abstract: This thesis investigates whether mergers and acquisitions (M&As) help increase the competitive advantage and core competency of Chinese securities companies. Although M&As among Chinese securities companies were almost exclusively guided by the Chinese government in the earlier years, they have increasingly become more market-driven in recent years. Many large Chinese securities companies have engaged in horizontal mergers, cross-industry mergers, and cross-border mergers to increase their market positions. However, there is little up-to-date evidence about how these market-driven M&As influence the competitive advantage and core competency of securities companies in China. I seek to fill this gap by conducting a systematic analysis about whether M&As increase the core competency of the acquiring companies using data collected over a five-year window from 2010 to 2014. On the basis of prior research findings and the current situation of the Chinese securities industry, I first develop a theoretical model about the sources of competitive advantage for Chinese securities companies, and then compile a comprehensive list of observable indicators that can be used to assess a Chinese securities company’s core competency. Next, I conduct a quantitative analysis to assess the core competency and relative market positions of the leading Chinese securities companies using data from 2010 to 2014. Overall, the results suggest that market-driven M&As increases the core competency of the acquiring securities companies. I then conduct four in-depth case analyses to better understand the mechanisms through which M&As can help increase the acquiring firms' core competency. I conclude with a discussion of the findings and their implications for Chinese securities companies and the overseeing governmental agencies. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2016

The aim of this article is to give an overview of the business model concept and theories focussing on the sharing economy. Selected concepts and studies are presented, and its application, usefulness and limitations are discussed. The concepts and models that are presented in more detail build the foundation for the realisation of a digital business plan. The plan was part of the overall examination for the course ‘Digital Business Development’ at Linnæus University. The theories and studies concerning business models are being traced back to 1975. With the advent of the Internet mid-1990s the academic community picked up on the business model concept and an increasing number of articles, publications and studies were published. Although the huge interest in the concept, there is still no common theoretical foundation and established researchers such as Michael E. Porter even argue that the business model doesn’t help a company to develop or to assess competitive advantage instead it only helps to understand basic questions. Airbnb and Uber have been the companies mostly cited when articles were written about the ‘sharing economy’. The research field of the sharing economy is rather new and most of the theoretical foundation is rooted in the concept of ownership. Recently, researchers have begun to investigate frameworks around the sharing economy i.e. understanding the determinants of a successful sharing model from a marketing and technological perspective. The literature related to the sharing economy is still in its formation phase. The theory must reach a higher level of generalizability and move away from pure descriptions of ‘successful companies in the sharing economy’. Most studies have focused on identifying motivational factors for consumers and companies to participate in the sharing economy. In conclusion, both concepts have its strengths and weaknesses, but they provide useful insights for analyzing current situations and developing potential strategic directions.

Background – In today´s globalized environment, a stronger emphasis on moving production to low-cost environments is present. Assembling a complex product usually involves multiple smaller manufacturing firms across the globe. As a result, smaller specialized firms have an important role in the market but are also strongly dependent on the demand for the final product. Hence, their business model can be dependent on a specific patch which inhibit innovation and evidently leaving them vulnerable to changes in the environment. One main challenge for companies´ business model is the question of continuous flexibility and adaption to an ever changing business context. Purpose - The purpose of this thesis is to explore dynamic capabilities as a source of business model innovation in manufacturing subcontractor SMEs in Jönköping County. The studies aim is to explore how these firms develop dynamic capabilities in order to identify and then overcome barriers for business model innovation. Method – Primary data was collected through a multiple case study of three manufacturing companies in Jönköping County. The data was later coded and findings cross-case compared with a lens of dynamic capability view in order to find similarities and dissimilarities. Conclusion- The findings from the three case companies indicates that dynamic capabilities are interdependent to each other, meaning all need to be taken into consideration for continuously successful business model innovation. Disregarding the development of one business model component can restrain others, thereby resulting in inadequate innovations. A sensing capability was identified however yet the abilities to seize and reconfigure opportunities taking the whole BM into consideration were not present for all of the three case companies. By lack of a coherent development of the BM, barriers become present and a sustained competitive advantage is unreachable. All three cases agreed upon the human resource management to be the major challenge for their organization to sustain a healthy growth.

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate as displayed the inherent factors organizational learning in the model of fifth disciplines of Peter M. Senge had been adopted in the company Irmãos Seibert & Cia. Ltda. This company was chosen by being one of small great of the industrial segment that possess an interesting evolution differential to the long one of the time. The importance of this study justifies why the complexity of the current context in constant change in result of the process of globalization economic and social, has demanded of organizations, different abilities of those privileged ones in the mechanist age of organizations. The search of development alternatives, interview adaption of practice innovative indispensable for survival changes imposed for a highly competitive market, it passes for the learning that if became one of the ability-key for survival and development of organizations. Amongst the managemental models that if present, aiming at to improve the capacities of learning of organizations, the model is distinguished of fifth disciplines, for its emphases in the human element in organizations, using as estimated, that organizations are in essence, product of thinking and interacting of its members. Of this form, it was adopted as method of investigation the case study, that learnig made possible to explore relative aspects qualitative in organizes, where the data had been collected interview half-structuralized carried through with dicrection of the structuralized company and questionaries applied to employes of the organization. To get the result in this work, the data had been compared and analyzed of the model of the five disciplines and other concepts constant correlations to the subject of the base theoretician-empiricist. In this direction the research disclosed that the theoreticians rules of organizations of learning in all the levels of organization, although informally. The lack of a professional of the knowledge for legalizes for the organizacional learning, verified in the research, if it understands as limiter factor of creates and spreads dissemination of the organizational knowledge. / O objetivo desta dissertação foi investigar como os fatores inerentes à aprendizagem organizacional, expostos no modelo da quinta disciplina de Peter M. Senge, foram adotados na empresa Irmãos Seibert & Cia. Ltda. Esta empresa foi escolhida por ser de pequeno porte, do segmento industrial, que possui um diferencial evolutivo interessante ao longo do tempo. A importância deste estudo justifica-se por que a complexidade do contexto atual em constante mudança, em decorrência do processo de globalização econômica e social, tem exigido das organizações, habilidades diferentes daquelas privilegiadas na era das organizações mecanicistas. A busca de alternativas de desenvolvimento, através da adoção de práticas inovadoras indispensáveis para sobrevivência às mudanças impostas por um mercado altamente competitivo, passa pela aprendizagem, que se tornou uma das habilidades-chave para sobrevivência e desenvolvimento das organizações. Dentre os modelos gerenciais que se apresentam, visando melhorar as capacidades de aprendizagem das organizações, destaca-se o modelo da quinta disciplina, pela sua ênfase no elemento humano nas organizações, utilizando como pressuposto, que as organizações são em essência, produto do pensar e interagir dos seus membros. Dessa forma, adotou-se como método de investigação o estudo de caso, que possibilitou explorar aspectos qualitativos relativos à aprendizagem na organização, onde os dados foram coletados através de entrevista semi-estruturada, realizada com a direção da empresa e questionários estruturados aplicados à direção e funcionários da organização. Para obter o resultado neste trabalho, os dados foram comparados e analisados à luz do modelo das cinco disciplinas e outros conceitos correlatos ao tema, constantes da base teórico-empírica. Nesse sentido, a pesquisa revelou que os preceitos teóricos das organizações de aprendizagem, estão implícitos em todos os níveis da organização, embora informalmente. A falta de um profissional do conhecimento para a formalização para a aprendizagem organizacional, verificado na pesquisa, se entende como fator limitador da criação e disseminação do conhecimento organizacional.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Establishing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) is one of the options for South Africa to grow and develop the economy by creating and maintaining employment. SMMEs need to utilise technology innovation in their businesses for the sustenance of their growth and development in the market. Although Information Technology (IT) has been identified as a key enabler of businesses, the adoption of IT by small businesses is low, owing to different disparaging factors and conditions SMMEs are faced with. The factors culminate in challenges which hinder evaluation, adoption and use of new technology innovation by SMMEs to develop the business. The aim of the study is to explore the evaluation and adoption of new technology by SMMEs. The research objectives are to investigate the evaluation factors affecting decision making and choice of technology adoption, and the effect evaluation and non-evaluation of new technology has on the business. The purpose of the research is to establish the challenges SMMEs encounter with evaluating new technology by SMMEs, being that evaluation is a major contributing factor to the successful adoption of new technology by SMMEs. The study takes the form of a multiple interpretive case study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews with 15 managers/owners of SMMEs. Quantitative data was collected in the form of an online survey and results were used against the qualitative data analysis process, with categories formed and patterns identified in the data samples. The research reveals that SMMEs find it increasingly difficult to obtain knowledge on available new technology for business. SMMEs are unable to adequately determine how new technology could align with the business objectives and processes. It seems that government does not play any significant role in the SMME adoption process of new technology. Most SMMEs are oblivious to any government initiative or support available to them. The cost of compliance within the Financial Service Provider (FSP) sector is high due to new standards set by legislation. The increased cost burden of compliance has led to the demise of many FSPs in the financial sector. The study further suggests that with quality evaluation and implementation procedures of new technology, the selected technology will have a positive effect on the SMME industry. SMMEs need to embrace an evaluation culture and practice to enable them to make quality decisions on new technology in order to capitalise on the potential the technology has to offer. This could lead to gaining a competitive advantage and ensuring survival and growth in the market. Guidelines on new technology evaluation and adoption are proposed to SMMEs. These guidelines will assist SMMEs to evaluate and identify all factors relating to the business environment affecting the evaluation of new technology for the business. The study provides new insight and understanding on how SMMEs evaluate new technology. The evaluation includes issues surrounding availability of information, awareness of opportunities, decisionmaking and the need for increased and visible government participation in the process of SMME new technology adoption.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Information Technology In the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Data sources often emerge with the potential to transform, drive and allow deriving never-envisaged business value. These data sources change the way business enacts and models value generation. As a result, sellers are compelled to capture value by collecting data about business elements that drive change. Some of these elements, such as the customer and products, generate data as part of transactions which necessitates placement of the business element at the centre of the organisation’s data curation journey. This is in order to reveal changes and how these elements affect the business model. Data in business represents information translated into a format convenient for transfer. Data holds the relevant markers needed to measure business elements and provide the relevant metrics to monitor, steer and forecast business to attain enterprise goals. Data forms the building blocks of information within an organisation, allowing for knowledge and facts to be obtained. At its lowest level of abstraction, it provides a platform from which insights and knowledge can be derived as a direct extract for business decision-making as these decisions steer business into profitable situations. Because of this, organisations have had to adapt or change their business models to derive business value for sustainability, profitability and transformation. An organisation’s business model reflects a conceptual representation on how the organisation obtains and delivers value to prospective customers (the service beneficiary). In the process of delivering value to the service beneficiaries, data is generated. Generated data leads to business knowledge which can be leveraged to re-engineer the business model. The business model dictates which information and technology assets are needed for a balanced, profitable and optimised operation. The information assets represent value holding documented facts. Information assets go hand in hand with technology assets. The technology assets within an organisation are the technologies (computers, communications and databases) that support the automation of well-defined tasks as the organisation seeks to remain relevant to its clientele. What has become apparent is the fact that companies find it difficult to leverage the opportunities that data, and for that matter Big Data (BD), offers them. A data curation journey enables a seller to strategise and collect insightful data to influence how business may be conducted in a sustainable and profitable way while positioning the curating firm in a state of ‘information advantage’. While much of the discussion surrounding the concept of BD has focused on programming models (such as Hadoop) and technology innovations usually referred to as disruptive technologies (such as The Internet of Things and Automation of Knowledge Work), the real driver of technology and business is BD economics, which is the combination of open source data management and advanced analytics software coupled with commodity-based, scale-out architectures which are comparatively cheaper than prevalent sustainable technologies known to industry. Hadoop, though hugely misconstrued, is not an integration platform; it is a model the helps determine data value while it brings on-board an optimised way of curating data cheaply as part of the integration architecture. The objectives of the study were to explore how BD can be used to utilise the opportunities it offers the organisation, such as leveraging insights to enable business for transformation. This is accomplished by assessing the level of BD integration with the business model using the BD Business Model Maturation Index. Guidelines with subsequent recommendations are proposed for curation procedures aimed at improving the curation process. A qualitative research methodology was adopted. The research design outlines the research as a single case study; it outlines the philosophy as interpretivist, the approach as data collection through interviews, and the strategy as a review of the method of analysis deployed in the study. Themes that emerged from categorised data indicate the diverging of business elements into primary business elements and secondary supporting business elements. Furthermore, results show that data curation still hinges firmly on traditional data curation processes which diminish the benefits associated with BD curation. Results suggest a guided data curation process optimised by persistence hybridisation as an enabler to gain information advantage. The research also evaluated the level of integration of BD into the case business model to extrapolate results leading to guidelines and recommendations for BD curation.

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / The global business environment has for a number of years been changing progressively faster and as a result, organisations are concentrating on becoming more agile to survive the contemporary business environment. The educational institutions are un-spared from the fast, progressive change. This change is making it difficult for educational institutions to cope with the competitive environment, thereby affecting business agility and the implementation of Business Process Management (BPM). This study seeks to explore what factors are affecting the agility and implementation of Business Process Management at a Further Education and Training (FET) college. The researcher of this dissertation’s view of the world or ontology is that of subjectivism. The research design utilises an interpretivist approach with a qualitative paradigm orientation. Additionally, the study adopts an inductive approach or argument which upholds that true statements, one after the other, can lead to a probable accurate conclusion or theory. This research uses a case study where data is gathered from key management staff and IT experts at the FET College (FETC), using semi-structured questionnaires by means of interviews. An overview of the findings indicates a lack of resources, lack of conduciveness to the teaching and learning environment, lack of collaboration, outdated curriculum, and resistance to change as factors impeding the FETC’s ability to respond to the competitive environment and implementation of Business Process Management. The lack of capabilities, incorrect risk management, culture of change as well as non-alignment of business processes (BPs) with the vision of the FETC, are factors preventing the College from being more agile and creating value for its clients. Furthermore, there is a high misuse of the registration and bursary processes by students. To conclude, the FETC needs to find alternative means besides the main source—government—to source resources. The FETC needs to be more agile and flexible in order to retain clients and remain sustainable in the industry. Furthermore, the FETC needs to improve on its business processes (BPs) and physical security. It is recommended that the FETC manages the correct risks in order to change and remain competitive in the industry. The FET environment necessitates interconnected registration and bursary processes to optimise the use of resources. The registration processes need to be re-engineered in order to facilitate early registration. Security needs to be improved and effective strategic management put in place.

Orientador: João Pedro Albino / Banca: José de Souza Rodrigues / Banca: Hiroo Takaoka / Resumo: A busca por vantagem competitiva em um ambiente global deve considerar o uso do conhecimento tácito e explícito que circula diariamente pelas empresas. Fatores de diferenciação, que eram destaque no passado, podem ser facilmente replicados no contexto atual. O volume de conhecimentos e informações é grande e, portanto, existe a necessidade de se criar um sistema que permita o gerenciamento de conhecimentos estratégicos e relevantes. A tecnologia pode auxiliar neste processo, pois facilita o armazenamento, organização e recuperação de dados, informações e conhecimentos. Porém, a Gestão do Conhecimento deve abordar outros aspectos, principalmente humanos e financeiros. Não há um modelo único para aplicação de Gestão do Conhecimento, e os existentes baseiam-se em casos de grandes empresas. São poucos os exemplos de modelos que atendem o universo de Pequenas e Médias Empresas. No Brasil, há predominância de empresas de menor porte. Esta pesquisa buscou apresentar um modelo simplificado para implantação de Gestão do Conhecimento, com ênfase em aspectos tecnológicos e de planejamento, em Pequenas e Médias Empresas Brasileiras. O modelo, baseado em um estudo de caso único, exploratório, com escopo limitado, englobou conhecimentos tácitos e explícitos, além das restrições enfrentadas por este tipo de empresa. Como resultado, propôs-se algumas recomendações e um protótipo de uma base de conhecimentos, de acordo com a área delimitada: capturar de conhecimentos da área comercial/marketing e compartilhá-los com colaboradores da área de manufatura, auxiliando na busca de vantagem competitiva. Apesar de restrições financeiras e humanas, a Gestão do Conhecimento pode auxiliar empresas menores, preservando a memória organizacional e aumentando eficiência e eficácia de processos. A observação de um caso único impossibilitou a generalização do modelo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The search for competitive advantage in a global environment must consider the use of tacit and explicit knowledge, that circulate every day inside companies. Differential factors, that were safe in the past, can be easily replicated nowadays. There is a great volume of knowledge and information, and, so, it is necessary to create a system that allows the management of strategical and relevant knowledge. Technology can help in this process, because it facilitates storage, organization and retrieve of data, information and knowledge. However, Knowledge Management must approach other aspects, mainly humans and financials. There is not a unique model to implement Knowledge Management, and the existing ones are based in large companies' reality. There are very few examples that consider the universe of Small and Medium Companies. In Brazil, most of the companies are smaller ones. This research tried to present a simplified model to implement Knowledge Management, focusing technological and planning aspects, in Brazilian Small and Medium Companies. The model, developed based in a unique case study, exploratory, with limited scope, included tacit and explicit knowledge, and looked at existing restrictions. As results, they were proposed some recommendations and a prototype of a knowledge base, according to the limited to the limited scope: to capture knowledge from sales/marketing areas and share them with manufacture employees, helping in search of competitive advantage. Despite some human and financial restrictions, Knowledge Management can help smaller companies, preserving organizational memory and increasing processes efficiency. To observe a unique case prevented the generalization of the model. But the recommendations can be references to other companies, because projects like this must approach particular issues of each organization. / Mestre

As organizações estão expostas a uma quantidade e variabilidade cada vez mais crescente de informações. A capacidade de se antecipar às tendências e se adequar ao ambiente passa a ser, além de fonte de vantagem competitiva, fator necessário para a sobrevivência. Nessa realidade, organizações frequentemente apresentam dificuldades de leitura de seu ambiente e adaptação ao meio. Acredita-se na necessidade de desenvolvimento de uma capacidade interna da organização para que o monitoramento do ambiente se estabeleça, bem como análise de oportunidades, planejamento de ações de melhoria e reconfiguração da organização. Este estudo buscou verificar a relação da Inteligência - enquanto processo de monitoramento do ambiente - como uma Capacidades Dinâmica, e de como esta pode contribuir com a geração de vantagem competitiva. Criou-se um modelo de pesquisa, utilizando-se dos modelos de Rios (2010) e Teece (2014), relacionando os conceitos de Inteligência e Capacidade Dinâmicas, e estas com a Vantagem Competitiva. Por meio de um questionário, realizou-se uma Pesquisa Survey, onde coletaram-se respostas de funcionários e/ou sócio de empresas brasileiras, independente de porte ou segmento. Para análise, utilizou-se da Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, e foi possível demonstrar que a Inteligência influencia positivamente nas Capacidades Dinâmicas do sub-grupo Transforming, na Estratégia e na Vantagem Competitiva. Dessa forma o modelo desenvolvido, tendo apresentado boa confiabilidade e aderência, pode também ser validado. / Organizations are exposed to an increasing amount and variability of information. The ability to anticipate trends and adapt to the environment becomes, besides a source of competitive advantage, a necessary factor for survival. In this reality, organizations frequently present difficulties in reading their environment and adapting to them. We believe in the need to develop an internal capacity of the organization for the monitoring of the environment to be established, as well as analysis of opportunities, planning of actions of improvement and reconfiguration of the organization. This study sought to verify the relationship of Intelligence - as a process of monitoring the environment - as a Dynamic Capabilities, and how this can contribute to the generation of competitive advantage. A research model was created, using the models of Rios (2010) and Teece (2014), relating the concepts of Dynamic Intelligence and Capacity, and these with the Competitive Advantage. By means of a questionnaire, a Survey Research was conducted, where responses were collected from employees and / or partners of Brazilian companies, regardless of size or segment. For the analysis, it was used the Modeling of Structural Equations, and it was possible to demonstrate that the Intelligence influences positively in the Dynamic Capacities of the Transforming subgroup, in the Strategy and the Competitive Advantage. In this way the developed model, having presented good reliability and adhesion, can also be validated.

O presente trabalho busca avaliar o nível de qualidade dos cursos de Pós-Graduação Lato Sensu da Universidade de Caxias do Sul sob a perspectiva do grau de satisfação de seus alunos. Para isso, identifica os fatores que contribuem para o bom desempenho dos cursos com o atual redesenho dos mesmos; ensejando a possibilidade de transformação a partir dos resultados obtidos. O estudo compara os níveis de satisfação de alunos que foram contemplados com os serviços de atendimento personalizado e de alunos que não usufruíram desse atendimento e analisa se o fom1ato dos cursos de Pós-Graduação em nível de especialização propostos agregam valor para a Universidade de Caxias do Sul. O estudo finaliza evidenciando que a satisfação dos alunos de Pós-Graduação Lato Sensu é elevada, obtendo resultados positivos para os alunos que fazem ou fizeram cursos de especialização na Universidade de Caxias do Sul, que associa um corpo docente qualificado com conteúdos pertinentes ao mercado, atuais e de pronta aplicabilidade, além de um serviço diferenciado aos alunos. / This study aims at assessing the quality levei o f the Lato Sensu Postgraduate courses of Universidade de Caxias do Sul, under the perspective of satisfaction of its students. lt identifies the factors that contribute for the perfom1ance o f the courses and to their possible redesigning, propitiating the possibility of transformation of the results obtained into competitive advantage. The study compares the satisfaction leveis of students who have used the services of personalized attention and that of students who have not used these services and analyses whether the format of the Postgraduate courses proposed at specialization levei aggregate value to the university. The study finalizes making it evident that the satisfaction of the Lato Sensu Postgraduate students is high, achieving good results for the sh1dents who attend or have attended specialization courses at Universidade de Caxias do Sul, when the courses associate a qualified teaching staff with contents adequate to the market, of topical interest and ready applicability, besides a differentiated service to the students.