During the last decade, the theory of competence-based competition has drawn a considerable amount of attention from the academic and practitioners alike. The theory asserts that corporate and business strategies should be built upon the strengths of the core competencies of a firm. The aim of this research is to construct a structured and practical framework for core competence evaluation. The thesis begins with the introduction of the basic concept of core competencies through presenting three core competence-based approaches. Research methodology is described in detail. Two data collection methods are used for this study: case study and questionnaire survey. By reviewing the literature, six competence identification models are identified and analysed. The strengths and limitations of these models are discussed. Having provided working definitions for firm tangible and intangible assets, a relationship between resource and capability is developed and examined. Using financial and non-financial performance measures, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique is employed to determine the key capabilities of firms. Subsequently using "C llecti enc s" and "uniqueness" attributes, a comprehensive method for evaluating competencies is provided. The attribute 'collectiveness' is introduced for determining the 'universal usefulness' of these candidates in the scope of a business. The attribute 'uniqueness' is employed for assessing the distinctiveness of the potential competence candidates in competition. Competencies are evaluated by subjectively assigning relevant scores to these characteristics. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through to case studies The author believes that being unique in competition is not sufficient for core competencies to keep their strategic values in dynamic competitive environment. A true core competence should be able to continuously create new business options for the firm Therefore, this thesis emphases that to be core competence, the candidates must be strategically flexible. By employing "strategic flexibility" as the main criterion, this study has presented a distinctive mechanism to differentiate core competencies from the competencies. The dynamic nature of the core competencies is evaluated using characteristics such as resource re-deployment and routine re-organisation. The generic nature of this framework is tested through conducting two case studies and a questionnaire survey This thesis makes three main contributions to the existing body of knowledge. Firstly the thesis provides a systematic and practical core competence architecture which can be used for firms to accurately understand the concept of core competence. Secondly the thesis gives a detailed and structured core competence evaluation framework which can be used for firms to identify their business strengths and weaknesses systematically. Thirdly by conducting a questionnaire survey, the thesis presents a snapshot of the UK manufacturing and service industry core competencies, and bridges the gap between theory and practice The framework may be viewed as a practical, robust and generic tool to benchmark a service, manufacturing or public sector organisation. The outcome of this study would help companies in strategic decision-making with regards to diversification, focusing and investment in competence building activities.

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The main research question pertains to the relationship between time-based manufacturing competence and business performance: Is there a positive relationship between time-based manufacturing competence and business performance. The objective of the study, therefore, is to examine the relationship between time -based manufacturing competence and business performance.

Logistics is increasingly becoming recognised as a source of competitive advantage, both in practice and in academia. The possible strategic impact of logistics makes it important to gain deeper insight into the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm. There is however a considerable research gap between the quite abstract strategy theory and logistics research. A possible tool to use in bridging this gap is identified in business model research. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation is to describe and analyse logisticsbased competition using a business model approach, a topic not handled in earlier research. This purpose entails investigating the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm by identifying a number of business model components which together constitute a logistics-based business model. Theoretically, the dissertation departs from strategic management and more specifically from the two opposing strategy theoretical perspectives the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) and the industrial organisation school of thought (I/O). From this foundation, the theoretical framework is further built upon with logistics- and business model research leading to a model of analysis that eventually evolves into one of the main outcomes of the dissertation: a logistics-based business model. The methodology used is that of multiple case studies of largely qualitative character. The cases represent trading firms which all display long-term profitable growth, a consistency in their growth, and they all have a, by the management, outspoken focus on logistics. The cases have been analysed using a patternmatching approach. A key deliverable from this research is the logistics-based business model, a model consisting of five components: strategy, position, offering, activities and organisation, and resources. The logistics-based business model makes possible a description and analysis of the role of logistics in the strategy of the firm leading to the identification of specific characteristics of the business models of firms competing on logistics. A few of the results from this research are: ● A logistics-based business model requires a synthesis of RBV and I/O. ● Control over the logistics resources is a distinctive capability in a logistics-based business model. ● Logistics strategy cannot be understood in terms of degree of integration only as much of the current logistics strategy research suggests. ● Hybrid logistics-strategies can involve lean processes and agile assortment with standardisation as an enabler. ● The domain of control of a logistics-based business model stretches beyond the domain of a traditional logistics strategy. ● A single logistics-platform may support multiple offerings. For managers, the logistics-based business model is possible to use as a tool in business development.

<p>Hälso- och sjukvården har höga krav som branschen har svårt att uppfylla. Logistik har fått en ökad betydelse inom sektorn och handlar i detta fall om att på kortast tid få en patient färdigbehandlad. Denna rapport tar fram logistiska förändringsprinciper som är framgångsrika i hälso- och sjukvården. En litteraturstudie visar att det finns ett antal logistiska förändringsprinciper och verktyg som med positivt resultat har anpassats till hälso- och sjukvården. Dessa är; Lean production, processorientering, flödesorientering, Time-based competition, Theory of Constraints, Supply chain management, Planering, Mål och mätmetoder, Patienten i fokus, Genombrott och Advanced access. Fallstudier visar att vårdenheter i de flesta fall inte arbetar med specifika förändringsprinciper utan metoder hämtade från flera principer. Många av dessa metoder återkommer i åtskilliga förändringsprinciper och de vanligaste metoderna som identifierats både i litteraturstudien och i fallstudien och därför anses vara framgångsrika är; eliminering av slöseri, standardiseringar, kartläggning av flöde eller process och samverkan inom den egna enheten. Dessa metoder kan härledas till principerna Lean production, processorientering och Genombrott. Viktigt att poängtera är att förändringsprinciperna måste anpassas till den specifika situationen och vårdenheten.</p>

Hälso- och sjukvården har höga krav som branschen har svårt att uppfylla. Logistik har fått en ökad betydelse inom sektorn och handlar i detta fall om att på kortast tid få en patient färdigbehandlad. Denna rapport tar fram logistiska förändringsprinciper som är framgångsrika i hälso- och sjukvården. En litteraturstudie visar att det finns ett antal logistiska förändringsprinciper och verktyg som med positivt resultat har anpassats till hälso- och sjukvården. Dessa är; Lean production, processorientering, flödesorientering, Time-based competition, Theory of Constraints, Supply chain management, Planering, Mål och mätmetoder, Patienten i fokus, Genombrott och Advanced access. Fallstudier visar att vårdenheter i de flesta fall inte arbetar med specifika förändringsprinciper utan metoder hämtade från flera principer. Många av dessa metoder återkommer i åtskilliga förändringsprinciper och de vanligaste metoderna som identifierats både i litteraturstudien och i fallstudien och därför anses vara framgångsrika är; eliminering av slöseri, standardiseringar, kartläggning av flöde eller process och samverkan inom den egna enheten. Dessa metoder kan härledas till principerna Lean production, processorientering och Genombrott. Viktigt att poängtera är att förändringsprinciperna måste anpassas till den specifika situationen och vårdenheten.

<p>This study focuses mainly on situations of time-based competition. Three problems in this context will be studied in three different parts. In the first part, we will examine the promised delivery time (PDT) competition for firms whose production processes consist of more than one stage. We study three games; a) when each firm consists of two stages and has identical production rates in both stages, b) when each firm consists of k stages and has identical production rate in all stages and, c) when each firm consists of two stages and has different production rates in each stage. In the second part, we focus on a duopolistic market where the firms compete against each other by determining their PDT. The firms try to win the business of a single customer who is sensitive to PDT but will also penalize the winning firm through tardiness costs. This situation may emerge when the production duration is too long and the product is expensive as in the aviation industry. The third part of this study deals with situations of investment competition in the presence of incomplete information in the market. The investment decision will affect the time to production (speed) and determines the probability of winning the business. The notion of incompleteness in information is projected when firms are not fully certain about each other's objective function. In each chapter, we will find the equilibrium of the game and determine the players' optimal strategies. At the end of each chapter, a numerical analysis is presented, where numerous numerical examples are solved. Based on the numerical examples, a sensitivity analysis is also presented for each model that would capture the sensitivity of the Nash equilibria and the firms' optimal strategies towards changes in parameters in the market or the competitor's operations.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

隨著科技的快速革新、消費者的喜好快速變遷、與競爭程度日趨激烈等產業環境趨勢演進，快速的推出新產品這項議題，已是愈來愈重要，甚至攸關廠商的獲利與存續與否。因此為求快速的推出新產品，廠商必須在組織各方面予以適當的配合因應，才能達成此目的，本研究就在探討這些重要的組織因應措施。本研究首先在不考慮情境因素之情形下，探討何種組織因應措施可有效加速研發；其次觀察情境因素與組織因應措施的相對重要性；再者研究在同時考慮所有情境時，當採取何種措施較為適當；最後，則指出單獨考慮個別情境之適用措施。本研究將組織的因應措施分為六類，分別為：研發單位的結構、與外界群體的連結、新產品開發團隊的運作方式、效率性、開發團隊的氣氛、與支援的措施。同時本研究考慮了當組織在採行上述因應措施時，會受到哪些情境因素作用，而影響新產品研發速度。這些情境因素為：新產品研發策略、組織內部的風格、與公司資源 。而在本研究的最後，在管理的含意方面可獲致下列的結論：一、若廠商為求超越競爭廠商的研發速度或符合公司內部所設定之進度，應加強有利情境的塑造。二、台灣的大部份廠商所面臨的情境為：較具開拓性與中度創新的策略、以及較為開創的公司文化、較積極的高階管理風格與較為充裕的公司資源。而若為加速研發，最重要之處在於減少運作上的延遲。三、較為開創積極的公司應當加強掌握外界群體的資訊；較為保守穩健的公司則應當加強開發團隊成員的有關時間概念。