The aim of this study is to investigate systematically the competitiveness of logistics service providers (LSPs). Competitiveness is not a new topic in business research but has received little discussion in the logistics literature. This study helps to fill this gap in the literature. In contrast to most previous studies of third-party logistics which have viewed the subject from the user's perspective, this study investigates the LSP's point of view. The thesis has both theoretical and empirical sections. The theoretical part reviews the work of economists and strategists on firm-level competitiveness, in particular, the resourcebased view (RBV) and Porter's competitive theory of strategic management. Partly on the basis of this review it constructs a research model for the analysis of LSPs' competitiveness based on primary sources, contributing factors and perfon-nance measures. A series of seven research propositions are derived relating to various aspects of the subject. The empirical work undertaken to test the validity of these propositions used a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches and involved comparative surveys in two countries: China and the UK. This survey work comprised three phases: piloting, validation and main survey. Four kinds of research methods were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data: telephone interviews, e-mail survey, semistructured face-to-face interviews and large-scale postal questionnaire survey. A range of different descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed to analyse these data, including two that appear not to have been widely applied in the field of logistics research (the application of factor scores in exploratory factor analysis and factor analysis regression). The empirical results confirm the applicability of both the resource-basedv iew (RBV) and Porter's theory of competitiveness to LSPs. They indicate, nevertheless, that the RBV is the more appropriate in this context. Generally speaking, the study indicates that the competitiveness of an LSP does not simply depend on external forces but can be strongly influenced by the LSP own actions. Capabilities are identified as the most important source of competitiveness by respondents in both countries. This not only supports the RBV, but is also in line with numerous other concepts of firm-level competitiveness. The study reveals a high degree of similarity in the views of competitiveness expressed by Chinese and British LSPs, though several important differences emerged. Some of these variations can be attributed to differences in cultural backgrounds and economic systems. In the light of the theoretical and empirical research a procedure is outlined which LSPs might employ to assessa nd improve their level of competitiveness.

Thep rojectl ooksa t Agility andA gile manufacturingin particular,w ith a focuso n the SME type businessT. he initial focus is on the developmenot f the ASF (Agile Strategic Framework) to make the selection of tools and techniques for manufacturing environments automated and systematised. This is to give consistency of approach, repeatability and to develop the system automation potential. This work will produce a test type model of how the business environment audit tool can be automated to produce results quickly and easily with less human time and intervention. One part of the ASF which needs particular development is the process of examining a company strategy from an agility type perspective. The project fills this niche by looking at how agility fits with traditional schools of strategy, how it relates to definitions of agility from content analysis and pulls these together. Using grounded theory and qualitative methods to examine the meanings, usage and context of Agility an examination of how this may relate to TRIZ type systems using agility paradigms is undcrtaken. This particular study relates to agility in a large context including software, construction and business processes as well as manufacturing definitions. A working model with Case Study examples is suggested as a point for further development.

In the field of business growth, most research has focused on the entrepreneur's characteristics and formulation of growth paths for business. In recognising this, the research presented in this thesis aimed to explore and evaluate the key factors controlling hotel growth in the tourism industry. More specifically, the thesis is concerned with entrepreneurship in a two specific contexts - island tourism and socio-economic uncertainty. Islands are a feature of the tourism industry, and they may present special characteristics which influence small business growth (capacity constraints, lack of infrastructure, etc. ). Likewise much tourism is undertaken in contexts of socio-economic uncertainty due to political instability - which might also affect how small businessesfu nction and grow. From an extensive review of the entrepreneurship literature a number of different approaches to growth were identified and their propositions for achieving successful growth were evaluated. In addition, this review identified common key factors from different sectors and business variables which were further categorised into four groupings: entrepreneur/personality attributes, business, external influence and entrepreneur orientation. A qualitative case study approach was employed in order to develop a richer and deeper understandingo f the key growth factors for hotel entrepreneurship.T he key factors of growth were investigated in five successful hotels in North Cyprus. Data was collected from any person who was related to the activities of the hotel: entrepreneurs, family members, managers, employees, customers and friends. A series of in-depth semi-structured interviews and observations were carried out involving respondents in Kyrenia, North Cyprus. Relevant documents for analysis were collected from the five case study hotels and official bodies like the Tourism Ministry. The literature related to the growth of hotels indicated that the hotel business is complex and requires a different management style and personal skills compared to any other business sector, which makes forming strategiest o pursue growth complicated for entrepreneurs. Of 25 key factors investigated, sixteen influences on the growth of hotels in North Cyprus were found, These are desire to succeed, active risk taker, education, family history, network of contacts, other business interests of the owner, age of founders, state support, location, familyt"investing" friends, key employees/partners,c ustomer concentration, autonomy, innovativeness,p roactiveness and competitive aggressivenessE. ach growth factor is related to the others and the factorsc reate the path of growth for the entrepreneurs. However, the entrepreneur's intention to grow also plays an important role in making the developments successful. It is therefore suggested that it is the entrepreneurs' decisions that lead them to see the opportunities and use them with the combination of factors to pursue successful growth. It was found that the key factors were primarily related to the entrepreneur's characteristics and leadership. The findings from the case study hotels further suggested that location, loyal customers and loyal employees played a key role in achieving growth. An entrepreneur's ability and skills to develop and manage a hotel with the combination of good networking, leadership, and seeing opportunities and adapting to changes in time, appear to depend very much on the country's circumstances and past life experiences of the entrepreneur.

The aim of the research described in this thesis is to evaluate the relationship between the service capabilities and performance of UK and Taiwanese third-party logistics (3PL) providers. A study is presented based on a survey conducted in 2007. The study explores the interrelationships between 3PL service capabilities, operational performance and financial performance. The results identify the most important services offered by 3PLs and the most important aspects of 3PL operational performance. The operational performance offered by 3PLs is found to have a positive relationship with their financial performance. The positive relationship between key aspects of operational performance and financial performance are also confirmed in this study. The range of service provision offered by 3PLs cannot directly influence 3PLs' financial performance. Although it appears that 3PL providers with a broader range of service provision have generally better financial performance both in Taiwan and the UK, but through a better operational performance, 3PLs will gain superior financial performance. The direct relationship and the context dependent relationship of service capabilities and operational performance offered by 3PLs on their financial performance are discussed in this research. The results also suggest that excellence in operations is more important than wide-ranging service provision. For some developing 3PLs, aligning high levels of operational performance with customers' key priorities is a necessary strategy. In addition, the paper provides a comprehensive review of the dimensions of 3PL operational performance and the range of 3PL services offered.

This study focuses on corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Tanzania, a developing country in East Africa. CSR has become one of the greatest challenges in the contemporary globalisation era. As corporate influences on the daily lives of people have increased in the global economy, sometimes more than those of elected governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and pressure groups have become sceptical of corporate power and increasingly concerned about the socio-economic and environmental consequences of corporate activities. Many corporations have sought to reassure public opinion by publishing corporate responsibility statements and codes of conduct. However, these have often been subordinate to pursuit of profit. Although an increasing volume of literature has sought to provide an understanding of CSR from a variety of competing theoretical perspectives, the literature has focused mainly on developed countries with relatively little scholarly attention being paid to CSR practices in developing countries, including Tanzania which forms the subject matter of this thesis. Previous CSR studies have tended to focus on individuals and have used theories such as agency, stakeholder and legitimacy. However, while such theories provide a useful framework for explaining and understanding the business-society relationship, they attach little explicit weight to the broader socio-political, economic and historical contexts which shape CSR practices. Thus, this study examines the nature and extent of CSR practices in Tanzania within a socio-political and economic context. It does so by adopting structuration theory in order to consider the duality and dialectical interrelationship between social actors and institutional structures which create, shape, influence and undermine the (re)production of CSR practices in a developing country. It considers the impact of globalisation, corporate power and the role of the developmental state on the conduct of responsible business practices in Tanzania. The study shows that in the context of globalisation that Tanzania's dependence on the international financial institutions and on investment by foreign multinational corporations has shaped and influenced Tanzania's socio-economic environment and institutional structures. Thus, the institutional structures in Tanzania have been shaped by global pressures, in particular by the desire to attract capital in order to deal with Tanzania's endemic poverty. As a result, the Tanzanian government's capacity to promote public accountability, good governance, transparency and corporate responsibility has been seriously constrained. The evidence shows that MNCs in Tanzania have produced statements containing pledges to act in a socially responsible manner, but that their actions have left much to be desired for employees, local communities, the government, and society as a whole. The study draws attention to the gap between corporate statements about CSR and about what happens in practice, which casts doubt on corporate claims to be keen to promote CSR and questions the reasons for such claims. The gap between corporate talk and corporate action suggests that corporate promises to act in a socially responsible manner may be 'hollow', or a mere fiction designed to legitimise business operations in Tanzania. As a consequence, contrary to the claims of the companies to be acting in a socially responsible way and to be committed to improving the economic and social infrastructures and quality of life of local citizens, the widespread poverty in Tanzania remains significant. There is therefore a pressing need for reform in order to mitigate the pervasiveness of the social, economic and environmental problems in Tanzania. This study argues that an attempt to change CSR and its potential in promoting socio-economic development in Tanzania and developing countries in general should be accompanied by changes in the governance system at both the local and global levels.

For many years, research on public sector performance measurement has focused on the more "mainstream public interest" sections such as Health, Education, or Police Services and overlooked agencies and public bodies. The research aimed to explore the issues of performance measurement in the context of British executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies with a view towards development an improvement. Through a three-phase exploratory study, the research set out to gain an in-depth understanding of performance measurement practice and in doing so, identified and examined the key elements for development and improvement. Phase 1 was a large scale questionnaire-based survey which, in broad sense, explored the nature of and reasons for performance management, the tools used, factors influencing design and the perceived level of system effectiveness. Phase II was a more in-depth study, extending the efforts of Phase I, sought to examine some of the issues in greater detail ; and Phase III was initiated based on managers' desire, explored the feasability of devising a tool to inform and evaluate performance measurement practice.the research has found that performance measurement practice and knowledge was evident across agencies and public bodies. The research also revealed nine interconnected elements as key to effective performance measurement. Based on these findings a framework for performance measurement practice was developed. Out of which, a performance measurement practice evaluation tool(PMPET) has been created. Although the framework and the resulting PMPET were customised for agencies and public bodies, they aimed to be generically applicable to the wider sections of public sector.

Though the benefits of Six Sigma were widely reported in many large organizations, research had shown its implementation in the UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was still less evident. The aim of this exploratory research was to assess the status of Six Sigma implementation in the UK manufacturing SMEs and thereby develop a customized practical framework to facilitate successful implementation of Six Sigma in SMEs. A mixed method approach of survey and multiple case studies during three phases of research was adopted to achieve the aim of the research by answering the following key research questions (RQs): RQ1: What makes SMEs different from large organizations?; RQ2: What are the critical differences in quality management practices of Six Sigma and non-Six Sigma SMEs?; RQ3: What are the critical success factors and barriers to implementation of Six Sigma in SMEs?; RQ4: Does the performance of Six Sigma firms differ from non-Six Sigma firms?; RQ5: How to assess the readiness of a SME to embark on Six Sigma journey?. The adoption of a mixed method approach not only facilitated in answering the five RQs and but also addressed the quality research criteria of reliability and validity for this research. This exploratory research had made some significant contributions to the theory and practice of Six Sigma research in SMEs. This is among very few studies in quality management (QM) literature that presents the differences in the characteristics of SMEs and large organizations through the lens of small business growth models. It also identified the similarities in the critical success factors (CSFs) stated for small business growth and for the implementation of continuous improvement (CI) initiatives in SMEs. The research dispels the myth that Six Sigma implementation is limited to large organizations only. The empirical research had indicated successful implementation of Six Sigma in SMEs of sizes ranging from 35 to 240 headcount. A well-designed quality management system (QMS) based on the principles of ISO 9000 could be the foundation to embark on Six Sigma journey. Networking with government bodies or academic institutions and the role of middle managers were identified as two new factors for successful implementation of Six Sigma in SMEs. This was among very few studies that compared and identified significant differences in the performance of Six Sigma SMEs compared to non-Six Sigma SMEs. The Six Sigma firms out-classed non-Six Sigma firms with respect to the nine performance metrics established from the literature. The two key practical contributions of this doctoral research were the construction of a Six Sigma Readiness Index (SSRI) and a customized Six Sigma framework for SMEs based on the findings from empirical research and literature. The SSRI can assess SME preparedness for Six Sigma implementation. The proposed framework would help SMEs to get started with Six Sigma implementation. The readiness index and framework were tested in three SMEs to assess its robustness and validity. The generalisability of the findings was limited due to the smaller sample size of participating firms from the UK manufacturing sector only. Future research will expand the scope of the study by focusing on global SMEs (manufacturing and services) and conducting exploratory and explanatory research on Six Sigma implementation in SMEs. The author will also test the proposed SSRI and the framework for further refinement and validity.

The current study sets out to explore the impact of the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) necessary for TQM implementation on organisational creativity in the hotel industry. Two questionnaires were used to test the study's models. The first questionnaire on TQM was designed to measure managers' perceptions of the CSFs of TQM, process innovation and product innovation. The second questionnaire on creativity, was designed to measure employees' perceptions of job attitudes (i. e. intrinsic motivation, job satisfaction and organisational commitment), work environment for creativity (i. e. stimulants and obstacles to creativity), and work outcomes (i. e. organisational creativity, service innovation performance and productivity). In addition, few short structured interviews were conducted to explore further the practices of quality management. Using cluster analysis on the CSFs of TQM resulted in two groups of hotels based on their level of TQM implementation: `low TQM adopters' and `high TQM adopters'. These two groups showed significant differences across the study's variables. For instance, hotels with a high level of TQM implementation were also higher in employee attitudes, work environment for creativity, and work outcomes, while hotels with a low level of TQM implementation were lower in all the study's variables. This study used both regression analysis and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to test hypotheses and proposed models. For the TQM model, the findings revealed that TQM had positive relationships with both process innovation and product innovation, and process innovation partially mediated the relationship between TQM and product innovation. In the second model, the creativity model, the stimulants to creativity had positive impacts on employee attitudes and work outcomes, while obstacles to creativity had negative impacts on dependent(s), and employee attitudes partially mediated these relationships. The study's findings showed that implementing successful TQM practices can help hotels to create an appropriate work environment for stimulating creativity and enhancing innovation

This thesis investigates the effectiveness and potential longevity of Knowledge Management in three international development charities, in order to compare their experiences with the commercial context in which Knowledge Management originated. By this means, the research explores how well, or otherwise, Knowledge Management can be fitted into a different setting. It also throws significant light on the transfer of business practices more generally.Chapter one assesses the evolution of the discipline Knowledge Management. It also provides key information about International Development Charities. Chapter two identifies the theoretical foundations of Knowledge Management as a prescription for organisational effectiveness, together with recommended best practices. Two environmental factors are emphasised: the role of information technology and, given the historic link to Japanese workstyles, ideas about organisational `culture'. In chapter three, the methodology for practical enquiry, derived from organisational system theory, is presented, and the problems in assessing effectiveness are discussed. Chapters four and five provide the substantive outcome of the fieldwork. Patterns that emerge from the data are drawn together in chapter six, highlighting the selective nature of Knowledge Management in application and demonstrating both similarities to and divergences from the original concept. In particular, there are specific challenges posed by the international reach of development charities The overall conclusions in chapter seven confirm that Knowledge Management undoubtedly chimes with the broad aims of international charities. At the same time, the transferability of Knowledge Management depends crucially upon its adaptability to the organisations' aims, resources, and `culture'. Where it is accepted that knowledge handling is needed to build organisational capacity, then Knowledge Management can provide a framework which, when combined with technological advances, is a tool, rather than the answer, for international charities engaged in the continuing struggle to abolish poverty

A review of existing literature revealed that little theoretical framework exists to capture e-business-enabled value creation through an integrated approach that includes the environmental view and resource-based view (RBV). Furthermore, little empirical research has been conducted to test these theoretical frameworks, in particular in the Chinese business context. The aim of this research is to extend the theoretical and practical understanding of e-business-enabled sources of competitive advantage (SCA) in China. The value chain (VC) concept, virtual value chain (VVC) framework and RBV were identified from the literature as the key constructs to underpin the theoretical basis. The research design used a qualitative research methodology consisting of indepth case studies of nine leading Chinese companies in three industries - housing development, manufacturing, and B2C. The principle finding is the formulation of a theoretical framework for investigating ebusiness value creations which integrates the key constructs of the VVC, online information capabilities (OIC), value system and RVB. This research also proposes a typology of five generic types of key e-business applications which states clearly the relationships between key e-business applications and SCA. Finally, this research demonstrates that e-business value creation features differently between two groups: Internet pragmatist and Internet pioneers. The research offers a number of contributions to the field of e-business value creation. Firstly, it introduces the concepts of OIC and value system to the VVC. It also provides empirical test of the analytical framework. In addition, this research provides an indepth understanding of the relationships between types of e-business applications and key SCA. Finally, this research identifies and explains the key differences and similarities between the three industries, within each industry, and between the two key groups. i