In order to strengthen the entity of the company, enlarge the size of the company and let the company become more competitive, a company should have, not only well-planed prospects and goals, but also solid operation strategies and implemented the strategies certainly. According to the present and future prospects of the company, the thesis makes a so-called ¡§double growth in five years¡¨ plan as a mid-term and long-term goal. The basic target is to double the turnover and capital values in five years. However, the essential meanings are as below. 1. to solve the current difficulties of the company 2. to increase the effectiveness and create more profit 3. to maintain the competitive advantage of the company 4. to lead the company into a second business establishment 5. to establish a foundation for future sustainable development Regarding to the operation strategies, the thesis is mainly aimed at the condition which meets the case-study company to provide the feasible action plans. The focused contents include brand, professional ability, negotiating ability, low-cost strategy, human resources management, marketing opportunity and future relative business. This research targets at a case study of water and electrical engineering company, which is located in Kaohsiung. The study structure starts with planning the mid-term and long-term goal, developing the operation strategy, assessing the strategy and implementing the plan, followed by a systematic analysis and discussion, and then expecting to achieve the goal of ¡§double growth in five years¡¨ plan and keep the competitiveness of enterprise. Next, the research has merged the theory of strategic management with practical operation experience, and has linked the thinking mode of strategy with operation activities of the enterprise for achieving the goal of internalizing the strategic knowledge. The research method is to collect the opinions by consulting many experts, scholars and professional suppliers, and refer to many reference articles, and precede the case analysis and descriptive research. The following conclusions have been obtained after summarizing the above information. 1. In order to overcome the difficulties and create a new era for the company, the small-sized and medium-sized construction or electrical engineering companies should plan the operation strategy and implement it certainly. This can break through the difficult position to create company value. 2. According to the research analysis, some operation defects, which existing many years, have been found in the case-study company. Those defects should be improved as soon as possible, in order to promote the company and achieve the mid-term and long-term goals. 3. Learning and utilizing of the strategic management knowledge are the necessary management tools for each manager in the present time, as well as the best weapon towards success for each enterprise.

The main objective of this thesis is to understand why there is imbalance of exchange students of Sweden and Thailand. We have analyzed the interviewed data of Swedish students who had experience of studying at universities in Thailand. Our research has revealed the factors and issues behind the imbalance situation. After analyzing factors we have proposed some recommendations in order to improve the pedagogy to increase the number of Swedish students deciding to study at Universities in Thailand so that the exchange imbalance could be reduced. Furthermore, we have proposed a favor product package for Swedish students that can help them to decide to study in Thailand.

Problem: How do the born global firms overcome challenges and sustain performance in international markets through their competences, routines, and corporate governance structure? Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the competences, routines, and corporate governance structure of born global companies, and understand their role in overcoming challenges of early internationalization and sustaining performance in international markets from early days. Method: This research is conducted as multi-disciplinary, consisting of literature from International Business and Strategic Management. Relevant data is collected through six in-depth interviews with executives of born global companies from Sweden and Norway. Qualitative analysis has been used at data analysis stage. Originality: This study contributes to literature by examining relatively neglected areas of born global companies; competences, routines, and corporate governance structure. It is also original in distilling a wide literature to explore challenges of born globals. Conclusion: Our research reveals that despite their small size and limited resources, born global companies engage in competence building and leveraging activities, establish early international routines, and construct flexible governance structures to overcome challenges and achieve performance in the global arena.

The main objective of this thesis is to understand why there is imbalance of exchange students of Sweden and Thailand. We have analyzed the interviewed data of Swedish students who had experience of studying at universities in Thailand. Our research has revealed the factors and issues behind the imbalance situation. After analyzing factors we have proposed some recommendations in order to improve the pedagogy to increase the number of Swedish students deciding to study at Universities in Thailand so that the exchange imbalance could be reduced. Furthermore, we have proposed a favor product package for Swedish students that can help them to decide to study in Thailand.

Background: During the past ten years an increasing trend of international representation in Swedish boards, referred to as board internationalization, has occured. Figures show that in 1994 foreign board members held 3,4% (Sundin & Sundqvist, 1995) of the seats in Swedish companies boards, today that figure is 14,2% (Fristedt & Sundqvist, 2005). This trend seems to continue as the nominations of this year is streaming in. Although this trend occurs Swedish business press is questioning why not more foreign directors are being appointed members to board (Almgren, 2006). Fahim (2005) also questions this and argues that companies need to realise that there is a profitability perspective on the subject of diversity. In many of the large Swedish companies the absence of foreign directors is noticed, but there is a few in the forefront which have appointed foreign directors. The reasons for internationalizing a board can be different and it interesting to investigate how forefront companies discuss internationalization in general and which reasons in particular that drives board internationalization. Purpose: The thesis' purpose is to investigate the main rational for board internationalization. Frame of reference: In the frame of reference, four possible influences on the internationalization of the board is presented, in order to be discussed and compared to the empirical findings; corporate governance, ownership structure, stakeholder pressure, and competitive advantage. Method: In order to fulfill the purpose, a qualitative research method is chosen, based on in-depth interviews. The sample consists of ten interviews with chairmen of Swedish boards within companies that are represented by at least one foreign board member. Conclusion: We have concluded that the main rational of board internationalization is the search for competitive advantage, which is believed to be created by a board with diverse competences and networks. Regarding ownership structure, foreign private owners are the only ones that are influencing the internationalization. Both the corporate governance development and the stakeholder pressure are identified in the empirical findings, but not believed to be an influence of internationalization.

Strategic management has long been viewed as the concept and process that link an organization and its environment together (Leibold, Probst & Gibbert, 2002). It consists of the analysis, decisions and actions an organization undertakes in order to create and sustain competitive advantages (Dess, Lumpkin & Taylor, 2005). Within the history of strategic management research there has been an unbalance between the internal and the external perspective. During the 1980s Michael Porter, one of the most prominent strategic management researchers, and his Five Forces model focused strictly on the external competitive environment (Mintzberg, Ahlstrand & Lampel, 1998). Further, in the 1990s the focus shifted from external to internal along with Jay Barney’s development of the resource based theory in 1991 (Barney, 1991). The issue of excluding one or the other perspective has now started to be acknowledged and researchers today are striving for developing models integrating both perspectives. However, theoretical models existing today that combine the two perspectives are complex and hard to apply in practice for managers within the business world. In order to address the complexity of the strategic management concept we have chosen to develop a model with the purpose to connect and relate the external and internal perspectives by conducting an in-depth analysis of a chosen company. The model also strives to be easily communicated, applicable and understandable for managers and employees on different levels within the organization. This leads us to the purpose of this thesis: “to develop a simplified model that combines the external and internal perspective of strategic management and apply this to a chosen company”. The research was conducted through a case study based on the authors’ participation in a PBM (Project Based Module) - project. The model was tested on the company in question by analyzing the company’s internal and external environment with the means of analysis tools such as PEST-analysis, strategic group analysis, threshold analysis and the SWOTanalysis. To conclude it is important to balance an organization’s internal efforts with the external market conditions and avoid excluding one or the other from the strategic management process. Combining the two perspectives results in identifying the current capabilities and competences and the direction of how to use these in order to meet market demands and gain competitive advantage.

Turkish textile and clothing industry is one of the pillar industries of Turkish economy with its contribution to export, GDP and employment. Also, it has linkages with many other industries. As a consequent, developments emerged in the industry eventually affect the overall economy of Turkey. Hence, analysis of the competitiveness of the enterprises operating in the textile and clothing industry of Turkey is very important for a more competitive country. Within this context, the purpose of this study is to explore the key determinants of competitiveness of Turkish textiles and clothing industry, and analyze the effects of firm characteristics and future expectations on perceived competitive advantage of Turkish textiles and clothing firms. The study further purposes to analyze the Turkish textiles and clothing industry&rsquo / s structure.

Background: The purpose of this master thesis was to investigate what generic strategies are utilized by big players in the solar photovoltaic industry to improve their competitive positions. The continuous expansion of the solar market indicated the significance of this research, since the correctly chosen strategy has a direct influence on the success and prosperity of the growing and developing high tech companies.Aim: The first aim of the study was to examine the applicability of Michael Porter‟s theory of generic strategies to the high tech industry, to be more precise the solar photovoltaic industry. The second aim of the study was to explore the cases, if any, when the simultaneous pursuit of more than one generic strategy was possible. The last but not the least aim was to deeply investigate the potential of the differentiation strategy and the effect it has on the companies.Definitions: The continuous utilization of the following concepts is present in the research: Generic strategies – the three different strategic approaches – cost leadership, differentiation, and focus – the companies can undertake to build a strong competitive advantage and outperform their competitors Differentiation – a case when a firm‟s offering is preferred, on some buying occasions (or by some customers all of the time) over rival firm‟s offerings Solar energy – alternative solutions of receiving energy directly from the sun – using solar modules which convert sunrays into electricityMethodology: Qualitative research methodology was used in this study. The in depth analyses of three case companies were done mainly by means of collecting the secondary data. In addition to that two out of three companies were contacted in order to conduct personal interviews via phone and email. Their answers were used as a supportive tool for the developed propositions.Results: The collected and analyzed secondary data together with the outcomes of the interviews revealed the flaws and limitations of Porter‟s theory. The simultaneous pursuit of two strategies was proven not only to be taking place, furthermore, to be leading to prosperity in some situations. The new model was developed which showed that the pursuit of two strategies is more of a necessity under certain circumstances. A thorough examination of the differentiation concept resulted in discovering the ways and methods which could be used by companies to strengthen their market positions.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore the challenges that are faced by born global SMEs and how they overcome these challenges. Method: For literature review and secondary research, data and information has been gathered from disciplines of international entrepreneurship. Primary research has been done on four born global firms; two from Sweden and two from Pakistan. Qualitative research and analysis has been used in the study. Originality: This study contributes to literature by covering some missing portions in born global discipline. In this research, effort is made to compile various challenges that are faced by born global firms, through literature review. The report further has focused on overcoming these challenges by gathering information through primary research. Conclusion: The research has concluded that there are certain challenges that are faced by born global firms in their international business development. These challenges are internal as well as external. Despite these challenges and problems, born global firms are able to achieve their position in international market by overcoming these challenges through building networks and competency alliances with partners situated internationally.

In this thesis I have examined the role of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in fuelling hostcountries economic developments. By looking closer into Mexico and the case of automobile industry which has been historically the subject of control of foreign affiliates I observed coinciding patterns. Through North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) the channels between trade and investments have become more obvious and even transparent. Speaking about Mexico’s economic developments, albeit the total volumes of trade have increased, the country’s terms-of- trade were deteriorating following the post-NAFTA years. While conducting the research I have made use of neo-liberal economic discourses, theories of international trade and investment in order to explain the underlying motives for free-trade. These motives offer solid arguments to adopt the strategy of export orientation. While investigating the investments form multinationals and comparable Mexican trade performance, I have fund that exports and FDI flows have seemingly unrelated. The country has been a significant receiver of foreign imports at the time of post-NAFTA developments and huge FDI inflows. The result was that capacity of domestic production was limited and the trade imbalance ensured. Analysis explores closer relation between FDI and the country’s import levels which cause deterioration in the terms of trade and economic growth. The explanation lies in the nature of FDI per se. The type of investment in Mexico is essentially market-seeking, since it adjusts to the international competitive pressures, and search access to comparatively advantageous foreign markets, explained by the theory of capital movements. This paper also questions and raises concern with regard to the consequences of these pressures that leads to race-to-the-bottom policies.