Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Michigan, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-115).

D.Comm. / The purpose of this study is to: Provide a framework to analyse the key drivers of competitiveness within a cluster2 of industries; Apply the framework to test the ability of the framework to inform policy and strategic choices; Utilise a number of sectoral studies, to draw general conclusions regarding South Africa's national competitive environment; and Highlight some policy recommendations that emerge from the analysis of the national competitive environment. The transformation of political power from the National Party (NP) to the African National Congress (ANC) involved a revision of priorities for the South African economy. Different political parties contributed in various formats to the pre-election economic debate. Among these, the ANC's "Reconstruction and Development Programme" (RDP) and the Government's "Normative Economic Model" initially received most attention. Although both of the above-mentioned policy documents emphasised the importance of higher economic growth, neither of them elaborated on specific action initiatives to attain greater economic prosperity. At that stage, the new Government of National Unity still had to provide the details regarding an economic programme for reconstruction and development. In view of the ANC's pre-election promises, it was expected that the development of the economy, to the benefit of all South Africans, would be one of the new government's highest priorities during the next two to five years. In this regard, it was anticipated that an analysis of the international competitiveness of the South African economy at a macro-economic as well as a more detailed sectoral level, will be of significant value. At the outset of this study, early in 1994, the then National Economic Forum launched the "Global Advantage of South Africa Project" to analyse the competitiveness of the domestic economy. This study was structured to follow the approach that was developed by professor Michael Porter in his competitive analysis of ten nations, as described in his book "The Competitive Advantage of Nations", as well as subsequent work in this field that had been done by "The Monitor Company" in a number of countries 3. The Competitive Advantage of Nations (CAON) approach provides a unique framework to develop a better understanding of the conditions that govern the competitive ability of firms within a nation. This thesis will attempt to explain and apply the CAON-thinking and frameworks in the South African context, in an effort to: provide a reference guide for institutions or individuals that will be involved in the industrial policy research on competitiveness that needs to be undertaken during the next few years; to develop a better understanding of South Africa's competitive platform; and to formulate recommendations to enhance the country's international competitiveness.

Thesis (MComm)—Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The second step in the study was to empirically measure the competitive performance of the date industry based on this trade orientation, using the relative trade advantage (RTA) method. Trade data from FAOSTAT and Trademap were used. Since 2001, the Namibian date industry has consistently recorded positive trends with RTA values ranging between 0.40 and 4.0. When compared to other international competitors, the results indicate that Tunisia is by far the most competitive country, with RTA values ranging between 278 and 391. Namibia’s date industry leads competitors such as South Africa, the USA, Kenya, Australia and India. In step 3, an industry-wide survey was conducted among executive-level industry role players, which identified 72 factors influencing competitive performance. The 72 factors were rated and analysed through chi-square and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in terms of their current impact as enhancing or constraining and also in terms of their relevance to the industry. The results revealed that all factors were rated highly relevant (i.e. important) to the industry’s competitive performance levels, with 47 percent playing an enhancing role, while 43 percent were constraining competitive performance in the Namibian date industry. Differences between views on the current impact and long-term relevance of factors provided a ‘performance gap’ that the industry had to attend to strategically in order to improve competitive performance. The top three most enhancing factors are the substantial size of the international date market, the availability of unskilled labour, and the suitability of Namibian date production (project) locations. The highest rated constraining factors were identified as: the lack of privately funded scientific research capacity, the slow growth and small size of local markets, and insufficient industry expenditure on research and development (R&D). The fourth step applied Porter’s theory of competitiveness (1990; 1998) to derive the industry determinants of competitive performance. The 72 factors were grouped into the six Porter diamond determinants. Principal component analysis (PCA) was undertaken to identify variations and consensus in the views of respondents with respect to the relevance and impact of factors identified for each determinant. The results revealed that there were variations in opinions with regard to 52 factors and consensus on 20 factors, influencing the industry’s competitive performance. In analysing opinions on the impacts and long-term relevance of the identified factors, two value chain clusters were identified, viz. those opinions or respondents directly involved in the production processes of dates (cluster 1); and those providing supporting functions to the production process (cluster 2). The results indicate that although there are similarities in the opinions within the date industry value chain, important differences do exist and must be noted in strategic planning process by the industry. Differences were recorded with regard to access to quality technology, obtaining long-term credit, diversification in the international market, cost of specialised technology services, the effect of legal and political factors on the industry’s strategic position, the country’s black economic empowerment (BEE) policy and health cost implications. In step 5, the most important findings from steps 3 and 4, together with views gathered from a date industry information session (the DIS) and personal interviews, were included in a strategic decision matrix aimed to develop industry-level proposals to improve competitive performance. This matrix listed constraining factors for which a large degree of industry-level consensus was recorded, together with those actions that could improve performance immediately. Proposals highlighted were: focusing on human resources and skills development; cost-sharing activities; public-private partnerships in the development of project-level socio-economic investment packages, investing in long-term research and development (R&D); upgrading export facilities; local market development and improved collaboration with national retailers; reduction of marketing costs; export-market diversification; developing representative industry-level institutions and an industry-level strategic plan; and mobilising government-level support more effectively in order to create a conducive environment for the industry to compete successfully. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die mededingende prestasie van die Namibiese dadelbedryf vanaf 2001 tot 2013 ondersoek. In die studie is die konvensionele raamwerk vir die mededingendheidsanalise van agribesigheid (verwys na Ismea, 1999; Esterhuizen, 2006; Van Rooyen et al., 2011; Boonzaaier, 2014; Jafta, 2014) verfyn om die geldigheid van die vrae wat die respondente geantwoord het en die verskille in hulle response teenoor huidige impakte en langtermyn relevansie te oorweeg. Opinies vanuit die waardeketting van die dadelbedryf is ook ingesluit in die ontledings. Die konsep van mededingendheid is eerstens gedefinieer, gebaseer op die belangrikheid van internasionale handel vir die Namibiese dadelbedryf, as die vermoë van die dadelbedryf om sy produkte op ’n volhoubare basis in beide binnelandse en internasionale markte te verhandel en, as sulks, te kan voortgaan om skaars hulpbronne soos grond, arbeid, tegnologie, bestuurstalente en kapitaal te lok en terselfdertyd ten minste die geleentheidskoste van opbrengste op hulpbronne verbruik, te verdien (aangepas uit die werk van Freebairn, 1986; Esterhuizen, 2006; Van Rooyen et al., 2011). Die tweede stap in die studie was om die mededingende prestasie van die dadelbedryf empiries te meet op grond van hierdie handelsoriëntasie deur gebruik te maak van die relatiewe handelsvoordeel (relative trade advantage (RTA)) metode. Handelsdata afkomstig van FAOSTAT en Trademap is gebruik. Sedert 2001 het die Namibiese dadelbedryf konsekwent positiewe tendense vertoon, met RTA-waardes wat gewissel het tussen 0.40 en 4.0. In vergelyking met ander internasionale mededingers toon die resultate dat Tunisië verreweg die mees mededingende land is, met RTA-waardes van tussen 278 en 391. Namibië se dadelbedryf loop egter voor teen mededingers soos Suid-Afrika, die VSA, Kenia, Australië en Indië. In stap 3 is ’n bedryfswye opname onder bestuursvlak- rolspelers onderneem. Hierin is 72 faktore geïdentifiseer wat mededingende prestasie beïnvloed. Die 72 faktore is geëvalueer en deur middel van chi-kwadraat en eenrigting analise van variansie (ANOVA) geanaliseer in terme van hulle huidige impak as óf versterkend óf stremmend, en ook in terme van hulle relevansie vir die bedryf. Die resultate het getoon dat al die faktore as hoogs relevant (m.a.w. belangrik) vir die bedryf se mededingende prestasievlakke geëvalueer is, met 47% wat ’n versterkende rol gespeel het, terwyl 43% mededingende prestasie in die Namibiese dadelbedryf gestrem het. Verskille tussen die sienings oor die huidige impak en die langtermyn relevansie van die faktore het ’n ‘prestasiegaping’ voorsien wat die bedryf strategies aan aandag moet skenk om die mededingende prestasie te verbeter. Die drie top versterkende faktore was die grootte van die internasionale dadelmark, die beskikbaarheid van ongeskoolde arbeid en die gepastheid van die dadelproduksie (projek)-gebiede. Die stremmende faktore wat die belangrikste geag is, is geïdentifiseer as die gebrek aan privaatbefondsde wetenskaplike navorsing, die baie stadige tempo van groei in plaaslike markte en onvoldoende bedryfsbesteding op navorsing en ontwikkeling (R&D). In die vierde stap is Porter se mededingendheidsteorie (1990; 1998) toegepas om bedryfsdeterminante van mededingende prestasie af te lei. Die faktore vanaf stap 3 is in die ses Porter-diamant determinante gegroepeer. Hoofkomponent-ontleding (principal component analysis (PCA)) is onderneem om verskille en konsensus in die sienings van die respondente met betrekking tot die relevansie en impak van die faktore wat vir elke determinant geïdentifiseer is, te identifiseer. Die resultate het getoon dat daar groot verskille in opinies was met betrekking tot 52 faktore en konsensus oor 20 faktore wat die bedryf se mededingende prestasie beïnvloed. Deur die opinies oor die impakte en langtermyn relevansie van die geïdentifiseerde faktore te analiseer, is twee waardeketting bondels geïdentifiseer, naamlik daardie opinies of respondente wat direk in die produksieprosesse van dadels betrokke is (bondel 1); en dié wat ondersteuningsfunksies verskaf (bondel 2). Die resultate dui aan dat hoewel daar ooreenkomste in opinies binne die waardeketting van die dadelbedryf is, is daar belangrike verskille wat bestaan en aangeteken is. Verskille, waarvan kennis geneem moet word in strategiese bedryfsbeplanning, is aangeteken met betrekking tot toegang tot hoë kwaliteit tegnologie, die verkryging van langtermyn krediet, diversifikasie in die internasionale mark, die koste van gespesialiseerde tegnologiese dienste, die effek van wetlike en politiese faktore op die bedryf se strategiese posisie, die land se beleid van swart ekonomiese bemagtiging (SEB), en gesondheidskoste-implikasies. In stap 5 is die belangrikste bevindings in stappe 3 en 4, tesame met die sienings wat tydens ’n dadelbedryfinligtingsessie bekom is, in ’n strategiese besluitnemingsmatriks ingesluit. Klem is gele op faktore waaroor die bedryf grootliks saamstem. Die doel was om bedryfsvlakvoorstelle te ontwikkel om die mededingende prestasie van die bedryf te verhoog. Hierdie matriks het gefokus op die stremmende faktore waaroor ’n groot mate van bedryfsvlak-konsensus opgeteken is, tesame met daardie aksies wat die prestasie onmiddellik sou kon verbeter. Die voorstelle wat vooruitstaan is: ’n fokus op die ontwikkeling van menslike hulpbronne en vaardighede; koste-delende aktiwiteite; openbare-private vennootskappe in die ontwikkeling van projekvlak sosio-ekonomiese beleggingspakkette, met ’n belegging in langtermyn navorsing en ontwikkeling (R&D); opgradering van uitvoerfasiliteite; plaaslike markontwikkeling en verbeterde samewerking met nasionale handelaars; vermindering van bemarkingskostes; diversifikasie van uitvoermarkte; ontwikkeling van verteenwoordigende bedryfsvlak- instellings en ’n bedryfsvlak- strategiese plan; en die meer doeltreffende mobilisering van regeringsvlak-ondersteuning om ’n omgewing te ontwikkel wat bevorderlik is vir die bedryf om suksesvol te kan kompeteer.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / China Area Studies / Master / Master of Arts

M.B.A. / Over the past two years the international steel industry amply demonstrated just how precarious the business can be. Several steel companies fell by the way. Protectionism increased dramatically. Anti-dumping actions and unfair trade accusations were instigated at a level not previously seen. Any concept of the value of steel became blurred and in the near future, analysis predict, it is difficult to see much in the way of relief. To ensure its survival in these harsh conditions, the South African steel industry will be forced to look beyond its traditional markets and seek strategies to become more competitive. The objective of this research project is to determine the key strategic factors that lead to the successful global competitiveness of an organisation in the South African steelmaking industry. The literature survey revealed the trend among many of the global leaders in the steel industry. The literature also included Porter's research on competitive advantage and other authors strategies, which are considered as key factors in influencing global competitiveness. The analysis of the survey among the South African steelmakers revealed a picture of a fragmented industry. The majority of steelmakers were identified as been well out of step with the global trend and the issues identified in the literature. The research highlighted that in order for South African steelmakers to achieve global competitiveness there is a need for consolidation and strategic alliances in the industry. It was also recognised that organisations need to develop, exploit and lever their technologies, competitive advantages, core-competencies and their strategies, in creating a globally competitive organisation. Managing the linkages between these various strategies was revealed as key to achieving a unique global competitive advantage.

Since late 1990s, the four pillars industries of Hong Kong, i.e. financial services, trading and logistics, tourism and producer and professional services, have been shrinking. The Task Force on Economic Challenges established and chaired by the Chief Executive in 2009 proposed to develop the Six Potential Industries viz testing and certification, medical services, innovation and technology, cultural and creative industries, environmental industry and education services, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the city. The main focus of this dissertation is to study the policy making process of the competitiveness policy in Hong Kong. By applying different policy making theories, we will know what is the social problem and how the “competitiveness of Hong Kong” be considered as a social problem. Then we will need to know how this social problem get onto the social agenda, government agenda and so as to the policy agenda. The next step is formulating solutions among many different alternatives. We will get to know what factors are affecting the selection of alternatives and how to come up with solutions. In taking forward these solutions, we are particularly interested in the selection of institutional means for policy implementation in the case of the “Six Potential Industries”. This dissertation contributes to a better understanding of policymaking process for the competitiveness policy in Hong Kong and the labyrinthine interactions among the political actors. / published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

This study flows from fundamentals by describing the raison d'etre of international competition policy: how competition law, interacts with trade policy and why that interaction has become a critical concern that should be addressed in an international cooperative framework. From this observation, this thesis concludes that policy initiatives to establish international substantive competition rules are both desirable and feasible. They are desirable because they would avoid international trade disputes deriving from conflicting implementations of trade and competition policies. They are feasible trough the application of a methodology which balances efficiency, fairness and social objectives. Such a methodology is proposed by the author for the determination of common substantive competition rules. / This set of proposals identifies changes that would be acceptable to most national participants in world trade and classifies trade practices into three categories: First, the trade practices prohibited per se, for which international standards can be reached in a short time; second, the trade practices examined under a rule-of-reason approach for which some common standards seem obtainable only in a mid-term frame given the existing divergent antitrust philosophies; third, international mergers and antidumping laws for which, given the strong industrial policy considerations, international substantive rules are not likely to emerge in the foreseeable future. / Finally, as practical illustration, this thesis explores the long-run potential for replacing anti-competitive aspects of current antidumping laws with more efficient and more equitable competition-policy safeguards. The substitution of the international price discrimination standard commonly applied in antidumping review by the predatory pricing standard favoured under antitrust investigations can be achieved through the introduction of two criteria: determination of the "impact on the domestic economy, as a whole" and calculation of the variable cost standard.

I've worked in the electrical industry throughout my career, from accounts to the stores, serving as an artisan to sales and finally management, having experienced the dramatic changes industry has undergone in the past few years. The topic has inspired me to investigate the future changes as South African companies are striving for international competitive trading and recognition, couple with an volatile economy. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.