The research problem addressed in this study is to determine the potential of selling and marketing consumer goods by Multinational Enterprises (MNE) within the African markets. The mode of entry, the timing of entry, the different modes of entry, selection of the entry mode, the political and economic risks, core competencies of the company and strategic alliance was researched. To achieve this, research was executed on the above areas of importance using relevant literature in which an understanding of the international markets and their options of modes of entry were highlighted. In this way one is able to understand the importance of the international markets and the concerns of doing business in Africa in order to select the entry mode that could best suit the company and the country or countries in Africa. The literature study was then used to develop a questionnaire to test the degree to which managers in MNE in South Africa (SA) and Central East Africa (CEA) concur with regard to the decisions, risks, procedure, modes of entry and selection of modes of entry into Africa. The empirical results obtained indicate a strong concurrence with the analysis of the modes of entry into CEA market for an MNE. The analysis of the literature study, Chapter 2 and 3, gives business a good understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the problems and opportunities associated with the entry decisions into CEA. Many other companies are entering the African markets from other parts of the world and SA has also been seen as a launching pad into Africa. The analysis will give companies the edge in seeing the problems and opportunities in African markets and the way forward when deciding to enter.

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Owing to the impact of globalisation, mining firms face significant uncertainty and turbulence emanating from their global competitive landscape. A new breed of ”dominant global firms” is emerging in a world of shrinking opportunity, where a few large firms will determine the future of the industry. Despite these realities, mining firms have in the past not been very astute in identifying and interpreting global competitive influences. Reliance on tangible assets alone will in future no longer ensure a sustainable competitive advantage. In such turbulent circumstances, competitive analysis, as part of a comprehensive competitive intelligence system, could result in competitive learning, which could enhance the ability of firms to attain a sustainable competitive advantage. Empirical research in this study confirms that competitive analysis as conducted by mining firms is deficient, and in many instances, caught up in an ”old world” approach. Such analyses tend to be too reactive for the dynamic and turbulent environment, as well as being too quantitatively oriented and are based primarily on the information that is most easily available. Accordingly, a rethink of competitive analysis is necessary, away from a narrow reactive approach focused on the quantifiable financial and operational realities of the competitive force being analysed, to include the conceptual DACSOMEF methodology, with its quantitative and qualitative dimensions. Determining the future intent of a competitive force should, furthermore, form the overall focus of competitive analysis, resulting in effective competitive learning. The study also established that analysis findings and recommendations should be applied in a competitive theatre, in order to overcome the possible discontinuity between competitive analysis and strategic decision making. In addition, the analytical process should be based upon a supportive learning culture and the intimate involvement of key decision makers. Without such an approach competitive analysis will remain a static ”old world” process. Alternatively, the implementation of the analytical model could prove an invaluable input into the strategic management process of global mining firms in their quest to achieve new levels of competitive advantage, in an increasingly dynamic and turbulent competitive environment. / Business Management / D.Comm.

Assignment (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: From 1954 to 1993 the Rooibos Control Board, a statutory one-channel marketing system, regulated the rooibos industry. In 1993 the industry was deregulated and competition between different role players in the industry emerged. In this study competitiveness is analysed from both a historical as well as a modem -day perspective. Modem economic theory defines that competition is good for all industry and that it leads to economic development. In the case of the rooibos industry, one could be inclined to think that the unique character of the product and the fact that the Control Board had established a marketing mechanism would limit competition and rivalry in the post -Control Board era. Inthis study it was determined that deregulation in this industry coincided with very intense price-driven rivalry in the export market whilst very little rivalry occurred in the domestic market. The information for this thesis was obtained from published Annual Reports of the Rooibos Control Board and from personal interviews with the main role players in the industry. Two strategies that could enhance the competitiveness of this industry are recommended: 1. Repositioning rooibos as a gourmet health tea. 2. Improving supply chain coordination within the industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verbetering van die Mededingendheid van die Rooibos Industrie Vanaf 1954 tot 1993 het die Rooibos Beheerraad, 'n statutêre enkelkanaal bemarkingsorganisasie, die rooibosindustrie gereguleer. In 1993 is die bedryf gedereguleer en kon mededinging tussen verskillende rolspelers plaasvind. In hierdie studie word mededinging uit beide 'n historiese sowel as moderne perspektiefbestudeer. Moderne ekonomiese teorie stel dit dat mededinging tot voordeel van alle industrieë is en dat dit lei tot ekonomiese ontwikkeling. In die geval van rooibos sou mens geneig wees om te dink dat die unieke karakter van die produk en die feit dat 'n bestaande bemarkingskanaal alreeds bestaan, mededinging sou beperk in die post-Beheerraad tydvak. In hierdie studie is bevind dat deregulering gepaard gegaan het met intense prys-gedrewe mededinging in die uitvoermark, terwyl die binnelandse mark bykans geen mededinging ervaar rue. Die inligting vir hierdie tesis is verkry uit gepubliseerde Jaarverslae van die Rooibos Beheerraad en deur persoonlike onderhoude wat gevoer is met rolspelers binne die bedryf Twee strategieë word voorgestel waarmee die bedryf meer mededingend gemaak kan word: 1. Produk herposisionering as 'n gourmet gesondheidstee. 2. Verbeterde koordinasie binne die voorsieningskettings.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

M.Com. (Commerce) / The fundamental goal of this thesis is to assess the level of international competitiveness of the South African textile industry. implementation of GATT guidelines over the proposed period, will have a considerable impact on the South African Textile as welI as relevant industries. The Textile Industry will be faced with an increasing level of international competition. The protection enjoyed by the industry over the past 35 years has contributed to the low level of international competitiveness of the South African textile industry...

Despite the common understanding that states compete over international institutions and jockey to define international order, our understanding of institutional power politics is underdeveloped. The dissertation sets out to answer three sets of questions relating to the specific areas that need developing – theory, methods and empirics. First, how do we think about the concepts of “power” and “international institutions”? And, how do states interact with each other in the competition over or with international institutions? Second, if institutional competition is a strategic interaction for which our current empirical knowledge is limited, how do we select cases to examine competitive processes between states? From the selected cases, what is the best way to test our theories of competitive processes while ensuring that our analysis contributes to the relatively thin empirical case knowledge? Finally, while we think the competition between U.S. and China is one of the key contemporary cases of states competing over international institutions, is the evolution of international institutions really a function of U.S.-China competition? If not, how does institutional competition work? Paper 1 deals exclusively with the exercise of building a comprehensive theory of institutional power politics. From the basic concepts to the specific strategic interactions of interstate competition over international institutions, the theory of institutional power politics challenges the long-held view in IR that international institutions are solutions to power politics and signifiers of an international politics that is more cooperative. The key idea in this paper comes from applying insights from defensive realism to the context of institutional competition with the institutional power dilemma. The theory highlights how even with the most benign and cooperative intentions, states may slide into power political dynamics over international institutions. Paper 2 develops two case study methods for examining competitive processes, or more broadly, “intensive processes” – streams of processual phenomena for which the conditions and eventual outputs are ontologically distinct or of lesser analytical interest. The prototypical case selection strategy provides guidelines for selecting cases for intensive processes where the universe of cases is often difficult to know in advance. The dual process tracing (DPT) method then provides a way by which a researcher can test theories of intensive processes as well as provide substantive knowledge about the selected prototypical case. The two methods developed in this paper provide an alternative way to think about political phenomena beyond the dominant covariational and mechanismic approaches in political science research. Paper 3 is the first theoretically driven empirical examination of the prototypical case of institutional competition – “U.S.-TPP vs. China-RCEP.” The paper tests the common understanding that TPP and RCEP is a product of the intentional competition between U.S. and China. The paper finds, however, that the competition is generated from mechanisms of misperception, uncertainty and poor signaling of intentions from both countries. The paper thus offers a powerful revision to the current understanding of the TPP-RCEP case and also theoretically arrives at a defensive realist model of unintended institutional competition. The paper concludes by identifying a number of overlooked policy implications for contemporary U.S.-China relations and institution building in East Asia.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-136). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.