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The continuing rapid growth of the international hotel industry means there is a need for research to examine how hotel companies approach the internationalisation process. This thesis therefore develops a case study and interview-based analysis of three multinational companies (MNCs) who have sought varying degrees of global presence, and examines in particular the way they have managed human resources in the process of internationalising. It reports evidence from over 70 semi-structured interviews with corporate and unit level managers conducted in Austria, France, Great Britain, Poland, Sweden and the USA. The theoretical framework for this study is provided by three interreldted literature strands: the general processes of internationalisation; international human resource management; and the sectoral and industry context. These literature strands allow for an analysis of the dominant orientation adopted to internationalisation by the case study organisations, as based on Perlmutter's centricity profile. Furthermore there is an analysis of other factors which affect the behaviour of the MNC, most notably its country-of-origin and country-of-operation. The main findings from this thesis suggest the benefits of standardisation of the physical product remain an integral part of the internationalisation strategies of hotel MNCs; though there is also evidence of two of the companies drawing on obvious national signifiers to infuse their physical product with elements of 'Frenchness' and 'Swedishness'. In relation to human resource management (HRM), despite differing orientations in terms of the extent to which the case study companies are seeking a more global orientation, the evidence points to a high degree of similarity in many of the HRM practices utilised by the organisations, particularly those in support of a high quality approach to service. Nevertheless, this partial convergence is also offset by continuing diversity in the extent to which employees fully internalise the HRM practices transferred by the case study organisations.

ABSTRACT This thesis undertakes to present a game plan for junior mining companies. It culminates with a game plan model that incorporates all the key steps and tasks that mining investors and entrepreneurs need to use to establish globally competitive junior mining companies. It is based on the research of several listed junior mining companies. The game of junior mining is defined by rules, the player, the elements of playing, and the definitions of winning and scoring. The rules of the game are those defined by the resources industry and general business concepts. The mining assets around which the junior mining game is played are exploration projects, feasibility studies, mine development projects or operating mines. The player is the junior mining company intent on winning the game. Playing the game is done through executing the steps, tasks and simple models and matrices associated with the four business pillars: strategy development, legal and financial, operations management and risks management. The first pillar is strategic, while the last three pillars are tactical. For each business pillar, databases were developed, for the purposes of creating references and benchmarks for the game plan. The databases have been created from the analysis of twenty randomly selected junior mining companies, the author’s practical experiences and previous research. Scoring the game is undertaken by completing the game score matrix, which scores the mining assets, the business pillars and the financial performance, and provides an overall company score. The total company score highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the company. Undertaking the process of playing the game iteratively will lead to creating a globally competitive junior mining company. Winning the game is defined as creating a sustainable junior mining company, that grows to a mid-tier company, or is bought out by a major mining company. ii In the thesis, the game is played using the hypothetical case study of a of a coal junior mining company, with a marginal coal mine, an attractive feasibility study and an exploration project. Step by step the game is played leading to a company score and exposing the company’s strengths and weaknesses. The research concludes by presenting a holistic game plan model that can be applied to any junior mining company in any commodity in constantly changing resources industry dynamics.

This thesis debates the issue of whether Secondary Tax on Companies is a desirable and efficacious tax and whether it is compatible with other government policies and programmes. Secondary Tax on Companies is a tax imposed on resident companies and close corporations, currently at the rate of 12.5%, on dividends declared or deemed to be declared by the company to its shareholders. It has proved to be a deeply contentious form of tax in many quarters although it has been declared to be a non negotiable tax as far as the government is concerned. It has been held by many authors that this tax inter alia distorts the financial decision making process and inhibits investment in South Africa. It was concluded by the writer that Secondary tax on Companies is probably not compatible with other important government programmes such as Black Economic Empowerment and employment creation, as well as contributing to South Africa’s uncompetitive corporate tax rate. It was therefore concluded that Secondary tax on Companies should be gradually phased out.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University

Chen, Renjie. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Texas at Dallas, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 91-99)

Inaug.-diss.--Frankfurt am Main. / Lebenslauf. "Literatur-verzeichnis": p. 9-31; "Zeitungen, zeitschriften und sonstige periodica": p. 32-33.

Inaug.-diss.-Basel. / "Literaturverzeichnis": p. [vii]-viii.