (a) whether outside consultants were employed to assist with the district's strategic planning, (b) whether central office administrators participated in the district's planning process, (c) whether a sequence of steps was followed with a time frame for each step in the district's planning process, (d) whether someone other than the superintendent was responsible for the district's planning, (e) whether school district support staff participated in the district's planning process, and (f) whether students participated in the district's planning process. Also, a significant difference was found between large school district superintendents' and small school district superintendents' ratings of the effectiveness of strategic planning for improving management effectiveness. Finally, a correlation was observed between superintendents' ratings of strategic planning effectiveness and professional skill sets.

This thesis looks at the construction of a strategic plan within a British university (Unico). After a change in leadership, the well-known strategic planning sequence was adopted to set directions according to Unico’s three Missions, followed by the development of respective goals and measures. The evolving strategic content coincided with the development of Unico’s strategic plan. I was able to follow Unico’s planning efforts over 10 months, from first planning meeting to completion of its strategic plan. The main data source provided non-participant observation (n = 25) and ten versions of Unico’s strategic plan. Additionally, seventy-six interviews were held with participants at various points. In order to examine the strategic plan’s construction, I reconceptualised strategic planning as a communicative process consisting of oral talk and written text. Through this interplay strategic planning activities come in to being. Such reconceptualisation provided a conceptual framework to study the in situ interactions without neglecting contextual characteristics embedding the communicative process. Strategic plans are currently seen as promoting inflexibility and reinforcing the institutional nature of formal strategic planning. Adopting dialogism, as advocated by Bakhtin and Ricoeur, this research provides novel insights into the dialogic of strategy talk and strategy text, such as a strategic plan. Findings illustrated that a strategic plan production cycle provided a meaning making platform for its participants. Through recurrently amending the plan, its content became increasingly specific while at the same time reflecting agreed terminology. This thesis offers an alternative view on strategic planning, elaborates on the strategy-as-practice perspective, focusing on the under-explored area of individuals’ interactions at the micro level, and elaborates on the dialogic of text and agency/conversation, distinguishing between talk and text.

Universities are under pressure from multiple directions with accrediting bodies requiring increased focus on institutional planning efforts. University staff who manage programs, provide student services, and serve in other specialized roles are at the forefront of this changing environment. These employees may have difficulty understanding how their daily work relates to institutional planning efforts and resist change imposed from the top.

While researchers have examined employee engagement during change efforts, staff participation in strategic planning in higher education constitutes an overlooked topic. The aim of the study was to address three questions: 1) How and to what extent have university leaders communicated the strategic plan and the steps in the planning process to staff? 2) How and to what extent have staff responded to the strategic planning process? 3) What are the perceptions of middle managers involved in implementing strategic initiatives?

The study occurred at Mid-Atlantic University (MAU), a public research university located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. MAU began a strategic planning process and instructed schools and administrative units to align their strategic plans with the MAU plan before entering the implementation phase.

Study participants included eight middle managers, individuals who direct programs, supervise other staff, and are in the middle of the institution’s hierarchy. A 45-minute semi-structured interview elicited information on staff reactions to the strategic plan, communication of strategic initiatives at the university and school level, and interactions between supervisors and employees. The researcher collected and analyzed documents from the university’s strategic planning website, the staff governance association, and university publications.

Several themes emerged in the areas of communication, staff responses, and perceptions of implementation. These themes included: 1) communication of the strategic planning process did not permeate the organization; 2) staff members responded in three main ways: searching for understanding, getting excited, or becoming disillusioned or resigned to the ongoing changes; and 3) a disconnection between the planning process and implementation. This paper adds to the current body of literature and includes implications for practice and recommendations for future research in the area of staff involvement in planned change initiatives in higher education.

This cumulative dissertation covers the concepts of scenario-based strategic planning and strategic management in family firms over five articles. The first article gives an overview of the cumulative dissertation explaining the research gap, approach and contribution of the dissertation. The paper highlights the two research areas covered by the dissertation with two articles focusing on scenario-based strategic planning and two on strategic management in family firms. The second article is the first of two focusing on scenario-based strategic planning. It introduces and describes a set of six tools facilitating the implementation of scenario-based strategic planning in corporate practice. The third paper adapts these tools to the financial management and controlling context in private companies highlighting the tools’ flexibility in managing uncertain and volatile environments. The fourth article is the first of two focusing on strategic management in family firms. It analyzes organizational ambidexterity as a factor explaining family firm performance. The article shows that a high level of organizational ambidexterity in family firms leads to a higher family firm performance. The final paper concludes the dissertation examining the tendency of family firms to focus on capability exploration or resource exploitation over different generations managing the family firm.

The extent and quality of strategic planning by institutional pharmacy directors was assessed. Also examined was how the extent and quality of strategic planning, institutional characteristics, pharmacy characteristics, and pharmacy director characteristics might be associated with the pharmacy's overall level of performance in selected areas. The majority of institutional pharmacy directors reported utilizing strategic planning for their departments. The global quality of strategic planning reported by pharmacy directors was average. However, directors conducting strategic planning reported a high level of strategic planning. The directors' rated time available, knowledge, and importance of strategic planning were found to be significantly associated with pharmacy directors' rated quality of strategic planning. Additionally, pharmacy directors' rated quality of strategic planning was found to be significantly associated with pharmacy performance for clinical, distributive, and administrative services.

This study proposes a theory of naval strategic planning for programming. It identifies and describes those factors which should influence how the Navy determines its future force requirements and eventual capabilities. The work is premised upon the following hypothesis: Within the context of national military strategy, naval long-range planning for future forces should be based on an in-depth understanding of three factors: (1) the future role of the sea in national military strategy; (2) the missions naval forces will be required to perform; and (3) future trends in naval warfare. The first task of planning is to guide the organization into an uncertain future. It must identify those factors which can be used to determine future requirements. The resultant concepts can then be further developed as required by the organization's overall needs. Strategic planning is first and foremost a frame of mind for conceptualizing those requirements. This study proposes a theory to establish that framework. Keywords: Naval planning; Military strategy; Theses. (sdw)

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; and, (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2009.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 46).
Making strategic decisions about resource capabilities in the uncertain business of drug development is a challenging task. Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, is expanding from its success in small molecule therapeutics into the attractive area of biologic therapeutics, both monoclonal antibody and microbial forms. While Novartis has experience developing these types of therapeutics, they have not fully-developed the quantity that the Research group expects to source the pipeline with in the next few years. Therefore the Development group needs to grow. Determining the right number and type of scientists and technicians to hire is difficult due to the variability in the portfolio. The long development timelines, low and variable success rates impact how projects progress through the pipeline. A Monte Carlo simulation model forecasts variability and displays a numerical range of projects and headcount requirements expected for several years. This data is essential for project managers, function heads, and operations leaders to develop the five-year strategic plan for biologic development. This model quantifies the uncertainty of input variables to deliver a calculated risk of output variables, which provides useful and important information for making strategic business decisions.
by Tamara L. Conant.
M.B.A.
S.M.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1990.
Title as it appears in the M.I.T. Graduate List, Feb. 1990: Comparative analysis of corporate planning.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-109).
by Tametsugu Taketomi.
M.S.

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR A SPECIAL LIBRARY The Technical and Management Information Center of the U.S. Defense Communications Agency is a special library providing worldwide library and information services in the subject fields of communications, electronics, command and control, and computer sciences. A project was designed with the objective of developing a strategic plan for this library. Long-range and strategic planning methods commonly used in business organizations were used. An extensive review of the literature on strategic planning was done to determine the best methods available for use in a special library environment. The methods used to develop the strategic plan included: writing a plan-to-plan, four factor strategic analysis, WOTS-UP analysis, vulnerability assessment, capability profile, vulnerability analysis, key results analysis, and hierarchy of values analysis. The result of the project was a written strategic plan that included a summary statement, mission statement, background information, assumptions, objectives and strategies, schedules and evaluation, and contingency plans. The conclusion was reached that strategic planning methods used in business can be applied successfully to special libraries, although the process can be time-consuming. The literature review, methods used, and final plan provide a model for managers of special libraries interested in developing their own strategic plans. The major difficulties encountered were the amount of time necessary for the planning and the difficulty of integrating staff and management in the process. The motivated manager of a special library should, nevertheless, be able to plan strategically using methods discussed in this project.

Over the past three to four decades the community college has experienced some tremendous periods of growth and success. Much of this has been due to a growing economy and a growing population. However, the future of the community college may be in for some changes. The effects these changes are having can mean opportunity or disaster depending on the readiness of the institution. The change occurring today requires future insight, swifter action, and a proactive response. Community colleges cannot afford to leave planning for crisis situations. A proactive stance must be taken and tough questions must be asked. In 1991 the Seventy-second Texas Legislature tasked the Legislative Budget Board of Texas with the assignment of developing a long-range strategic plan for state government based on individual agency plans. The passing of House Bill No. 2009 required that all agencies of Texas State Government, including community colleges, develop a strategic plan. The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of certain independent variables towards the perceived importance of three dependent variables - statements of purpose, statements of direction and statements of impact - found in the Legislative Budget Board Strategic Planning Template. Research shows that there are a number of planning paradigms which contain some form of strategic planning. Independent variables such as administrative levels of involvement, levels of experience, levels of strategic planning training, and college location could all be significant factors in determining the success of strategic planning. The results of this study may provide community colleges in Texas with information for better understanding characteristics influencing strategic planning, for identifying strategic planning program barriers, and for evaluating strategic planning program models and outcomes throughout the state.

Resilience, in an organizational sense meaning the ability to withstand crises and disturbances, has become a keyword during the last ten years. It is associated with established activities like risk and crisis management and business continuity planning or with strategic management, but it allows for new perspectives and insights into the conditions for doing business. Applied to the whole supply chain it also provides tools for managing and aligning the logistics flows in an appropriate way. But why is resilience essential for success or survival? In context to the Swedish textile and clothing (T&C) industry, the average number of firms that went bankrupt during the recent crisis (2007-09) escalated twofold compared to the average over 2000-10 due to tremendous pressure on the Swedish credit system. The structural industrial statistics also plummeted in these crisis years aggravating other inherent or internal problems as a ’ripple effect’. The small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) were the most affected of all, facing major threats to their financial performance and ultimately to their survival, at times of economic crises. In such a context, study of organizational resilience (ORes), to survive and thrive becomes increasingly significant. To address this issue the thesis concentrates on understanding the resilience development process through crisis strategic planning in context to Swedish textile-related SMEs amidst economic crises. It investigates and answers how resilience development can be considered as a precursor for business success, how to develop and monitor resilience, and identifies its antecedents and key strategic initiatives and their differential degrees of influence. No prior studies describing organizational resilience and crisis strategic planning in an integrated processual approach using both short-term and long-term strategies through planning and adaptation were found in the literature. The thesis adopts a critical realist-grounded theory (CR-GT) approach along the metaphysical level as the structure for the resilience development process follows a causal relationship between the object (the organization), its structure (competences and strategies), the causal power (crisis strategic planning) for attaining an event/outcome (resilience) in a particular context (economic crisis). For addressing this issue of devising an outcome-based processual approach, a multivariate financial indicator called the Altman’s Z-score (used basically for calculating bankruptcy potential in firms) was used for quantifying resilience. For investigating the causal mechanism epistemological relativism along the grounded theory approach was chosen for theory generation. A mixed methodology was adopted based on quantitative statistical analyses, at first, followed by a detailed qualitative work based on surveys, interviews, case studies and secondary data for data triangulation. Analysis of data was conducted through certain thematic coding principles. A four-step hermeneutic spiral was followed by systematically combining the pre-understanding, empirics and extant literature to develop a theoretical framework through constant modification. Overall, the resilience development was highlighted along a processual framework adopted along the CR-GT view of causation. The findings are manifold. Firstly there is a need to develop economic resilience in SMEs to shift from just component-view to a more holistic systemic view of organizations, upheld by an integrated crisis strategic planning (CSP) approach, for facing dynamic environments. Secondly, the CSP process prescribed in the thesis is quite integrated and holistic, taking a view from all angles, viz. organizational structure (capabilities and strategies), processual approach etc. Such a resilience development process through CSP is based on a six-step process: (i) identification of environmental context, (ii) impact analysis, (iii) leadership analysis, (iv) capability analysis, (v) formulation/selection and implementation of strategies, and (vi) evaluation and review of strategic options, utilizing a suite of strategic tools and techniques and is particularly simple for application in an SME setting. Third, operationalization of such a causal mechanism based upon implementation of strategic tools is based upon using a multivariate financial indicator like Altman’s Z-score to outline the relation between ORes and business ‘health’, thus quantifying it. Finally, in order to develop a resilient organization it is important to engage and utilize effectively the key resources and assets (financial, material, social, networks) by developing dynamic capabilities (strategic and operational flexibilities, redundancy, robustness) and organizational learning (culture, employee wellbeing, attentive leadership and decision-making). These competences must be employed for the appropriate strategy development (selection, implementation, and evaluation) framed on both growth and continuity strategies, both planned and adaptive in nature. The research develops a holistic analytical framework of organizational structure for resilience development based on these two criteria. It also tests this framework for Swedish textile-related SMEs amidst economic crises. The findings in this contextual delimitation suggest that the resilient SMEs possess better financial resources, relational networks, operational & strategic flexibilities. The economically resilient firms mostly showed planned resilience in economic crises based on long-term strategies through business continuity planning (BCP) and in terms of growth strategies through market penetration, diversification and transformational initiatives. These firms also showed better short-term crisis management (CM) through higher operational flexibility while the less resilient ones lacked in strategic readiness due to resource scarcity. This is beneficial for firms to understand the key areas in which to invest and develop a multistrategic CSP model, categorizing firms along different resilience types – planned or adaptive.

Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology to be presented with due

permission for public examination and criticism in Festia Building, Auditorium Pieni Sali 1, at Tampere University of Technology, on the 11th of October 2013, at 12 noon.

Japanese companies have been said to rarely have strategies that resemble the ones that can be seen in literature from the Western world. However, even though Japanese companies do not show the same kind of strategy as can be found in the west, it does not necessarily mean they have no strategy at all. Recent studies have shown that Japanese companies do show clarity in their approach to strategy. Still, not much research can be found on this subject. When the world is becoming more globalized and multinational, it is of interest for both the companies’ stakeholders and shareholders to know how they operate, and their strategic planning process is one part of this. The research question therefore becomes: How does the process of strategic planning in Japanese companies work and in what way is the Japanese culture an influence? The main purpose of this master thesis is to provide a deeper understanding concerning the concept of strategic planning in Japanese companies. It also has two sub purposes. Firstly, this research aims towards understanding the current strategic planning process, in what way it is used in Japanese companies. Secondly, it will try to understand if the Japanese culture influences the strategic planning process and if so, in what way.The thesis is based on a qualitative study with semi structured interviews where five respondents were divided into two categories (based in the respondents’ background), two respondents with a Japanese view and three with an international view. A constructionist ontological position, interpretivism epistemological position and an inductive scientific approach have been adopted.The theoretical framework is divided into two parts; the first concerns the strategic planning process and the second Japanese business culture.Analysis was done across the two different categories of respondents’ and from my research I have found that the strategic planning process in Japan is different from company to company but that they all tend to share one important step, consensus. I have also found that Japanese culture has had a great impact on the strategic planning process although there seem to be a shift towards becoming more streamlined and more international to be able to compete on the global market.The practical implications of my findings are that since Japanese companies seem to incorporate their culture into their strategic planning, it is important that the field of strategic planning research take into consideration the culture and its effect on the strategic planning process. Japanese companies also need to assess if strategic planning should be used as a way towards becoming more globalized, and if so, in what way.

Joint Applied Project
Strategic planning in both Government and private organizations is a standard practice for improving the organization's overall performance. However, there are several studies that indicate the effectiveness of the strategic planning and execution process in private industry is questionable in many cases and for various reasons. At times, the utilization of this tool yields positive results in many companies and organizations. On the other hand, the strategic plan is not utilized and becomes a costly paperweight on a table in the executive suite. Nonetheless, Government agencies have embraced the private sector's ideology of employing the strategic plan and have plowed headlong into the use of this methodology. The goal is to provide the organization with a tool that could help change or improve the direction of the organization. This project examines the implementation of strategic planning in several Government organizations that lacked the requisite direction and vision necessary to improve their performance. Accordingly, this research uncovers difficulties that some Government (Federal) agencies experienced before the implementation of strategic planning. We made note of the strong leadership and visioning that was key in guiding some of the organizations through the development of the strategic planning process. Overall, this project focuses on factors that led to new directions for Government organizations that were in dire need of this tool. It also focuses on the relationship between these factors and the degree of publicness of the agencies, and points out and describes techniques used by Federal agencies to overcome those difficulties and improve their performance.

This research operationalizes the theory and recommendations from academic and business strategic planning sources. The desired research outcome is to improve academic strategic planning for colleges of engineering.

My contribution to the academic planning body of knowledge is a model to select a strategic planning methodology and implement a planning process for colleges of engineering. The model's design is based on the logical conclusion that choice of planning methodology should be matched to desired planning outcomes.

The model uses a preplanning instrument, a planning template, and a Gantt Chart. I designed the preplanning instrument based on six success/fail criteria identified from the research, desired outcomes and outputs of the planning process, and selected planning steps from the Virginia Productivity Center (VPC) Planning Methodology. Answers to questions on the preplanning instrument are then summarized on the planning template. The template requires the planner to consider the sequence of the selected planning steps and prepare an agenda to accomplish them. Finally, the model requires the scheduling of this agenda on a Gantt Chart. The Gantt Chart becomes a timetable for a plan to plan for the college of engineering.

Master of Science

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO
Após a privatização do sistema Telebrás em 1998, o mercado de telefonia fixa brasileiro que era um monopólio estatal foi dividido entre grupos privados gerando uma grande concorrência no setor. A Embratel, que possuía todo o mercado de telefonia de longa distância nacional e internacional, passou a perder clientes para as demais empresas que entraram com força em seu mercado e, ainda hoje, enfrenta o grande desafio de fazer o caminho de volta, entrando no principal mercado das três grandes do setor (Telemar, Telefônica e Brasil Telecom): a telefonia local. Nesse contexto, é essencial que a Embratel seja capaz de planejar estrategicamente seus próximos passos e o propósito desta pesquisa é investigar o modo de assegurar o alinhamento dos planejamentos orçamentário e estratégico no caso desta empresa, além de identificar os fatores organizacionais que contribuem ou prejudicam este alinhamento. Todos os dados da pesquisa foram coletados através de investigação documental e telematizada, entrevistas com executivos da empresa e analistas do setor. A interpretação e análise dos dados foram realizadas com base no referencial teórico, com o auxílio do modelo Genérico Integrativo de Macedo-Soares (2001). Os resultados encontrados mostraram inconsistência, ou seja, não alinhamento entre o planejamento orçamentário e estratégico da empresa. Também foram identificados os fatores organizacionais que contribuem e que não contribuem para o alinhamento. Ao final, são compartilhadas as lições tiradas do estudo de caso da Embratel.
After the Telebrás privatization in 1998, the telecommunication`s market that used to be a governmental monopoly became divided amongst private groups, which generated a huge dispute in the sector. Embratel, who used to have the whole national and international long distance market, started losing a significant part of its client base to its main competitors (Telemar, Telefônica and Brasil Telecom) and is now striving to walk its way back gaining share of its competitors most important market: the local telephony. In this context, it is essential for Embratel to be able to plan strategically its next steps. This is the main purpose of this research: investigate a way to assure the alignment of the budget planning to the strategic planning for the company and also to identify the organizational factors that contribute and hinder this alignment. All the figures of this research were collected by documental and telematic investigation and interviews with executives of Embratel as well as analysts of the telecommunication`s sector. The data interpretation and analysis were conducted based on the theoretical references from the literature review, with the support of the systemic and integrative model developed by Macedo-Soares (2001). The results proved inconsistency (non-alignment) between the budget planning and the strategic planning. Moreover, it was possible to identify the organizational factors that contribute and hinder the alignment. At the end, this study shares lessons related to the case study of Embratel.

CHDS State/Local
Collaborative strategic management of public health emergency and homeland security issues can address gaps in roles and responsibilities and foster better coordinated planning at the federal level. Recent changes in the alignment of the national planning standards for public health emergency preparedness have created an opportunity to rethink the collaborative approach to strategic planning. This thesis considers the role that collaborative strategic management and collaborative frameworks may play in strengthening strategic planning at the federal level through a policy options analysis. Considerations for implementation and recommendations moving forward are provided for both existing collaborations and new collaborations.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has become recognised as an improvement on the existing, limited system of project-based EIA. It aims to integrate environmental considerations into government policies, plans and programmes, and provides a basis for arriving at better-informed decisions at broader strategic levels. However, the compatibility of this new environmental planning tool with other planning systems such as transport, holds the key to successful integration of environmental concerns into existing planning approaches. This study investigates whether SEA can influence and integrate with transport planning and policy development processes through a survey of attitudes and opinions of planners on transport SEA in Taiwan. Transport planning has been criticised for considering too few alternatives, and for basing evaluations solely on technical and economic grounds. The emerging SEA seems theoretically feasible and potentially beneficial in allowing the integration of environmental concerns into strategic transport planning. Though many countries or regions have transport SEA provisions, practical transport SEA applications remain limited, mostly in Western developed countries with high environmental awareness. SEA applications are also limited in their strategies, focusing mainly on infrastructure-related projects. Moreover, most current transport SEA practices lack strategic focus and thus fail to fulfill SEA principles. This suggests that many planners are unfamiliar with the nature and techniques of SEA, and the conceptual impediments are still critical, which may result in significant barriers to transport SEA application. The EIA Act promulgated in 1994, together with its relevant provisions, have provided an applicable mechanism and a legal basis for SEA application in Taiwan, however, no transport SEA cases have been conducted. Many technical and non-technical barriers have been identified by the interviewees, indicating that most of the planners in Taiwan believe that transport SEA is conceptually and practically immature, and planners are not yet ready for it. The conceptual barriers seem more critical at this stage because practical barriers can only be identified and overcome when planners and decision-makers have a clear and proper concept of SEA. This narrowly-viewed application has limited the benefits of SEA, and has resulted in a rigid and incorrect idea that SEA was a passive impact-reducing mechanism; this may mislead the attitudes of planners to transport SEA. In fact, the emerging SEA is a re-engineered planning system framework that serves to remind planners that they are able to improve their efforts. It is a paradigm revolution, as the way in which planners think can make a vast difference. Thus, the potential for the emerging SEA concept to influence and integrate with transport planning and transport policy development processes depends not only on practical feasibility but also on a fundamental conceptual recognition of transport SEA. SEA could influence and integrate with transport planning and transport policy development processes if planners and decision-makers changed their ways of thinking. This study also found that a tiered and integrated transport SEA, embedded in the main transport planning process at different strategic levels, has great potential to embody the environmental and sustainable concerns in transport planning and decision-making. This finding is based on several contentions supported by the recent SEA studies showing that it should not be detached from the main planning process. SEA needs to be flexible in order to meet various policies, plans and programmes (PPP) demands, and it must be value-driven, not impact-oriented. A tiered, integrated transport SEA provides ways to overcome identified transport SEA application impediments. This two-in-one planning system is a simple solution which allows transport SEA to be conducted without involving complex legal processes. It improves institutional coordination and integrates not only with planning processes but also with values and resources.

The adoption of new managerial philosophies within higher education is well documented and has increased significantly in the last decade. Of these adoptions, strategic planning within higher education institutes in the Republic of Ireland is particularly relevant given the legislative requirement underpinning such planning exercises. This dissertation investigates the lived experiences of academics and manager-academics with strategic planning exercises within Ireland’s Institute of Technology sector, and proposes an alignment-focussed strategic planning framework for consideration. The design, measurement and analysis issues which informed the research instrument sought to measure the degree of alignment across academics and manager-academics with their institute’s strategic plans. A central consideration was whether or not the managerial practices and processes adopted in the preparation of strategic plans impacted negatively or positively on the lived experiences of both groups. Consequently the research methodology was hermeneutically phenomenological. Academic organisations as workplaces have not always proved amenable to either the adoption of new managerial practices or the re-orientation of education to commodity status. The introduction of new managerialism in the Institute of Technology sector has been characterised by legislative change and market forces. Simultaneously this sector has also become more exposed to a growing accountability and transparency agenda at the behest of Ireland’s higher education policy makers. The academics and manager-academics surveyed in this research provide little evidence of a successful transition of new managerialism within those institutes surveyed. Additionally no evidence could be found of alignment with the published strategic plans of those institutes surveyed. The research identified numerous reasons for this non-alignment, including; an inability amongst academics to identify any real benefits from the strategic planning process; and, a perception amongst both groups that the preparation of strategic plans merely satisfied a bureaucratic requirement.