Purpose:  The purpose of this thesis is to examine how companies can favorablycommunicate their sustainable practices in a transparent way in order tobe perceived as trustworthy so that a competitive advantage canperhaps be achieved. Further, it will be investigated if transparencywithin the supply chain can be used as a fundament for being perceivedas credible by consumers. Method:   The method will be qualitative with an inductive approach. Theresearch will consist of forming a case study based on the companyPatagonia, where primary data will consist of interviews with multipleexperts on the topic. Besides, secondary data will consist of books,journal articles, conference material and information from the websiteof Patagonia. Conclusion:   In this research it was found that transparent communication aboutsustainable business practices can increase the trust in brands and canthus deliver a competitive advantage. Hence, companies need to solelyfocus on the core customer, integrate the customer in thecommunication process and deliver easy and clear information. Thisinformation should educate the customer and thus be perceived asvaluable and trustworthy.

M.Com. (Business Management) / The commercial real estate broking industry is considered one of the most competitive industries globally, with research showing that it has many competitors and the ease of entry is rather easy. This research was conducted in the context of the commercial real estate broking industry in order to examine the extent of competition in the industry and to establish how one of the companies in this industry can sustain the competitive advantage. The study revealed that gaining and sustaining competitive advantage is about strengthening the resources that are not valuable, rare and imitable in the organisation as reflected in the model by Knott (2009: 166). The primary purpose of this study was to explore how JLL SA can obtain and sustain competitive advantage in the competitive commercial real estate broking environment through the Resource Based View. The research methodology applied in this study was a qualitative study, which consisted of 9 semi structured interviews from Jones Lang LaSalle South Africa (JLL SA). The criteria for the population sample was that the respondents had to have adequate experience in the commercial real estate broking industry and had a thorough knowledge of the company under review. The research highlighted a number of challenges regarding the market position of JLL SA and that the company does not have a formal rivalry strategy. From the research, it was found that strategic planning, particularly for competition happens as and when the organisation is challenged by competition. The study also reveals that JLL SA does not communicate a strategic direction for tackling competition. The main recommendations of this study is that JLL SA adopts the model suggested by Knott (2009:166) as a measure to gain and sustain competitive advantage. The model refers to the valuable, rarity and inimitability of resources through, in which JLL SA can selects attributes or resources to evaluate in order to sustain competitive commercial real estate broking industry is considered one of the most competitive industries globally, with research showing that it has many competitors and the ease of entry is rather easy. This research was conducted in the context of the commercial real estate broking industry in order to examine the extent of competition in the industry and to establish how one of the companies in this industry can sustain the competitive advantage. The study revealed that gaining and sustaining competitive advantage is about strengthening the resources that are not valuable, rare and imitable in the organisation as reflected in the model by Knott (2009: 166). The primary purpose of this study was to explore how JLL SA can obtain and sustain competitive advantage in the competitive commercial real estate broking environment through the Resource Based View. The research methodology applied in this study was a qualitative study, which consisted of 9 semi structured interviews from Jones Lang LaSalle South Africa (JLL SA). The criteria for the population sample was that the respondents had to have adequate experience in the commercial real estate broking industry and had a thorough knowledge of the company under review. The research highlighted a number of challenges regarding the market position of JLL SA and that the company does not have a formal rivalry strategy. From the research, it was found that strategic planning, particularly for competition happens as and when the organisation is challenged by competition. The study also reveals that JLL SA does not communicate a strategic direction for tackling competition. The main recommendations of this study is that JLL SA adopts the model suggested by Knott (2009:166) as a measure to gain and sustain competitive advantage. The model refers to the valuable, rarity and inimitability of resources through, in which JLL SA can selects attributes or resources to evaluate in order to sustain competitive advantage.

Background: With the appearance of the fourth industrial revolution a lot of industries had to change and adapt to computer integrated manufacturing, the ‘Internet of things’, cloud computing, machine to machine communication, additive manufacturing and ‘big data’. Overall, this industrial transformation is driven by digitalization. The Swedish dental laboratory industry is of special interest for our research due to the lack of adaption to the new technological changes, decreasing market share in Sweden and the threats from cheap Chinese production. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to understand the current situation the Swedish small and medium sized dental laboratories are facing because of the threats from the Chinese competition. Therefore, we analyze the Swedish dental laboratory industry and map the situation. Moreover, we show what the laboratories are currently doing to defend their market position in a highly competitive environment. Method: The data was gathered from semi structured and open interviews of dental technicians, dentists and industry experts. This empirical data was analyzed in an abductive thematic approach. Additionally, this theory driven approach combines the research question and the propositions with the empirical findings to create a precise research report. Conclusion: Up to recently, China was a big threat for the domestic dental laboratories but this threat is decreasing nowadays. Due to the demand of high quality products with precise services, dentists require a close collaboration with the dental laboratories. In order to survive as an SME in the Swedish dental industry, collaborating in networks among local competitors can help to lift investments for new equipment in the transforming environment. With state of the art technology and shared competences Swedish dental laboratories can sustain their competitive advantage in global competition.

The presented dissertation reports the findings of a quantitative study on shared values of a multinational corporation across its Middle East and Sub-Saharan subsidiaries. The study is based on the Competing Values Framework (Quinn &Rohrbaugh, 1983; Cameron&Quinn, 1999) with 24 shared values superimposed upon the Competing Values Framework (McDonald&Gandz, 1992). The presented work argues that an organisation can increase its competitiveness by understanding its shared value system and by managing the organisation accordingly. In return, the organisation due to an increased competitiveness would realise a competitive advantage by understanding the shared value composition. In understanding the shared values composition one can attract and retain staff due to a greater person organisation fit, which in turn would lead to a reduction in staff turnover, skilling and training cost in return yielding a competitive advantage. The research found that there seems to be a common shift or trend in the Cape Town, Johannesburg and Middle East subsidiaries. The trend is that the subsidiaries value those shared values most that fits into the clan and market culture quadrants with some elements of the adhocracy and hierarchy cultures type resembled. The latter not being as dominant as the clan and market culture types. The Pretoria and Turkey subsidiaries regarded the values of the clan and adhocracy culture quadrants higher than those within the market and hierarchy culture quadrants. This is unexpected to a degree as the subsidiaries are across multiple nations encompassing different cultures. The subsidiaries believe in culture of collaboration and competition with the purpose of group cohesion and the pursuit of objectives. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The South African higher education sector is currently facing many challenges. Factors such as a decrease in government funding, mergers and student unrest compel higher education institutions to apply effective strategies for funding and recruitment of quality students. Higher education institutions are forced to focus on restructuring and repositioning themselves, build a strong brand, communicate their image and to sustain their position in order to ensure a competitive advantage. In order to be locally relevant and globally competitive, higher education institutions need to become more marketing-oriented. In a restricted financial environment, higher education institutions will have to assess and reassess marketing strategies aimed at attracting quality first year students. A proper assessment of the importance of the choice factors students consider when selecting a higher education institution as well as the usefulness of the information sources they consider, will enable institutions to allocate funds, time and resources more efficiently and effectively. A quantitative study with a self-administrated questionnaire was used to allow students to complete the questionnaire during class lectures. Non-probability convenience sampling was used and a sample of 1241 students responded from six higher education institutions: the University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, University of the Free State, University of Kwa–Zulu Natal and the North-West University. The sample consisted of 64 percent females and 36 percent male students. The ethnic orientation distribution was as follows: 46 percent Caucasian, 41 percent Black African, 9 percent Indian, 3 percent Coloured and 1 percent students of other ethnic groups. The main goal of this study was to investigate the relevant importance of the choice factors, as well as the usefulness of the information sources, that first year Economic and Management Sciences students at selected higher education institutions in South Africa considered when they decided to enrol at a specific higher education institution. The findings indicated that some choice factors were more important to students than others, as well as the fact that students from different gender groups, ethnic groups, language groups and institutions differed in the importance they attached to the choice factors. The top ten choice factors respondents regarded as important in the selection of a higher education institution are: quality of teaching, employment prospects (possible job opportunities), campus safety and security, academic facilities (libraries and laboratories), international links (study and job opportunities), language policy, image of higher education institution, flexible study mode (evening classes and use of computers), academic reputation (prestige), and a wide choice of subjects/courses. The findings also revealed that information sources directly from a higher education institution, such as open days and campus visits, university publications and websites are the most useful to students, while information from mass media such as radio, television, magazines and newspaper advertisements are not as useful. The findings give marketing educators an indication of the importance of choice factors considered by prospective students in selecting a higher education institution, and enable higher education institutions to use their limited funds more efficiently to attract quality students, create a unique position and gain a competitive advantage. Based on the usefulness of information sources and the importance of choice factors considered, student focused marketing communication can be developed. This should aid students to make more informed decisions about the higher education institution they wish to attend. The study also add to existing theory in the fields of services marketing, higher education marketing and consumer behaviour, especially the field of outlet selection, as the institution can be viewed as the outlet for buying education. Information obtained from this study also contributes to the available research and literature on this topic and could be used by other researchers as a basis for future research. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Marketing Management / PhD / Unrestricted

We propose making an empirical application of the temporal view of stakeholder management theory by applying it in the particular context of the Canadian wind industry. The temporal view builds on insights from the resource-based view (RBV), institutional theory, and stakeholder salience theory. We argue that both early stage competitive advantage and late stage sustained competitive advantage could be dependent on the use of salient stakeholders as a special network of resources. We contribute to the literature in various ways. First we determine an empirical list of five salient stakeholders specific to the wind industry. Second, we show that, at early stages, the moderating effects of firm size and market conditions determines stakeholder support or rejection. Lastly, we show that, at late stages, the sustainability equation must take into account the introduction of new salient stakeholders. Also, we make practical recommendations for industry players and policy makers. We reached theory refinement by adopting an exploratory qualitative methodology based on interviews with seven cases of large and small wind firms operating in different electricity market types and provinces across Canada.

The paper gives a summary of the contemporary theoretical and practical approaches to the question of sectoral competitiveness and makes an attempt of verification of theoretical hypotheses by the means of linear regression. In its first part the paper offers a theoretical field for creating a broader competitiveness concept. The theoretical concepts an practical methods used by the professional institutions are both presented therein. In its second part an attempt to unite the presented theories is made. The theoretical conclusions are then applied on the sample of statistic data from EU and UN sources with the aim of verification of theoretical conclusions validity.

The work focuses on strategic analysis of ČZ Řetězy, s.r.o. The theoretical part describes methods and techniques of strategic analysis that are then applied in the practical part. Competitive advantage sources are identified and strategic recommendations are proposed.

The goal of this thesis was designed a complete strategic analysis, both internal and external form of the selected firm LACMAN s. r. o. LACMAN s. r. o. is a small, emerging company, the subject of its business is the distribution of connectors. Thesis is divided into five main blocks: In the first part, called Introduction, describes the basic building blocks for the preparation of the strategy, it is mission, vision and a fundamental target of LACMAN s. r. o. The second part is quite theoretical, it is known as a theoretical-methodological basis and discusses and describes the theoretical facts that I need to apply in practice. The third part is the name and the pictor of the company, how society see the company. This section describes the basic characteristic of information, cultural, sports, and mainly social sponsoring company and the overall culture, norms and standards which govern the company staff. The fourth part is called Practical and is divided into external analysis where I work with macro-economic company's data, policy and legislative factors, and mapping analysis of supplier-customer relationships and existing competition in the market with the connectors material. Internal analysis me serve to evaluace how are the company's resources (material, inmaterial, human and financial) in sufficient quantity, the quality and whether it is used effectively. In this part of thesis, I also included a detailed financial analysis, there I solve the financial health of the company. And the SWOT analysis, which, in my view, contains a large number of strengths, but on the other hand, contains numerous threats from outside the company. The last part is called the Finish, here summarizes the findings from the all analysis. I believe that this thesis is to analyze the company of great benefit and a council, how to overcome difficult times and stay on the market at the time of global economic crisis.

This graduation thesis is considered with an analysis of corporate culture at non-for-profit organization. Present knowledge about corporate culture and methodical procedure of analysis of corporate culture in general are summarized at the theoretical part. Corporate culture of particular non-for-profit organization at stage of transformation is analyze at the practical part. There are described differences between corporate culture of commercial and non-for-profit organization. Final goal is to propose a procedure of turnover of corporate culture so the organization should get a competitive advantage.