The main question in this study was: do business units that exhibit a "linkage" or "fit" between their business strategy and manufacturing strategy variables, outperform competitors who lack such a fit? This exploratory research focused on two business strategies: cost leadership and differentiation. Based on existing literature, twenty-four hypotheses concerning the relationship between business strategy and selected manufacturing strategy variables were developed. The manufacturing executives of eighty-eight broadwoven cotton fabric mills (SIC 2211) were surveyed using a qualitative questionnaire. Two sets of comparisons were made between the manufacturing strategy variables of the sampled firms: first, high vs. low performers pursuing cost leadership strategy; and second, high vs. low performers focusing on differentiation strategy. Within each set of comparisons, high performers reported linkage between their business strategies and selected manufacturing strategy variables. This study re-affirms the importance of linking business strategy with manufacturing strategy variables as a forceful weapon for overcoming competition.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A atuaÃÃo produtiva das empresas provoca degradaÃÃo ambiental, agravada pelo crescimento da demanda por energia e da dependÃncia global dos recursos nÃo-renovÃveis. Um dos mais sÃrios impactos envolve as mudanÃas climÃticas devido Ãs emissÃes de gases de efeito estufa, que afetam todas as empresas, inclusive as do setor eÃlico, direta ou indiretamente. As empresas respondem estrategicamente de forma diferenciada dependendo do grau em que sÃo afetadas e do mercado em que atuam. O trabalho analisa a influÃncia dos stakeholders e dos fatores polÃticos, tecnolÃgicos e ambientais nas estratÃgias dos produtores de energia eÃlica do Brasil e de seus fornecedores, assim como as principais prÃticas adotadas por essas empresas em resposta aos desafios impostos pelas mudanÃas climÃticas. Metodologicamente, optou-se pela realizaÃÃo de pesquisas bibliogrÃfica, documental e de campo. Na pesquisa de campo realizou-se um estudo exploratÃrio, de natureza qualitativa, com a aplicaÃÃo de entrevistas voltadas a identificar os fatores determinantes que influenciam as estratÃgias do setor eÃlico no estado do CearÃ. ApÃs, aplicou-se um questionÃrio, de natureza quantitativa, junto Ãs produtoras de energia eÃlica do Brasil e fornecedores. Os resultados sugerem que os fatores que mais influenciam as estratÃgias empresariais dessas produtoras e seus fornecedores sÃo os polÃticos, com Ãnfase nos leilÃes de energia promovidos pela ANEEL, por meio dos quais sÃo atingidos preÃos mais competitivos no mercado de energia. O stakeholder de maior influÃncia à o acionista, e essa influÃncia indica sua forÃa coercitiva nas decisÃes estratÃgicas das produtoras de energia eÃlica do Brasil e dos fornecedores. A prÃtica empresarial sugerida como a mais adotada foi a de inovaÃÃo, e o resultado demonstra que, na busca da mitigaÃÃo dos efeitos das mudanÃas climÃticas, as empresas podem vir a estimular o desenvolvimento de processos mais limpos e sustentÃveis, alÃm de reduzir os custos relacionados aos seus processos. A adoÃÃo de prÃticas empresariais com o intuito de mitigar ou compensar os efeitos das mudanÃas climÃticas depende da influÃncia de fatores externos. A pressÃo e influÃncia dos stakeholders sÃo de grande importÃncia para que o setor de energias renovÃveis como o da energia eÃlica se consolide no planejamento energÃtico mundial. Na Ãltima dÃcada os empreendimentos eÃlicos brasileiros receberam maior nÃmero de incentivos fiscais e investimentos em tecnologia. Nesse contexto, o estado do Cearà objetiva, com suas aÃÃes, aumentar a competitividade nesse segmento e oferecer uma alternativa viÃvel para minimizar os impactos ambientais decorrentes das mudanÃas climÃticas. / The productive operation of companies causes environmental degradation, worsened by the increasing energy demand and global dependency of non-renewable resources. One of the most serious impacts involves climate change due to emissions of greenhouse gases, which affect all the companies, including the wind sector, directly or indirectly. Companies strategically respond differently depending on how they are affected and the market they serve. This work analyzes the influence of stakeholders and political, technological and environmental factors in the strategies of brazilian wind energy producers and their suppliers, as well as the key practices used by these companies in response to challenges posed by climate change. Methodologically, it was opted to carry out bibliographic, documental and field search. In the field research was conducted an exploratory study, qualitative, with the application of interviews aimed to identify the determining factors that influence the strategies of wind power sector in the state of CearÃ. Then was applied a quantitative questionnaire to brazilian wind energy producers and their suppliers. The results suggest that the factors of most influence in the business strategies of brazilian wind energy producers and their suppliers are the politicians, with emphasis on energy auctions promoted by ANEEL, through which are achieved most competitive prices in energy market. The most influential stakeholder is the shareholder, and this influence indicates the coercive power of the shareholders in the strategic decisions of brazilian wind energy producers and their suppliers. The results indicate that the business practice more widely adopted was the innovation, and the result showed that in the pursuit for mitigating the effects of climate change the companies are likely to stimulate the development of cleaner and sustainable processes, and reduce costs related to their processes, and therefore obtain competitive advantage. The adoption of business practices in order to mitigate or compensate the effects of climate change depends on the influence of external factors. The pressure and influence of stakeholders have great importance for the sector of renewable energies like wind power be consolidated in the world energy planning. In the last decade, brazilian wind power projects received more tax incentives and technology investments. In the context, the state of Cearà aims with their actions to increase their competitiveness in this segment and offer a viable alternative to minimize the environmental impacts of climate change.

Individuals in the millennial generation, born from 1980 to 1996, have many entrepreneurial opportunities; however, many people in the millennial generation lack the skills, motivation, and business strategies to survive in business. Because of the influx of competition, lack of experience, and lack of business-world strategies, entrepreneurs can miss opportunities and fail within the first few years of business operations. Grounded in the systems theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that business owners in the millennial generation used to survive in business longer than 6 years. Participants consisted of 5 business owners in the millennial generation in 5 businesses in northern Virginia with successful experience in implementing strategies to survive in business longer than 6 years. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of relevant company documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's 5-step process of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding data. The 4 key themes derived from data analysis were marketing, support, lessons learned, and passion. The findings of this study might be beneficial to business owners who seek to survive in business longer than 6 years by demonstrating the need for using effective marketing strategies, recognizing the need for adequate support, learning from past mistakes, and having passion for operating the business. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential for business owners to improve local job opportunities, increase the economic prosperity of their communities, and increase local community services through their contribution to the local tax base.

Leaders of small businesses need dynamic capabilities created through careful implementation of information technologies (ITs) to enhance efficiency, performance, and output. The purpose of this multicase study was to explore strategies leaders of small businesses used in developing countries to implement ITs for improved business performance. The framework for this study was the technology, organization, and environment model. The sample population consisted of 10 leaders of small businesses located in the Accra region of Ghana. The study participants had at least 5 years of experience working with small businesses that implemented IT. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and review of companies' strategic and project plans. The data analysis process included methodological triangulation, coding, the identification and congregation of themes, and the interpretation of inferences. Five themes emerged: top management support for IT implementation, investment in appropriate IT infrastructures, engaging in appropriate IT knowledge and skills training, creating an organizational culture of IT acceptance, and embracing legal and regulatory frameworks for IT. Findings from this study might assist leaders of small businesses in gaining insights into key IT strategies required for improving small business survivability. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to facilitate employment generation and reduce poverty in developing countries by improving small business performance.

Micro and small enterprise (MSE) owners in Kenya are faced with a myriad of constraints that affect their survival for longer than the first 5 years. Owners of MSEs who are unable to identify and implement strategies may not succeed in sustaining their businesses. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies owners of MSEs in Nairobi, Kenya, used to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework for the study was the theory of constraints. Data were collected from 4 purposefully selected MSE owners in Nairobi, Kenya, through face-to-face, semistructured interviews, and review of field notes and company documents. Using thematic data analysis, the major themes that emerged were customer service, access to capital, and nearness to market. The implications of this study for positive social change include strategies for MSE owners to generate stable income for employees, new employment opportunities for job seekers, improved standards of healthcare and education for the community, and a positive lifestyle for the residents of Kenya.

Since the mid-eighties, progress in European economic integration has contributed to changing conditions for the conduct of business in many sectors of the economies. Such is the case in Sweden, whose commitment to the formal integration process also has changed in recent years, from a free trade arrangement (EFTA) via the European Economic Area (The EFTA states' affiliation to the European Union's Internal Market), to membership in the European Union. A theoretical point of departure for this thesis was the finding that although economic integration entails strategic consequences for firms, studies treating economic integration with a general business strategy perspective were rare. Hence, the main purpose has been to achieve knowledge about the European Internal Market's strategic consequences for Swedish firms, with the focus on manufacturing SMEs. Empirically, it is examined how integration has been experienced in firms through two questionnaires, sent in earlier and later stages of the formal integration process. Although the responses indicate a limited impact from the Internal Market, they present some arguments for an increased internationalisation. There are, however, reasons to believe that factors other than political initiatives were behind such a development. In the theoretical part of this thesis, obstacles to international competition, and the corresponding competitive advantages, are seen as being central for understanding integration effects as well as for the possibilities to respond to them. An essential distinction is made between different types of obstacles, based on origin or main causes. One or other of these categories may be crucial for a firm when defending a strategic market position, or may hinder the firm from competing in other markets. Furthermore, obstacles in the different categories are in principle influenced by integration measures to a varying degree, and the survey indicated that the type of obstacle that is primarily influenced by integration measures is the one with the least perceived influence on firms' competitive strength. In the last part of the thesis, and with several different points of departure - trade and integration theory, international business, strategic management, and the Internal Market's institutional framework - a model for analysis of integration effects in business strategy terminology is developed and presented. The model is constituted by a geographic dimension and a dimension concerning the product and distribution in a broad sense. For firms with strategic positions which are affected according to the analysis, two principal strategic responses are discussed: to re-establish former competitive advantages or to adapt to the new situation by re-orienting the business. / digitalisering@umu

For the purpose of survival and maintaining excellent performance, the hospitals are seeking to adopt suitable strategies to fulfill organization development. By the uprising speed of economic development in China with the increasing demand of medical care, it is eager for us to understand what proper strategies the hospitals should take in order to fit the external environment and internal environment. Moreover, linking human resource development strategies such as training and career development with hospital business strategies to examine if there is any relationships. The result of research is pointed out: According to different inside and outside environment, the medical organization can develop a suitable operation style by itself. For example, the large-scale comprehensive tertiary hospital can choose the tactics trends of the difference or grouping strategies, and the medium and small-scale clinic or the section hospital can choose to refine the tactics specially. In human resource development, with the difference of the domestic and foreign environment, the medical organization also different methods. Especially on the employing mechanism, the public hospital has sounder system, bigger development space and brand benefit, but comparatively speaking, the private hospital has more flexible wages and promotion system. However, this research was conducted in qualitative method which case details were collected from two different government owned hospitals in Shanghais area in regard to investigate the linkage between hospital business strategies and human resource development strategies they apply. Since they are both owned by the government, this research found specific phenomenon for business practices and future research implications.

In the face of globalization, the restaurant industry has to quickly develop chain stores that feature delicious food, rapid service, and uniqueness in order to create advantages in this traditional industry. Because of the highly labor-intensive nature of restaurant chain stores and the ever-increasing demand on high quality services from consumers for convenience and time efficiency in the competitive environment, integrating modern management concepts with a variety of information technologies to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the restaurant has become winning tools for businesses. This research includes several main portions. First, we use the Formosa Chang as a case to analyze the competitive situation of restaurant chain stores, including the five forces analysis, SWOT, and critical success factors for restaurant chain stores to form the four management strategies of the case study company for store expansion, marketing, products, and service. Then, the E-business status of the chain store and its upstream and downstream E-business status are investigated. Finally, the mechanism for deployment the system is reported, which includes system investigation to confirm organizational preparations and resources allotment and determine the priorities in the development of the E-business system. This is followed by system analysis, system design, system hardware and software configuration and installment. Finally, the performance of the system is evaluated. Analysis of the key performance indicators (KPI) of the case study company shows high effectiveness of e-business in improving and simplifying its operational procedures.

Inspired by the way nature cycles waste in an ecosystem, the circular economy was developed as an alternative to the linear take-make-dispose model and designed to decouple economic growth from resource use. After developing a framework for what it means to be a business pursuing circularity, this thesis examines six different companies to explore the tension between the strategies and business models in theory and what business are implementing in practice today. This exploration continues with an in-depth analysis of the circular success of IKEA, finding that the gains from the circular economy for a large corporation are found within their own operations. With the company’s scale, IKEA is able to act as a transfer hub of technology and best practices, ultimately allowing the company to make a global impact.

Small businesses play a key role in the health of the U.S. economy; however, approximately 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years of operation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by owners of small businesses to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. The conceptual framework used was the resource-based theory. The population of this study consisted of 3 owners of small businesses in North Carolina who sustained their businesses for at least 5 years. The data sources included semistructured interviews of the participants as well as business websites, social media pages, and documents. The data analysis process included data cleaning, uploading transcribed interviews into qualitative data analysis software, organizing, and coding. Member checking and triangulation with the data sources helped ensure methodological saturation and trustworthiness of interpretations. The thematic analysis led to the identification of 5 major themes contributing to company sustainability: strategic business planning and financial planning, risk management and cost control strategies, networking and relationship building, innovation and niche marketing, and environmental scanning. The results of further analysis indicated that the 3 strategies needed for success by owners of small businesses were strategic business planning and financial planning, networking and relationship building, and niche marketing. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to improve the competence of small business owners and business sustainability, increase small business profit, and provide a better quality of life to employees and better welfare for their communities, benefiting the entire U.S. economy.