In this work the solution of a class of capital investment problems is considered wi thin the framel'/ork of mathematical programming. Upon the basis of the net present value criterion, the problems in question are mainly characterized by the fact that the cost of capital is defined as a non-decreasing function of the investment requirements. Capital rationing and some cases of technological dependence are also included, this approach leading to zero-one non-linear programming problems, for which specifically designed solution procedures supported by a general branch and bound development are presented. In the context of both this development and the relevant mathematical properties of the previously mentioned zero-one programs, a generalized zero-one model is also discussed. FinallY,avariant of the scheme, connected with the search sequencing of optimal solutions, is presented as an alternative in which reduced storage limitations are encountered.

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An increased demand of quality in the construction industry has been a major cause of finding new systems and developing frameworks that are fit for purpose. Construction companies around the world are trying to increase their productivity and index of quality and they are developing new methodologies through research and development. Though innovation is, never completely good or bad and it is not easy to analyse the net effect. Theories and empirical research on materials, technology and innovation have been produced more than 100 years. In this, the framework for management and innovations of processes in construction industry has attracted the most interest, while other areas, such as the combination of technologies, construction companies' life cycles in Qatar and regulatory process have also been researched in detail. This research work has identified and addresses the important issues related to the implantation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in the construction sector in the State of Qatar. The main aim of the study is to develop and present to the construction companies in Qatar a new model that could not only improve the understanding of Total Quality Management (TQM) within their sector, but also help in developing the processes, procedures and operations by employing TQM framework in all sections of a company. Therefore, this thesis suggests a model based on existing and new quality management framework in Construction industry in Qatar. Furthermore, this thesis is a combination of the collected knowledge in different research traditions, and of observed studies of the Qatar Construction industry. The aim is to give a complete picture of the materials, technology, regulatory process and innovation and to provide a theoretical model, which can be used for existing and new management framework that may be implemented in the industry that has been referred as 'client' in this study. This study examined one of the largest construction companies in Qatar as a case study to identify the current status and to highlight current barriers faced by construction companies in the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy. European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) elements, identified through the iii TQM concept in the literature review, are used as a data collection framework while both the qualitative and quantitative methodologies are used to measure the level of perceptions among employees of the 'client' construction company towards those elements. Moreover, the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) are reviewed based on previous studies in the literature review. The findings of this thesis suggest that TQM can be successfully implemented among Qatar‟s construction companies. The conclusions and recommendations are drawn from the best practice of TQM implementation as a guideline for the client construction company to consider in adopting the TQM philosophy. Furthermore, a framework has been suggested for the Client recommending the actions the Client should take to establish and implement a TQM framework, which will increase productivity, stream line the processes and improves the quality of the services and the products offered by the client.

This thesis evaluates standard setting initiatives in corporate social responsibility or 'CSR' engagements. Chapter 1 establishes how standard setting initiatives are developed through narratives of CSR. In chapter 2, the thesis unpacks hard and soft CSR which is seen as the key step to unlock the possibilities of standard setting. By showing that there is a nexus between hard and soft CSR, the regulatory divide is bridged. From here, CSR is seen to consist of internal and external narratives. When the narratives merge, standard setting can evolve in a coherent and meaningful way. In developing internal narratives, chapters 3 and 4 evaluate the normative-theoretical underpinnings of the corporation and examine how it can sustain the notion of the socially responsible corporation. The corporation is bounded by institutional roots, political limitations and legal parameters. The theoretical make up of the corporation, informed by historical insight, shows that the corporation is a real institution, capable of absorbing values from the community within which it operates and provides something back as a community member. External narratives are then discussed in chapters 5 and 6 in order to create a framework for the CSR actors to work together. Standards tend to be anchored within various brackets, including state borders and beyond, between public and private notions of authority as well as positive and negative aspects of responsibility. The rule of law holds the key towards providing legitimacy to these standards. Ultimately, chapter 7 looks at convergence in standards through the rigours of good decision making. A call for procedural integration is made through an administrative base which will be able to draw out a common language between the actors. Calibrating the internal and external narratives reveals the evolving nature of standards which attempt to reimagine the corporation as an institution of responsibility.

Why do quality initiatives work in some organisations but not in others? In a quest to discover the heart of quality, this thesis sets change programmes within the context of a turbulent global environment, where learning to adapt is the key to survival. The research explores how individuals, organisations and government use learning to promote change, as well as respond to it. Two case studies demonstrate how management style can influence learning, and hence the changes needed to achieve 'real' quality. Seeking to achieve quality through systems and procedures provides only nominal quality. This research suggests that, for some people at least, work is used for self-fulfilment, and in the quest for 'real' quality, aspirations for self-fulfilment within the workplace must be addressed. By using the metaphor of 'work as part of the heroic quest' for self-fulfilment, links are made between Maslow's concept of self-actualisation and the new literature on organizational 'soul' and spiritual intelligence. The conclusion is that if 'real' quality is the goal, self-fulfilment is the path. By establishing a community of learners in the workplace, tremendous energy - the spirit of change - is released and that energy leads straight to the heart of quality.

This integrative doctoral report describes a research project which draws from the author‟s experience and knowledge of management within the oil and gas sector. Core to the research is the design and development of a company management system, the CMS. The system was designed for a new business division of an international company whose strategic vision was to gain a global presence as an engineering contractor. The research uses the formal approach of reflective practice to draw principles from the experiential work. This reflection resulted in a series of principles which the author proposes are core to the successful development of a management system. The project entailed extensive literature research which further developed and refined the core principles. The principles were compared to the ISO standard, EFQM Excellence model and several proprietary systems. A qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the management systems in use in a selection of sectors, and to explore the applicability of the derived principles. This study established the views and opinion of senior management to systems and their attitude towards quality. The synthesis of experiential data, examination of the literature, lessons learnt from the development of the CMS and the qualitative study provided further evidence to support the six derived principles, which are: Value-based, Empowerment, Team culture, Simplicity, Continuous improvement, and Added Value. This work makes a contribution to both research and professional practice at several levels: Research into professional practice. This work demonstrates the value of undertaking a research project which is located within professional practice, and yet grounded in significant primary and secondary research. 9 The six principles. The value and validity of the six principles has been demonstrated through reflective practice, exploration of the literature, a case study development of a system (the CMS) and a qualitative study. The six core principles are novel and have broader applicability than the oil and gas sector The CMS. The development of the CMS has demonstrated the value to be gained by developing a management system according to sound management principles. Value-based vs process-based management approaches. Finally the work demonstrates that a successful management system should be value (and culture) based, rather than process based. This piece of professional research thus makes a valuable contribution to the research of management systems both academically and specifically within the oil and gas sector.

This study investigates motivations for Corporate Social Reporting (CSR). Considering that CSR remains a largely unregulated phenomenon, calls for normative and empirical research contributing to its theorisation are increasing. However, most frequently single theoretical interpretations are offered, which ignore the potential variety of explanations for the practice in diverse contexts. Concerns are also often expressed over the use of Content Analysis (CA) in CSR research. Although authors generally agree on the decisions with regard to sampling, they do not agree on the measurement units, and there is also a lack of studies reviewing issues pertaining to the context in CA. Thus, this study aims to contribute to the CSR literature by (a) introducing a framework that synthesises the relationships between the theoretical explanations for the phenomenon, and (b) reviewing the use of CA in CSR research, with a focus on CA decisions regarding sampling, recording and context. In pursue of the theoretical objective (a), a number of frequently employed theoretical explanations are reviewed and amalgamated in a revisited legitimacy theory framework, which identified three prime potential drivers for CSR. These include an ethics-focus approach, where legitimacy is achieved by discharging accountability to all identified stakeholders, and two image-focus approaches, where organisations are either interested in maintaining their legitimacy by retaining a positive image, or in opportunistically extending their legitimacy and image. To investigate the applicability of these suggestions, a case study design is adopted, whereby the reactions of five aviation organisations to major legitimacy threats in the form of air crashes are examined. The organisations considered are British Airways, Air France, American Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines. Considering the methodological objective (b) of the study and the fact that the nature of the research, thus, requires measuring the levels of CSR, a mixed-method CA is employed, which (building on a systematic review of the literature) considers not only the variations in the measured levels of CSR prior to, and following, the accidents, but also what is actually stated in the disclosures. The study finds little support for the ethics-focus approach. The majority of the quantitative and qualitative evidence indicates instead that CSR is most often externally driven. Organisations appear to primarily engage with it to ensure they are seen as acting legitimately, in order to minimise existing and potential image threats and maintain profitability. The study, contrary to the literature, also finds that the recording units employed were not consistent in their findings and thus suggests that future studies should consider a variety of recording units. As regards the context, the organisations appear to adopt a 'pecking order' disclosure approach with regard to their reporting media, reporting their substantive positive CSR news via the AR to their most 'critical stakeholders', whilst disclosing "their substantive negative CSR news in the more 'ephemeral' stand-alone reports, which potentially have smaller audience.

This thesis brings together notions from the distinctive fields of international business and entrepreneurship in order to examine the under-investigated theme of Opportunity Identification (OI) within an entirely new context, that of the multinational subsidiary. Despite its centrality in entrepreneurship research, the notion of OI still lies at an embryonic stage of investigation, particularly as an organisation-wide phenomenon. Especially with respect to the multinational subsidiary, the concept of OI has not been examined per se, regardless of studies proving that entrepreneurial subsidiaries of MNCs can also be actively involved in the identification and pursuit of innovative ideas. In addressing the above key gaps, the present thesis develops a resource-based framework that examines both antecedents and outcomes of OI at the individual subsidiary level. This framework essentially integrates theoretical perspectives on subsidiary entrepreneurship and OI under a Resource-Based View (RBV) of the multinational subsidiary. This constitutes an innovative approach both in the subsidiary-related and entrepreneurship literature. This study adopts a mixed methods approach in combining qualitative theory building and quantitative theory testing within a two-staged research methodology. The first stage involved conducting exploratory case studies in 6 Scottish “entrepreneurial” subsidiaries, given the scarcity of relevant empirical work. The second stage involved carrying out a large-scale mail survey on U.S., European, and Japanese subsidiaries operating in the UK. An overall response rate of 16% was achieved. Quantitative data analysis entailed hypotheses testing through both Multiple Regression and Structural Equation (SEM) models. This study conceptualises subsidiary entrepreneurship as a notion broader than subsidiary initiative, comprising not only radical change and innovation, but also less fundamental but still significant improvements that continuously take place at the subsidiary level. The findings prove that subsidiary entrepreneurship is essentially driven by opportunities identified at the subsidiary level. For the identification of these opportunities, particular subsidiary-specific “entrepreneurial capabilities”, such as the subsidiary’s innovation propensity, risk attitude and external networking with non-direct value-chain members, are critical. Also, factors determining the parent-subsidiary relationship, such as the subsidiary’s autonomy levels and the flows of “strategic” knowledge and skills between the subsidiary and the parent, provide access to unique and valuable resources that can expand the subsidiary’s opportunity set. However, the external environment, both local and international, was not found to pose a significant direct effect on subsidiary OI. This study concludes with establishing a positive link between subsidiary entrepreneurship and performance. Implications for theory, practice and policy making are discussed. Major contributions of this study to theory include the development of a more holistic conceptualisation and measurement of subsidiary entrepreneurship, along with the adoption of a Resource-Based View (RBV) of the multinational subsidiary, which establishes the existence of specific “entrepreneurial” capabilities at the subsidiary level.

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The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of cross-functional knowledge conversion within Taiwanese high-technology small and medium-sized enterprise's (SME) new product development (NPD) teams. An analysis of 107 Taiwanese high-technology SMEs' management characteristics found a complex knowledge structure is better adopted for cross-functional knowledge conversion during the NPD period than existing or simple knowledge structure models. In addition, a Processual strategy moderated the relationships between organisational knowledge structures and four-all steps within knowledge conversion to knowledge transfer; in contrast, Classical strategy was shown only to have moderated effects during the planning and developing stage of the NPD period. Following Blackler's (1995) organisational theory, this study also found the socialisation and externalisation stages require both knowledge features from communication-intensive organisation and symbolic-analyst-dependent organisation within the NPD team's knowledge conversion. Knowledge features from a knowledge-routinised organisation are required at the combination stage; and finally, the knowledge features from an expert-dependent organisation are required at the internalisation stage. Observed strategies can be categorised as being Classical or Processual oriented (Whittington, 1993). This study describes how the strategy moderates the relationship between the organisational knowledge structures and the four knowledge-creation steps, socialisation, externalisation, combination and internalisation for NPD teams. Results showed that the requirement upon strategy differed among stages within the NPD period. During the transfer process, Processual strategy moderated the relationships between organisational knowledge structures and steps within conversion to knowledge transfer during the planning, developing, marketing and commercialisation stages of the NPD period even the negative moderating effects showed in some stages. In contrast, Classical strategy was shown only to have negative moderating effects during the planning and developing stage. Survey results also showed that the highly formalised communication model and periodic meetings advocated by Song et al (1996 & 2002) were gradually replaced by a bounded transfer and less formalised approach. However this study does not find that a consistent approach to strategy, using either PS or CS is likely to smooth the NPD process between marketing and R & D in high technology Taiwanese firms. It is possible that other schools, such as the Evolutionary or Systemic schools suggested by Whittington may fit more closely than the two tested in this study; and this will be the topic of further investigation. However, it is clear that different stages require contradictory processes and outcome routines; thus it is likely that conflict and inconsistency is actually the normal by-product of successful NPD's knowledge conversion.