Conventional thought dictates that what cannot be measured, cannot be improved. In a quest for improved operational and financial performance, many project-based enterprises have developed numerous methods to measure success. Unfortunately, many of these methods appear to be neither applicable beyond the project boundary nor able to promote effective and proactive decision-making. As a potential remedy, a theoretical framework was developed using principles of Enterprise Engineering to create a performance measurement system for project-based organizations. Known as ARIES (Agile Resource Information and Execution System), the framework builds upon existing project and program management knowledge in order to provide a quantitative methodology for evaluating aspects of enterprise sustainability. By incorporating specific measures, the framework is also able to create a graphical depiction of the enterprises operational performance. To validate the framework, retrospective data were obtained from a successful Architecture and Engineering (A/E) firm that designs and oversees commercial building projects. Analysis of the data provided a picture of the frameworks immediate and long-term benefits for project-based enterprises. From this picture managers can make improved decisions regarding existing and future work, thereby positively impacting the operational performance of the enterprise and enabling it to remain viable over a considerable period of time.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration, Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, Faculty of Commerce, 2008. / It is estimated, that 90% of small businesses in South Africa fail within the first two years of their operation. The South African Government has improved business support services to small businesses. However, it has called on all South Africans to become involved in supporting small businesses and not to leave this responsibility to a single role player. Improving individual entrepreneurial capabilities should therefore be a focus area for all stakeholders involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship in South Africa. Changes brought on by growth, competition and many other factors, frequently require businesses to quickly identify alternatives, for driving significant improvements in their businesses. Business assessment tools generally provide a framework to assist business leaders to review the operations of their businesses. It was against this background that this research study was undertaken. The main aim of this research study was to develop a guide which can be used to assess small businesses. This study identified and evaluated six business diagnostic tools currently used nationally and internationally. The information gathered from evaluating these assessment tools were verified through discussions with five expert business practitioners who have relevant experience and knowledge on assessment tools. A self – assessment can be defined as a comprehensive, systematic and regular review of an organization‟s activities and results. Of the six assessment tools evaluated, it was found that the Baldrige Quality Programme, best satisfied the research questions, in terms of applicability of content, procedures and effective administration of diagnostic tools. The guide for self - assessments for small businesses was therefore, developed by using the Baldrige Quality Programme as a benchmark. This research study demonstrated, by means of an exploratory case study methodology, that self - assessment diagnostic tools do have a critical role to play in improving entrepreneurial and organizational performance of small businesses. Through the use of the self - assessment guide, developed in this study, entrepreneurs have an opportunity to take an integrated approach towards the improvement of business leadership, management and general business capabilities. This self - assessment guide fully involves the small business owner in the planning, implementation and monitoring phases of operating his or her business. There is also an element of skills transfer designed into the administration aspects of the tool, as guidelines are included in the tool, where possible. The researcher strongly feels that the use of this self - assessment tool can contribute to enhancing the success rate of small businesses in South Africa.

This thesis combines the fundamental teachings of the IMBA program that are critical to the success of running a business: market research, accounting, corporate finance, and strategic management. The purpose of the study is to analyze Gi He Chen Environmental Technology Co. Ltd.’s performance in the past years and provide suggestions to its investors on the company’s health and growth potential. The research was done by interviewing with Gi He Chen’s Managing Director, Taiwan car recycling market research, literature reviews, comparing the company’s financial statements with a Taiwan IPO listed recycling company Super Dragon Technology Co. Ltd., and last but not least, Professor James Liu’s teaching of profit models.

The goal of the Masters thesis is to evaluate the company BENET AUTOMOTIVE s.r.o. based on strategic analysis of the market from the perspective of an external valuator. Selected company operates in the automotive field as a supplier for the automotive industry. First chapter is dedicated to methodology basis that is used in practical part of the thesis. At the beginning of the second chapter is a short presentation of the company. Further there is strategic analysis of the market, that is done through the analysis of macro and micro environment. Next there is the financial analysis which consists of absolute indicators, ratios, DuPont analysis, balance rules and default models. Furthermore, value drivers are calculated. Based on the the value drivers the financial plan is determined. Business valuation is done in the last part with DCF method.

Diploma thesis is mainly focused on strategic analysis and its variant solutions. The aim of the thesis is to elaborate strategic and financial analysis with proposal of partial adjustments for the purpose of evaluation to 31.12.2010 for OHL ŽS, a.s. Another aim is to judge the chosen methods for sales projection in connection with variable value basis. To achieve the given aims I have work out financial and strategic analysis for objective, investment and market value basis. Finally I present summary and recommendations for the given method.

The main goal of this diploma thesis is to estimate the value of an entity NEV-DAMA, a.s. as of 30.6.2011; to describe the acquisition processes between CK Fisher, a.s. and NEV-DAMA, a.s. To achieve the former one, a discounted cash- flow method, namely DCF entity, was used. The valuation itself consists of a strategic and financial analysis. These constitute the cornerstone for value drivers analyses and financial plan. Lastly, both the market valuation using comparable enterprises was conducted and the outline of synergies from the above mentioned acquisition was compiled.

Service quality as a component of overall Information Systems quality is examined. Three related studies test the SERVQUAL and related instruments (SERVPERF and Importance-weighted SERVPERF) using Information System users. SERVPERF outperformed SERVQUAL in all three studies.

Inovatyvaus verslo vertinimas - itin svarbus modernaus verslo, augančio į ateitį, valdymo uždavinys. Šio darbo pagrindinis tikslas - suformuoti galimus inovatyvaus verslo matavimo bei vertinimo metodus. Sekant nusibrėžta kryptimi, išnagrinėti inovacinio turto matavimo rodikliai, panaudojant inovatyvumo valdymo rodiklių generavimo instrumentą IMPROVE. Toliau nuosekliai išvestas ir ištirtas bazinis N-kartinio generavimo-diskontavimo modelis DFV, kaip inovatyvaus verslo vertės nustatymo metodo matematinis pagrindas. Parodyta, kad plačiai naudojamas DCF metodas, sekantis iš DFV modelio kaip ribinis atvejas, principialiai netinka inovatyvaus verslo vertinimui. Pasiūlyta vertinimo uždaviniuose įvesti diskonto normos tikimybinę funkciją p(j). Galiausiai pateikta fizinio bei intelektualinio turto ir atitinkamų srautų dinamikos schema parametrizuotų bazinių DFV modelių forma, kaip galimas inovatyvaus verslo vertinimo metodas DFV. / Assessment of innovative businesses is one of the most important tasks of modern businesses management. The goal of present article is the research of possible methods for measurement and evaluation of innovative business. On the way to this goal there were analyzed the measurement indicators of innovation asset using the indicator generation tool IMPROVE. Then there was made consecutive derivation of the N-generating-discounting model DFV as the mathematical base of the businesses assessment method. It was shown, that the well-known DCF method could be derived from DFV as the marginal case and is inadequate in innovative businesses assessment. Finally it was proposed dynamic layout of the physical and intellectual asset flows in the form of basic parameterized DFV models as the possible method of innovation businesses assessment.

The graduation thesis deals with known creditworthy and bankruptcy models originated in Czech republic and abroad and also with two non-financial models. The methods are first described in a theoretical part with the aim of understanding their principles, advantages and disadvantages. In a practical part the methods are applied on a machinery company which was seriously affected by global economic crisis. The main aim of this thesis is to evaluate the development through years of the company's general financial health, reveal strong and weak points of the firm and compare results of the methods.

The purpose of this thesis is to map the situation in the field of business and property valuation in the Czech Republic. The goal is to detect the most common deficiencies in processing of expert evidence. By analyzing sufficient amounts of expert evidence, the quality is evaluated by using appropriate criteria in context with the valuation regulations and national and international standards. Evaluation criterias are focused mainly on those parts of the evidence, which are crucial for the outcome of the expert evidence.