O grande crescimento da comunicação boca a boca, principalmente após a popularização da internet e redes sociais, aumentou a circulação de opiniões sem que o indivíduo tenha consumido, utilizado ou até mesmo tido algum tipo de contato com o produto. Por isso, é necessário que as empresas entendam melhor quais características devem promover em suas marcas para aumentar o valor percebido pelo cliente, proteger-se do boca-a-boca negativo e estimular o positivo. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho é analisar as inter-relações entre personalidade de marca, valor percebido e atitude e seus efeitos preditivos sobre o boca-a-boca entre os consumidores antes da compra. Neste estudo descritivo foram obtidas 1.156 respostas on-line para a utilização de modelagem de equações estruturais. Foram aplicadas ferramentas estatísticas preparatórias, que validaram os dados para aplicação do método PLS, permitindo estimar uma série de relações de dependência entre variáveis latentes. Foi confirmado que uma cadeia de eventos anterior à compra, formada pelos construtos sob análise e moderada pela familiaridade com a marca e envolvimento com o produto, resulta na intenção do consumidor realizar o boca-a-boca, especialmente o positivo. Quando percebidos, a competência da marca e os atributos emocionais do produto tendem a se sobressair ao preço e influenciar com maior relevância a atitude do consumidor para estímulo ao boca-a-boca. / As internet and social media usage expands, significant growth in word-of-mouth communication has increased consumers\' opinion-sharing about products and brands, regardless they ever having used, consumed, or been in contact with such products. For this reason, it is crucial for companies to better understand the cognitive and emotional aspects of such consumer behavior in order to protect their brands from negative word-of-mouth and stimulate positive mentions. Therefore, this work aims at analyzing the interrelations between brand personality, perceived value and attitude, as well as their predictive effects in word-of-mouth communications between customers before the purchase. In this descriptive study, 1,156 self-administered questionnaires data was subjected to Structural Equation Modeling analysis. Statistical analysis validated the data for PLS path modeling which, in turn, allowed estimation of several dependent interrelationships between latent variables in a model developed from literature. Results suggest that a chain of events, comprised by the analyzed constructs and moderated by brand familiarity and product involvement, results in customer\'s intention to engage in predominantly positive word-of-mouth prior to the purchase. When actually perceived, brand competence and emotional attributes overweight price perception in influencing customer\'s attitude toward word-of-mouth behavior.

As mudanças do cenário competitivo forçam a necessidade de reestruturação das empresas estreitando a relação entre as organizações participantes da cadeia de suprimentos de um produto, atuando com base na colaboração interorganizacional. Diferentes estratégias de atuação colaborativa tornam o assunto relevante aos pesquisadores, e gestores de empresas. A integração, cooperação e parceria são essenciais para o sucesso desta reestruturação, as práticas deste tema são tratadas como Gestão Colaborativa. O objetivo principal foi analisar e sistematizar os requisitos da Gestão Colaborativa entre empresas da cadeia de suprimentos do setor automobilístico e propor um modelo de referência. A pesquisa iniciou com um estudo exploratório para identificar os elementos teóricos que envolvem a atuação colaborativa entre empresas. Na sequência foi realizado um estudo de caso múltiplo, a fim de analisar as estratégias colaborativas utilizadas pelas empresas do setor. Com os dados coletados foi elaborado modelos de referência utilizando a metodologia Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) sob uma perspectiva de gestão colaborativa. Os dados possibilitaram a representação sistêmica e consistente da colaboração entre empresas, contribuindo para esclarecer a atuação Colaborativa, bem como a relação da integração com as estratégias de gestão interorganizacional. / Changes in the competitive landscape demand the need for restructuring interorganizacional narrowing the relationship between the organizations participating in the supply chain of a product, based in interorganizational collaboration. Different strategies work collaboratively make the subject relevant to researchers and business managers. Integration, cooperation and partnership are essential to the success of this restructuring, the practices of this subject are treated as Collaborative Management. The main objective was to analyze and systematize the requirements of the Collaborative Management in supply chain companies in the automotive sector and propose a reference model. The research began with an exploratory study to identify the theoretical elements that involve collaborative activity between companies. In the sequence was carried out a multiple case study in order to analyze the collaborative strategies used by companies. With the data collected was developed reference models using the methodology Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) under a collaborative management approach. The data allowed the representation of the systemic and consistent collaboration between companies, helping to clarify the role Collaborative, and the relationship of integration with the interorganizational.

A indústria automotiva vem mudando seu perfil drasticamente na última década, tornando-se mais intensiva em sistemas computacionais, e consequentemente em software, do que em sistemas mecânicos. A maioria das funcionalidades dos veículos modernos é controlada por software distribuído, dentro de muitas Unidades de Controle Eletrônicas (ECUs) interconectadas, de modo que o veículo pode ser considerado como um conjunto de sistemas complexos. Como resultado da integração, os testes para as funções de software distribuído se tornaram um grande desafio. Muitas estratégias têm sido propostas para organizar o multinível de teste de software em sistemas embarcados automotivos, a fim de reduzir custos e melhorar sua eficácia e robustez. Esta investigação pretende estender este conceito de teste de software multinível baseado no modelo em V, projetando uma metodologia sistemática que mapeie cada função dentro do sistema embarcado do veículo, sem a existência de uma especificação detalhada de cada componente e possibilitando a definição de uma estratégia e um planejamento de teste de software antecipadamente. Esta metodologia foi totalmente desenvolvida incorporando as características da aplicação automotiva, incluindo os requisitos de segurança funcional ISO 26262. Desta forma e dentro de rigorosas condições de segurança, a nova metodologia melhora a eficiência dos processos de desenvolvimento de sistemas embarcados, possibilitando a antecipação do planejamento de teste de software. Sendo este, baseado em um mapeamento e codificação da função e das atividades de teste proposto nesta tese, que funciona também como base para futuros desenvolvimento de soluções de rastreabilidade do sistema embarcado. / The automotive industry has been changing its profile drastically in the last decade, becoming more intensive in computer systems, and consequently in software, than in mechanical systems. Most of the functionality of modern vehicles is controlled by distributed software, within many interconnected Electronic Control Units (ECUs), so that the vehicle can be considered as a set of complex systems. As a result of integration, testing for distributed software functions has become a major challenge. Many strategies have been proposed to organize the multilevel software testing in embedded automotive systems in order to reduce costs and improve their effectiveness and robustness. This research intends to extend this concept of multilevel software testing based on the V development model, designing a systematic methodology that maps each function within the embedded system of the vehicle, without the existence of a detailed specification of each component, allowing the definition of a strategy and software testing planning in advance. This methodology was fully developed incorporating the characteristics of the automotive application, including the ISO 26262 functional safety requirements. In this way, the new methodology improves the efficiency of the embedded systems development processes, within strict security conditions, allowing the anticipation of the planning based on a mapping and encoding of the function and test activities proposed in this thesis, which also serves as a basis for future development of embedded system traceability solutions.

<p>The last past years have seen the emergence of some changes in the whole society as well in the concerns than in the behaviour. Indeed, people are now more and more concerned about the ecology and it is in this optic that the researchers have dealed with this thesis. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a new model in order to measure how deep a company is involved in the Green Marketing. In this thesis the authors have leaded a multiple-case study about the automotive industry in order to see how deep are the companies involved in the green marketing, and how the deal with this new kind of marketing. </p><p>The results showed that the four brands studied are deeply involved in the green marketing and that they plan it and change their processes in order to be more environmental friendly using a lot of different means. This study is a good starting point to implement a green marketing strategy for the companies as until now it was clear about how to become green for a lot of companies.</p>

This thesis aims to provide evidence on whether FDI occurring in the Turkish economy has any effect on domestic firms, especially whether and to what extent it leads to KTTs towards domestic firms by paying attention to the role of MNCs. In order to do so, we firstly conduct a series of econometric analyses to analyze the impact of FDI-related technology spillovers on domestic firms&rsquo / productivity level in the Turkish manufacturing industry. Estimation results produced positive evidence on horizontal and backward technology spillovers, while negative evidence on forward spillovers. Secondly, we conduct a comprehensive empirical research based on case study at firm-level in the Turkish automotive industry. By this study, generally we aim to investigate the existence, nature and intensity of transfers, and what &ndash / if any &ndash / kind of KTTs occur at both inter- and intra-firm level in the industry. For this aim, we used two different research methods to collect detailed data and information from both suppliers and AMMs at the firm-level. Our main findings in terms of KTTs at inter-firm level can be summarized in this way: foreign suppliers are seen to dominate local suppliers in terms of many indicators and absorptive capacity level / it seems that KTTs occur from AMMs to their domestic suppliers mainly on providing documentations, assistances for logistic management, quality control, know-how, R&amp / D, co-design and co-development activities, designing and cost reduction / compared to foreign suppliers, local suppliers tend to be involved in those production-product-training related KTTs which are less knowledge-intensive and of a lesser quality. Also, performing R&amp / D activities is found as the most important firm level factor which influences positively KTTs, strategic collaboration activities with the AMMs, and many technology activities of the suppliers. The technology policies on attracting more FDI flows should be reviewed under the findings and insights of this study since it is a necessary condition &ndash / although not sufficient - to have an efficient absorptive capacity level and/or skilled human capital stock in order to get benefit from these flows.

The last past years have seen the emergence of some changes in the whole society as well in the concerns than in the behaviour. Indeed, people are now more and more concerned about the ecology and it is in this optic that the researchers have dealed with this thesis. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a new model in order to measure how deep a company is involved in the Green Marketing. In this thesis the authors have leaded a multiple-case study about the automotive industry in order to see how deep are the companies involved in the green marketing, and how the deal with this new kind of marketing. The results showed that the four brands studied are deeply involved in the green marketing and that they plan it and change their processes in order to be more environmental friendly using a lot of different means. This study is a good starting point to implement a green marketing strategy for the companies as until now it was clear about how to become green for a lot of companies.

Business Administration, Business Process &amp; Supply Chain Management, Degree Project (master), 15 higher education credits, 4FE06E, Spring 2013 Authors: Doruntina Pacarizi and Ya-Hui Hsu Tutor: Petra Andersson Title: Conflicting Goal and its Impact on the Level of Supply Chain Integration between Supply Chain Partners in the Automotive Industry – From Manufacturing SME’s Perspective Background: Supply chain integration assists SMEs to improve their operational performance, however the existing theories in supply chain integration are mostly from the LEs perspective. Therefore this thesis chose to focus on the level of supply chain integration from manufacturing SMEs perspective. Nevertheless supply chain integration is not simple due to conflicting goal, which exists between supply chain partners. Based on previous knowledge, the level of supply chain integration is affected by conflicting goal, which exits between supply chain partners. We believe that this is based on how the conflicting goal has been managed. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to obtain an understanding if the level of integration in the automotive industry between the manufacturing SME and its customer is affected by how the conflicting has been managed. Method: This thesis is a multiple case study and was conducted with a deductive approach. The empirical findings were gathered through qualitative interviews with semi-structured interview guides. Conclusions: The conclusions of this thesis are that the level of supply chain integration, which exists between manufacturing SME and its customer, is low/medium. Furthermore, the conflicting goal, which exists between these partners, are that the demand of delivery and volume flexibility, storage flexibility, demand of quality level and the relatively high manufacturing complexity as well as downstream complexity. Finally, the result of this thesis shows that the level of supply chain integration is affected by how the conflicting goal has been managed.

This thesis shows how the relative efficiency of automotive companies can be evaluated and how the changes in productivity of these companies by time can be observed. There are 17 companies in the analysis which are the main automotive manufacturers of Turkish automotive industry. A method called stepwise approach is used to determine the input and output factors. The two input variables used are the company&rsquo / s Payment for Raw Materials and Components and Payment for Wages and Insurances of Employees / the three output variables are Domestic Sales, Exports and Capacity Usage. The panel data that covers the time period between years 2001 and 2005 is obtained from OSD (Automotive Manufacturers Association). The efficiency analysis is performed according to basic Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models which are Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (CCR) models and Banker, Charnes and Cooper (BCC) models. The software LINGO 10 is used for solving the linear programming models. After finding the overall efficiency, technical efficiency and scale efficiency of each company for each year, the changes in the efficiencies are analyzed by using Malmquist Total Factor Productivity (TFP) Index. The results are illustrated by the help of many tables and graphs for better understanding. When the results in tables and graphs are analyzed, the negative effect of 2001 economic crisis on automotive industry can be observed. Besides, it is seen that the efficiency changes by time show variance from company to company because they produce 7 types of vehicles and there are important differences between them such as production technology, market, demand, etc.

Purpose - The purpose of the bachelor thesis is to describe the relationship between Third-party logistics (3PL) suppliers and car assemblers under Just-in-sequence (JIS). The paper refers to a case in the Spanish automotive industry and the main target is to identify and analyse the potential problems between both parts and explain how they work together. Methodology – The paper is based on a case study research, with the aid of interviews with people of the industry and participant-observations, to explain how this part of the supply chain works, the relationships along the chain and the difficulties of sequencing. Results – The paper identifies and analyses the potential problems between both parts and relates how a mistake from one of them can affect the other one. Then, the results are discussed and associated with some concepts of the theoretical framework. Limitations - The results of this case study can only be related to the Spanish automotive industry, for car assemblers that work under a JIS context with several 3PL suppliers. The case study only identifies and analyses the problems, solutions and measures for managing them are not provided.

HIV and AIDS might not necessarily be considered by South African companies to be the primary health condition impacting on their production costs and influence related interventions. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of automotive companies' perceptions regarding the health conditions that impact on their productions costs and their related workplace interventions. A cross sectional, electronic survey was conducted amongst 167 companies from the automotive manufacturing sector in South Africa, using stratified random sampling from a representative South African database. The realized sample comprised 74 companies. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were conducted to investigate the perceived health influencing factors impacting production costs, the monitoring thereof, extent of containment, interventions implemented as well as perceived success of workplace interventions to address company health challenges in terms of company size (small, medium and large organisations) and ownership (multinational versus national). The health factors perceived to have a moderate to large impact are HIV/AIDS, smoking, alcohol use, stress, back/neck ache and tuberculosis. These are reported to be better monitored and managed by medium and large organisations. Small organisations reported a smaller impact, fewer efforts and less success. Large organisations have HIV/AIDS interventions while those with wellness programmes seemed better able to monitor and manage health issues. Smaller organisations were not convinced of the benefits of interventions in addressing health challenges. As the impacting health conditions seemed linked, comprehensive and integrated wellness programmes in health supportive environments are required to address the health issues and ensure organisation competitiveness. Evidence for the effectiveness of workplace wellness programmes in South African is limited and calls for the evaluation of interventions as a priority. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.