This thesis originates in a case study examining support within an international partnership, where findings were seen to diverge from conventional accounts of organisational dependence. Instead case findings pointed to an inter-dependency more alike to a ‘knowledge transfer’ relationship between a younger organisation learning about how to be a civil society actor form an older and more experienced third sector organisation. Starting with the classical literature on partnerships and collaboration in the third sector, using selected readings from the individual mentoring relationship found in career development research, and some of the current research into knowledge transfer and learning relevant to organisational development, the researcher constructs a framework to guide a multiple case study. The aim of the research is to explore the knowledge acquired by and learning occurring in the process of NGOs developing their identities and practices in a transition context in Bulgaria. The focus is on the learning and knowledge context, namely, the key relationships which Bulgarian NGOs have developed with western partner organisations. The case fieldwork provides in-depth descriptions of four NGOs and their modes of engagement with western counterparts, explored with qualitative case methods and grounded theory. Multiple qualitative case study design and grounded theory approach to the analysis produces a rich description of themes. Each case responds to the posed research questions through data layering and within-case analysis, whereas cross-case analysis leads to the main thesis output. This is the taxonomy developed around three projections based on literature strands - organisational identity, learning and knowledge instances, and context-related factors embedding supportive exchanges with western partners. These themes are further developed into concepts and dimensions, differentiating various nuances of knowledge and learning practices within a partnership micro-context in a transition macro-context. The primary contribution of the research is the framing of NGO partnerships around key concepts and dimensions across identity, learning and knowledge instances, and context-related factors. This sets the conditions for forming better informed relationships between organisations, which are, above all, more aware of each other’s complex information and knowledge practices. The primary direction for taxonomy development is towards a typology of inter-organisational partnerships focused on learning for practice. Specifically, key findings suggest a direction towards a partnership dynamic around the concept of a professional identity of third sector organisations, as well as around the managing of a dual credibility of NGOs faced with functioning within international networks whilst being embedded within local platforms. The resulting taxonomy offers links to various literature strands, presenting a complex picture of inter-organisational learning in transition settings. It is a contribution to voluntary sector partnership and collaboration theory, one the one hand, as it does not simplify either the NGO practices on the ground nor the inter-organisational relationship at the core of this NGO development.

How useful is complexity theory for describing the strategic development of an organisation? I begin by using Whittington’s framework to give an overview of mainstream strategy literature. I highlight some of the shortcomings in current approaches to strategy and suggest that a new approach is needed. Complexity theory is offered as a new approach. I examine the complexity theory literature. I discuss rules based and connectionist approaches to complexity theory and the use of complexity theory concepts as metaphors. The complexity theory concepts of sensitivity to initial conditions, disequilibrium, positive and negative feedback and emergence of order are identified. Shortcomings in using the theory to describe a social system are then given. I examine the research paradigms open to researchers and conclude that to apply complexity theory to a social system, research within a phenomenological paradigm is required. I present an three and a half year ethnographic study of AYTAG, a public sector regulatory organisation. I use narrative to describe its development in terms of complexity theory concepts. The organisation set out to become flexible and flat structured, with multiskilled professionals and a strong centre to drive it forward. What emerged was an hierarchical organisation with powerful operational departments, a weak centre and a traditionally skilled workforce. AYTAG retained its primary role of regulator but failed to promote its influencing role. I found that order emerged at the boundary between the organisation’s legitimate and shadow systems. The underlying dynamic which led to the order that emerged was the need to reduce anxiety. I examine the usefulness of each complexity theory concept to our understanding of the development of AYTAG. I describe the difficulties involved in determining the exact nature of initial conditions in social systems and the need to consider disequilibrium as a social state rather than a particular action or event. In particular I highlight the use of the concept of feedback as an interesting avenue for studying organisations. I examine the nature of feedback processes at the level of organisation and at individual system level. I describe the interplay between them and its effect on the order emerging in AYTAG. I draw attention to some of the difficulties I found in applying complexity theory concepts to a social system, such establishing precise definitions of the different concepts.

Service marketing managers are being required to develop new services that succeed in the market and are valuable for customers. Services Marketing literature therefore stresses the need to innovate with customers and to integrate their view into the new service developed. However, consensus about the positive effects of customer involvement in new service development (NSD) has not been reached. Drawing on the theory of organisational knowledge creation and the concept of marketing orientation, we argue that customer involvement is not related to successful new services per se. However, we propose it contributes to the increase of a firm’s customer knowledge stock, the tacit and explicit dimension. The study results demonstrate that the increase in a firm’s tacit customer knowledge stock significantly affects market success, project success and sustainable competitive advantage, while the increase of explicit customer knowledge stock positively influences the acceptance of new service concept ideas initiated by customers. Both the explicit and tacit customer knowledge stock is positively influenced by the level of customer involvement. Furthermore, the internal resource-based antecedents to customer involvement decisions are investigated. Our findings illustrate that a firm’s prior tacit knowledge about customers inhibits integration of customers in NSD, whereas prior explicit customer knowledge positively affects customer involvement. As for market-driven NSD, customer orientation, and project innovativeness, the study shows different effects on stages of customer involvement. Finally, the research reveals that service firms manage customer involvement differently related to the facets of the construct, namely (1) methods and (2) stages of customer involvement. Distinct management approaches are compared and contrasted to unearth salient decision parameters. The research is based on interviews, one expert survey and one main survey, incorporating 131 respondents of diverse service firms in nine countries. Responses have been analysed in two structural equation models by Partial Least Squares (PLS) and explored by cluster analysis. We suggest that Service Marketing managers should be more attentive to the act of customer knowledge creation to manage customer integration in NSD effectively. Particularly, they should be aware of the role of tacit customer knowledge in order to develop successful new services. A tight customer orientation is not worthwhile throughout NSD, since new markets may be neglected when working too close with current customers. Furthermore, contrary to prevalent research, NSD executives should combine beneficial methods of customer involvement instead of focusing on one method. Using different methods helps managers to create divergent perspectives on customer preferences and needs, required to generate new ideas. Finally, we propose that customer involvement in NSD should not be seen as a short-term investment.

A wide range of recent man-made and natural disasters has demonstrated the importance of managing disruption risk in global supply chains. This research argues that supply chain disruptions are, de facto, unavoidable and consequently all complex supply chains can be considered inherently risky. This research focuses on a relatively unexplored issue in supply chain risk management, asking and answering the question of how companies specifically use time to respond to catastrophic events of low probability but high impact. Linking faster response lead-time with reduced impact, the goal is to identify and explore the underlying factors of managing disruption risk by answering how companies respond to supply chain disruptions. In reducing total response time by detecting the event, designing solutions, and deploying a recovery plan sooner after a disruption, the company can reduce the impact of disruption risk. The research uses Grounded Theory methodology to extend an emerging framework on time-based supply chain risk management. Empirical data is used from a range of sources including interviews and corporate publications from the events faced by global pharmaceutical manufacturer during a pandemic in 2009. The emerging categories of possible factors in response time are further developed using data from the events surrounding the worst maritime oil spill in history in 2010 under the management responsibility of the Exploration and Production (Upstream) division of a global energy company and from an industrial accident in 2005 in the Refining and Marketing division of the same firm. The research identifies four categories of factors that companies can focus on to reduce response time in the face of catastrophic events of low probability and high impact: organisational structure, preparation, partnership and reserve. The research derives new insights, presented as four propositions that relate the response time in managing supply chain disruption to negative or potentially positive impact.

Based on the literature of SDM (strategic decision-making), cultural studies, and international entry mode, this study examines the effects of managerial cultural values and characteristics of SDMP (strategic decision-making process) on the Chinese private firms’ international entry mode decisions. Although the international entry mode decision is one of most frequently studied strategic decisions in the domain of international business, prior studies tend to neglect the effects of the decision-maker and decision-making process by assuming a rational decision model employed in the entry mode decision-making. However, SDM literature indicates that the decision-maker and decision process also play important roles in making a strategic decision. In order to address two aforementioned less explored elements, this study develops an integrative framework by introducing managerial cultural values - Confucian dynamism - and characteristics of SDMP into the extant rational framework to explain Chinese firms’ international entry mode decisions. This study adopts a mixed-method research approach by employing the survey method as the main design, supplemented by a follow-up case study method. Following a pilot paired questionnaire mailing, a large-scale mail survey was carried out in China, which generated 233 usable replies. CFA (confirmatory factor analysis) and binary logistical regression techniques were used to conduct construct validation and hypothesis testing respectively. In order to further understand the phenomenon in the real setting, a case study approach was conducted in four Chinese firms, which used different entry modes in their most important international entries. The findings of this study largely confirm the theoretical arguments of SDM literature and cultural studies that managerial value and decision process affect the outcome of strategic decision. Confucian dynamism was found to have both direct and moderating effects on the international entry mode decision. Characteristics of SDMP were also found to exert a moderating role in adjusting the effect of managerial value on the perceived situation. The evidence of case study also reflects that managers with varying degrees of Confucian dynamism tend to evaluate situational conditions differently, and different decision process dimensions are likely to limit or increase the chance of the subjective treatment of situational information. The major contribution of this study is that seemingly for the first time, Confucian dynamism, a traditional Chinese cultural trait, was found to have a directly negative influence and a moderating effect on international entry mode decision. In addition, characteristics of SDMP also were found to play an important role in adjusting the cultural preferential treatment of situational information. In short, besides the impacts from environmental and firm conditions, this study found that the decision-maker and the SDMP can also explain entry modes.

The purpose of this thesis is to study corporate governance through a holistic approach by reviewing how the interests of shareholders, creditors and employees are protected and constrained throughout the life of a company. The thesis begins with the view that corporate governance is a control system with both an internal and an external governance scheme. By restructuring the parameters in both schemes, I set up a three-dimensional structure to study corporate governance. I first select shareholders, creditors, and employees as three factors of the axis of subjects. I then group social political issues, contracts, and laws and regulations as factors on the axis of constraints. After that, I define the third axis as the life cycle of corporate governance, parameters on which include corporate governance in the normal life, flotations, takeovers, and insolvency. By setting up this three-dimensional structure, I argue that corporate governance must be studied through a holistic approach integrating both the institutional perspective and the life cycle of corporate governance. The institutional perspective emphasizes the importance of social political issues in shaping the combination of constraints on the interests of stakeholders. The discussion in this thesis shows that different stakeholders have different combinations of constraints in safeguarding their own interests. On the whole, the current governance institution can provide due protection to stakeholders in different phases of the life cycle of corporate governance. One implication of this discussion is that company law is not the only relevant issue in corporate governance studies. In turn, shareholder primacy is a misleading conception in the institution of corporate governance even if it is a valid argument in the specific coverage of company law. The dynamic perspective on corporate governance points out that corporate governance also develops in a life cycle pattern. It is important to realize that, similar to the widely recognized path-dependence in corporate governance in comparative governance studies, the development of corporate governance practices in any company is also a continuous process in that existing governance practices and structures may make a difference to the occurrence of the later phases in the life cycle of corporate governance. Moreover, the dynamic perspective accentuates the importance of corporate governance around insolvency compared with that of other phases. Indeed, the solvency criteria which are legally prescribed merely in financial terms can not only exclude any serious consideration of non-financial interests but also reinforce the established finance oriented governance practices. This study also provides some thoughts on the current reform of corporate governance. In general, corporate governance is a multi-disciplinary issue and reform of corporate governance practices must be carried out with both an institutional and a dynamic approach. Accordingly, corporate governance reform can only be an ongoing and piecemeal process. Any abrupt change to the established system may only do a disservice and is thus inadvisable.

A search of literature shows that most writings on business alliances focus their attention on alliance inception and the resultant benefits from them, and largely ignore how cooperating relations between actors develop with the passage of time. In contrast, the main aim of the thesis is to examine the concept of phased development in alliances. Associated objectives are to establish if stages can be identified as alliances progress and whether it is possible to distinguish change points when the alliances advance from one phase to another and to determine characteristics at the time. Exploratory and inductive qualitative methods are utilised in this study and a conceptual framework constructed using a number of methodologies. In the first instance early conceptualisation is built upon a review of supply chain alliance literature and secondary data from one research site. Data gathering, observation and interviews continue in parallel with the introduction of a second field site. This presents the opportunity to apply an inductive approach and allows themes to emerge empirically from field research. Finally, secondary data from a third alliance helps to test and refine the previous findings. Case studies with the research sites from different industrial sectors provide the grounds to explore, describe and analyse the interactions and processes of three alliances. The main finding of this thesis is a framework for progressive relationship development in supply chain alliances which is presented in six notional stages, for convenience termed Prelude, Purpose, Process, Plateau, Progress and Parting. The thesis builds on and reinforces existing research to provide insights into evolutionary alliance development as well as contributing to practice, by equipping managers with a road map to navigate a relationship maze. Finally, a future research agenda is proposed.

Recent strategy formation process literature has claimed organisations increasingly have to adjust dynamically their characteristics to the requirements of the environment by constantly changing their strategies and strategic capabilities (e.g. Brown & Eisenhardt, 1997; Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1998; Mintzberg, 1994). Behind these claims lies the interest to develop an interdisciplinary view of strategy that captures the interplay between the company and its business environment. This thesis makes a marked contribution to this debate by arguing that a key component in a firm’s strategic response to a change in market conditions is the result of the interpretation people develop about the event itself. It is argued that this development is a context dependent process, with outcomes emerging not merely as a product of bounded rational debates, but also shaped by the interest, commitment, and perception of individual organisational members. This study therefore argues that an understanding of the development of this cognition/action relationship is critical. This research seeks to shed light on the question: “How do managers of multinational firms perceive and respond to the impact of the Euro over time?” A qualitative case study methodology was used to examine the context dependent cognition/action relationship in eight multinational organisations by tracing the intended strategy before the event took place, and compare it with the realised strategy after the Euro was introduced. In total 87 interviews and 16 focus group discussions were conducted to capture the plausible and coherent explanations. Our study suggests the probability of firms introducing new strategies quickly and proactively depends on the anticipation, interpretation and capability of managers to recognise and to exploit changes. Motivation to do so is based on the perceived match or mismatch of the developments with the strategy in use prior to change.

This research study contributes to emergent interests in both academic and professional literature to uncover variations of corporate social responsibility practices across national institutional contexts by focusing on stakeholder salience as a precursor to corporate social responsibility and its ancillary constructs and practices - e. g. corporate governance and accountability. The stakeholder groups considered in the study are: (1) Employees, (2) Networks, (e. g. alliances/partnerships and suppliers), (3) Shareholders, (4) Environment, (5) Community, (6) Consumers and (7) Management. Stakeholder salience, as used in the study, in a nutshell refers to the importance accorded to any of these particular stakeholder groups by firms. The study complements the managerialist theorisation of corporate stakeholder salience, which has hitherto dominated the extant stakeholder management literature, by leveraging the institutionalist theoretical lens. It draws specifically from the varieties of capitalism model to examine how corporate stakeholder salience patterns are not only products of managerial strategic choices, but are also reflections of the institutional contexts in which they are embedded and enacted. To do this, the study focuses on a specific population of firms - i.e. Fortune Global 500 firms - across two national institutional contexts (UK and Germany) and three sectoral contexts (Aviation, Financial Services and Utilities). This yielded a total of 73 firms (37 UK and 35 German firms). It particularly tracks the manifestations of stakeholder salience in corporate social reports, produced by these firms, as artefacts of organisational communication, accountability and legitimacy. The study is longitudinal (2000 - 2006) in order to capture the dynamics of corporate stakeholder salience patterns in the two institutional contexts over time. Empirical data are extracted using the content analytical methodology focusing on such disclosure media as texts, graphics and photographs. In all, the corporate social reports of the firms used in this study from 2000 to 2006 - which amounted to a total of three thousand eight hundred and twenty two pages of report (3,822) - generated a cumulative total of two thousand nine hundred and eighty six (2,986) images, one thousand eight hundred and thirty three (1,833) graphics, and one hundred and twenty five (125) pages of Chairman (management) Statements (CS) and eight hundred and seventy two (872) paragraphs of these Chairmen (management) Statements. Data from corporate social reports are triangulated with data from online survey of these Fortune Global 500 firms (61% response rate). The data are analysed using three different but complementary statistical methods: (1) correspondence analysis, (2) Pearson's chi-square statistic and (3) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results of the study identify recognisable and differentiable patterns of corporate stakeholder salience between the UK and German institutional contexts moderated by sectoral patterns of corporate stakeholding patterns - thereby suggesting that corporate stakeholder salience patterns are implicated in interactions between national institutional characteristics and sectoral attributes. This finding confirms the main proposition of the research study that corporate stakeholder salience patterns are not only outcomes of managerial discretional choices, but that they are also products of their institutional contexts. However, it brings to the fore a different dimension to understanding the impacts of institutional contexts on corporate stakeholder salience patterns and broader corporate social responsibility practices, which have hitherto being under-explored in the literature. This different dimension is the fact that institutional contexts are not necessarily homogenous, as often presented by the varieties of capitalism model, but are outcomes of continuous contestations between heterogeneous local and global influences, sometimes embodied in trans-national spaces exacerbated by either globalisation and or trans-national actors. The study further explores this interaction between heterogeneous local and global influences on corporate stakeholder salience patterns; and later concludes by highlighting possible areas for complementary future research.

This research is a predictive study of managerial success by specific job type in a single British company. Seventy-four managers, at the same level, in specific jobs differentiated by degree of task structure, completed a battery of tests of cognitive abilities, personality, and self-perceived leadership. Three years later their status was checked to determine if they had been promoted or not. Differences examined in Successful managers between job types, Unsuccessful managers between job types, and between Successful and Unsuccessful managers within job type, for all managers as a whole regardless of job differences. The basic hypothesis of the research, that a situational approach to the prediction of managerial success differentiating managers by job type, would yield results than predictions of managerial success regard for job differences was supported. Significant differences in cognitive abilities, personality, self-perceived leadership style were found between Successful managers in the two job functions, and classification of Successfuls and Unsuccessfuls by discriminant analysis was more accurate for managers within specific job types than for the total sample of managers regard for job differences.