The research presented in this document is predominantly addressed via eight main journal publications and further supported by fifteen conference proceedings, other industrial projects and research grants. The research rests on two interlinked main pillars within the overall scientific discipline of Operations Management namely Supply Chain Management and Project Management. It focuses on "softer" contemporary themes where the overall contribution falls within the thematic area of collaboration, integration and development. The contribution is realized via research in numerous "softer" contemporary themes such as leadership styles, organizational structures and cultures, cooperation, knowledge management, usage of new technologies and strategy, all within the two aforementioned pillars. Application ranges from private small medium enterprises to larger organizations and to the public sector. In that respect my research addresses the needs of practitioners while providing a clear contribution to the relevant body of knowledge. Methodologically, the work presented here utilizes the grounded theory approach. Arguably, large sample, positivistic driven, survey methodologies are certainly very useful in providing an understanding of "how much" and "how many" as well as drawing inferences to a larger population. Nevertheless, they cannot provide the information required regarding "how" or "why" events occur which relate directly to most of the work presented in this document. Consequently, a case-based methodology has been employed directly or indirectly in all papers addressed here. In all instances the main criterion used to select cases as part of the data collection process was based on theoretical relevance.

The thesis proposes a solution towards the evaluation of acceptable fire safety standards for the Educational Establishment particularly the Secondary Boarding Schools in Malaysia. The approach taken was the analysis of the available regulations, the development of questionnaires, the acquisition of the professionals and non-building professionals perceptions and knowledge, formation of check lists and some experimental work. Bibliographical studies were carried out to identify the problems and objectives to focus upon within the research scope. Questionnaires were used to investigate human behavior and reactions in confronting fire emergencies and also the occupant's level of awareness about the importance of fire safety. They also assisted in the confirmation of the existing and expected risk, fire threat and safety features that might contribute to safety within the establishment's boundary. Two Delphi groups were formed to undertake the study of the loss of impact, the development of a rank order of building performance, fire safety systems, building areas, activities and occupancies. The questionnaire responses and Delphi group conclusions enabled the confirmation of the possible fire dangers and ways to tackle them. The next step of the evaluation procedure was the production of the Check List for the performance assessment of the fire safety systems. It was based on the perceptions and contributions given by the professionals which can be applied to evaluate the level of fire safety requirements and the risk to be reduced to an acceptable standard. A points scheme was introduced for the fire safety components to be evaluated in terms of numerical values within the whole procedure. Trade-off between the existing and upgrading systems can be economically referred to the outcome of the risk assessment and professional advice. The experimental model was designed with a flexible configuration for measuring the optimal location for smoke detectors in the school building plan. The results could support the decision making of the authorities and professionals on the practicality of the fire safety systems to be installed or upgraded.

This thesis is a study of the theory of quality assurance in fire safety engineering. The aims are to examine the implication of the general concepts of quality and quality assurance in the context of fire safety engineering, to investigate the causes and effects of the development of quality assurance in fire safety engineering firms, and to identify the factors that affect the effectiveness of the quality systems in these firms. Research was carried out on four major perspectives: (1) quality definition of fire safety systems in buildings (2) quality assurance in fire safety engineering projects, (3) quality assurance in fire safety engineering firms, (4) the macro quality assurance system in fire protection industry. A model for defining quality of fire safety systems in buildings is described. Features of quality assurance in fire safety engineering are identified. A systematic approach for assuring quality in fire safety engineering projects is proposed, which consists of total system quality planning, sub-system quality planning, and quality management systems in fire safety engineering firms. The investigation found that the driving forces for fire safety engineering firms to adopt quality assurance come from client's need, market competition, development of certification schemes, and the business development strategy of the company. Research data suggests that fire safety engineering firms have gained benefits through the implementation of quality assurance. However, the effectiveness of quality systems is affected by a number of factors both internal and external.

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How some firms achieve superior international performance relative to other firms in the same market, as one of the critical questions in international strategic management, is inextricably bound up in questions such as why firms differ, what initiates and drives their internationalization strategies, and what is the main source of their competitive advantage that generates superior performance in the international context. Firm export performance is regarded as one of the key indicators of the success of a firm's export operations, and as such has been extensively studied phenomenon. Numerous studies have been conducted pertaining to provide better understanding of the factors (firm- or environment-specific) and behaviours (e.g., export strategy) that make exporting a successful venture. However, the research results to date are far from uniform and conclusive. This thesis advances the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) as a valuable theoretical framework in identifying advantage-generating resources and capabilities as critical determinants of the export strategy and export performance. Conceptually, this research is an attempt to integrate the extant views of the firm's internationalization process, by employing a resource-based framework. The findings in this thesis were derived by analysing a set of primary data from 356 British exporters generated in 2007 via an electronic and Internet based survey. The findings in this thesis endorsed its main propositions. Particular internal, firm specific factors were found to be the most significant determinants of the export initiation process, the firm's degree of geographic diversification, and the firm's export strategy and performance. In particular, managerial, knowledge, planning and technology resources and capabilities were found to have a significant positive effect on export success. These resource factors are either skill-based or 5 knowledge/process-based resources or capabilities and as such have high levels of tacitness, complexity and dynamism, and consequently are firm-specific and difficult to duplicate. These resources and capabilities generate resource-based competitive advantage and become the driving factor of the firm-level performance differences. Furthermore, the study findings provide empirical validation of the proposition that resources and capabilities are two distinct concepts. This study therefore provides fresh empirical support for the RBV propositions. This thesis also contributes to the ongoing debate of the potential gap between academic research and practitioners' views of critical success factors. This dissertation contributes to the better understanding of the value and importance of particular internal, firm-specific resources and capabilities as determinants of the firm's export strategy and performance. The theoretical and methodological grounding of this study contributes to the advancement of export related research in several respects. First, by providing better specification of the nature of the effects - direct or indirect - of particular resource factors on export initiation, strategy and performance. Second, by examining both, the individual and concurrent effects of the resource variables on export strategy and performance. Third, by conducting exploratory as well as confirmatory factor analysis to validate construct measurements, and utilization of structural equation modelling to improve validity, reliability and error levels. Fourth, by employing a composite measure of export performance, including financial and non-financial options. Fifth, by contrasting the empirical findings with the management's subjective (perceptual) observations of the investigated relationships within a same data sample. 6 This study opens future research opportunities for applying the proposed resource based integrative framework in investigations of resource-strategy and resource performance relationships in different organizational contexts.

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