Diploma thesis deals with strategic analysis of an enterprise. The theoretical part is devoted to an introduction to strategic management, basic concepts and analyzes of selected external and internal environment. The practical part is focused on the application analyzes referred to in the first part of the thesis. The aim of this thesis is to carry out a strategic analysis of cafe FotoCafé. Results of the analysis help to evaluate the current status of the cafe on the market in Jindrichuv Hradec. The evaluation of current strategy of the cafe is also based on these results. The analysis revealed some shortcomings and weaknesses in operation of cafe. Part of the conclusion is a proposal about operation of cafe in the future.

M.Phil. / Competition in the bus industry is very fierce. To gain competitive advantage bus manufacturing companies have resorted to various strategies such as intensive marketing, advertising, product innovation, and creation of a wider range of products. These are not sufficient to remain competitive. Another strategy is improving service quality to their customers. A study by Oskrowski et al (1993) showed that the airline companies were able to acquire and retain customers‟ loyalty by continuing to provide perceived high quality services. Bus building companies operating in the transportation industry (which is the same as airline companies); see improvement of the service quality being a major pillar in acquiring new customers and also in retaining existing customers. Thus, providing superior service quality by implementing stringent “Service Performance Logistics Metrics” should be the main agenda for all bus building companies in order to remain competitive. Many empirical studies had tried to measure different dimensions of service quality of the bus building companies. Gourdin (1999) categorized the bus building industry‟s quality into three aspects: (a) price; (b) safety; and (c) timeless. Gilbert and Wong (2003) have revised and adapted the three-aspects of service quality to include: (a) reliability; (b) tangibility; (c) responsiveness; and (d) assurance. This research thesis have re-looked at the service quality metrics, and categorized them in eight (8) broad measures; namely: (a) reliability and availability; (b) parts and parts delivery; (c) repairs selection factors; (d) products design aspects & environmental; (e) product support and warranty; (f) cost and cost service; (g) technical resolution, information, & technical data/software; and (h) facilities characteristics and manpower. Gilbert and Wong (2003), empirical study focused on the airline industry service quality metrics. These are not quite adaptable to the bus building companies; hence this research was focused on the eight (8) broader aspects. The research was conducted by three sets of questionnaires: (a) one for customers for the bus building industry; (b) the second one for employees of the bus building companies; and (c) questionnaire for the customers for bus dealerships networks. These questionnaires are attached as annexure 3 to 5 of this thesis. Focus Groups Interviews (as per Annexure 2 of this thesis) were also held to guide the process of compiling the questionnaires, and also deciding which questions/aspects needed to be included on the final questionnaires. The sorting, analyses, and interpretation of data were primarily done by: - (a) Excel; (b) SPSS – Statistical Analysis Software; and (c) PowerPoint. Data was organized in the form of: Metrics; Graphs (e.g. bar, pie charts); and spreadsheets (with comments and explanatory notes). In general, the study was motivated by the following reasons: - (a) seasonality nature of the manufacturing volumes of buses in South Africa; (b) fragmentation nature of the bus building industry; (c) lack of available uniform performance measures of services provided by bus building companies; (d) lack of government manufacturing support program (i.e. almost the same as those that exist for car manufacturing in South Africa – MIDP). The re-focus of government transportation activities, moving peoples away from personal cars to buses; rail; and taxis - made the study even more important. The study will also serve as a benchmark measure of their services as they are at the moment. It will also help those bus manufacturing companies that are not well geared towards competiveness. It further contribute to the body of knowledge as there are limited studies (of this nature) being done in South Africa. Thus, for investors who wish to enter the bus building industry in South Africa; the study will prove to be very helpful in terms of the service status quo provided by bus building companies.

The objective of this thesis is to propose a business strategy that would result in sustainable competitive advantage for Trafin Oil, a.s. - a Czech company operating on the waste oil market. In order to accomplish the stated objective, extensive research has been performed into the existing body of literature on the subject. Frameworks for analysis of the competitive situation are presented and applied thoroughly in the practical part. Moreover, to better comprehend Trafin Oil, a.s. strategic position a customer survey was conducted and extensive interviewing took place. Based on the applied frameworks and the insights gathered throughout the research, the thesis delivers a strategy which rests on developing a unique strategic position and involves different sets of activities to deliver its value proposition. The strategy ought to guarantee higher collection stability and generate substantially higher profits.

The previous research has illustrated that knowledge management (KM) is an important source of a competitive advantage, and there is a relationship between organizational culture and knowledge management. This dissertation extends the concept from knowledge management to knowledge business (k-business), and explores the relationship between organizational culture and KM strategies. This research intends to determine: Can k-business transform an organization? What are the antecedents that affect the choice of codification and personalization strategies? A survey containing four instruments was used: Cameron & Quinn's (1999) OCAI, Lawson's (2002) KMAI, Choi & Lee (2003)'s Knowledge Management Strategy Instrument, and Skyrme's (2001) K-Business Readiness Instrument. The survey link was forwarded to the companies who have been acknowledged for their knowledge management achievement by KMWorld; a total of 193 complete responses were analyzed. The results revealed that k-business can create a competitive advantage for organizations; different culture types can be the antecedent of different types of KM strategy. Clan culture is positively related to personalization strategy; significant association exists between hierarchy culture and codification strategy; and there is a significant correlation between adhocracy culture and personalization strategy. Market culture does not significantly affect knowledge management strategies.

Corporate reputation has become a source of competitive advantage whose underlying dimensions serve to influence companies‟ strategic direction, in order to maintain sustainable competitiveness. The purpose of this research is to determine the underlying dimensions of corporate reputation as perceived by buyers in the business-to-to business environment.Through critical review of literature on corporate reputation, the importance of building and maintaining a good reputation was highlighted by a myriad of resulting favourable consequences. Literature also revealed underlying dimensions of reputation which were complemented by the findings of the preliminary interviews with a selection of members of the sample to formulate a research instrument.Using stratified sampling of buyers in selected segments served by the steel industry, 169 questionnaire responses were gathered electronically via email and self administered. A factor analysis revealed five factors namely vision and quality of management, employment equity and social responsibility, superior quality of products and committed service, corporate appeal and safety and environment. These collaborated with the literature with the exception of two contributing elements omitted by literature, namely BEE and safety. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Corporate Social responsibility is a term that has received more attention in the world of business in past years. Today, an elite Swedish football organization can be compared to a small or medium sized business. This implies that CSR is becoming a more important term in the football line of business as well. Football engage people all over the world in a unique way that bring people together. It doesn't matter which part of the world you come from, your background, culture or language. Everyone speak the common language that is football. The CSR work of Swedish football organizations is therefore a very important part of society. This since these organization can affect individuals on a daily basis and help them to make good choices in life. The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis in Business Administration was to investigate how Swedish elite football organizations work with CSR. Partly to demonstrate how important the function of football organizations in society is, but also to investigate and show that through CSR football organizations can achieve goals and values that the organizations are built upon and to investigate whether CSR can lead to competitive advantages that can benefit the organization as a whole. This research study was performed by case studies were four Swedish elite football organizations participated. The study was conducted with qualitative interviews with carefully selected respondents from the different organizations. The results of the study both changed our approach to CSR and gave us a greater understanding of how Swedish football clubs work and view CSR.

The object of this work is the analysis and proposals for changes to the marketing tools to enhance the competitiveness of the hotel. The thesis compares the theoretical knowledge with reality in the hotel, specifies opportunities for changes and methods, how to achieve these opportunities. Based on the analysis of the competitors, SWOT analysis and the questionnaire the proposals for change will be identified.

Firm growth relies on launching new products and services. An interesting question is, what are those unique project management processes that firms need to know in order to implement growth strategies in the form of new products and services. This paper will aim to shed light on what are those specific project management processes that drive the realization of firm growth. There research propositions highlighted on chapter three have been investigated through a case analysis of two large banks. The case findings indicate the organization’s ability to prioritize projects, implement those projects using a simulation model and nurture a strong project culture are central towards achieving growth. The findings of this paper build on earlier project, portfolio and programme management disciplines and adds further understanding on competitive advantage. Further research is proposed on innovation project management. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Corporate reputation has evolved into a strategic and intangible corporate asset and accordingly directors, as custodians of corporate reputation, are tasked with building and managing corporate reputation as a source of competitive advantage. The purpose of this research is to ascertain the extent of the operationalisation of corporate reputation and the perspectives of directors as to the manner in which they perceive, value, build and manage corporate reputation. A critical review of the corporate reputation literature evidenced much ambiguity as to the definition of corporate reputation, whilst the value and competitive advantage of corporate reputation, has been empirically established. The literature within this realm fails to adequately address the operalisation of this construct and accordingly, this study attempts to address the apparent void in the academic literature by offering empirical evidence as to the manner in which directors build and manage a company’s reputation by proposing a framework to guide directors in their endeavours. In order to gauge director’s perspectives, 12 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with the directors of a multi-national company based in South Africa. The company operates in a highly regulated and competitive industry and the research findings demonstrate that corporate reputation is indeed acknowledged as a key, intangible asset. Whilst the directors did not possess clear insight into building and managing corporate reputation, several key themes emerged and the findings are consolidated into a proposed framework and a portfolio of the dimensions of corporate reputation are established. This study lays the foundation for further studies within the realm of operationalising corporate reputation, particularly as a source of competitive advantage. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Organisations that seek a competitive advantage cannot afford to compromise their brand reputation or expose it to disrepute. When employees leek information, it is not only the breach of confidentiality that is a problem, but it also causes a major brand reputation problem for the organisation. Any possible breach of confidentiality should be minimised by implementing adequate security within the organisation and among its employees. An important issue to address is the development of suitable access control models that are able to restrict access not only to unauthorised data sets, but also to unauthorised combinations of data sets. Within organisations such as banks, clients may exist that are in conflict with one another. This conflict results from the fact that clients are functioning in the same business domain and that their information should be shielded from one another because they are in competition for various reasons. When information on any of these conflicting clients is extracted from their data sets via a data-mining process and used to their detriment or to the benefit of the guilty party, this is considered a breach of confidentiality. In data-mining environments, access control usually strips the data of any identity so as to concentrate on tendencies and ensure that data cannot be traced back to a respondent. There is an active research field in data mining that focuses specifically on ‘preserving’ the privacy of the data during the data-mining process. However, this approach does not account for those situations when data mining needs to be performed to give answers to specific clients. In such cases, when the clients’ identity cannot be stripped, it is essential to minimise the chances of a possible breach of confidentiality. For this reason, this thesis investigated an environment where conflicting clients’ information can easily be gathered and used or sold, as to justify the inclusion of conflict management in the proposed access control model. This thesis presents the Conflict-based Access Control (CBAC) model. The model makes it possible to manage conflict on different levels of severity among the clients of an organisation – not only as specified by the clients, but also as calculated by the organisation. Both types of conflict have their own cut-off points when the conflict is considered to be of no value any longer. Finally, a proof-of-concept prototype illustrates that the incorporation of conflict management is a viable solution to the problem of access control as it minimises the chances of a breach of confidentiality / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Computer Science / unrestricted