During the previous years there has been a lot of focus on e-commerce in the fashion and clothing industry and that everything will be bought online in the future. However, several e-commerce companies have decided to expand into offline retail. This dissimilarity between theory and reality creates an interest for further research and a curiosity of how the future within retail will develop. The purpose of this research is to understand why Swedish online fashion retailers expand through an offline strategy. An Expansion Theme Model, which emerged from the theoretical framework, is used throughout the research to create a cohesive presentation of the material. In this research two case studies were conducted with e-commerce companies that are moving towards offline retail, one that is planning to open their own offline store and the other that is selling to external offline retailers. The findings present the reasons for expanding into offline retail according to the respondents in the two cases. Two reasons that were discussed in both cases were to enhance the brand image and use offline retailing as a marketing tool to reach a larger customer group and ultimately enhance the company’s profit. The findings present several problems within each case that can be solved by expanding into offline retail. The first problem is about suppliers that protect offline retailers. The second problem is about how to reach the minimum quantities that the suppliers require. The third problem is how to achieve a better negotiation power with the suppliers. The fourth problem discusses the challenge of displaying products online. The view of the future within retail is also presented, where all of the respondents agreed that the two selling channels will be more integrated in the future. Finally, the transition towards offline retail creates many new possibilities in the world of retail that is yet undiscovered and it is therefore exciting to follow this development.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-05-20T16:55:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Davi Wilson Mariano Gomes.pdf: 790856 bytes, checksum: 1a25923a053ecc7ed49441f2743006fc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-20T16:55:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Davi Wilson Mariano Gomes.pdf: 790856 bytes, checksum: 1a25923a053ecc7ed49441f2743006fc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-14 / Microbusinesses and small businesses in Brazil account for a significant part of the country’s economy, generating jobs and income. Pet shops are included in this group, firms whose activities are directed to the sale and marketing of pets, a segment with a significant rate of growth, indeed one that is higher than GDP (gross domestic product), a fact that triggered the present study, particularly when the subject is linked to the market strategy of survival and expansion, as the figures show that these businesses have a high rate of insolvency in a short period of time. During the study – a qualitative and descriptive one – an attempt was made to identify the strategies used by the market leaders in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (MRR). The initial hypothesis was that only a professionalized quality management offering differential services could guarantee the maintenance and growth of companies in this sector, in a market that is not only growing but is also extremely demanding and characterized by a clientele that is highly educated and with great purchasing power, in addition to a strong emotional attachment to its pets. The present case study covered five firms in the MRR, all of which have been in business for over 10 years, with an established clientele and turnover regarded as substantial for companies in this sector. Over 100 interviews were conducted, including ones with customers, collaborators at various levels and with different functions within their companies, as well as the owners of the pet shops studied, in an attempt to identify their view of the future regarding the progression of the market in the face of intensifying competition, with the prospect of large national and international chains entering this segment. The results point to client satisfaction, which is explained by three basic factors: convenience, understood as the location of the shop and safety, adding value to the client’s perception of the business; excellence in the service provided (the affection and zeal displayed by the employees when receiving the animal and throughout the attendance, always closely observed by the owner); and the diverse nature of the products and services (clinical attendance, feeding and beautification). As regards the strategies employed, the segmentation of the market was identified as a variable of major importance for the success of the company. The study ends with a synthesis by means of a SWOT analysis, in which the main strengths and weaknesses of the companies studied are identified, as well as the threats posed by the competitive environment and the resulting opportunities. / As micro e pequenas empresas no Brasil são consideradas responsáveis por parte significativa da economia gerando emprego e renda. Neste grupo, estão incluídos os pet shops, empresas que têm suas atividades direcionadas à comercialização de produtos e serviços para animais de estimação, um segmento com taxas de crescimento significativas, acima do Produto Interno Bruto (PIB), fato que motivou este estudo, principalmente quando o assunto está ligado à estratégia de mercado para sobreviver e crescer, uma vez que as estatísticas demonstram um alto índice de insolvência dessas empresas, em pouco tempo, Durante esta pesquisa - de natureza qualitativa e descritiva - buscou-se identificar as estratégias utilizadas pelas empresas líderes de mercado na Região Metropolitana do Recife (RMR). Partiu-se da hipótese de que somente uma gestão profissionalizada com serviços diferenciados e de qualidade poderia responder pela manutenção e pelo crescimento das empresas no setor, em um mercado que cresce, mas altamente exigente e caracterizado por um público com elevado grau de instrução, poder aquisitivo, além de emotivo em relação ao seu pet. A pesquisa, caracterizada como estudo de caso, abrangeu cinco empresas da RMR, todas com mais de 10 anos de atuação, consolidadas junto à sua clientela e faturamento considerado importante para as empresas do ramo. Foram realizadas mais de 100 entrevistas, incluindo clientes externos, colaboradores de diversos níveis e funções dentro das empresas, como também os proprietários dos pet shops estudados, buscando-se identificar sua visão de futuro quanto à evolução do mercado, frente a uma concorrência que começa a se intensificar, com perspectivas de entrada de grandes redes nacionais e internacionais nesse segmento. Os resultados apontaram a satisfação do cliente, explicada por três fatores básicos: conveniência, entendida como localização da loja e segurança, agregando valor na percepção do cliente; excelência no atendimento (o carinho e o zelo demonstrados pelo colaborador na recepção do animal e durante todo o atendimento, sempre muito fiscalizado pelo proprietário); e a diversificação de produtos e serviços (atendimento clínico, alimentação e embelezamento). Quanto às estratégicas empregadas, identificou-se a segmentação de mercado como variável de grande importância para o sucesso da empresa. A pesquisa é finalizada endereçando-se uma síntese por meio de uma análise SWOT, na qual são identificadas as principais forças e fraquezas das empresas estudadas, bem como as ameaças do ambiente competitivo e as oportunidades resultantes.

Akvizice čínských studentů na vysokých školách v České republice se v posledních letech značně rozšířila. Brno je však město, které má konkurenční výhodu ve vzdělávání, a to z hlediska výsledku náboru studentů v Číně neodpovídá těmto vzdělávacím zdrojům a reputaci. A klíčová otázka, jak udělat správnou a efektivní tržní strategii, se stává klíčovým úkolem VUT v Brně. Bude proveden primární výzkum a sekundární výzkum, autor využije makro a mikroprostředí k analýze pozadí tématu. Diplomová práce bude kriticky analyzovat spolupráci v oblasti vzdělávání mezi Čínou a Českou republikou z pohledu přítomnosti a možných příležitostí ke zlepšení současné situace.

Konjunkturen är ett av de mest omdiskuterade ämnena när det kommer till området ekonomi och det diskuteras i alla möjliga sammanhang. Extra stort ljus riktas på området när det kommer till skiften i konjunkturen vilket vi fick uppleva i slutet av 2022 när Sverige gick in i en ny lågkonjunktur. Ett sådant skifte kan innebära stora förändringar i samhället och inte minst för företagen. Ett stort fokus bland forskare har riktats mot att undersöka hur företag påverkas och agerar i en lågkonjunktur. Däremot saknas det en förståelse för hur och varför företagen agerar som det gör. Denna avsaknad av förståelse över företagens perspektiv i litteraturen låg till grund för genomförandet av denna studie. Vi genomförde en kvalitativ studie med åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer med respondenter från åtta olika e-handelsföretag. Valet att undersöka e-handelsföretag grundade sig i att det är första gången e-handlare möter en ekonomisk nedgång som ser ut att påverka dem negativt. Intervjuerna utgjorde grunden för studiens resultat där vi genom en innehållsanalys kunde skapa en kodstruktur över företagens marknadsstrategiska agerande. Vidare kunde vi sammanfoga empirin till en teoretisk modell som presenteras i slutet av uppsatsen. Studiens resultat visar prov på den komplexitet som litteraturen upplyst gällande val av marknadsstrategi i lågkonjunkturen. Vi kan bekräfta att det är mer avancerat än att undersöka om företagen anpassar sin strategi eller inte då resultatet visar att företagen delar upp sin marknadsstrategi under en lågkonjunktur, vissa delar av strategin anpassas och andra delar behålls oförändrade. Resultatet belyser även sex orsaker till varför företagen väljer att anpassa eller inte anpassa sin marknadsstrategi. Dessa orsaker ses antingen som en möjlighet eller ett hot och är också en av orsakerna till varför de väljer att anpassa sin marknadsstrategi. Studiens resultat tyder på att företagen lärt sig av historien och har ett större fokus på möjligheterna som uppkommer under en lågkonjunktur och ett mindre fokus på hoten. Vilket inte har varit trenden i den litterära historien där en defensiv och riskminimerande marknadsstrategi var den vanligaste. Studiens fynd fyller ett hål i litteraturen genom att skapa en bättre förståelse för företagen och deras marknadsstrategiska agerande. Vi adderar ett ytterligare perspektiv som gör litteraturen mer komplett och nyanserad. Vidare kan studiens fynd användas som inspiration och vägledning för e-handlare vid valet av marknadsstrategiskt agerande under en lågkonjunktur. Detta eftersom att modellen belyser aspekter som majoriteten av de medverkande företagen ansåg som en viktig del av deras marknadsstrategi under lågkonjunkturen.

This paper-based dissertation comprises three essays dealing with sustainability management and reporting from a capital market perspective and their implications on capital markets. The dissertation is divided into four chapters. The first chapter provides a general overview of the research context by outlining the structure and aims of the dissertation and introducing the three manuscripts. The second chapter corresponds to the first manuscript and analyses how a chief sustainability officer influences sustainability reporting. The third chapter corresponds to the second manuscript and analyses how sustainability key performance indicators affect sustainability performance. The fourth and final chapter corresponds with the third manuscript. It deals with the question of how analysts perceive and evaluate different stages of sustainability strategy: a standalone sustainability strategy and sustainability integrated into the corporate strategy.

The corporate political activity field has focused on the study of political capabilities that allow firms to influence governments and regulators. Building on previous studies, this thesis examines a set of capabilities that allow host firms to adapt to rather than influence political environments. Specifically, this set of adaptive political capabilities can be used by firms to confront host country political contexts in emerging economies that share two characteristics: authoritarian regimes and weak institutions. The findings of this thesis show that host firms can develop and use adaptive political capabilities rather than political capabilities to start and sustain their operations in this type of political contexts. This entails attuning firm processes, structures, and practices to local norms and political behaviors, rather than attempting to shape the host country political environment in its own likeness. Our results suggest host firms can develop adaptive political capabilities to enhance their strategic repertoire when starting or sustaining operations in emerging economies with such characteristics. Our contribution is that by using mixed methods, we provide and test several exploratory propositions that support the conceptualization of a framework to guide the development of adaptive political capabilities by host firms and we make explicit a taxonomy of corporate adaptive political strategies that can enable firms to envision how they can adapt to host political contexts.

The corporate political activity field has focused on the study of political capabilities that allow firms to influence governments and regulators. Building on previous studies, this thesis examines a set of capabilities that allow host firms to adapt to rather than influence political environments. Specifically, this set of adaptive political capabilities can be used by firms to confront host country political contexts in emerging economies that share two characteristics: authoritarian regimes and weak institutions. The findings of this thesis show that host firms can develop and use adaptive political capabilities rather than political capabilities to start and sustain their operations in this type of political contexts. This entails attuning firm processes, structures, and practices to local norms and political behaviors, rather than attempting to shape the host country political environment in its own likeness. Our results suggest host firms can develop adaptive political capabilities to enhance their strategic repertoire when starting or sustaining operations in emerging economies with such characteristics. Our contribution is that by using mixed methods, we provide and test several exploratory propositions that support the conceptualization of a framework to guide the development of adaptive political capabilities by host firms and we make explicit a taxonomy of corporate adaptive political strategies that can enable firms to envision how they can adapt to host political contexts.

This thesis analyzes the implications of regulation on the transformation to a Digital Economy. A gap analysis shows that Czech Republic is significantly lagging behind in terms of connectivity, which is an essential precondition for a transformation to a digital age. The regulator promotes the entry of the new player as a solution for this situation. However, a simulation based on Herfindahl Hirschman Index does not support this view. This outcome is further supported by the results of correlation between market competitiveness and network advancement, which does not suggest any relationship. These findings are in line with empirical evidence from EU markets, which prove that a three-operator market is efficient and delivers attractive competitive services to the customers and society. The root cause of this situation lies in the current telecommunications regulation, which failed to create a sustainable digital ecosystem for the transition to a digital economy. This paper concludes, that regulatory framework needs to be redefined to address new challenges ahead. The regulatory priority should be shifted from service focus to encouraging long-term connectivity investments, differentiation, and competition.

The diploma thesis deals with the compilation of a business plan for establishing a company specializing in selling outdoor equipment in the Zlín region. The theoretical part includes a detailed description of the business process, the analytical and research methods used in planning and the structure of the business plan. The second part the thesis provides an analysis of the business environment using selected methods as well as a primary survey of potential customers with the goal to validate ideas and identify key factors for the assessment and selection of the market strategy. The design part of the thesis describes the chosen strategy and business model breakdown.

Although emerging economies have received increased attention by both firms and academia in recent decades, there is still more that can be done. Calls have been made by both academic authors and journals to conduct research within institutionally voided environments, a call that was answered by this study. Specifically, this study answers calls related to: examining institutional strategies; examining the relationship between nonmarket and market exchanges. The purpose of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of how the nonmarket-market relationship affects firm strategies and behavior in Cambodia, an especially voided country due to their turbulent recent history. A second layer of the purpose was to compare firms and explore their similarities and differences to understand the isomorphic pressures of Cambodia. A qualitative case study approach to the study was undertaken to achieve the study’s purpose. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with various managers who have the ability to make strategic decisions in their respective firms. All the interviewees were from the private sector but were scattered throughout different industries and were asked about their experiences and perception of the Cambodian business environment, mainly focusing on the institutional context. The data collected were then structured based on three main themes and corresponding subthemes. This thematic division was the basis for the analysis of the study as well as the conclusion. Based on the analysis of the data, it can be concluded that the nonmarket is indeed superordinate to the market environment in Cambodia. From a macro perspective, the institutional voids affect all firms in Cambodia, and the firms utilize similar variations of four institutional strategies: internalization, substitution, buffering, and bridging. Because the nonmarket environment in Cambodia is so strong, this results in both voids in the market environment and firms becoming more isomorphic. These four strategies were not the only ones identified, other strategies, namely outsourcing and institutional borrowing, were noted as well because of the institutional voids. Theoretically, this study contributes to revising and improving Institutional Theory and reinforcing both Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View. Social contributions relate to assisting policymakers in Cambodia to understanding their most problematic institutions and developing or improving those institutions. Practical contributions are aimed at practitioners seeking to or doing business in Cambodia, assisting them in understanding the institutional context of Cambodia and knowing how to navigate within its boundaries. This practical contribution can also be considered a social contribution, as more businesses enter Cambodia and as firms grow, the combination of firm entrance and growth creates more jobs and stimulates the economy.