Banalieva and Dhanaraj argue that digital service multinationals (DSMNCs) possess a new category of firm-specific advantage (FSA), the network advantage, and that, contrary to extant theory, they use networks as a mode of governance. I review the business models used by DSMNCs, compare them to non-digital ones, and explore what we can learn about them from extant IB theory. I conclude that network advantages are not a new category of FSAs, that networks are not a mode of governance, and that their use by DSMNCs is well explained by extant theory.

Introduction: Over half of the Swedish IT-projects get delayed and more expensive than budgeted. Large corporations and governmental institutions stand before the process of investigating in new IT-systems in intervals of three to five years. In order to decrease the cost, an external consultant with large experience in IT-purchases could be used by the customers. These consultants does today work solely for the customers, helping them to find the best solution. We want to see if an external consultant instead could act as an inde-pendent moderator between the supplier and customer in the IT-systems lifecycle. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze problems and possible solutions related to the involvement of third party consultants in larger IT-projects. In particular, we will investigate when and where in the project cycle it could be beneficial to use an independent moderator. Method: We have conducted semi-structured interviews with six organizations to get an understanding about consultants in IT-projects. Four of the interviewed were IT-managers at organizations were large IT-systems are bought and implemented. Then, two of the in-terviewed represented the supplier companies that sell large IT-systems. Frame of reference: Transaction cost theory and agency theory has been used. Transac-tion cost theory is a theory on whether you should conduct the service internally or purchase it from external firms. Agency theory describes problems in the relationship between a principal and an agent. The agent has a diversified interest towards the principal. In our case, the agent is a consultant. Conclusion: The implementation phase benefits from using an external moderator who monitors what the customer needs, and then in a continuous interval measures if the project is aligning towards the stated goal. This can lower the failure of information and identify problem areas early and thereby prevent costly adjustments later in the project. An in-dependent moderator with a high degree of routine and specific knowledge could enhance communication, create a better fit of the implemented system and foresee opportunistic advices from suppliers. In the pre-study phase there are benefits for the customer with evaluating the need, stating specific demands and define a clear goal.

<p>Introduction: Over half of the Swedish IT-projects get delayed and more expensive than budgeted. Large corporations and governmental institutions stand before the process of investigating in new IT-systems in intervals of three to five years. In order to decrease the cost, an external consultant with large experience in IT-purchases could be used by the customers. These consultants does today work solely for the customers, helping them to find the best solution. We want to see if an external consultant instead could act as an inde-pendent moderator between the supplier and customer in the IT-systems lifecycle.</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze problems and possible solutions related to the involvement of third party consultants in larger IT-projects. In particular, we will investigate when and where in the project cycle it could be beneficial to use an independent moderator.</p><p>Method: We have conducted semi-structured interviews with six organizations to get an understanding about consultants in IT-projects. Four of the interviewed were IT-managers at organizations were large IT-systems are bought and implemented. Then, two of the in-terviewed represented the supplier companies that sell large IT-systems.</p><p>Frame of reference: Transaction cost theory and agency theory has been used. Transac-tion cost theory is a theory on whether you should conduct the service internally or purchase it from external firms. Agency theory describes problems in the relationship between a principal and an agent. The agent has a diversified interest towards the principal. In our case, the agent is a consultant.</p><p>Conclusion: The implementation phase benefits from using an external moderator who monitors what the customer needs, and then in a continuous interval measures if the project is aligning towards the stated goal. This can lower the failure of information and identify problem areas early and thereby prevent costly adjustments later in the project. An in-dependent moderator with a high degree of routine and specific knowledge could enhance communication, create a better fit of the implemented system and foresee opportunistic advices from suppliers. In the pre-study phase there are benefits for the customer with evaluating the need, stating specific demands and define a clear goal.</p>

This thesis explores the mechanics of governance within several layers of participating firms in the global value chain of the automotive industry, and how new forms of governance shape the development of the Brazilian and Chinese automotive industry. In particular, it examines how the local supply firms from Brazil and China can integrate and upgrade in the globalized automotive industry. By using the global value chain (GVC) framework, the changing inter-firm dynamics between buyer and supplier are analyzed, and their impact on the indigenous supply firms from Brazil and China examined. The results highlight the role of product architecture in defining the value chain governance approach. Through the evolution of product architecture, the lead-firms can globalize their approaches to procurement and supply chain management. Moreover, the globally harmonized products allow the lead-firm to effectively restructure the global supply base to establish a globally harmonized components supply industry by internationalizing the most capable supply firms. Oligopolies along the entire GVC are consciously created by the lead firm. The dynamics of competition between supply firms are changing, as the market for integral components with high asset-specificity are merging into one global market with oligopolistic and oligopsonistic features. While some supply firms from the emerging markets have been able to utilize their business ties with western assembly firms to upgrade within the GVC, most are under pressure to be squeezed out of the GVC through increased global competition. The thesis contributes to the field of development studies by analyzing the prospects for emerging market firms to participate and upgrade in the GVC of western lead-firms. Furthermore, it contributes to the economic theory of governance by presenting evidence of forms of influence outside the realm of supplier-buyer contracts. The thesis further extends the global value chain framework by introduction a fine-tuned approach to ‘power’ as a determinant of governance.

The aim of this research is to develop, examine and validate a conceptual framework, which explains factors of the export supply chain relationship focusing on information sharing in export supply chain management field. This research seeks to understand the dyadic exporter-producer relationship in the export industry of fresh fruit and vegetables from Jordan to the European Union. Jordan supplies very limited fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the European market and the exporter-producer relationships are still weak, which impedes the emergence of a high performance supply chain within this promising market. There has been a lack of conceptual and empirical research on information sharing, which limits the understanding of the business relationship and there is no theoretical framework analysing export supply chain relationships. Therefore, this research examines the possible association between the following factors: relationship, network and transaction dimensions; information sharing; and export performance. A framework for the influence of information sharing on a dyadic exporter-producer relationship of supply chain management guiding this research is developed initially, based on three perspectives: relationship marketing theory, network theory and transaction cost theory. Qualitative methodology is used to achieve the research aim and objectives in Jordan. The research is comprised of two phases. In phase one, seven interviews with experts are conducted to refine the initial framework for key propositions and propose a framework for supply chain management. In phase two, there are ten multiple-case studies, which contain 40 semi-structured interviews, 40 hours of observations and archival records. These cases are primarily conducted with the selected exporter and producer firms in the export industry of fresh fruit and vegetables. Data are collected and analysed, based on key themes and a case study protocol, which individually explore each exporter-producer relationship ―case‖ in order to examine the proposed framework. Finally, the ten cases are cross-analysed to explain the key findings and to match them to the framework in order to validate it as the final conceptual framework for supply chain management. The research findings support the central premise that specific dimensions of relationships, networks and transactions are the key antecedents of information sharing, which in turn influences export performance. The findings confirm that the exporters and the producers are able to support their relationships through the benefits gained from these dimensions at the relationship, network and transaction levels of the export III Information Sharing in an Export Supply Chain Relationship Luai Jraisat supply chain. It is through this alignment that firms create better information sharing between them. Likewise, the findings suggest that firms will be able to gain strategic advantages from supply chain management based on information sharing and its components, namely content, sharing methods, sources and value, thus suggesting that the firms should apply information sharing to improve financial and non-financial export performance. The research makes key contributions to theory and methodology, and has policy and managerial implications. Theoretical contributions are made to the supply chain management literature by providing a holistic framework for supply chain management to understand the exporter-producer relationship. The research expands on the applications of the three perspectives combined and focuses on information sharing as a key factor. Methodological contributions are offered as this research connects the qualitative methodology to the theory, enabling an analytical generalisation of supply chain management relationships by examining both sides of the dyadic relationship to guide their information sharing. This research expands more on the validity and reliability aspects to ensure the strength of this qualitative empirical research. Policy and managerial implications are addressed for managers and policy-makers. The research limitations and guidelines for future research are discussed.

<p>Background: Many companies have outsourced their IT-operations and their expectations of what this IT-outsourcing will contribute to the business are high. Cost cuts are not always a natural outcome of IT-outsourcing. Many companies that have outsourced their IT-operations consider it to be problematic and complex to exercise management control and reach cost control which was the purpose of the IT-outsourcing.</p><p> Purpose: To describe and analyze what affect IT-outsourcing has on a company’s management control system and a company’s possibility to exercise cost control. We will also make a suggestion on how a company can arrange their IT- outsourcing to facilitate management control. </p><p>Method: We have through a case study like approach interviewed IT-managers, IT- controllers and IT-maintenance personnel in five large corporations in Sweden. </p><p>Results: It’s common that a company that decides to outsource their IT- operations underestimates the difficulties that occur when the company transforms their operations from producing IT-services in house to ordering from a supplier. After a while the company often realizes that it lacks sufficient competence to order IT-services. There is also a great risk that the company becomes very dependent on its IT-supplier. For the company to reach the optimum order volume of IT-services from the IT-supplier it’s very important to create a competent procurement department for IT-services. A key factor in reaching a successful IT-outsourcing with good competence to order IT-services is to keep the architectural role within the company. Furthermore is the design of the IT-contract one of the most important tools in creating a solution for IT-outsourcing that facilitates management control. Examples of important ingredients in a good IT-contract are rules how to conduct benchmarking and how the company can put competitive pressure on the IT-supplier.</p> / <p>Bakgrund: Det är många företag somhar outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet och förhoppningarna om vad IT-outsourcing ska medföra för verksamheten är höga. Kostnadsinbesparingar och effektiviseringar är dock inte en självklar följd av IT-outsourcing. Många företag som har outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet uppfattar det som problematiskt och komplext att utöva ekonomisk styrning och uppnå den kostnadskontroll som eftersträvades när IT-verksamheten outsourcades. </p><p>Syfte: Att beskriva och analysera hur ett företags ekonomiska styrning och möjligheter till kostnadskontroll påverkas av att IT-verksamheten outsourcas. Vidare vill vi utarbeta ett förslag på hur ett beställarföretag kan konstruera sin IT-outsourcing för att underlätta utövandet av ekonomisk styrning och kostnadskontroll. </p><p>Metod: Vi har i en fallstudieliknande studie intervjuat IT-chefer, IT- controllers och förvaltningsansvariga på fem stora bolag i Sverige som har outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet. </p><p>Resultat: Det är vanligt att beställarföretaget underskattar svårigheterna med omställningen att gå från att ha varit utförare till att bli beställare och efter ett tag upptäcker att det saknas tillräcklig beställarkompetens. Risken är också stor att beställarföretaget hamnar i en mycket stark beroendeställning till sin IT-leverantör. För att beställarföretaget ska hitta den optimala volymen av IT-tjänster är det viktigt att beställarföretaget bygger upp en kompetent beställarorganisation. En nyckelfaktor för att uppnå en framgångsrik outsourcing där beställarkompetensen är god är att behålla arkitekturrollen inom företaget. Vidare är utformningen av kontraktet ett av de viktigaste verktygen för att skapa en outsourcinglösning som underlättar utövandet av ekonomisk styrning. Exempel på viktiga beståndsdelar i ett bra kontrakt är klausuler som reglerar hur benchmarking och en konkurrensutsättning ska gå till samt hur effektiviseringsvinster ska fördelas mellan parterna.</p>

Background: Many companies have outsourced their IT-operations and their expectations of what this IT-outsourcing will contribute to the business are high. Cost cuts are not always a natural outcome of IT-outsourcing. Many companies that have outsourced their IT-operations consider it to be problematic and complex to exercise management control and reach cost control which was the purpose of the IT-outsourcing. Purpose: To describe and analyze what affect IT-outsourcing has on a company’s management control system and a company’s possibility to exercise cost control. We will also make a suggestion on how a company can arrange their IT- outsourcing to facilitate management control. Method: We have through a case study like approach interviewed IT-managers, IT- controllers and IT-maintenance personnel in five large corporations in Sweden. Results: It’s common that a company that decides to outsource their IT- operations underestimates the difficulties that occur when the company transforms their operations from producing IT-services in house to ordering from a supplier. After a while the company often realizes that it lacks sufficient competence to order IT-services. There is also a great risk that the company becomes very dependent on its IT-supplier. For the company to reach the optimum order volume of IT-services from the IT-supplier it’s very important to create a competent procurement department for IT-services. A key factor in reaching a successful IT-outsourcing with good competence to order IT-services is to keep the architectural role within the company. Furthermore is the design of the IT-contract one of the most important tools in creating a solution for IT-outsourcing that facilitates management control. Examples of important ingredients in a good IT-contract are rules how to conduct benchmarking and how the company can put competitive pressure on the IT-supplier. / Bakgrund: Det är många företag somhar outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet och förhoppningarna om vad IT-outsourcing ska medföra för verksamheten är höga. Kostnadsinbesparingar och effektiviseringar är dock inte en självklar följd av IT-outsourcing. Många företag som har outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet uppfattar det som problematiskt och komplext att utöva ekonomisk styrning och uppnå den kostnadskontroll som eftersträvades när IT-verksamheten outsourcades. Syfte: Att beskriva och analysera hur ett företags ekonomiska styrning och möjligheter till kostnadskontroll påverkas av att IT-verksamheten outsourcas. Vidare vill vi utarbeta ett förslag på hur ett beställarföretag kan konstruera sin IT-outsourcing för att underlätta utövandet av ekonomisk styrning och kostnadskontroll. Metod: Vi har i en fallstudieliknande studie intervjuat IT-chefer, IT- controllers och förvaltningsansvariga på fem stora bolag i Sverige som har outsourcat sin IT-verksamhet. Resultat: Det är vanligt att beställarföretaget underskattar svårigheterna med omställningen att gå från att ha varit utförare till att bli beställare och efter ett tag upptäcker att det saknas tillräcklig beställarkompetens. Risken är också stor att beställarföretaget hamnar i en mycket stark beroendeställning till sin IT-leverantör. För att beställarföretaget ska hitta den optimala volymen av IT-tjänster är det viktigt att beställarföretaget bygger upp en kompetent beställarorganisation. En nyckelfaktor för att uppnå en framgångsrik outsourcing där beställarkompetensen är god är att behålla arkitekturrollen inom företaget. Vidare är utformningen av kontraktet ett av de viktigaste verktygen för att skapa en outsourcinglösning som underlättar utövandet av ekonomisk styrning. Exempel på viktiga beståndsdelar i ett bra kontrakt är klausuler som reglerar hur benchmarking och en konkurrensutsättning ska gå till samt hur effektiviseringsvinster ska fördelas mellan parterna.

Taiwan¡¦s e-commerce market value continued to grow, the scale is about NT$ 430 billion in 2011, as compared to 2010 growing 20 percent. Which B2C e-commerce market reached NT$ 250 billion in 2011 accounted for about 6.4% of the overall retail market revenue, the scale compared to 2010 growing 22%. The relatively low entry barriers lead to a lot of companies to establish. However, each year about 60 percent of E-commerce Company out of the market in such a competitive situation. It is important that E-commerce Company must have a successful business model. Past research of value creation for e-commerce only take single theory such as transaction cost theory, Resource-Based View, Value Chain, Network Theory and Schumpeter Innovation, however, that failed to fully explain to the e-commerce company's value creation. Therefore, this study will according to five theoretical, and based on secondary data and literature for the case study company PChome, Books, and Mayuki to identify the business model of e-commerce company in Taiwan. Through this research found Taiwan¡¦s e-commerce companies are gradually expand from a small niche market to mass market, in addition, " cheap is not the most important, but to provide free activities for consumers that feeling add value. "

With the coming of digital times, global competition resulted in every industry expanding their requirements in supply chain integration and enterprise resource planning. The importance of information system integration industries also increases with time. When all kind of industries continues to integrate supply chain and establish cooperative partnerships, trying to exploit cooperation to acquire more competencies in the market, we want to know whether the information system integration industries establish their cooperative relationship. Therefore, our study tried to review the actives and relationship between integrators by the systems integration service process. Through the theory¡¦s guiding, we attend to induce the factors of inter-firm cooperation in system integration industries. We use multiple case study to design our research¡Aand select three cases to study. Semi-structural interview is used to collect needed data to understand the true cooperative relationship between integrators. According to transaction cost theory, resource-base theory and social exchange theory, we propose some theoretical propositions to guiding the real cases analysis. The conclusions not only describe the real cooperation in Taiwan system integration industries, but also induce several factors of cooperative relationship between integrators, including product characteristics, transaction cost, resource, trust and guanxi. Moreover, the transaction cost is the most important element in the cooperative relationship between information system integrators.

Abstract By taking the advantages of the Internet technology, the online bookstores developed personalized services, such as providing information for making transaction decision which lowers the consuming cost, fastens the customer loyalty, and creates competitiveness. The purpose of setting up the service mechanism is to win back the consumer. Therefore, understood the customer¡¦s usage intention on the personalized services would benefit the online bookstores to build up their personalized service mechanism and to improve the practical values of the personalized services. ¡@¡@Utilizing Transaction Cost Theory as the extended viewpoint of Technology Acceptance Model, this thesis not only analyzed if the online bookstore¡¦s personalized services impact the consumer¡¦s transactional cost, but also investigated if the benefits arisen from the personalized services vary by other factors. By means of the analysis of the transaction cost and the investigation of the consumer¡¦s useful recognition, the usage intention of the online bookstore¡¦s personalized services can be reasoned out. In this thesis, the acceptability of the online bookstore¡¦s personalized services is realized, the possible factors that could affect the consumer¡¦s usage intention are discussed. The major findings are: the benefits of transaction cost arisen from personalized services were affected by the transactional frequency. More transactional activities, more benefits arisen from the personalized services were observed. Consumers believe that the personalized services provided by online bookstores can lower their transactional cost while their subjectiveness and need are being cared. In addition, different levels of consumer¡¦s useful recognition were obtained while the personal feelings or realizations vary with the contents of the personalized services. According to the findings, the online bookstore¡¦s personalized services are highly recognizable by consumers, especially at the fields of ¡§Purchase & Process Feedback Service¡¨ (PPFS) and ¡§One-by-one Customer Service¡¨ (OCS). The useful recognition for ¡§E-papers Service¡¨ is also sound but relatively lower than that of the others. Referring to the Technology Acceptance Model, the findings show that consumers are highly intentioned to use the online bookstore¡¦s personalized services.