by Lee Tak Wah. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 93). / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I --- BACKGROUND --- p.1 / Service Product --- p.1 / Passenger Car Market Size --- p.1 / Service Providers --- p.1 / Size of the Industry --- p.2 / Investment Return of the Distributor --- p.3 / The Global Market Trend and Strategy --- p.4 / Chapter II --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Customer Satisfaction --- p.6 / Understanding Service --- p.7 / Developing the Strategy --- p.8 / Tools for Service Marketers --- p.11 / Competing through Quality & Productivity --- p.14 / An Integrative Framework for Marketing Service --- p.15 / Chapter III --- OBJECTIVE & METHODOLOGY --- p.16 / Secondary Data Analysis --- p.16 / Problem Statement --- p.26 / Research Objective --- p.27 / Scope --- p.27 / Chapter IV --- PERSONAL INTERVIEW --- p.28 / Sampling --- p.28 / Conducting the Interview --- p.29 / Question Guidelines --- p.29 / Profile of the Interviewees --- p.30 / Summary of the Interview --- p.30 / Chapter V --- CUSTOMER SURVEY --- p.34 / Methodology --- p.34 / The Questionnaire --- p.35 / Field Work --- p.38 / Findings of the Survey --- p.39 / Chapter VI --- CONCLUSION --- p.46 / Alternative Strategy One - Cost Leadership --- p.47 / Alternative Strategy Two - Product Differentiation --- p.48 / Final Remarks --- p.49 / APPENDIXES --- p.51 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.93

by Tong Kwok Wang. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-71). / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / ABSTRACT --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER I: --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Objectives of the Study --- p.2 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- BACKGROUND --- p.5 / Strategic Alliance and JVs for Automobile Industry --- p.5 / Automobile Industry in China --- p.7 / Study of Strategic Alliances of the Automobile Industry in China --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- BEAMISH'S MODEL --- p.17 / Designing the Joint Venture --- p.17 / Managing the TV --- p.19 / JV Performance --- p.20 / Unique Characteristic of JVs in China --- p.22 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- METHODOLOGY --- p.24 / Limitations of the Study --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- JVS WITH INVESTMENTS FROM US AND EUROPE --- p.27 / Case Study 1: Beijing Jeep --- p.27 / Case Study 2: Shanghai Volkswagen --- p.31 / Case Study 3: Guangzhou Peugeot --- p.36 / Case Study 4: Shanghai General Motors --- p.41 / Other Western Investments --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- JVS WITH JAPANESE INVESTMENT --- p.47 / Case Study 5: Toyota and Charade --- p.47 / Case Study 6: Suzuki --- p.48 / Case Study 7: Honda --- p.49 / Other Japanese Investments --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER VII --- ANALYSIS --- p.53 / Designing the JV --- p.53 / Managing the JV --- p.58 / JV Performance --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER VIII --- CONCLUSION --- p.62 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.68

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Political Science, 2007. / Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-141).

In the operations management research, the inconsistent use of the same term for different concepts and the use of the similar concepts for different constructs potentially causes theoretical and statistical problems. This research addresses the importance of construct definitions and specification methodologically within the context of quality and sustainability management. It involves three essays using multiple quantitative methods such as partial least squares structural equation modeling and multiple regression in different consumer decision-making models in the automobile industry. In the first two essays, a comprehensive literature review results in definition and contextualization of the quality and sustainability constructs as applied to operations management and marketing research. The relationships of these constructs with consumer behavior are empirically tested. Building upon the first two essays, the third essay addresses the methodological issues on formative and reflective measurements by summarizing a procedure of validating formative measurements. The quality construct was used to illustrate the methodology. This research contributes to the literature, theory, and practices in the area of quality and sustainability management.

Note:

This thesis examines the applicability of the theoretical framework of strategic trade to the export-led growth of the automobile industry in South Korea. The study focuses on four areas. First, the "new" theory of international trade is elaborated in order to identify the “prerequisite” industrial characteristics under which policies of strategic trade are theoretically advantageous. Secondly, the development of the automobile industry in South Korea is analyzed. The focus is on examining the role of the state in initiating industrial and trade policies that specifically targeted the automobile sector. This thesis argues that strategic trade is a valid analytical framework in the case of the South Korean automobile industry. Thirdly, the development of the automobile industry in South Korea is compared with that of Mexico. The comparative perspective helps highlight several factors that may have helped make policies of strategic trade effective in the South Korean case. These factors include a virtual absence of transnational corporations and domestic industrial conglomeration in the South Korean automobile industry. Finally, based on the possible critical importance of these factors for policy implementation and outcomes, the thesis ends with a discussion on the relevance of strategic trade as a model for economic development. / Master of Arts

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University 2005. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research report takes an in-depth look at the automotive industry and their major participants in the upstream value chain. The different parties involved are the automotive manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers. The overall goal of the following report is to identify suitable business models for small to medium sized (SME) automotive suppliers. As the automotive value chain currently undergoes an evolutionary change towards a diminishing vertical integration of the OEMs, it becomes a challenging issue to reconfigure the responsibilities of the suppliers. Thereby OEMs and their suppliers have to cope with a shift from a functional to a process orientated value chain. During this reorganization of the OEM-supplier interface, enterprises realign their strategic intent towards their core competencies as well. Besides the shifting value chain, both suppliers and OEMs have to cope with a consolidation in their industries. This consolidation is impacted by stagnating traditional markets, an ongoing globalization of the value chain, and an increasing productivity pressure in the automotive industry. Looking at the automotive supplier, it becomes obvious that the suppliers are on the one hand challenged by productivity pressures and on the other hand have the opportunity to take over more business of the automotive value chain. The growth potential requires changes in the area of supply chain management and new types of collaboration in the supply network. This prospective development is mainly influenced by a trend towards the outsourcing of entire processes by the OEMs and the increasing need for future innovations in the automotive industry. After discussing the above mentioned issues, the report analyses the role of suppliers with respect to their main customers, the automotive OEMs. Based on the findings business models for suppliers are assessed and key success factors for small to medium sized suppliers are proposed and evaluated. The findings of the evaluation are translated into suggestions for most suitable business models of SMEs. The report concludes with recommendations for the strategy building process indicates problems concerning the shifting value chain, and points out the importance of further research in the field of the small to medium sized automotive supplier industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studieverslag ondersoek die motorvoertuig industrie met verwysing na die hoof deelnemers 'n die opwaartse waarde-ketting. Die partye betrokke is die motorvoertuigvervaardigers (OEMs) asook hul verskaffers. Die oorhoofse doel van die verslag is om gepaste sakeplanne vir klein en medium grootte (SME) ondernemings te identifiseer. Die motorvoertuig industrie se waardeketting ervaar tans 'n drastiese veranderingsproses - gekenmerk deur afnemende vertikale integrasie vanaf die OEMs - wat voortdurende nuwe uitdagings veroorsaak vir die innoverende verskaffer. Beide die OEMs en hul verskaffers moet dus aanpas met hierdie verandering - van funksioneel na proses-georienteerd - in die waarde-ketting. Tydens hierdie herstrukturering van OEM-verskaffer interaksie, moet deelnemers verseker dat die strategiese bedoeling in fyn ooreenstemming is met hul basiese bevoegdhede. Behalwe die verskuiwing in die waardeketting, moet OEMs asook verskaffers aanpas met samesmelting in hulle industrieë. Hierdie proses van samesmelting word beinvloed deur kwynende konvensionele markte, voortgesette globalisasie van die waardeketting, asook toenemende druk om produktief te wees in die motorvoertuig-industrie. 'n Ondersoek in motorvoertuig industrie verskaffers toon dat daar enersyds geweldige uitdagings ervaar word soverre dit produktiwiteitverbetering betref, maar andersyds daar ook geleendhede gebied word vir die verskaffer om verder te integreer deur oornames in die waarde-ketting. Om groei potensiaal te verwesenlik noodsaak dit veranderinge in die veld van verskaffingskettingbestuur, asook nuwe metodes van samewerking in die verskaffingsnetwerk. Hierdie moontlike tendens van integrasie word hoofsaaklik beinvloed deur 'n geneigdheid van OEMs om volledige prosesse te sub-kontrakteur asook deur die toenemende aanvraag vir voortdurende innovering in die motorvoertuig industrie. Laastens ondersoek die verslag die rol van die verskaffer vanuit die oogpunt van hul hoof kliënte, die OEMs. Na aanleiding van die verslag se bevindings word verskaffers se sakeplanne en modelle beoordeel en evalueer en word sleutel suksesfaktore vir die SME verskaffer voorgestel. Die uitslae van die evaluasie word verder verwerk tot in voorstelle wat gepas is vir die sakeplanne van meeste SMEs. Die verslag kom tot voltrekking met aanbevelings in die strategie bouproses rakende die veranderende waardeketting, en dui ook op die noodsaaklikheid van verdere navorsing onder die SME motorvoertuig industrie verskaffers.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marketing has long been seen as a qualitative discipline following a rather soft approach. This, in many circumstances, resulted in a loss of marketing's credibility against other more quantitative managerial disciplines. Out of this plight, numerous marketing practitioners and experts during the past two decades have developed ways to prove that marketing can indeed be quantifiable. Born were the theories of marketing metrics as tools to make marketing measurable and, thus, to justify its existence. As can be assumed, in most organisations, the existence of the marketing discipline is not threatened; yet, an increased importance is placed on the fact that marketing expenditure is located wisely and efficiently in order to make a contribution to bottom line. This is particularly significant for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which typically have only small marketing budgets and dispose of limited marketing expertise. The purpose of this study is to examine whether such a medium sized enterprise, the Tepass + Seiz KG, a German group of car dealerships, shows a marketing behaviour typical for that of an SME and does not use a sophisticated system of marketing metrics to measure the efficiency of its marketing activities. Primarily, a literature review was performed to illustrate the role of marketing metrics within large corporations and smaller enterprises and to shed light to the typical marketing behaviour of SMEs. The subsequent examination of the Tepass + Seiz KG and its marketing performance measurement system was built onto the findings of that review. The study was conducted, following a single case study strategy with the use of in-depth interviews to collect the data. The analysis illustrated that the Tepass + Seiz KG, even though conducting numerous different marketing activities, shows a marketing behaviour typical for a medium sized enterprise and that it does not measure its marketing activities efficiently. Consequently, recommendations on how to improve its measurement systems were made and various marketing metrics were introduced and suggested for implementation. The development of a stringent marketing strategy in addition to the metrics recommended was found to be a necessary further step towards a sophisticated marketing management within this enterprise. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bemarking word lank reeds beskou as 'n kwalitatiewe dissipline met 'n taamlike sagte aanslag. Dit het onder vele omstandighede gelei tot 'n verlies aan geloofwaardigheid vir bemarking vergeleke met ander meer kwantitatiewe bestuursdissiplines. As gevolg hiervan het baie bemarkingspraktisyns en bemarkingskundiges oor die afgelope twee dekades maniere ontwikkel om te bewys dat bemarking inderdaad kwantifiseerbaar kan wees. Daaruit is die teorieë van bemarkingsmaatstawwe gebore as 'n instrument om bemarking meetbaar te maak en om sodoende die bestaan daarvan te regverdig. Daar kan aanvaar word dat die bestaan van die bemarkingsdissipline in die meeste organisasies nie bedreig word nie; nogtans word al meer klem gelê op die feit dat bemarkingsuitgawes slim en doeltreffend aangewend moet word om 'n bydrae tot winsgewendheid te lewer. Dit is veral belangrik vir klein en mediumgrootte ondernemings (KMO's), wat gewoonlik oor slegs klein bemarkingsbegrotings en beperkte bemarkingskundigheid beskik. Die doel van hierdie navorsingstudie was om te ondersoek of so 'n mediumgrootte onderneming, die Tepass + Seiz KG, 'n Duitse groep van motorhandelaars, bemarkingsgedrag tipies van 'n KMO toon en nie gebruik maak van 'n gesofistikeerde stelsel van bemarkingsmaatstawwe om die doeltreffendheid van sy bemarkingsaktiwiteite te meet nie. Daar is primêr 'n literatuuroorsig uitgevoer om die rol van bemarkingsmaatstawwe binne groot korporasies en kleiner ondernemings te illustreer en om lig te werp op die tipiese bemarkingsgedrag van KMO's. Die daaropvolgende ondersoek van die Tepass + Seiz KG en die metingstelsel vir sy bemarkingsprestasie is gebou op die bevindings van die literatuuroorsig. Die studie is uitgevoer volgens die strategie van 'n enkele gevallestudie met die gebruik van in-diepte onderhoude om die data in te samel. Die ontleding het aangetoon dat die Tepass + Seiz KG, hoewel daar baie verskillende bemarkingsaktiwiteite uitgevoer word, die tipiese bemarkingsgedrag van 'n mediumgrootte onderneming uitvoer en nie sy bemarkingsaktiwiteite doeltreffend meet nie. Gevolglik is aanbevelings gedoen oor hoe metingstelsels verbeter kan word en verskeie tipes bemarkingsmaatstawwe is voorgestel vir implementering. Daar is bevind dat die ontwikkeling van 'n streng bemarkingstrategie bykomend tot die aanbevole maatstaf 'n noodsaaklike verdere stap is vir gesofistikeerde bemarkingsbestuur binne hierdie onderneming.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The subject of globalisation has been widely publicised and studied over the last few years, specifically in the automotive industry where mergers, acquisitions and take-overs have set the trend for companies to become more involved in global operations. Even though this is such a widely studied subject internationally, there are significant differences between the international processes and the processes that the South African automotive industry will follow to become part of the global village. This is the result of the development of the automotive industry in South Africa during the isolation years. During the isolation period the international automotive industry underwent significant global changes owing to aggressive merger, acquisition and takeover activities. These activities were specifically aimed at positioning international manufacturers in new global markets, where they would become involved in the manufacturing of products in these new markets and then reselling them in their traditional markets, as well as opening these new markets for their traditional products. The isolation period also resulted in the South African market developing a strong and reliable supplier base to sustain the automotive manufacturers that elected to continue their operations in this country. An extensive literature study on globalisation is followed by a discussion of industry forces that will have a significant impact on the processes, procedures and strategies that a company will have to develop when it considers becoming global. The main focus of the literature study is the globalisation process and successful strategies to follow in order to become global. The rest of the study focuses on the internal and external influences and the internal struggles relating to a South African manufacturer that became part of its larger international namesake. The literature study acts as a guideline for the rest of the study. Some of the processes described and investigated in the literature study were not necessarily followed by the car manufacturer during its entrance into the global village, but did influence the strategies that the manufacturer established in order to be successful during this process. The study concluded on the ever-changing environment of the global village and the effects it has on the participants that are part of this environment. It gave specific attention to the success factors in the international automotive industry. In the recommendations a brief description is given of the future trends that a company would have to consider in order to remain in the global village. The focus is on e-commerce, management, strategy, supplier development and products. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onderwerp van globalisering het in die verlede wye aandag getrek, spesifiek in die motorbedryf waar samesmeltings, uitkopings en oornames die tendens stel. Alhoewel dit 'n baie breë studie is, is daar noemenswaardige verskille tussen 'n maatskappy wat van nuuts af wil globaliseer en dié van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse motor vervaardiger wat 'n internationale moedermaatskappy het. Dit is hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die jare waartydens Suid-Afrika in isolasie verkeer het. Tydens die isolasie jare het die internasionale bedryf globaal verskeie veranderinge ondergaan as gevolg van agressiewe samesmeltings en oorname aktiwiteite. Hierdie aktiwiteite was spesifiek daarop gemik om die maatskappye beter globaal to posisioneer sodat beter produk verspreiding en produksie kan plaasvind. Die Suid-Afrikaanse mark het gedurende die tydperk meer daarop gekonsentreer om 'n beter verskaffer basis te ontwikkel om die plaaslike mark te bevredig. 'n Uitgebreide literatuurstudie, fokus op suksesvolle globaliserings beginsels wat ondersoek moet word voordat 'n maatskappy dit kan oorweeg om deel van die globale netwerk te word. Die literatuurstudie word gevolg deur 'n studie oor industrie spesifieke eksterne- en interne invloede, wat 'n impak sal hê op die ontwikkeling van globale prosesse vir 'n Suid-Afrikaanse motorvervaardiger. Die literatuurstudie word as 'n riglyn gebruik vir die res van die studie. AI die prosesse in die literatuurstudie word nie noodwendig deur die gekose vervaardiger gebruik nie, maar kan 'n invloed uitoefen op die besluite wat deur die vervaardiger gemaak word. Die gevolgtrekking skenk aandag aan die suksesfaktore wat die toekoms van die Suid-Afrilaanse vervaardiger in die globale samelewing sal bepaal. Die aanbevelings konsentreer op die aanhoudende veranderinge, tegnologies en nie-tegnologies, wat in die globale samelewing plaasvind. Daar word kortliks beskryf hoe die vervaardiger die veranderinge tot sy voordeel kan gebruik. Die velde van verandering waarop gekonsentreer word is "ecommerce", bestuur, strategie, verskaffer ontwikkeling en produk ontwikkeling.

published_or_final_version / Geography and Geology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy