The resource-based view of the firm (RBV) is one the most important areas of research content to emerge in the field of strategic management in the last 15 years. The RBV is prescriptive. That is, the RBV prescribes that competitive advantage stems from those resources that are valuable, rare, inimitable, and nonsubstitutable (VRIN). With rare exception, resources that meet the VRIN criteria are widely purported to be intangible in nature. From a research perspective, the RBV stream tends to be dominated by conceptual discussions and advancements. However, empirical tests of the core premises, or the main prescription, of the theory are argued to be very limited in quantity. To add to the body of empirical research that seeks to verify the main prescription of the RBV, this research undertakes a new and different level of analysis, one that has not been previously tested. Given that firms compete with both tangible and intangible resources, the present study is interested in determining if, as the RBV implicitly prescribes, resources that are intangible in nature are more important determinants of firm success than tangible resources. Although the research question is basic and fundamental, it has rarely been appropriately or adequately tested within the RBV stream, as is demonstrated by this thesis. To carry out the research, this study offers a conceptual model of the firm’s resource pool that includes tangible assets (financial and physical assets), intangible assets (intellectual property assets, organizational assets, reputational assets), and capabilities. A series of hypotheses are posited to explore the proposition that intangible resources contribute more greatly to firm success, on the dimensions of sales turnover, market share, and profitability, than tangible resources. / A field survey, administered to 2000 manufacturing and services businesses operating in Australia, is used to gather the data. Of the 2000 surveys sent, the hypotheses are empirically tested using multiple hierarchical regression analysis on a final sample of 291 firms. Control variables include firm age and Porter’s five forces of industry structure. Based on the results, verification of the RBV’s main prescription can not be supported unequivocally. Intellectual property assets, for example, do not have a statistically significant association with firm success, after accounting for the effects of tangible resources and the control variables. Organizational assets, however, not only explain additionally significant variation in firm success, after accounting for the effects of tangible resources and the control variables, but make among the greatest, unique contribution to firm success based on the size of the beta coefficients. Reputational assets offer additional explanatory power to predicting firm success after accounting for the effects of tangible assets and the control variables, but only with respect to one measure of firm success does its beta coefficient make a larger, unique contribution than financial assets. Lastly, contrary to theory, capabilities are not the single most important determinant of firm success, after accounting for the effects of intangible assets, and tangible and intangible assets, in two separate hierarchical regression equations. This finding is surprising and explanations are provided. Overall, the study raises some questions with respect to just which resources are the most important determinants of a firm’s market and financial success and offers a fruitful avenue for further research.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:31:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Francisval de Melo Carvalho.pdf: 542975 bytes, checksum: 26d2e1378b10c0d57496ee218d44626e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-11 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / RBV advocates that resources and competencies be distributed heterogeneously among firms of a determined industry, therefore, being the main cause of the variation observed in the performance of companies. When these resources are rare, valuable or difficult to be imitated and the firm disposes of an adequate organizational structure to explore them, they have the potential to promote the superior and persistent performance of the company. By using the model adapted from Villalonga(2004), the present paper had as its initial objective to evaluate if the superior and persistent performance of the firms have any relationship to the intangibility of its resources. Also verified in the following stage, was if the superior and persistent performance of the companies was influenced by the variation of the tangibility of its resources. The companies performance was measured by the specific profit of the firm (LEF), calculated by the difference between the return on assets (ROA) of the firm and the average value of ROA of the sector of the economy of which the company is part of. Superior performance indicated that the firm presented LEF above the average of the sector and persistent performance signaled that the superior performance was maintained in the long run. The intangibility of resources was measured by the Q of Tobin and the tangibility by the PL variation. The sample was composed of open capital brazilian companies, whose stocks were listed in the BOVESPA and by information accessed through Economática® Consultoria s database. The statistic techniques that were used were multivariable regressions using the Minimal Ordinary Squares (MQO) method, analysis of statistic panels with estimates nonvariable effects (EF) and random effects (EA) and dynamic panel with estimates by the Generalized Moments method (GMM). The main results found suggests that for the brazilian reality, the intangibility of resources is a factor that contributes to the above average performance of the firms, however, this influence is perceptible in a positive and significant way in few sectors of the economy. Even though contributing to superior performance, the intangibility of the assets, didn t reveal itself as a sustainable competitive advantage, due to the observation that these resources didn t contribute to the persistence of superior performance of the firms, differing therefore, from the results obtained in other studies. Static evidence exists that the variation of tangible resources has importance to explain the above average performance of brazilian firms, however, a very variable influence is perceived among the sectors of the economy. Besides contributing to a superior performance, the tangibility of resources can be considered as a competitive sustainable advantage, having contributed in a significant manner to superior performance sustainability of the firms of diverse sectors of the economy. / Preconiza a RBV que os recursos e competências são distribuídos de forma heterogênea entre as firmas de determinada indústria, sendo, portanto, a principal causa da variação observada no desempenho das empresas. Quando esses recursos são raros, valorosos e difíceis de serem imitados e a firma dispõe de uma estrutura organizacional adequada para explorá-los, eles têm o potencial de promover o desempenho superior e persistente da empresa. Utilizando o modelo adaptado de Villalonga (2004), a presente pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo inicial de avaliar se o desempenho superior e persistente das firmas tem alguma relação com a intangibilidade dos recursos das mesmas. No momento seguinte, verificou-se se o desempenho superior e persistente das empresas foi influenciado pela variação da tangibilidade de seus recursos. O desempenho da firma foi medido pelo lucro específico da firma (LEF), calculado pela diferença entre o retorno sobre o ativo (ROA) da firma e o valor médio do ROA do setor da economia do qual a empresa faz parte. Desempenho superior indicou que a firma apresentou LEF acima da média do setor e desempenho persistente indicou que o desempenho superior permaneceu no longo prazo. A intangibilidade dos recursos foi medida pelo Q de Tobin e a tangibilidade pela variação do PL. A amostra foi constituída por empresas brasileiras de capital aberto com ações listadas na Bovespa e com informações disponíveis na base de dados da Consultoria Economática®. As técnicas estatísticas utilizadas foram regressões multivariadas usando o método de Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários (MQO), análises de painel estático com estimativas por efeitos fixos (EF) e efeitos aleatórios (EA) e painel dinâmico com estimativas pelo Método dos Momentos Generalizados (GMM). Os principais resultados encontrados sugerem que, para a realidade brasileira, a intangibilidade dos recursos é um fator que contribui para o desempenho acima da média das firmas. No entanto, essa influência é perceptível de forma positiva e significativa em poucos setores da economia. Mesmo contribuindo para o desempenho superior, a intangibilidade dos ativos não se revelou como vantagem competitiva sustentável, pois foi constatado que esses recursos não contribuem para a persistência do desempenho superior das firmas, divergindo assim de resultados obtidos em outros estudos. Existem evidências estatísticas de que a variação dos recursos tangíveis tem importância para explicar o desempenho acima da média das firmas brasileiras. No entanto, percebe-se uma influência bastante variável entre os setores da economia. Além de contribuir para o desempenho superior, a tangibilidade dos recursos pode ser considerada como uma fonte de vantagem competitiva sustentável, pois contribuiu de forma significativa para a sustentabilidade do desempenho superior das firmas de diversos setores da economia.

Les parties prenantes demandent aux entreprises d'inclure dans leurs processus de gestion des critères de responsabilité sociale tels que la santé et la sécurité au travail et la lutte contre les discriminations etc. Les normes (ISO 26000, 14001, OHSAS 18001, AA 1000…) sont nombreuses en matière de R.S.E ou de développement durable et témoignent des questions et des difficultés de son opérationnalisation. Les critiques des O.N.G révèlent, entre autre, l'insuffisance de l'engagement des salariés qui sont pourtant au coeur des actions de l'entreprise. Ce travail doctoral s'inscrit dans la recherche des causes expliquant les comportements socialement responsables des salariés. Nous abordons notre recherche sous l'angle de l'Employment-Organisation-Relationship (E-O-R) et inscrivons notre travail dans le concept des contrats psychologiques (Rousseau, 1995). Notre recherche vise à mieux comprendre un phénomène social dont les recherches sont aujourd'hui sous-détaillées et sous-exploitées. Nous avons choisi une entreprise du secteur du travail temporaire et focalisé notre recherche sur les comportements en GRH. Notre recherche est qualitative, ethnologique et à visée compréhensive ; nous montrons que les croyances partagées, les normes comportementales et plus largement les ressources tangibles ou intangibles façonnent les comportements socialement responsables des salariés. A notre connaissance aucune recherche ne s'est appuyée sur notre méthodologie pour répondre à ce problème managérial concret. / Stakeholders require companies to include in their management process social responsibility criteria such as health and safety and the fight against discrimination etc. Standards of CSR or sustainable development (ISO 26000, 14001, OHSAS 18001, 1000 AA ...) are many and reflect the issues and difficulties in its operationalization. NGO‟s criticisms reveal, among other things, the lack of commitment of employees who are at the very heart of the company's shares. This work is part of doctoral research determining causes of socially responsible behavior of employees. We discuss our research in terms of the Employment Relationship-Organization-and inscribe our work in the concept of psychological contracts in organizations (Rousseau, 1995). Our research aims to better understand a social phenomenon whose research is currently under- detailed and underutilized. We chose a company in the temporary work sector and focused our research on behavior in HRM. Our research is qualitative, ethnographic and explanatory; we show that shared beliefs, behavioral norms and broader tangible or intangible resources shape the socially responsible behavior of employees. To our knowledge no research has been based on our methodology to meet this specific managerial problem.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-06-07T13:19:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanessa Martins Pires_.pdf: 1163427 bytes, checksum: 4521fbda836fd40517b07ea640abc55a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-07T13:19:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanessa Martins Pires_.pdf: 1163427 bytes, checksum: 4521fbda836fd40517b07ea640abc55a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-21 / Nenhuma / A administração estratégica fundamentalmente visa compreender os fatores explicativos para a heterogeneidade no desempenho organizacional. As abordagens teóricas em administração estratégica buscam atender a tal fim, considerando fatores externos às organizações, como o posicionamento estratégico e as características da indústria e fatores internos, como os recursos, as capacidades e as competências. Entendendo que grande parte do desempenho organizacional tem sido explicado por fatores internos, utilizou-se a Visão Baseada nos Recursos (VBR) como abordagem teórica nesta pesquisa. A VBR pressupõe que a posse de recursos estratégicos proporciona um desempenho superior. Os recursos organizacionais podem ser tangíveis ou intangíveis, sendo que a segunda tipologia tem sido reconhecida como direcionadora do desempenho organizacional, configurando-se como objeto desta pesquisa. A literatura que explora a relação entre os recursos intangíveis e o desempenho organizacional apresenta limitações, as quais suscitam alguns avanços, dentre eles: a) analisar os recursos intangíveis em conjunto; b) considerar mais de uma organização como unidade de análise; c) contemplar dados longitudinais; d) utilizar uma abordagem multidisciplinar; e e) explorar como os recursos intangíveis geram valor. Nessa perspectiva, este estudo tencionou contribuir para a superação de algumas limitações, identificando como os investimentos em recursos intangíveis influenciam no desempenho de dezenove (19) instituições financeiras de capital aberto estabelecidas no Brasil. Para tanto, a taxonomia para os ativos intangíveis desenvolvida por Kayo (2002) e Kayo et al. (2006) foi utilizada como subsídio teórico na identificação dos investimentos em recursos intangíveis, evidenciados em relatórios gerenciais, em demonstrações financeiras e em notas explicativas, trimestralmente, no período entre 2008 e 2015. Baseando-se em informações de mercado e em dados contábeis sobre o desempenho das instituições financeiras, estimaram-se regressões lineares múltiplas e uma regressão logística via Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Os resultados indicaram que, dentre os investimentos contemplados na pesquisa, os investimentos em Recursos Intangíveis Humanos (RH) são aqueles que mais influenciam no desempenho das instituições financeiras contempladas na amostra. Esta pesquisa apresenta algumas contribuições para o campo de pesquisa em administração estratégica, são elas: a) a utilização dos investimentos em recursos intangíveis como proxies do valor dos recursos intangíveis e de dados contábeis e de mercado sobre o desempenho organizacional; b) o questionamento sobre a viabilidade em operacionalizar o pressuposto teórico da ambiguidade causal na análise do desempenho dos recursos intangíveis; c) a operacionalização dos recursos intangíveis a partir do modelo teórico adotado, o que compreende a categorização dos recursos intangíveis e a importância de cada uma das categorias (humanos, de inovação, estrutural e de relacionamento), considerando a área de atuação das organizações e as core competencies requeridas em cada mercado. / Strategic management fundamentally aims to understand the explanatory factors for heterogeneity in relation to organizational performance. The theoretical approaches in strategic management seek to meet this goal, considering external factors to organizations, such as strategic position and characteristics of the industry and internal factors such as resources, capabilities and competencies. Whereas that a great deal of organizational performance has been explained by internal factors, the Resource-based View (RBV) was used as a theoretical approach in this research. RBV assumes that having strategic resources provides superior performance. Organizational resources may be either tangible or intangible, and the latter typology has been recognized as a driver of organizational performance, thus being the object of this research. The literature that explores the relationship between intangible resources and organizational performance is limited, which raise some advances, such as: a) analyze intangible resources as a whole; b) consider more than one organization as a unit of analysis; c) contemplate longitudinal data; d) use a multidisciplinary approach and e) explore how intangible resources generate value. In view of this, the study intended to contribute to the overcoming of some limitations, identifying how the investments in intangible resources influence the performance of nineteen (19) publicly traded financial institutions established in Brazil. Therefore, the taxonomy for intangible assets developed by Kayo (2002) and Kayo et al. (2006) was used as a theoretical basis in the identification of investments in intangible resources, evidenced in management reports, financial statements and explanatory notes, quarterly, from 2008 to 2015. Based on market information and in accounting data regarding the performance of financial institutions, multiple linear regressions and a logistic regression were measured by using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM). The results indicated that, among the investments considered in the research, investments in human intangible resources are the greatest influence in the performance of the financial institutions studied. This research presents some contributions to the field of strategic management research, which are: a) the use of investments in intangible resources as proxies of the value of intangible resources and of accounting and market data regarding organizational performance; b) inquiries about the feasibility in operationalizing the theoretical presupposition of causal ambiguity in the analysis of the performance of intangible resources; c) the operationalization of intangible resources based on the theoretical model adopted, which includes the categorization of intangible resources and the importance of each of the categories (human, innovation, structure and relationship), considering the area of performance of organizations and the core competences required in each market.

I början av 2000-talet finansierade regeringen ett projekt, det kommunala hälsobokslutsprojektet, som primärt syftade till att ge erfarenheter och kunskap om olika verksamhetsstyrningsmodellers användbarhet som underlag för det som kallades hälsobokslut. Vidare förväntades projektet ge erfarenheter och kunskap om vilka stödprocesser som var väsentliga för en lyckosam användning av de valda verksamhetsstyrningsmodellerna. Från Näringsdepartementet, som var uppdragsgivare, fanns det även en förväntan att projektet skulle leda till att en gemensam hälsobokslutsmodell skulle kunna användas inom den kommunala sektorn. Underlaget för denna avhandling utgörs av en longitudinell fallstudie där arbetet med hälsobokslutsprojektet har studerats i tre av de kommuner som deltog i projektet. Undersökningen har gjort det möjligt att få fyra forskningsfrågor besvarade: Hur förändrades verksamhetsstyrningen av införandet av hälsobokslut i respektive kommun? Vad initierade denna förändring? Hur genomfördes förändringen av verksamhetsstyrningen? Vad fick förändringen av verksamhetsstyrningen för resultat i de tre kommunerna? Genom att få dessa forskningsfrågor besvarade har det varit möjligt att få kunskap om hur verksamhetsstyrningsmodeller påverkats under en förändringsprocess. Empirin består i huvudsak av fokusgruppsintervjuer vilka har kompletterats med personliga intervjuer och sekundärdata från tre av de kommuner som deltog i hälsobokslutsprojektet. Avhandlingens resultat kan noteras inom fler områden. En organisations syn på sig själv i förhållande till liknande organisationer kan avgöra om ett förändringsarbete kan initieras.  Individuella drivkrafter, och speciellt stabiliserande drivkrafter, är viktiga att beakta, och påverka, om ett förändringsarbete ska genomföras. Vidare noteras att institutionella drivkrafter inte enbart kan knytas till existerande strukturer och att individuella drivkrafter inte enbart kan knytas till individers handlingar. Båda typerna av drivkrafter påverkas av och påverka de modaliteter som existerar som förbindelselänk mellan strukturer och handlingar enligt struktureringsteorin. Stödprocesser är viktiga att beakta i anslutning till organisatoriskt lärande och individers handlingar. Särskilt mobiliserande stödprocesser har varit de kommunikations- och motivationsprocesser som synliggjorts med hjälp av de analyser som genomförts. / In the early 2000s the Swedish government financed a health statement project. This project aimed primarily to provide experience and knowledge of the usability of various management control models to function as health statement models. Furthermore, the project was expected to provide experience and knowledge of the supporting processes that was essential for the successful use of the selected management control models. The Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications, which was the principal of the project, expected that the project would lead to the presentation of a common health statement model that could be used within the municipal sector. The basis for this thesis consists of a longitudinal case study in which the health statement project has been studied in three of the municipalities involved in the project. The investigation has made it possible to get four research questions answered: How were the management control systems within the municipalities changed by the introduction of health statements in each municipality? What initiated this change? How was the change in the management control systems achieved? What was the result of the changes of the management control systems within the three municipalities? By answering these research questions it has been possible to gain insight into how management control models have been affected in a change process. The empirical material consists mainly of focus group interviews which have been supplemented by personal interviews and secondary data from three of the municipalities that participated in health statement project. The findings from the research can be observed in several areas. An organization's vision of itself in relation to similar organizations can determine whether a change process can be initiated. Individual forces, and especially stabilizing forces, are important to consider, and influence, if a change program shall be implemented. Institutional forces are linked not only to existing structures and individual drivers are not only linked to individuals' actions. Both types of forces are affected by and affect modalities that exist as interfaces between structures and actions according to the structuring theory. Supporting processes are important to consider in relation to organizational learning and individuals' actions. The communication and motivational processes has been important as mobilizing supporting processes.

El tema del que tratará la presente tesis está centrado en la gestión de la reputación corporativa, uno de los activos intangibles de mayor valor en las empresas. Como ocurrió con las empresas hace más de dos décadas, las universidades no han sido ajenas a profesionalizar esta disciplina para ser más competitivas, garantizar su supervivencia. Uno de los principales catalizadores ha sido el dinamismo del mercado educativo a nivel superior, que, desde hace aproximadamente 20 años, permitió la creación de universidad privadas societarias en el Perú. Este nuevo escenario permitió que las universidades llamadas tradicionales, tuvieran que competir con universidades que no solo tenían propuestas y modelos educativos distintivos, sino que, además, tenían una organización societaria en la que elementos como el marketing educativo, el trabajo de la imagen y la reputación eran parte fundamental de su propuesta. Esta forma de trabajo la instauraron porque sabían que debían competir con universidad tradicionales, que tenían una reputación ya ganada y que un atributo importante que compone la reputación de las instituciones educativos y que, además, es altamente valorado es el tiempo de creación. En este sector la reputación se hace tangible a través de los rankings que, en este contexto contribuyen en la atracción de atraer nuevos estudiantes y talento interno (docentes y colaboradores). Teniendo esto como premisa inicial, y conociendo que la construcción de la reputación no es ajena en el mercado educativo, más bien es una constante, es que nos disponemos a analizar los públicos internos (estudiantes y docentes) de una universidad privada peruana societaria, dirigida al segmento C, D, ubicada en las periferias de Lima y en dos regiones del Perú. En términos académicos enfocados en la labor del DirCom, el presente trabajo de investigación se realiza debido a la identificación de una problemática dentro de una universidad privada peruana, en la que se observó que no existen suficientes acciones que generen vínculos de pertenencia entre los estudiantes y docentes, recursos intangibles, que sean lo suficientemente sólidos para construir una buena imagen y reputación de la marca. Esto se vio evidenciado a través de la crisis reputacional que protagonizaron sus estudiantes a través de medios de señal abierta y redes sociales en julio del 2020 debido a la emergencia sanitaria producto de la pandemia COVID19. La presente investigación requiere estudiar la reputación en las universidades a través del análisis de ambos grupos: docentes y estudiantes. En ese sentido, el objetivo del presente trabajo de investigación ha sido demostrar la importancia entre la relación de los estudiantes de pregrado de una institución universitaria y sus docentes para la construcción de la correcta reputación corporativa en una universidad peruana privada. En la primera fase se identificaron los principales atributos percibidos por los estudiantes que construyen la reputación institucional: medición de estimación, admiración, confianza y sentimiento/ relación – valor - calidad académica). Con los resultados obtenidos a través de nuestros diversos instrumentos de investigación, en la segunda fase se trabajó un análisis de los resultados para identificar las variables de reputación que debemos trabajar y fortalecer dentro de la institución universitaria. Nuestro resultado de investigación demostró la veracidad de la hipótesis que se había planteado inicialmente dentro de nuestro trabajo de investigación, siendo el docente un canal para generar buena reputación y engagement en los alumnos, convirtiéndose en un actor principal de blindaje reputacional, aportando a las instituciones universitarias una fuente de valiosa información. / The subject of this thesis is focused on corporate reputation management, one of the most valuable intangible assets in companies. As happened with companies more than two decades ago, universities have not been strangers to professionalize this discipline to be more competitive, to guarantee its survival. One of the main catalysts has been the dynamism of the higher education market, which, for approximately 20 years, allowed the creation of private corporate universities in Peru. This new scenario allowed the so-called traditional universities to have to compete with universities that not only had distinctive educational models and proposals, but also had a corporate organization in which elements such as educational marketing, image work and reputation were a fundamental part of their proposal. This way of working was established because they knew that they had to compete with traditional universities, that they had a reputation already earned and that an important attribute that makes up the reputation of educational institutions and that, in addition, is highly valued is the time of creation. In this sector, reputation becomes tangible through rankings that, in this context, contribute to attracting new students and internal talent (teachers and collaborators). Taking this as an initial premise, and knowing that the construction of reputation is not alien to the educational market, rather it is a constant, is that we are preparing to analyze the internal audiences (students and teachers) of a private Peruvian corporate university, directed to segment C, D, located in the peripheries of Lima and in two regions of Peru. In academic terms focused on the work of the DirCom, this research work is carried out due to the identification of a problem within a private Peruvian university, in which it was observed that there are not enough actions that generate ties of belonging between students and teachers, intangible resources, that are solid enough to build a good image and reputation of the brand. This was evidenced through the reputational crisis that its students staged through open signal media and social networks in July 2020 due to the health emergency caused by the COVID19 pandemic. This research requires studying reputation in universities through the analysis of both groups: teachers and students. In this sense, the objective of this research work has been to demonstrate the importance between the relationship of undergraduate students of a university institution and their teachers for the construction of the correct corporate reputation in a private Peruvian university. In the first phase, the main attributes perceived by students that build institutional reputation were identified: measurement of esteem, admiration, trust and feeling / relationship - value - academic quality). With the results obtained through our various research instruments, in the second phase an analysis of the results was carried out to identify the reputation variables that we must work on and strengthen within the university institution. Our research result demonstrated the veracity of the hypothesis that had been initially raised within our research work, the teacher being a channel to generate a good reputation and engagement in students, becoming a main actor of reputational shielding, contributing to the institutions a source of valuable information. / Trabajo de investigación

The main objective of this study was to explain top management perceptions of industry and firm effects on firm performance through the mediation of competitive advantage in financial service firms operating in a regulated industry in a developing Ethiopian economy. The resource-based and industry-based views, constituting the two main schools of thought explaining performance variations among firms, were used as theoretical foundation of this study. Porter’s five-forces framework was used during this process. The researcher employed a post-positivist paradigm using a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 27 financial service firms (15 banks and 12 insurance firms) that had functioned for three and more years were selected for the study. The unit of analysis was ‘firms’, while respondents were top level managers with a total target population of less than 300. A census survey rather than a sample survey was undertaken. A total of 287 survey questionnaires were distributed (banks 180 and insurance industry 107), of which 215 were collected from 26 firms (15 banks and 11 insurance firms). Of the questionnaires 206 were properly completed leading to a valid response rate of 71%. These were used for the data analysis. A variance-based PLS-SEM approach, which is relevant to evaluate the predictive effects of the industry and firm factors on firm performance, was used to explain the hypothesized model using SmartPLS 2.00 software as well as the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program. The assessment of the hypothesized model indicated that the R2 result on firm performance variance due to the combined industry effects and firm effects was 39%, indicating a moderately significant predictive accuracy of the model. The relative direct effect size (f2) of the industry on firm performance was 3%, while firm had a direct effect size of 2%, which was small. The combined indirect relative predictive accuracy of industry and firm effect sizes on firm performance through competitive advantage was high at 27%. This was driven by the relative substantial predictive power of firm effect on competitive advantage (f2 = 65%). Furthermore, the predictive capability (Q2) assessment result of the model indicated that both industry and firm effects had a 23% relevant predictive power on firm performance. The direct relative measure of the predictive relevance (q2) value of industry effect (q2 = 0.02) on firm performance was relatively higher than that of the firm effect (q2 = 0.01). Competitive advantage had a relative predictive power of 0.12, which was driven by the direct relative predictive capability of firm effect (q2 = 0.25) on competitive advantage. The overall assessment results of the structural model revealed that the model had satisfactory statistical power to predict the hypothetical research model. The hypothesis that industry effects had an influence on the performance of financial service firms was not supported. The result indicated that industry effects had a positive and non-significant relationship with firm performance, which points to competitiveness in the financial services industry. These results were achieved against the tenets of Porter’s five-forces framework. The hypothesis that firm effects had a positive predictive effect on firm performance was also not supported, indicating that resources and capabilities do not directly lead to improved firm performance. The direct effect of competitive advantage on firm performance was supported. The mediating effect of competitive advantage between industry effects and firm performance was not significant, while the mediation of competitive advantage between firm effects and firm performance was highly significant. The findings of this study revealed that firm effects were relevant through the mediation of competitive advantage in explaining performance variances among financial service firms, operating in a strictly regulated industry. The relative predictive power of firm effect on competitive advantage was high. Firm resources, particularly intangible resources and dynamic capabilities, are the key predictors of firm performance indirectly through the mediation of competitive advantage. Such an advantage may not last long given the excessive supervision and regulations that exist and the fact that firms are being dictated to by the government to comply with its strategic direction as opposed to pursuing their own firm specific strategies. Such practice could encourage competing financial firms to converge and pursue similar types of strategies and encourage imitations to gain short term competitive advantage and superior performance. This finding contradicts the fundamental premise of the resource-based view and firm heterogeneity even though it tentatively supports the argument made by Foss and Knudsen (2003) who argue that heterogeneity is not a necessary condition to gain competitive advantage and superior firm performance. Financial service firms should not only develop and manage their resources and capabilities, but they should also monitor the changes in the industry. This finding highlights the fact that firms can create competitive advantage and enjoy superior performance in a closed and regulated industry. The findings of this research make a significant contribution to the existing debate on the resource-based and industry-based views in explaining the causes of firms’ performance variations specifically in a regulated environment. / Business Management / D.B.L.

The main objective of this study was to explain top management perceptions of industry and firm effects on firm performance through the mediation of competitive advantage in financial service firms operating in a regulated industry in a developing Ethiopian economy. The resource-based and industry-based views, constituting the two main schools of thought explaining performance variations among firms, were used as theoretical foundation of this study. Porter’s five-forces framework was used during this process. The researcher employed a post-positivist paradigm using a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 27 financial service firms (15 banks and 12 insurance firms) that had functioned for three and more years were selected for the study. The unit of analysis was ‘firms’, while respondents were top level managers with a total target population of less than 300. A census survey rather than a sample survey was undertaken. A total of 287 survey questionnaires were distributed (banks 180 and insurance industry 107), of which 215 were collected from 26 firms (15 banks and 11 insurance firms). Of the questionnaires 206 were properly completed leading to a valid response rate of 71%. These were used for the data analysis. A variance-based PLS-SEM approach, which is relevant to evaluate the predictive effects of the industry and firm factors on firm performance, was used to explain the hypothesized model using SmartPLS 2.00 software as well as the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program. The assessment of the hypothesized model indicated that the R2 result on firm performance variance due to the combined industry effects and firm effects was 39%, indicating a moderately significant predictive accuracy of the model. The relative direct effect size (f2) of the industry on firm performance was 3%, while firm had a direct effect size of 2%, which was small. The combined indirect relative predictive accuracy of industry and firm effect sizes on firm performance through competitive advantage was high at 27%. This was driven by the relative substantial predictive power of firm effect on competitive advantage (f2 = 65%). Furthermore, the predictive capability (Q2) assessment result of the model indicated that both industry and firm effects had a 23% relevant predictive power on firm performance. The direct relative measure of the predictive relevance (q2) value of industry effect (q2 = 0.02) on firm performance was relatively higher than that of the firm effect (q2 = 0.01). Competitive advantage had a relative predictive power of 0.12, which was driven by the direct relative predictive capability of firm effect (q2 = 0.25) on competitive advantage. The overall assessment results of the structural model revealed that the model had satisfactory statistical power to predict the hypothetical research model. The hypothesis that industry effects had an influence on the performance of financial service firms was not supported. The result indicated that industry effects had a positive and non-significant relationship with firm performance, which points to competitiveness in the financial services industry. These results were achieved against the tenets of Porter’s five-forces framework. The hypothesis that firm effects had a positive predictive effect on firm performance was also not supported, indicating that resources and capabilities do not directly lead to improved firm performance. The direct effect of competitive advantage on firm performance was supported. The mediating effect of competitive advantage between industry effects and firm performance was not significant, while the mediation of competitive advantage between firm effects and firm performance was highly significant. The findings of this study revealed that firm effects were relevant through the mediation of competitive advantage in explaining performance variances among financial service firms, operating in a strictly regulated industry. The relative predictive power of firm effect on competitive advantage was high. Firm resources, particularly intangible resources and dynamic capabilities, are the key predictors of firm performance indirectly through the mediation of competitive advantage. Such an advantage may not last long given the excessive supervision and regulations that exist and the fact that firms are being dictated to by the government to comply with its strategic direction as opposed to pursuing their own firm specific strategies. Such practice could encourage competing financial firms to converge and pursue similar types of strategies and encourage imitations to gain short term competitive advantage and superior performance. This finding contradicts the fundamental premise of the resource-based view and firm heterogeneity even though it tentatively supports the argument made by Foss and Knudsen (2003) who argue that heterogeneity is not a necessary condition to gain competitive advantage and superior firm performance. Financial service firms should not only develop and manage their resources and capabilities, but they should also monitor the changes in the industry. This finding highlights the fact that firms can create competitive advantage and enjoy superior performance in a closed and regulated industry. The findings of this research make a significant contribution to the existing debate on the resource-based and industry-based views in explaining the causes of firms’ performance variations specifically in a regulated environment. / Business Management / D.B.L.

Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, трех глав, заключения, списка литературы и приложения. В работе проводится обзор существующих методик оценки устойчивого развития территории, виды индикаторов и научно-методические подходы к их разработке, а также классификация материальных и нематериальных ресурсов, анализ влияния материальных ресурсов на развитие человеческого капитала и анализ уровня использования организационных ресурсов Свердловской области. Кроме того, подготовлены рекомендации по формированию методики оценки уровня использования материальных и нематериальных ресурсов для развития территории Свердловской области. А также приводятся инвестиционные расчеты по строительству детского сада, которые наглядно демонстрируют возможность улучшения ситуации с обеспечением населения социальными объектами в условиях дефицита бюджета за счет механизмов государственно-частного партнерства. / The master's thesis consists of an introduction, three chapters, conclusion, list of references and applications. The paper reviews the existing methods for assessing the sustainable development of the territory, types of indicators and scientific and methodological approaches to their development, as well as classification of material and intangible resources, analysis of the impact of material resources on the development of human capital and analysis of the level of use of organizational resources of the Sverdlovsk region. In addition, recommendations were prepared on the formation of a methodology for assessing the level of use of material and intangible resources for the development of the territory of the Sverdlovsk region. Also, investment calculations for the construction of a kindergarten are presented, which clearly demonstrate the possibility of improving the situation with providing the population with social facilities in the context of a budget deficit through public-private partnership mechanisms.

Структура магистерской диссертации включает в себя введение, три главы, заключение, список использованных источников и приложения. В первой главе дано определение термину «ресурс». Рассмотрены различные группы ресурсов. Рассмотрены существующие ресурсные концепции. Определены основные виды ресурсов, используемых муниципальными образованиями Свердловской области. Сформулирован вывод об эффективности процессов выявления и использования материальных и нематериальных ресурсов муниципальными образованиями региона. Во второй главе рассматривается группа нематериальных ресурсов. Уделено внимание роли нематериальных ресурсов в развитии муниципального образования на примере ГО Верхняя Пышма. Проанализирована стратегия социально-экономического развития ГО Верхняя Пышма с учетом использования нематериальных ресурсов. Разработана ресурсно-ориентированная методика оценки деятельности муниципальных образований Свердловской области на примере ГО Верхняя Пышма. В третьей главе проведена оценка социально-экономической эффективности планируемого к реализации инвестиционно-строительного проекта по строительству физкультурно-оздоровительного центра в ГО Верхняя Пышма. На основе проведённого анализа был выбран один из потенциальных векторов развития ГО, направленный на решение задачи сохранения и укрепления здоровья населения, на базе улучшения физкультурно-оздоровительной инфраструктуры ГО. / The structure of the master's thesis includes an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion, a list of sources used and applications. The first chapter defines the term “resource”. Various resource groups are considered. Existing resource concepts are considered. The main types of resources used by municipalities of the Sverdlovsk region are identified. The conclusion is formulated on the effectiveness of the processes of identifying and using material and intangible resources by the municipalities of the region. The second chapter discusses a group of intangible resources. Attention is paid to the role of intangible resources in the development of a municipality using the example of Verkhnyaya Pyshma civil defense. The author analyzes the strategy of socio-economic development of Verkhnyaya Pyshma GO taking into account the use of intangible resources. A resource-oriented methodology has been developed for assessing the activities of municipalities in the Sverdlovsk region using the example of Verkhnyaya Pyshma municipal unit. The third chapter assesses the socio-economic efficiency of the investment and construction project planned for the implementation of the construction of a fitness center in Verkhnyaya Pyshma. Based on the analysis, one of the potential vectors for the development of civil defense was selected, aimed at solving the problem of maintaining and strengthening the health of the population, based on improving the physical culture and health infrastructure of civil defense.