Given the growing number of socially conscious and ethical consumers, brands have been taking a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) by integrating socially responsible activities into the brand's core value proposition in order to remain relevant in the marketplace and drive brand equity. Extant research on CSR has investigated its effect on various consumer behavior outcomes. However, from a brand-building perspective, there is still a lack of understanding on how to effectively leverage CSR, and not enough directions on how to overcome its challenges in order to build brand equity. Therefore, through three essays, the objective of this dissertation is to provide a deep understanding of the effect that CSR has on brand equity while revealing brand-building strategies that can be implemented to effectively leverage CSR, specifically within the (1) global, (2) luxury, and (3) co-creation contexts.

The today‟s business world deals with an increasing phenomenon of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A‟s), a process through which companies gain access to some tangible and intangible resources. Within the automotive industry this phenomenon requires even more attention, since it faced many difficulties during time. This can be seen through the numerous mergers/acquisitions failures, among which it can be mentioned the one of Daimler & Chrysler, Volvo & Renault, BMW & Rover, which were also treated in the thesis. However, although fewer, there are also M&A‟s that became successful, such as the acquisition of Skoda or Seat by Volkswagen, or the acquisition of Dacia by Renault. The last example captured the attention of the study in particular.However, although they are mostly defined by similar characteristics, the mergers and acquisitions mean slightly different things. An acquisition occurs when an organization takes over another one and establishes itself clearly as the new owner, while a merger occurs when two companies, of a similar size, create a single new company owned and operated by both of the parties.The very purpose of the thesis was to reveal the possible impact of mergers and acquisitions regarding the brand perspective in the automotive industry, through the eyes of the case studies mentioned above and the case of Dacia & Renault in particularThe study chose to use an inductive approach, meaning that the researcher had first collected data from Dacia and afterwards, according to the information owned, he developed the theoretical framework. The study is furthermore exploratory, since the researcher sought to explore Dacia‟s approach to branding under Renault ownership.The interesting part consists in the paper‟s findings. First it was discovered that the companies that merge, sometimes face difficulties in establishing the corporate identity of their new formed company. In the case of acquisitions however the process of adopting a new corporate identity applies mostly to the acquired company and overall it is a bit more clear what strategy should the acquired company adopt. On the other hand the paper also identified the M&A‟s impact on the new portfolio. When both are eager to keep their own corporate and product brands, the new portfolio becomes too complex and does not allow cost savings synergies in terms of components equalization, production rationalization or marketing. However, due to the investments that the acquiring company usually makes, the new portfolio can also become more competitive.Regarding the case study on which the paper chose to focus, it was revealed the Dacia‟s corporate brand strategy that boosted its sales and revived its identity. Afterwards it emerged Dacia‟s portfolio consisting of brands that complement themselves and therefore address a wide spectrum of customer needs, and the brands‟ dynamics in time.

Submitted by Odilio Hilario Moreira Júnior (odilio@espm.br) on 2016-11-29T11:59:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Riegel.pdf: 5483580 bytes, checksum: f40b08ce9bb38198fd3496803958d115 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Odilio Hilario Moreira Júnior (odilio@espm.br) on 2016-11-29T11:59:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Riegel.pdf: 5483580 bytes, checksum: f40b08ce9bb38198fd3496803958d115 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Debora Cristina Bonfim Aquarone (deborabonfim@espm.br) on 2016-11-29T12:07:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Riegel.pdf: 5483580 bytes, checksum: f40b08ce9bb38198fd3496803958d115 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-11-29T12:07:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Viviane Riegel.pdf: 5483580 bytes, checksum: f40b08ce9bb38198fd3496803958d115 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-19 / The study is part of global brands in the communications field in the action of these actors, as enunciators messaging increasingly present in contemporary society. The texts and images of these brands make up the scenario of large cities around the world, talking with our daily lives. The communication flows are trademarks of their stores in a privileged area of ​​consumption, because they build in their environment to strategically define the scenes in his speech. In discussing this subject, the object of this study are the communication processes of the McDonald's brand in their stores around the world, analyzed as organized speeches from its spatiality, which has been transformed in recent years. We study the representation of the production process as well as the proposition of consumption of meaning expressed by the global culture in their stores, in order to understand the socio-cultural dimension of the McDonald's brand. The proposed use built in this environment is the result of work organization and communication stimuli directed to consumers. Thus, the discursive strategies of the brand are analyzed by the aesthetic dimension of their territory within regimes of visibility of the process of production and consumption. The methodology used to analyze the space consumption of McDonald's is privileged discourse analysis of the French line, applied in the categories of spatiality, temporality and subjectivity, to study the ethos of the brand, as the personality traits of the actor statement in this new proposal for consumption. From this study, we examine how changes in how the brand staged its proposed use in its stores to strengthen its imaginary global fast food, which is flexible by negotiation with antagonistic discourses, like the slow food, or with local elements, requiring adjustment of the American network. / O estudo de marcas globais se insere no campo da comunicação na ação desses atores, como enunciadores de mensagens cada vez mais presentes na sociedade contemporânea. Os textos e imagens dessas marcas compõem o cenário das grandes metrópoles ao redor do mundo, dialogando com nosso cotidiano. Os fluxos comunicacionais das marcas encontram em suas lojas um espaço de consumo privilegiado, pois constroem em seu ambiente as cenas que estrategicamente definem em seu discurso. Na discussão dessa temática, o objeto desse estudo são os processos comunicacionais da marca McDonald´s em suas lojas ao redor do mundo, analisadas como discursos organizados a partir de sua espacialidade, que sofreu transformações nos últimos anos. Estudamos a representação do processo produtivo, bem como a proposição do consumo do sentido expresso pela cultura global em suas lojas, com o objetivo de compreender a dimensão sociocultural da marca McDonald´s. A proposta de consumo construída nesse ambiente é resultado da organização do trabalho e dos estímulos comunicacionais dirigidos aos seus consumidores. Dessa forma, as estratégias discursivas da marca são analisadas pela dimensão estética de seu território, dentro de regimes de visibilidade do processo de produção e consumo. A metodologia utilizada para a análise do espaço de consumo privilegiado de McDonald´s é a análise do discurso da linha francesa, aplicada nas categorias de espacialidade, temporalidade e subjetividade, para o estudo do ethos da marca, como os traços de personalidade do ator da enunciação nessa nova proposta de consumo. A partir desse estudo, verificamos como as transformações na forma como a marca encena sua proposta de consumo em suas lojas fortalecem seu imaginário de fast food global, que está flexível pela negociação com discursos antagônicos, como o do slow food, ou com elementos locais, que demandam adaptação da rede norte-americana.

<p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and evaluate essential</p><p>prerequisites for companies and corporations aiming at marketing</p><p>global brands in a restricted market.</p><p>Method:</p><p>The investigation strategy used for this essay was to perform a case</p><p>study on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Both primary data – such as a</p><p>survey, interviews and participating observation – and secondary</p><p>data – found in books, scientific articles and the internet – have been</p><p>used to achieve the results. The gathering of empirical data was</p><p>performed inside the Islamic Republic of Iran during two weeks in</p><p>November 2007 in three different cities: Tehran, Ispahân and Bâbol.</p><p>This was carried out by considering several theories: global</p><p>branding strategies, brand equity, involvement theory and</p><p>communication models.</p><p>Results: The outcome of this essay show several factors that should be taken</p><p>in consideration in relation to marketing global brands in Iran. Many</p><p>companies have chosen adaptation as their promotion– and product</p><p>strategy because of countless rules and restrictions hindering global</p><p>marketing. These strategies affect consumer involvement: low</p><p>involvement global brands become high involvement global brands</p><p>once in the Iranian market. The authors have taken Brand</p><p>Awareness as a primary factor for spreading and promoting global</p><p>brands. The empirical material also shows how global brand</p><p>knowledge is mostly spread through prohibited new media (Satellite</p><p>TV and Internet) as well as with the Word-of-Mouth practice in</p><p>Iran. Furthermore, global brand knowledge amongst Iranian</p><p>consumers is widely extended. As a result, consumers prefer</p><p>standardized global brands before adapted global brands or local</p><p>brands. What the authors also found out was that the enormous</p><p>demand of standardized global brands has already been fulfilled by</p><p>the use of new solutions for distribution and promotion in the</p><p>Iranian market: most global brands enter the Iranian market via</p><p>other countries (Dubai and Turkey).</p><p>From gathering all the empirical findings by using methods of</p><p>triangulation, the authors have concluded that it is impossible to</p><p>hinder knowledge and accessibility of global brands, even in a</p><p>restricted market such as the Islamic republic of Iran.</p> / <p>Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera och utvärdera</p><p>förutsättningar som är relevanta för företagens</p><p>marknadsföringsstrategier av globala varumärken i en sluten</p><p>ekonomi.</p><p>Metod:</p><p>Uppsatsens forskningsstrategi har varit att göra en fallstudie på Iran.</p><p>Vidare kombinerar studien kvalitativ– och kvantitativ angreppssätt i</p><p>form av litteratur såsom böcker, artiklar och Internet, samt en</p><p>enkätundersökning, intervjuer, och deltagande observation.</p><p>Empirisk datainsamling skedde i Iran under två veckor i November</p><p>2007 på tre olika städer: Tehran, Ispahân och Bâbol.</p><p>Detta utfördes med hjälp av följande teorier som bakgrund: global</p><p>marknadsföringsstrategier, Brand Equity, involveringsteorier och</p><p>kommunikationsmodeller.</p><p>Resultat: Ett flertal faktorer bör beaktas i samband med marknadsföring av</p><p>globala varumärken i Iran.</p><p>De flesta företagen har valt anpassning som produkt– och</p><p>kommunikationsstrategi på grund av en mängd regler och</p><p>restriktioner som hindrar global marknadsföring. Dessa strategier</p><p>påverkar konsumenternas engagemang: låg involverade köp</p><p>omvandlas till hög involverade i den Iranska marknaden.</p><p>Uppsatsförfattarna har valt märkeskännedom som den viktigaste</p><p>faktorn för att kommunicera och marknadsföra globala varumärken.</p><p>Det empiriska materialet visar hur global märkeskännedom sprids</p><p>framförallt genom de förbjudna nya medierna (Satellit TV och</p><p>Internet) samt genom Word-of-Mouth metoden i Iran. Dessutom är</p><p>global märkeskännedom redan utbrett bland Iranska konsumenter.</p><p>Utifrån det, föredras standardiserade globala varumärken framför</p><p>anpassade eller lokala varumärken. Uppsatsförfattarna har även</p><p>konstaterat att den stora globala varumärkesefterfrågan har redan</p><p>besvarats med hjälp av nya distribution– och</p><p>kommunikationsslösningar för den Iranska marknaden: de flesta</p><p>globala varumärken marknadsförs via andra länder (Dubai och</p><p>Turkiet).</p><p>Utifrån all uppsamlad empiri, har uppsatsförfattarna genom</p><p>metodtriangulering dragit slutsatsen att det går inte att hindra</p><p>tillgången och kännedom av globala varumärken, även i en sluten</p><p>ekonomi såsom den Islamiska Republiken av Iran.</p>

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and evaluate essential prerequisites for companies and corporations aiming at marketing global brands in a restricted market. Method: The investigation strategy used for this essay was to perform a case study on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Both primary data – such as a survey, interviews and participating observation – and secondary data – found in books, scientific articles and the internet – have been used to achieve the results. The gathering of empirical data was performed inside the Islamic Republic of Iran during two weeks in November 2007 in three different cities: Tehran, Ispahân and Bâbol. This was carried out by considering several theories: global branding strategies, brand equity, involvement theory and communication models. Results: The outcome of this essay show several factors that should be taken in consideration in relation to marketing global brands in Iran. Many companies have chosen adaptation as their promotion– and product strategy because of countless rules and restrictions hindering global marketing. These strategies affect consumer involvement: low involvement global brands become high involvement global brands once in the Iranian market. The authors have taken Brand Awareness as a primary factor for spreading and promoting global brands. The empirical material also shows how global brand knowledge is mostly spread through prohibited new media (Satellite TV and Internet) as well as with the Word-of-Mouth practice in Iran. Furthermore, global brand knowledge amongst Iranian consumers is widely extended. As a result, consumers prefer standardized global brands before adapted global brands or local brands. What the authors also found out was that the enormous demand of standardized global brands has already been fulfilled by the use of new solutions for distribution and promotion in the Iranian market: most global brands enter the Iranian market via other countries (Dubai and Turkey). From gathering all the empirical findings by using methods of triangulation, the authors have concluded that it is impossible to hinder knowledge and accessibility of global brands, even in a restricted market such as the Islamic republic of Iran. / Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera och utvärdera förutsättningar som är relevanta för företagens marknadsföringsstrategier av globala varumärken i en sluten ekonomi. Metod: Uppsatsens forskningsstrategi har varit att göra en fallstudie på Iran. Vidare kombinerar studien kvalitativ– och kvantitativ angreppssätt i form av litteratur såsom böcker, artiklar och Internet, samt en enkätundersökning, intervjuer, och deltagande observation. Empirisk datainsamling skedde i Iran under två veckor i November 2007 på tre olika städer: Tehran, Ispahân och Bâbol. Detta utfördes med hjälp av följande teorier som bakgrund: global marknadsföringsstrategier, Brand Equity, involveringsteorier och kommunikationsmodeller. Resultat: Ett flertal faktorer bör beaktas i samband med marknadsföring av globala varumärken i Iran. De flesta företagen har valt anpassning som produkt– och kommunikationsstrategi på grund av en mängd regler och restriktioner som hindrar global marknadsföring. Dessa strategier påverkar konsumenternas engagemang: låg involverade köp omvandlas till hög involverade i den Iranska marknaden. Uppsatsförfattarna har valt märkeskännedom som den viktigaste faktorn för att kommunicera och marknadsföra globala varumärken. Det empiriska materialet visar hur global märkeskännedom sprids framförallt genom de förbjudna nya medierna (Satellit TV och Internet) samt genom Word-of-Mouth metoden i Iran. Dessutom är global märkeskännedom redan utbrett bland Iranska konsumenter. Utifrån det, föredras standardiserade globala varumärken framför anpassade eller lokala varumärken. Uppsatsförfattarna har även konstaterat att den stora globala varumärkesefterfrågan har redan besvarats med hjälp av nya distribution– och kommunikationsslösningar för den Iranska marknaden: de flesta globala varumärken marknadsförs via andra länder (Dubai och Turkiet). Utifrån all uppsamlad empiri, har uppsatsförfattarna genom metodtriangulering dragit slutsatsen att det går inte att hindra tillgången och kännedom av globala varumärken, även i en sluten ekonomi såsom den Islamiska Republiken av Iran.

The effects of globalization has created a new global consumer segment known as Cosmopolitanism. It is a globally substantial segment that captures “open-minded individuals whose consumption orientation transcends particular cultures, localities or communities and who appreciates diversity including trying products and services from a variety of countries”. In the same sense have global brands grown to take a central place on both developing and developed countries, and their competition with local brands has substantially increased. The Cosmopolitan consumer segment hold major strategic importance for global brands, but the understanding of this new segment has been markedly limited, especially on consumption related behavioral outcomes such as brand loyalty. Taking on a cross-national, comparative approach, the purpose of this study was; to understand the association between Cosmopolitanism and global brand loyalty in developing and developed countries.  Collecting data through online questionnaires in Sweden and Syria, 341 respondents were included within the study, and with regression analyses were three proposed hypotheses tested. The results showed a significant, but arguably weak, association between Cosmopolitanism and global brand loyalty. On the other hand, upon introducing economic development status as a moderating variable, it was seen that the association differed between the sampled countries, with a considerably stronger association in Syria. Managerial implications are presented based on these findings, and the paper is finalized with some essential limitations and avenues for suture research.

Este trabajo examina el efecto de aplicar una estrategia de adaptación o tropicalización de producto, en comparación con la estrategia de utilizar productos globales con mínimas adaptaciones, en el sector de bebidas no alcohólicas del mercado peruano entre los años 2010 y 2015. En este sentido, se analizará data histórica del desempeño de las marcas que compiten en dicho mercado para determinar cuáles han sido las que han tenido mejores resultados durante el periodo analizado, así mismo se analizará los productos ofrecidos por las marcas estudiadas para determinar cuales ofrecen productos adaptados al mercado peruano (tropicalizados) y cuales ofrecen productos globales (estandarizados). De esta manera se podrá determinar cuál estrategia ha sido la más efectiva para competir en el mercado peruano. Así mismo se consultarán estudios de mercado y reportes de prensa especializada para complementar y ayudar el análisis de la data estudiada. Los datos analizados sugieren que no existe una clara relación entre el uso de estrategias de adaptación o estandarización de productos en el mercado peruano de bebidas no alcohólicas. Más bien los resultados sugieren que las empresas con mejores resultados son las adaptan sus marcas a los cambios en los estilos de vida de sus consumidores, y no las que hacen variaciones solo en que se refiere a los sabores y variedades de las bebidas que se consideren populares en el público objetivo de la marca. Por este motivo, este ensayo concluye que se debe entender la adaptación de las bebidas no alcohólicas como adaptar las bebidas para satisfacer las necesidades de los consumidores. / This paper examines the effect of applying a product adaptation or tropicalization strategy, compared to the strategy of using global products with minimal adaptations, in the non - alcoholic beverages sector of the Peruvian market between 2010 and 1015. In this sense, it will analyze historical data of the performance of the brands competing in that market to determine which have been the ones that have had the best results during the analyzed period. Also the products offered by the brands studied will be analyzed to determine which offer products Adapted to the Peruvian market (tropicalized) and which offer global products (standardized). In this way it will be possible to determine which strategy has been the most effective to compete in the Peruvian market. Market studies and specialized press reports will also be consulted to complement and assist the analysis of the data studied. The data analyzed suggest that there is no clear relationship between the use of adaptation strategies or product standardization in the Peruvian soft drink market. Rather, the results suggest that the companies with the best results are adapting their brands to changes in the lifestyles of their consumers, and not those that make variations only when it refers to the flavors and varieties of beverages considered Popular in the target audience of the brand. For this reason, this essay concludes that the adaptation of non-alcoholic beverages must be understood as adapting beverages to meet the needs of consumers.

Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att få en ökad förståelse för hur kännedomen omglobalaoch butikers egnavarumärken påverkar en konsuments uppfattning av en produkt. Metod En kvantitativ metod har utförts genom två experiment som kompletterats med en enkät. Data har analyserats med hjälp av deskriptiv statistik, t-test och en korrelationsanalys där resultaten tagits vidare in i en diskussion som har ageratunderlag för studiens slutsats. Resultat och slutsats Både varumärkeskännedom och smakupplevelse påverkar konsumenters uppfattning om det globala och butikskapade varumärket. Konsumenterna går efter smakupplevelse och föredrar den smak de tycker bäst om medan varumärkeskännedomen påverkar den redan upplevda smaken sombättre eller sämre beroende på hur hög eller låg kännedomen är. Uppsatsens bidrag Min studie bidrar till att öka förståelsen för vilken påverkan varumärkeskännedom och smakupplevelse omglobalaoch butikers egna varumärken kan ha på enkonsuments uppfattning av colaprodukter. / Aim The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding towards how the knowledge of global brands and store brands effect a consumer’s perception of a product. Method A quantitative method has been conducted through two experiments, supplemented with a survey. Data has been analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and a correlation analysis where the results have been carriedout into a discussion that has acted as support for the study ́s conclusion. Results and conclusion Both brand awareness and taste experience affect consumers' perceptions of the global brand and store brand. Consumers prefers the product they think tastes thebest and the affect brand awareness has is thatthe already experienced flavor of the product either perceives to tastebetter or worse depending on the strength of the awareness. Contribution My study helps to increase understanding of what impact brand awareness and taste experience of a global and a store brandhave on a consumer's perception of cola products.

Brands’ engagement in activism is increasing as consumers expect more of brands, especially the younger generations. However, brands have different intentions behind their engagement in activism. The purpose of this thesis is to explore female Gen Z consumers’ perception of global brands’ engagement in activism, and how this perception influences their brand loyalty. Female Gen Z consumers’ mind is explored since previous research indicates that there are gender differences within perception and loyalty. A qualitative method in the form of four online focus groups were conducted to collect empirical data. Three findings were discovered, which contributed to understanding of the existing gap in research. Firstly, female Gen Z consumers positively perceived global brands’ engagement in activism. Secondly, they perceived and responded to brand activism based on the campaigns’ message, its connection to the brand and its offerings. Thirdly, female Gen Z consumers’ perception influenced their brand loyalty. The study contributes with an additional understanding of young female consumers’ perspective which can be useful for marketers when creating activist campaigns. Future research could study the perspective of male Gen Z consumers or Gen Z consumers to get additional understanding.

This dissertation is a study of the possibilities and processes of constructing strong Chinese brands in the global marketplace. It investigates conceptual and strategic relationships between brands and cultures, focusing specifically on the issue of the unprivileged position of Chinese brands vis-à-vis that of other famous global counterparts. Accordingly, it deploys three illustrative cases from the Chinese context – Jay Chou (a successful Chinese music artist), the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, and Shanghai Tang (a global Chinese fashion brand). In so doing, it moves away from the general trend to study the managerial aspects of Western brand building in Chinese contexts, and instead examines how Chinese brands express cultural aspects of their own well-known brand development models in the global marketplace. In short, this study uses a Chinese vantage to examine the emergence of cultural branding (using historical culture and global fashion systems to develop global brands), and its capacity to function as a useful complement to existing models of brand globalisation and global brand culture. The function of the three cases is illustrative and analytic. Collectively, they serve as a lens through which to study Chinese brand development in the global marketplace and examine global brand culture. Each case was fleshed out through various multi-sited ethnographic studies, which consisted of interviewing and observing consumers and managerial workers, the results of which shed light on several important but under-studied aspects of global brand culture. These include Chinese cultural branding in the global context, the cultural approach to branding among various brand actors, and relationships between brands and cultures across branding cultures. Drawing on these examinations, this study not only demonstrates ways in which brands and cultures circulate and construct each other in global brand culture. It also uses these insights to argue for the development of Chinese culture or Chinese-ness into a global brand resource by Chinese brand builders.