Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 61 p. : ill. (some col.), col. map. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-30).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of California. Aug. 1925. / Bibliography: vi p.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2003. / Title from title page screen (viewed Oct. 6, 2003). Thesis advisor: Kim L. Jensen. Document formatted into pages (x, 99 p. : col. ill., col. maps). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-66).

A questionnaire was sent to 1,149 small eastern hardwood lumber firms to determine export assistance needs. Data from 354 producers and distributors were analyzed using the concept of internationalization. Internationalization is the gradual process by which firms increase involvement in foreign markets. While the process is gradual, distinct stages can be identified by involvement in and commitment to international markets. Firms were placed into one of five distinct stages of international involvement based on their desire to export, method of export, and percentage of total lumber sales from hardwood lumber exports. Firms in each stage were compared based on demographic characteristics. Firms in the latter stages had larger internal marketing/management staffs, larger production staffs, greater average annual hardwood lumber output, and higher average annual lumber I sales. Characteristics that differentiate firms from each other suggest different export initiation and export assistance needs. Firms in each-stage were compared based on awareness, use, potential use, and perceived benefit of twenty-two export promotion programs. Awareness and use of the programs was found to be low. Firms existing in the various. stages of international involvement desired different export-related information and assistance. The large proportions of firms indicating potential use and perceiving benefit from the programs suggests that barriers exist which prevent their use. Many firms are either unaware of export opportunities or perceive barriers and risks that inhibit their entry into exporting. Companies were compared based on perceived barriers to exporting and the importance of twenty-one export stimuli. Domestic oriented firms perceived themselves as too small to export and were satisfied with the domestic market. Potential exporters indicated that their lack of knowledge about foreign markets kept them from exporting. The potential for increased profits and communication with export distributors were ranked as the most important export incentives, while the chance to travel overseas and communications with chambers of commerce were ranked as the least important. / Master of Science

Three related aspects of competition in the U.S. hardwood lumber industry were investigated. First, product and supplier attributes that are determinant in hardwood lumber purchase decisions were investigated within four segments of the market for hardwood lumber: Millwork producers, hardwood dimension and flooring producers, wood household furniture producers, and wood kitchen cabinet producers. Attributes with the highest determinant scores were: grading accuracy, supplier’s reputation, freedom from surface checks, competitive pricing, and within-load thickness consistency. The least determinant attribute was the presence of the suppliers logo or trademark. The importance of various attributes was generally consistent across the market segments and producers were relatively well attuned to the needs of lumber users. Lumber users were least satisfied with lumber quality. Lumber producers perceived users to be least satisfied with the availability of certain species. Business-level intended competitive strategy in the industry was investigated through quantitative identification of strategic groups in a sample consisting of the 100 largest U.S. hardwood lumber producers. Factor and cluster analyses were used to define strategic groups along the dimensions of cost leadership, focus, and differentiation. Five strategic groups were identified and examined as to strategic orientation and intra-group homogeneity. The differentiation dimension accounted for the greatest portion of strategic variation. Empirical evidence of the use of hybrid <i>Overall Cost Leadership/Differentiation</i> strategies was found—suggesting that strategic typologies that do not account for this strategy may not be applicable to a mature industry. Predicted strategic change in the industry concentrated on increasing differentiation orientation. Qualitative data concerning competition in the industry was obtained via in-person interviews with executives at twenty of the largest companies in the sample. ln general, the largest and smallest companies in the industry were found to be the most production oriented. Companies self-typed their competitive strategies using Porter‘s (1980) strategic typology. <i>Overall Cost Leadership</i> strategies were the most common followed by <i>Differentiation</i> and <i>Focus</i> strategies. The majority of companies interviewed competed for customers based on quality, customer service, and price—in that order of importance. Proprietary grading was an important competitive tool for larger companies. / Ph. D.

Within the furniture and forestry industries, there is a need for high value products to be developed for international markets utilising Australian hardwood timbers. This investigation has addressed this requirement, with a focus upon a particular timber species - Spotted Gum (corymbia citriodora subsp. variegata), a diversely eminent species of Queensland hardwood timber. The investigation was initiated by collaborating parties within the Co-operative Research Center for Wood Innovations (CRCWI) particularly the Department of Primary Industries – Forestry Research (DPI&F) in Queensland. It was decided by the DPI&F that an industrial design contribution, through the instigation of a design research led investigation would be a beneficial avenue for addressing prevalent issues in the forestry and furniture industries. Background research processes undertaken in both the forestry and furniture industries in a geographically specific area of Queensland were vital in establishing immediate investigation parameters. Following the establishment of these parameters and their accepted relevance to broader national industry concerns, the consequent development of an appropriate research method in this investigation was undertaken. The method generated needed to address two major issues. First, to address technical problems in the application of Spotted Gum timber to the production fine furniture, surpassing various initiatives to resolve these issues in the past, secondly, to address a lack of market knowledge, with regard to product design parameters for export markets within the participating Queensland furniture manufacturing industry. The method employed seeks to establish the degree of cultural difference that must be accounted for by manufacturers in developing products specifically for export market integration. This theory was tested by the development of two experimental indoor dining chairs, that were designed and prototyped, recognising to the best degree possible the exceptional technical requirements of Spotted Gum timber. Each of the two chairs were developed to the requirements of pre-determined market and user oriented needs of a separate case study destination, determined through qualitative and quantatative information generation. The specific niche market design parameters applied to design development, created a precursory theory that the products would have a greater degree of success in market integration if they were designed for specific niche market parameters.Each of the chairs was then exhibited in an appropriate market arena for the destination for which it was designed. A series of questions seeking preferences for each of the chairs, and the reasons for those preferences were solicited from those attending both of the exhibitions. The testing process resulted in a conclusion that there is little cultural difference that must be accounting for in approaching design development for the two international markets identified tested as case studies. The initial chair designs, developed and used in the testing role within the investigation, were according re-designed given the findings of the market testing process.

A method is described for implementing group selection regeneration in Appalachian hardwoods. The diverse set of definitions of the method, and the current forest demands are combined to form a flexible system of implementation that can accommodate public as well as private forests. Group selection is used where an uneven-aged silvicultural system is required and multiple objectives demanded. Several types of information are collected in a sample of the forest and then used to make the selection decision of which groups of trees to remove, and which groups to leave. / Master of Science

This purpose of this study was to assess ground disturbance from harvesting hardwood stands with conventional rubber-tired skidders on slopes greater than 30 percent in Virginia. Special emphasis was placed on erosion, compaction and soil movement. Ten randomly selected study areas were clear-cut between September 1988 and August 1989; measurements followed between March 1989 and August 1989. Potential erosion was estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation and soil mechanical strength was measured with a cone penetrometer. Volumes of soil movement resulting from skid trails, landings, and waterbars were measured. Circular plots were used to estimate the percentage of each tract in seven disturbance classes. Descriptive data documented during the study includes land ownership, precipitation records, soil survey information, equipment (make, model, tire size), and volume of the products removed during harvesting. Results show a relatively small amount of soil disturbance associated with harvesting these tracts. Erosion estimates for seven of the ten tracts were below 1.08 tons/acre/year and only one was greater than 3.0 tons/acre/year. The erosion potential for these areas will decrease with time as vegetation increases. The primary source of ground disturbance within the harvested areas was due to skid trails, which occupied 3 to 10 percent of the ground surface. Tracts using overland skid trails experienced far less disturbance than those with bladed skid trails. Following harvest, the undisturbed area ranged from 73 to 81 percent on the ten study tracts. Scheduling practices, tract layout, and tract closure techniques concentrated in high risk spots, can greatly reduce the impact of harvesting steep slopes. / Master of Science