This thesis aims to explore the experiences of those individuals involved in the phenomenon of cross-sector collaborations within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) global food sector. The research is situated within a landscape of diminished availability of funding for Non-profit organizations (NPOs) in which new ways of achieving sustained funding are being sought. Coupled with the emergence of increased Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity from Commercial Entities (CEs), in part driven by societal pressure for companies to ‘do more' and the resultant motivation for CEs to deliver effective CSR programmes, cross-sector collaboration appears to offer a methodology through which both sides can achieve their respective aims. The research gap identified focuses on the lack of understanding of the micro-processes, or attributes of the relationship, at the micro-level of partnership interaction. The sample group was accessed from individuals with extensive experience of NPO-CE collaborations within the area of FMCG global food production. This access allowed the experiences of some of these individuals to be gathered and explored within this study. Data collection techniques took the form of semi-structured interviews with twelve senior executives. An interpretivist approach was employed using a phenomenological research design to elicit an understanding of the experiences of the respondents' involvement with NPO-CE collaborations. The intention was to afford the respondents the opportunity to recount their own experiences in their own terms and with their own emphasis on what was important to them within the broad structure provided by the three core categories drawn from the literature: value creation, partnership processes and relationship dynamics. A thematic data analysis was conducted using the framework developed from the initial literature review and subsequent agenda developed. The findings of the study have numerous implications for both academics and practitioners. Firstly, the study contributes to knowledge through the increased understanding of the nature of NPO-CE collaboration at the micro-process level from the perspective of the individual and provides insight into the nature of such relationships. It suggests a number of attributes that are viewed as significant by those involved in NPO-CE relationships at the individual level, including the confirmation of the importance of trust, effective leadership and formal and informal control measures. Secondly, numerous implications emerge for the practicing manager from the study, including perspectives on the demands, risks and rewards at both the individual and organizational level for managers engaged in cross-sector collaborations. Ultimately the study suggests that the traditional linear temporal framework for cross-sector collaboration development should be viewed as more cyclical in nature, and that the concomitant organizational demands of such an approach should be reflected in the decision-making processes ahead of any potential NPO-CE collaboration. The essence of this revised framework is presented in the form of a conceptual model The exploratory nature of the study has facilitated the identification of areas where future research is required, including: the challenges associated with implementing strategic agility within NPO-CE collaborations; exploring mechanisms for building and maintaining trust within a sustained collaboration; and the potential to develop the conceptual model into a decision-making framework for managers of future NPO-CE collaborations.

The construction sector constitutes one of the most important sectors in the economy of any country. Contractor selection is a critical decision that is undertaken by client organisations and is central to the success of any construction project. For major construction projects, final contractor selection often follows the contractor selection stage. Contractor selection is a process which involves investigating, screening and determining whether candidate contractors have the technical and financial capability to be accepted to formally tender for construction work. The process should be conducted prior to the award of contract, characterized by many factors such as: contactor's skills, experience on similar projects, track- record in the industry, and financial stability. Several models and approaches have been developed to assist client organisations in the contractor selection decision making process. This thesis evaluates the current state of knowledge in relation to contractor selection models. The key features, strengths and limitations of each of these methods are critically evaluated. The key factors of particular interest to client organisations are assessed. This thesis reports on-going research which aims to develop improved contractor selection criteria and methods with specific application to make construction projects in the Libyan context. The aim of this thesis is to build a framework for contractor selection process in the Libyan Construction Industry (LCI) and to find out the major obstacles constraining its operations which so far have not yet been taken into account by the Libyan researchers. However, to address that, a huge investigation has taken place about the current statues for contractor selection in Libya, as well as, in developed and well developed countries. To achieve that, both, theoretical and empirical research was carried out between 2010 and 2013 in Libya. The theoretical study concentrated on the sector of construction industry (Cl) and its key issues, whereas the empirical study focused and explored on the Libyan Construction Industry (LCI) as the context for the study. Two case studies were utilized in this research. The case studies were used to provide more information about the current situation of the LCI and to identify the contractor selection procedures of construction projects in. Also, it assist the researcher to identify key research questions that can later be used in a questionnaire survey. This research was implemented through the administration of a questionnaire survey based on research questions that are required for the building of a framework for contractor selection procedure and the identification of the challenges and obstacles that are facing the clients in the selection process. The development of the framework includes, but is not limited to, contractor selection criteria, decision makers, consultant, clients and sub-contractor. Therefore, the data collection is based on responses from the public and private sector (clients, consultants, contractors and others that are involved in and are knowledgeable about the contractor selection process in the Libyan construction projects). Mean and analysis of variance (independent T-test) were used to manipulate the data from the questionnaire within the SPSS v.20 software environment. The resulting framework was subjected to a validation procedure which involved a structured Delphi technique process based on a focus group consisting of experts who were selected to help with validation of the framework and establishing the extent to which the framework is practical, clear, applicable and comprehensive. This research uses an integrated approach that combines AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) method and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method to evaluate and investigate the current existing practice of contractor selection in Libya. Also, the Delphi technique was used to establish a road map for contractor selection process. Twelve participants were selected to help with validation of the framework. Overall, this research found that the LCI was suffering from a total absence of contractor selection frameworks. This directly impacts on client satisfaction as well as government planning in the reconstruction of the country after the civil war in particular. To close this gap, this research was embarked upon to identify and explore the various contractor selection methods and frameworks that are utilized to support the guidance of contractor selection process toward success. As a consequence of this study, the Contractor Selection Process (CSP) is now very comprehensive and can now be a reference for any problem. Furthermore, this research will help decision makers and others involved to be more aware of and have a better understanding of the selection procedure in the LCI. This new understanding will help decision makers to make more efficacious decisions and to adopt good short and long term policies for contractor selection planning which can then be put into procedure. Even though this framework is built for the LCI, the research can be utilised in other countries that have a similar construction industry environment.

In this thesis, I seek to analyse the reproduction of elite mobilities through participation in Study Internship Programmes (SIP) in Washington D.C. SIPs are programmes for both American as well as international students that come to Washington and participate in a programme that combines an academic track on specific topics with an internship. These programmes can be seen as exemplars of a specialised form of neoliberal education in which middle-class students attempt to acquire mobility capital in the hope of accelerating their future careers. With the help of in-depth interviews and ethnographic methods, I have gathered data about the SIPs which were analysed via textual analysis. I conducted interviews with SIP-alumni, with current SIP-students as well as stakeholders in these programmes. As a theoretical framework, I have utilised a mobilities perspective, along with ideas on individualisation and cosmopolitan capital to develop a framework for study-internship research. I argue that students go to Washington to acquire mobility and cosmopolitan capital, as this might offer a competitive edge. I explore how SIPs affect and transform its participants, their career paths and mobilities, as well as the city of Washington D.C itself as a place. My research showcases the layered identities of the participants through their mobilities, and how their mobilities are connected to the city of Washington D.C., and the key institutions involved. The research also demonstrates that SIPs are indicative of broader career patterns and mobility decision-making among young people in the West. Furthermore, my research indicates how integral the images of Washington D.C. and career-narratives are to the reproduction of elites and to Washington D.C.'s image of power for the SIP-participants to represent their success and aspirations.

Lean is a popular approach for improving operational efficiencies in an organisation through the reduction of wasteful activities. Entities of every size and description today are implementing Lean techniques to maximise customer value, operational effectiveness and organisational profits. Organisations enter into the Lean world with high hopes of reducing costs and product and/or service lead time and increasing on time delivery and quality. Unfortunately, success stories in Lean are infrequent. Taiichi Ohno, an architect of the Toyota Production System, upon which Lean was founded, stressed the importance of Respect for People as a requirement for successfully implementing Lean methodologies. While a great deal of the academic literature has focused on the positive benefits that Lean techniques and methodologies provide for the organisation, little research can be found on the notion of Respect for People. It would appear that many practitioners and researchers do not subscribe to Taiichi Ohno's theory that the operational benefits of Lean cannot be realised without a supporting organisational culture of Respect for People. Instead, there is evidence in the literature that Lean methodologies negatively impact employees tasked with implementing and sustaining Lean, suggesting that, from the employee perspective, Lean can be mean. Employing an interpretive phenomenological approach and using a semi-structured interview method within a single case company, Respect for People was found to be much more than a tautology. It was instead a complex notion implicitly linked in the minds of employees to their understanding of what Lean is. A framework of core concepts and associated dimensions were identified for the phenomena of Lean and Respect for People. From the employee perspective, Lean did not have to be mean. By developing a deeper understanding of the employee experience of both Lean and Respect for People, organisations could better position themselves to enhance Lean implementations with a shared cultural understanding of what Lean and Respect for People means for its employees.

This dissertation scrutinizes the application of various standards, guidelines and methods in construction project management, and examines the use of such methods, tools and applications. Even though the availability of literature in the context of PM is extensive there has not been an adequate focus on applied project management with a specific interest in the constructing project management. This study describes the experiences gathered by the interviewees who are experienced construction executives and also discusses how they have managed their projects. The reason for the selection of a subjective, descriptive and phenomenal research approach is described and the advantages for this philosophical stance are also mentioned in the thesis. The question that emerges is in regards with how the construction managers accomplish any given project and how they ‘live' their PM. Hence, this study investigated the relevance of PM for managers working on construction projects. Various techniques, methods and procedures which were not included in the literature were highlight by the participants. There are studies available, mainly empirical, in the context of applied PM methods and the results of these studies do not correspond with the findings of this research. Another finding is that, in general, from the responses received, it is clear that PM certification programmes provide limited value to an experienced construction manager. Further results were summarized in the findings and result chapter of this work.

The concept of coopetition was introduced by Brandenburger and Nalebu in 1996 and is defined as a combination of cooperation and competition between multiple organisations. Since then, the number of articles on coopetition has constantly increased. As part of this process, the literature introduced the paradigm of forced coopetition. This recently developed paradigm describes a situation in which a client organisation forces multiple external suppliers to cooperate, even though the suppliers are competitors on an inter-organisational level. Hence, forced coopetition is an integral part of IT multi-sourcing projects with multiple IT supplier organisations. This research project focuses on an evaluation of factors that influence the success of forced coopetition relations in IT multi-sourcing projects. Due to the simultaneous coexistence of cooperation and competition, the client organisation experiencestensions, which may cause the multi-sourcing project to fail. As a result, the awareness of factors that are critical for the success of such relationships is crucial for a client organisation. This is particularly important because supplier organisationsplay an increasing role in the success of the client organisation. Despite the increased importance of coopetition management, only a limited body of research has examined which factors and control mechanisms have an impact on successful forced coopetition relations. This research project is first attempt to bridge this research gap. The study applied an explanatory sequential mixed method design, with priority placed on quantitative methods. First, the study conducts a quantitative survey to identify the critical success factors of a forced coopetition relation in IT a multi-sourcing project. Finally, explanatory semi-structured interviews are conducted within the study to discuss the quantitative findings in more detail while integrating the literature. Ultimately the study identified a set of factors which are considered as critical for forced coopetition relations. The study makes two main contributions. First, the study provides a framework of critical success factors in forced coopetition relations. Second, it offers guidance to managers of IT multi-sourcing projects as to which factors needs to be taken into account in order to successfully manage IT multi-sourcing projects with competingsuppliers.

Grounded in a constructivist paradigm, this thesis contributes to an emerging body of scholarship on the consumer engagement concept. In this research, the author conceptualises consumer engagement on social networking sites as a one-dimensional behavioural notion expressed by visible manifestations such as likes, comments and shares - referred to by scholars as consumer engagement behaviours. Although studies on consumer engagement in thecontext of social networking sites have increased over the past few years, current research often fails to provide frameworks that would adequately reflect the interactive nature of those behaviours. In particular, little knowledge exists about why consumers decide to engage with brands or branded content on these online platforms. This thesis addresses this gap by exploring key factors that influence digital natives' brand-related consumer engagement behaviours in the context of Facebook. Findings of this research are based on 25 event-based diaries that were completed by a sample of digital natives who recorded their brand-related engagement behaviours over a period of 11 weeks and from 25 follow-up semi-structured interviews. The data captured by the above-mentioned diary interview method allowed the author to gain rich insights into brand-related consumer engagement behaviours. Furthermore, the diary and interview method is used in this context for the first time which provides a unique methodological contribution. This thesis offers an original contribution to current scholarship on consumer engagement behaviours by introducing three new frameworks, namely: Categories of Effective Creative Content Practices on Facebook, an Integrated Framework of Factors Influencing Positive Brand-Related Engagement Behaviours on Facebook, and an Integrative Framework of Factors influencing Negative Brand-Related Consumer Engagement Behaviours on Facebook. Collectively, as well as individually, these frameworks enhance current theoretical knowledge on the concept by offering a more comprehensive overview of reasons behind brand-related consumer engagement behaviours on Facebook, which can also contribute to practice by assisting social media brand managers in improving current engagement strategies.

This research explores perceptions of the context, contribution, challenges and critical success factors in the adoption of sustainability footprint strategy amongst Scottish SMEs. Critics of sustainability footprint measurement insist that by nature it records historical impact and does not incorporate the views of future generations and are a luxury for most firms except those achieving near monopolistic profits. Recent UK greenhouse gas policy initiatives are specifically targeted at large organisations and do not provide the institutional support required to assist SME's in greenhouse gas emissions reporting. Despite overwhelming evidence as to the benefits of sustainability footprint tools such as carbon footprints very few companies set emissions targets. Surprisingly still there is limited research conducted as to the benefits of sustainability footprint tools to SMEs and their perceptions as to its contribution to business success. Interviewees highlight that case study Scottish SMEs are driven to implement sustainability footprints to pre-empt future GHG legislation, process improvement, cost reduction, senior management commitment, emissions reduction, CSR and waste reduction. However the emphasis on GHG emissions has contributed to “carbon myopia” an exclusive focus on carbon footprint measurement. This research supports the view of senior management commitment as critical to the success of sustainability footprint measurement initiatives but policymakers also have an enabling role by ensuring fair competition, access to grants, mandatory guidelines for SMEs, tax incentives, fines, legislation, emissions league table and carbon reporting as a pre-qualification criteria for government tenders. Scottish SME interviewees adopt a sustainability negative perceptual orientation suggesting barriers to placing sustainability on the agenda such as implementation cost, lack of knowledge, sustainability competing with other issues on the agenda, time constraints, the transience of sustainability, inability to recoup carbon footprint costs, failure to recognise benefits, generational issues and communication Scottish SME case studies however reveal an ambivalent “love hate” relationship amongst interviewees with sustainability which varies depending on the proximity of the individual to the economic, social or environmental issue. Thereby underlining the importance of management's ability to influence stakeholders to remain sustainability positive in orientation through training, instruction and supervision that promotes sustainable behaviour. The Sustainable Strategic Growth Framework is proposed as a solution to the Sustainability/CSR Dilemma and to align employee behaviour with sustainability objectives.

There is still limited knowledge available on how SME and midcap firms perform financing decisions and on what such a decision is based on. The literature revealed that capital structure theories can only partly explain parameters that determine financing decisions, particularly in a bank dominated lending environment like in Germany. Academic research tried to expand towards a broader and more strategic approach regarding a financing strategy and towards behavioural bias of a company's management. Furthermore, existing research tried to identify an interaction between business strategy and financing strategy but failed to identify a causal direction so far. The present research provides a unique research approach to bridge this gap as it introduces a new aspect into the discussion on the decision for a financing instrument and whether a formulated financing strategy is followed. Based on a case study approach that combines manager interviews, document analysis and calculation of key financial ratios, the research explores the management's decision in a specific situation, the refinancing of standard mezzanine. Firms that used standard mezzanine had to perform a decent refinancing decision between the years 2011 and 2014 as there was no exact substitute instrument available in financing markets anymore. The results showed that a financing strategy exists in the cases explored, but elements and form varied across cases. In addition, the cases indicated that behavioural bias on management level might exist, based on identified inefficiencies and delays. However, these inefficiencies cannot be primarily assigned to owner-managers as done by previous research. Furthermore, a causal direction between business strategy and financing strategy could be indicated in the cases investigated. The results led to the development of a financing strategy typology, based on existing types of business strategies that might help to explain financing decisions. A template for a holistic financing strategy has been designed based on the investigations that allows midcap firms to establish and implement their own financing strategy (or adjust their existing strategy). The holistic framework provides core elements and financing principles as well as a prototype financing process that help to avoid the identified inefficiencies in their financing processes.

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-05-05T17:51:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Gláucia Dourado Furquim - 2017.pdf: 1359324 bytes, checksum: f847a34b7aa19cc347c84367789f93b7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-08T15:53:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Gláucia Dourado Furquim - 2017.pdf: 1359324 bytes, checksum: f847a34b7aa19cc347c84367789f93b7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-08T15:53:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maria Gláucia Dourado Furquim - 2017.pdf: 1359324 bytes, checksum: f847a34b7aa19cc347c84367789f93b7 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-01 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / The water availability to different user sectors and ecosystems, ensuring the quality, quantity and perpetuity of this resource for future generations, has been one of the challenges of public management, particularly in the sphere of River Basins committees. The present study is about the effectiveness of the institution of a fee, to be charged by the water use in the Paranaíba River Basin, with a forecast of charging from 2017. An exploratory and descriptive research was carried out to get information about the reality of irrigated agriculture in the county of Cristalina GO, which stands out nationally for having the largest area irrigated by central pivot of Latin America. Through the linear programming method, alternative scenarios were elaborated to the current configuration of land use by irrigated agriculture, resulting from the different collection values to be instituted gradually, starting in 2017, modeling the function/goal as a result of the maximum financial return given the restrictions on water availability and agricultural area. The results indicate that the fee will not imply a significant reduction of the total income of the irrigating producer to the point of instigating changes in the areas or cultures currently cultivated, however, the collected values are presented as a source of investments for the recovery/conservation of the water bodies of the basin itself . / A disponibilidade da água para diferentes setores, usuários e ecossistemas, assegurando a qualidade, a quantidade e a perpetuidade desse recurso para as futuras gerações, tem sido um dos desafios da gestão pública, particularmente nas esferas dos comitês de Bacias Hidrográficas. O presente estudo versa sobre a efetividade da instituição da cobrança pelo uso da água na Bacia Hidrográfica do Paranaíba, com previsão de início a partir de 2017. Uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva foi realizada para obter informações acerca da realidade da agricultura irrigada no município de Cristalina-GO, que se destaca nacionalmente por possuir a maior área irrigada por pivô central da América Latina. Por meio do método de programação linear, foram elaborados cenários alternativos à configuração atual de uso do solo pela agricultura irrigada, decorrentes dos diferentes valores de cobrança a serem instituídos gradualmente, a partir de 2017, modelando a função/objetivo como resultante do máximo retorno financeiro, dadas as restrições de disponibilidades hídrica e de área agrícola. Os resultados apontam que a cobrança não implicará em redução significativa da receita total do produtor irrigante a ponto de instigar mudanças nas áreas ou culturas atualmente cultivadas. Todavia, os valores arrecadados se apresentam como fonte de investimento para a recuperação/conservação dos corpos hídricos da própria bacia.