Efficient policies to stimulate the competitiveness of firms require knowledge of future firm-strategies and a proper assessment of the location advantages of a country or region. Therefore, industry comparative advantage analysis needs to be complemented by firm competitive advantage analysis. This yields four hypotheses of firm strategies on the basis of the existing advantage combination. Detailed empirical analysis of a representative sample of Austrian manufacturing firms during 1990- 2000 shows that changes in employment, value-added and exports are in line with the suggested development. Three of the 3-digit industries lost their advantages while seven industries gained advantages, yet overall industry distribution has been remarkable stable over the four advantage combinations. In terms of number of firms, however, a large share (30%) of the total population shifts between advantage combinations even during short periods of time. The firm strategies outlined suggest a differentiated policy approach, yet the short-term dynamics revealed empirically imply a high potential for policy failure. / Series: Working Papers Series "Growth and Employment in Europe: Sustainability and Competitiveness"

This study is concentrated on the evaluation of competitive ability of spring and winter wheat varieties by selected characteristics affecting competitiveness against weeds. They evaluated the characteristics (shape tuft, the length of the plant, LAI, coverage and the position of the flag leaf). For the evaluation of characters (tuft shape, length and position of flag leaf) methodology was used, based on the methodical approach ÚKZÚZ for tests of its utility varieties. For the analysis was used LAI (SunScan Devices - Canopy Analysis Sytem).

La presente investigación sobre el conglomerado, el Clúster en Gamarra trata de exponer las evidentes carencias que los empleados y productores tienen para el desarrollo de la zona. A través de comentarios con estadísticas oficiales podremos entender mejor la realidad económica de Gamarra, tratando de recomendar el desarrollo de programas y sistemas de calidad que hagan que los textiles sean de óptima calidad para asegurar una mejor empleabilidad de la zona The present investigation on the conglomerate, the Cluster in Gamarra tries to expose the evident deficiencies that the employees and producers have for the development of the zone. Through comments with official statistics we can better understand the economic reality of Gamarra, trying to recommend the development of programs and quality systems that make textiles are of optimum quality to ensure better employability of the area.

p. 1 - 89 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-01-22T18:31:01Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Textual - Ufba.pdf: 456287 bytes, checksum: 7eb3c235b387fcc373c085a5c8a48a2c (MD5) Pre Textual - Ufba.pdf: 34407 bytes, checksum: c14da7f6841d0188a012189d150a30c6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-22T18:31:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Textual - Ufba.pdf: 456287 bytes, checksum: 7eb3c235b387fcc373c085a5c8a48a2c (MD5) Pre Textual - Ufba.pdf: 34407 bytes, checksum: c14da7f6841d0188a012189d150a30c6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Este estudo se propõe a analisar o nível de competitividade do Cluster de fertilizantes da Região Metropolitana de Salvador. Especificamente pretende-se analisar a evolução da indústria internacional, brasileira e baiana, identificar e discutir suas principais limitações, identificar e discutir suas principais competências, avaliar as estratégias das indústrias de fertilizantes e recomendar ações que aumentem o grau de competitividade das indústrias que compõem o Cluster. Para analisar a competitividade, considerou-se o modelo proposto no Estudo da Competitividade da Indústria Brasileira (ECIB). O Modelo ECIB avalia Fatores Empresariais - aqueles sobre os quais a empresa detém o poder de decisão, Estruturais – aqueles sobre os quais a empresa possui limitado poder de intervenção e Sistêmicos – aqueles sobre os quais a empresa detém escasso ou nenhum poder de intervir. O estudo também apresenta conceitos básicos sobre fertilidade do solo, com as principais funções fisiológicas dos macronutrientes. A história da indústria de fertilizantes no Brasil é apresentada em cinco fases, com os eventos mais relevantes de cada fase. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada através de análise de dados secundários e entrevistas com especialistas de todas as empresas de fertilizantes do Cluster, incluindo misturadoras de adubos e fábricas produtoras de fertilizantes intermediários. O trabalho finaliza com a identificação e análise dos principais fatores de competitividade, destacando suas fragilidades e os pontos onde o cluster é competitivo. A expectativa é que o trabalho tenha contribuído para um maior conhecimento dos problemas que influenciam a competitividade do Cluster, bem como estimular uma reflexão sobre o desenvolvimento do setor de fertilizantes na Bahia. / Salvador

p. 1 - 167 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-02-18T17:58:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 111.pdf: 4463493 bytes, checksum: eaa770637e9ae5017d13ff677c404436 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Fatima Cleômenis Botelho Maria (botelho@ufba.br) on 2013-02-19T16:38:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 111.pdf: 4463493 bytes, checksum: eaa770637e9ae5017d13ff677c404436 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-02-19T16:38:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 111.pdf: 4463493 bytes, checksum: eaa770637e9ae5017d13ff677c404436 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo central analisar os fatores determinantes do transporte rodoviário intermunicipal de passageiros no Estado da Bahia, direcionado às ameaças para a sustentabilidade deste modal. A revisão da literatura está fundamentada na teoria de regulação e no estudo da competitividade da indústria brasileira (ECIB) que fazem a ligação entre um sistema regulado, que é operacionalizado em regime de permissão/concessão, e um ambiente que tem demonstrado crescentes reações adversas por perda de competitividade. Para sustentação desta análise foram definidas como premissas deste setor: utilização de fontes documentais secundárias e primárias; pesquisa de campo para interpretação de perfis, hábitos e necessidades dos usuários; avaliações dos gestores das empresas; indicadores de desempenho relacionados a demanda de passageiros; e atuação efetiva da agência reguladora como órgão fomentador e gestor da qualidade dos serviços aos clientes. Preliminarmente, é apresentado o ambiente dos transportes, remontando acontecimentos históricos desde o descobrimento do Brasil para melhor compreender os dias atuais e direcioná-los de forma mais analítica para o futuro. Descritos também os mecanismos do sistema público para operacionalizar o transporte rodoviário de passageiros, dentro de um escala hierárquica subordinada ao Ministério dos Transportes até a Agência Estadual de Regulação dos Serviços Públicos de Energia, Transportes e Comunicação da Bahia (AGERBA). No campo da competitividade, os cenários foram divididos em três dimensões, conforme ECIB: interna, estrutural e sistêmico, que inicialmente apontaram para quinze fatores relacionados a este modal. Após analisados estes fatores, foram extraídos sete determinantes de elevado grau de significância para a sustentabilidade deste transporte, a partir dos quais foram descritas propostas e recomendações objetivas para atuar nas ameaças da eficiência na qualidade da prestação do serviço aos usuários. / Salvador

p. 1-116 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-03-14T20:37:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 666666.pdf: 1202163 bytes, checksum: 0aa8f0c054798474e4e200fd7ca6c18d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Tatiana Lima(tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2013-03-19T17:20:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 666666.pdf: 1202163 bytes, checksum: 0aa8f0c054798474e4e200fd7ca6c18d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-03-19T17:20:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 666666.pdf: 1202163 bytes, checksum: 0aa8f0c054798474e4e200fd7ca6c18d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / O principal objetivo deste estudo é apresentar e discutir a eficácia na aplicação de uma medida de defesa comercial – antidumping, abordando a regulação deste mecanismo de proteção tarifária conectada aos fatores de competitividade da industria doméstica. Através da conceituação teórica, conjuntamente com a experiência da empresa Policarbonatos do Brasil, este trabalho faz uma analise sobre a aplicação do direito antidumping nas importações brasileiras da resina de policarbonato, originárias dos EUA e Alemanha, que vigorou de julho de 1999 a julho de 2004. A resina de policarbonato, pelas suas propriedades, características e aplicações, é classificado como um plástico de engenharia. Como as resinas plásticas são consideradas produtos petroquímicos, fez–se assim também necessário incluir uma analise da industria petroquímica no Brasil. Barreiras tarifárias ao comercio internacional são estabelecidas com o propósito de proteção dos produtores nacionais contra praticas comerciais consideradas desleais; desta forma pretende-se que a industria domestica obtenha maiores, ou tenha restabelecido, seus volumes comercializados, como também melhore sua participação no mercado interno. O estudo de caso mostra efeito inverso ao esperado e daí decorre o questionamento sobre a eficácia para o qual este trabalho buscou explicações. / Salvador

p. 1-89 / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-03-25T17:32:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Capa dissertação.pdf: 113693 bytes, checksum: 11d2efe654adf5f22afbfa9df4d3d6ce (MD5) DISSERTAÇAO NOVISSIMA.pdf: 539428 bytes, checksum: 37fee9d8fdc5dd16c8d2c8a88081d037 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Tatiana Lima(tatianasl@ufba.br) on 2013-04-08T18:37:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Capa dissertação.pdf: 113693 bytes, checksum: 11d2efe654adf5f22afbfa9df4d3d6ce (MD5) DISSERTAÇAO NOVISSIMA.pdf: 539428 bytes, checksum: 37fee9d8fdc5dd16c8d2c8a88081d037 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-08T18:37:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Capa dissertação.pdf: 113693 bytes, checksum: 11d2efe654adf5f22afbfa9df4d3d6ce (MD5) DISSERTAÇAO NOVISSIMA.pdf: 539428 bytes, checksum: 37fee9d8fdc5dd16c8d2c8a88081d037 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Esta investigação analisa a competitividade dos pequenos negócios através da concepção de um Tipo Ideal, com inspiração Weberiana, no segmento de produção industrial, centrado na capacidade empresarial e consubstanciado basicamente, em Michael Porter e Max Weber. A proposta foi validada por uma Amostra Intencional constituída por segmentos da comunidade, uma Representação Social. O modelo construído resultou da interseção dos aspectos econômico, social e político. A variável competência eco/empresarial refletiu-se através do poder de negociação dos fornecedores e compradores, proatividade na concorrência, preservação do meio ambiente, atenção aos novos entrantes, qualificação do trabalhador, investimentos em P&D e na utilização de recursos de terceiros. A variável Justiça Social objetivou-se na consciência da responsabilidade social, respeito aos direitos trabalhistas, pagamento do salário em dia e na manutenção do canal de comunicação aberto com os trabalhadores. A variável engajamento político traduziu-se na filiação à Associação Comercial de Itabuna (ACI), na contribuição às políticas de desenvolvimento regional, na filiação a cooperativas e à Associação de pequenas e micro empresas de Itabuna; na prática de trabalhos voluntários e na filiação a partido político. Desse modo construiu-se um conceito, um instrumento que materializa uma contribuição à tecnologia votada para o universo dos pequenos negócios acreditando na possibilidade de mudança através de melhores métodos organizacionais. Assim foi concebida uma contribuição que se traduziu como Para além da competitividade, subsídios para refletir os pequenos negócios na cidade de Itabuna-Ba. / Salvador

Customer relationship management (CRM) as an academic subject and a business tool is as relevant today as ever before. As part of the CRM model banks have implemented the concept of relationship banking. The retail banking industry has been troubled with the issue of customer loyalty as both personal and commercial customers have shown the tendency to utilise different products and services from different banks or financial institutions. The problem seems to be Customer Loyalty (or is it?), which as a field of research has been exploited in recent years. The aim of the research report will be to contribute to the existing research on Customer Loyalty and the effects of Relationship Banking (as part of a CRM model) thereon. / Relationship banking, as exemplified by retail banks, is a valuable enabling strategy that promotes competitiveness and provides sustainable success. The utilisation of relationship banking as a business strategy to increase customer retention, create customer loyalty and ultimately increase long-term profits is a relative young tactic, originating in the 1980s and gathering pace during the 1990s. The correct application of relationship banking could impact on the bottomline of banks favourably. Hence the positioning of this research to investigate the effect of the relationship banking offering on customer loyalty, and its use in realising customer loyalty and long-term value from relationship banking initiatives. The retail banking industry in South Africa is a complex and very competitive environment, which is dominated by the big four banks (ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank). It is a business imperative for the management of the banks to ensure that they establish, develop and improve relationships with their most important asset, their customers. Operating in such a dynamic environment requires of banks to fully understand all the factors of relationship banking that affect their success and market share. What is the impact of relationship banking on customer loyalty, and what are the possible results that can flow from a close relationship between bank and customer? The main research hypothesis states that business customers who receive the relationship banking offering from their retail bankers are more loyal towards their bank than those business customers who do not receive the relationship banking offering. With this in mind the research seeks to clarify specific primary objectives based on the hypothesis: • To investigate the impact that relationship banking has on the loyalty of business banking customers in the retail banks in South Africa. ii • To identify the critical factors of relationship banking that can influence customer loyalty. • To identify the benefits of relationship banking and customer loyalty. The research composed of a field study in the retail banking industry, with a sample of 80 business banking customers with a close business relationship with their banker or having a personal banker looking after the relationship, and 80 business customers without a close business relationship with their banker or no personal banker looking after their relationship. The survey focused on the attitude or perception of business customers based on relationship and loyalty dimensions. The research, in combination with the literature review provided valuable insight into the factors influencing relationship banking, its value as part of a retail business banking proposition, as well as the effect it has on customer loyalty. It also provided insight into the importance of customer loyalty and its impact on customer retention and long-term profitability. It is clear from the literature review and research that a relationship banking offering adds value with regard to customer retention and loyalty. The results and findings from the research and literature review represent a remarkable difference between the perceived levels of customer loyalty of the two groups. This is an indication that relationship banking affects customer loyalty positively. The critical factors of relationship banking that were found to influence customer loyalty included the value proposition, service and quality, employee competency (relationship banker), price, reward and recognition, and communication. The benefits of developing and building customer loyalty included: retention of customers and staff, customer satisfaction, trust, word of mouth referrals and growth, cost reduction, cross-sales, profitability (relationship lifetime value) and enhancing the bank’s competitive advantage. iii The researcher recommends that retail banks must continue to implement relationship banking offerings across all business customer segments. A possible consideration will be to divide the relationship banking offering on different levels: high-touch; medium-touch; and low-touch. These different value propositions should represent mutual (bank and customer) requirements and financial feasibility for banks. Banks must place customer-centricity at the core of their relationship banking strategy. To support the relationship strategies banks need to understand the behaviour of their customers and their buying habits. Market segmentation is a critical aspect of relationship marketing and the segmentation of business customers must be in line with the different levels of relationship offerings. Segmentation should also be in line with customer value or customer profitability, complexity of financial demands, annual turnover and industry. This segmentation will allow banks to provide the correct relationship banking offering to the right customer. To support the segmentation process banks need to be able to determine the individual customer profitability. Management information systems must be developed and used to determine the customer’s profitability. Once the segmentation has been concluded banks must implement and use applicable CRM strategies and CRM systems to complement the relationship banking offering. It’s about knowing their customers well enough to determine the kind of relationship they would like to have. Banks must also try to extend their CRM strategy across all customers. The support from top management and understanding of the relationship banking offering is critical as a lack of support can derail the success. The main recommendations for further study that transpired from the research included: • Research on the calculation of relationship life time value. iv • Research on a model for appropriate market segmentation of business banking customers in South Africa. • Research on the importance of reward and recognition strategies to valued customers, plus loyalty programmes. • Research on the key characteristics of relationship bankers.

The job diagnostic survey will be used to gather data on job satisfaction and motivation from the chosen data set. This is a structured questionnaire which provides quantitative results. These results wil be used to calculate the motivation potential score for each individual. Statistical methods will then be used to evaluate the results. This information, together with theory such as Hertsberg's 2-factor theory and Hackman and Oldham's job characteristics model will be used to propose ways of enhancing the jobs of graduate South African engineers. This will improve their job satisfaction and motivation allowing companies to attract, retain and gain greater performance from them. / This research has three main purposes. Firstly, it examines the level of job satisfaction and motivation of engineers and actuaries in South Africa and compares this with other groups. Secondly it examines the role of job design in their job satisfaction and motivation. Thirdly, it recommends ways to increase the level of satisfaction and motivation. The research methodology was based on Hackman and Oldham’s Job Characteristics Model (JCM) and accompanying Job Diagnostic Survey. It states that high satisfaction, motivation and effectiveness will result from the presence of five job characteristics as long as certain intervening factors are also present. It was found that Job design, as proposed by the model, does contribute to satisfaction and motivation. Relative to other groups of employees, actuaries and engineers in South Africa are satisfied. Of those surveyed, civil engineers had the highest level of satisfaction and electrical engineers the lowest. Actuaries scored higher than engineers. The results of this research suggest organisations should increase feedback to employees and improve opportunities for growth. Further research should be done on the intervening factors and the effects of demographic differences within the two groups.

The peaceful transition from apartheid to a democratised society is one of South Africa’s most impressive achievements. The attainment of these achievements has placed enormous pressure on the country to “shift to a higher gear”, i.e. increasing the number of players who contribute to the economic development of the country, thus building on its’ political success (Thomas, 1996). The ability to become competitive in the global economy will be determined by the capacity to increase the pool of suitably qualified people and the willingness to accept, value and empower the human talent of all South Africans.