The brand architecture of an organisation has become increasingly important to global management and marketing professionals, as it deals with structures and designs of brands which are constantly influenced by a changing environment. The market realities and changes brands face continuously impact the reputation of the brand, which is critical to sustain competitive advantage. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the impact brand reputation has on brand architecture strategies, and an automotive company was chosen as the focus of the research. This research aims to help managers, marketers and brand owners make informative decisions regarding the brand architecture of a company. A quantitative content analysis methodology was used along with a webpage keyword counting application (WebWords). The application was used based on the principles outlined by Corporate Brand and Reputation Analysis (COBRA), which uses a four step progressive filtering process in filtering traditional and consumer generated media. The results from WebWords were then aligned to the brand architecture strategies from the brand relationship spectrum (BRS) to gain insight as to which of the strategies from the BRS were most vulnerable to reputational damage. The study found that the branded house and sub-brand strategies were most vulnerable to reputational damage based on the number reputational hits received. The connection between the master brand and the sub-brands could cause both brands to be affected should any reputational issues arise.

Non-profit organisations serve disadvantaged people by fulfilling their social needs, promoting social inclusion and building economies. Non-profit organisations are confronted with a tightening funding environment, growing competition for donors and grants, rising demand for services and increasing calls for accountability. The objective of the study was to investigate the way in which non-profit organisations in the Western Cape province apply fifteen management factors of the Lussier Business Success Versus Failure Model. This model was successfully used in various parts of the world to predict the success or failure of a business. A descriptive research design, using a qualitative case-study research approach was used in this study. A purposive non-probability sampling method was applied, and convenience sampling was used to identify twelve participants from four non-profit organisations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with founders, managers and staff. Descriptive and thematic analysis techniques were utilised, and a deductive coding approach was used to develop thematic areas. Thematic analysis showed three broad themes, namely people, management, and finance. The research established that the non-profit organisations applied nine success factors of the Lussier Business Success Versus Failure Model. Non-profit organisations keep accurate records and adequate financial controls. They do have staff with management experience, while the staff have limited NPO experience. The non-profit organisations make use of professional advisors and networks. The research also revealed that non-profit organisations experience challenges with income-generating activities. They do not plan for the long term and find it difficult to retain staff. Non-profit organisations also lack critical skills, such as strategic planning, marketing management, and administrative management. Non-profit organisations need to build and maintain relationships with government bodies, support organisations and other non-profit organisations. Enhanced information sharing and relationships will reduce the dependence on government grant funding. Applying management principles will enhance the long term survival of non-profit organisations. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / Small and medium enterprises play a significant role in the economic growth of Lesotho, however, they face low survival rates and competitive growth drawbacks. Market-driven strategies and access to finance have been identified as the major constraints hindering their survival, growth and effective operation in Lesotho. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of market-driven strategies and access to finance on the competitive growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in selected districts of Lesotho. A quantitative descriptive-correlation survey approach was followed in the data collection and the analysis phases of the research study. The target population consisted of a probability sample of (N = 400) entrepreneurs in the four selected districts of Lesotho. The data was captured and analysed for descriptive statistics, convergent and discriminant validity, composite and internal reliability and correlation in order to inform the structural equation modelling (SEM). SEM was used to test the research model and hypotheses to answer the research questions. The correlation analysis revealed a positive significant relationship between the market-driven strategies and access to finance constructs and related to the competitive growth of SMEs. The regression results showed a positive and significant influence of market-driven strategies (technological dynamic and competitive intensity) and access to finance (collateral requirement and financial information access) on the competitive growth of SMEs. The structural equation modelling analysis further indicated that the equation model derived from the covariance estimates of all explanatory factors of market-driven strategies and access to finance on competitive growth were within the goodness-of-fit threshold. The study was specific to small and medium enterprises, and the findings suggest that to address their challenges in Lesotho (i) enterprises need to be equipped with market-driven strategic (competitive intensity and technological dynamic) resources to deliver superior value to customers; and (ii) adequate policy initiatives are needed to improve enterprises’ access to finance, and such should (a) focus on improving access to financial information through awareness programmes, (b) consider adequate information on policy initiatives, support programmes and financial schemes geared to support Basotho small and medium-sized enterprises access to finance, and (c) harmonise the collateral requirements by banks to ease Basotho SMEs access to adequate credit funds. In sum, the results suggest the joint implementation of market-driven strategies and access to finance as enabling resources to assist enterprises to achieve and stay competitive in the current dynamic business environment. / Klein en medium ondernemings (KMO’s) speel ʼn beduidende rol in die ekonomiese groei van Lesotho. Hulle ervaar egter lae oorlewingstempo’s en mededingendegroei-nadele. Markgedrewe strategieë en toegang tot finansiering is geïdentifiseer as die vernaamste beperkings in die voortbestaan, groei en doeltreffende bedryf van hierdie ondernemings in Lesotho. Die doel van die studie was om die invloed van markgedrewe strategieë en toegang tot finansiering op die mededingende groei van KMO’s in bepaalde distrikte van Lesotho, te ondersoek. ʼn Kwantitatiewe beskrywende-korrelasie-opname-benadering is in die data-insameling en -ontledingsfases van die navorsingsondersoek gevolg. Die teikenpopulasie het bestaan uit ʼn waarskynlikheidsmonster van (N = 400) entrepreneurs in die vier gekose distrikte van Lesotho. Die data is vasgelê en ontleed vir beskrywende statistiek, konvergente en diskriminantgeldigheid, saamgestelde en interne betroubaarheid en korrelasie, as deel van strukturele vergelykingsmodellering, wat gebruik is om die navorsingsmodel en hipoteses te toets ten einde die navorsingsvrae te beantwoord. Die korrelasie-ontleding het ʼn positiewe beduidende verwantskap tussen die volgende konsepte getoon: markgedrewe strategieë, toegang tot finansiering en die mededingende groei van KMO’s. Die regressieresultate het daarop gedui dat markgedrewe strategieë (tegnologies dinamiese en mededingende intensiteit) en toegang tot finansiering (kollaterale vereiste en toegang tot finansiële inligting) ʼn positiewe en beduidende invloed op die mededingende groei van KMO’s het. Die strukturele vergelykingsmodelleringontleding het verder getoon dat die vergelykingsmodel afkomstig van die kovariansie-skattings van alle verduidelikende faktore van markgedrewe strategieë en toegang tot finansiering rakende mededingende groei, binne die geskiktheidsdrumpel val. Die studie was spesifiek oor KMO’s, en die bevindinge toon dat om die struikelblokke wat in Lesotho ervaar word te bowe te kom, (i) hierdie ondernemings toegerus moet word met markgedrewe strategiese (mededingende-intensiteit en tegnologies dinamiese) hulpbronne sodat hulle voortreflike waarde aan hul klante kan bied; en (ii) voldoende beleidsinisiatiewe nodig is om die ondernemings se toegang tot finansiering te verbeter; hierdie beleidsinisiatiewe moet (a) fokus op verbetering van toegang tot finansiële inligting deur bewustheidsprogramme (b) voldoende inligting voorsien oor beleid, ondersteuningsprogramme en finansiële skemas gerig op beter toegang vir KOMO’s tot finansiering, en (c) die kollaterale vereistes deur banke harmonieer om toegang deur KMO’s tot toereikende kredietfondse te fasiliteer. Kortom stel die resultate die gesamentlike implementering van markgedrewe strategieë en toegang tot finansiering as instaatstellingshulpbronne voor om ondernemings te help om mededingendheid te bewerkstellig en te behou in die huidige dinamiese sakeomgewing. / Amabhizinisi amancane nasafufusa (SME) adlala indima esemqoka ekuhlumiseni umnotho wasezweni laseLesotho. Yize-kunjalo, lincane kakhulu inani lamabhizinisi asindayo futhi lincane kakhulu inani lalawo ahlumayo kwizimakethe zamabhizinisi ezincintisanayo. Amasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe kanye nokutholakala kwezimali kubonwe njengezihibhe ezinkulu ezivimba ukuphumelela, ukuhluma kanye nokusebenza kahle kwamabhizinisi eLesotho. Injongo yalesi sifundo socwaningo bekukuphenya umthelela wamasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe kanye nokutholakala kwezimali zokuhlunyiswa komnotho wama-SME ngendlela ekhonyayo kwizifunda zaseLesotho. Indlela yesaveyi ebizwa nge-quantitative descriptive-correlation survey iye yalandelwa ekuqoqweni kwedatha kanye nakwizigaba zokuhlaziya kwisifundo socwaningo. Inani eliphelele labantu eliqondiwe linamasampuli wethuba lokwenzeka (probability sample of (N = 400) losomabhizinisi abakwizifunda ezine ezikhethiwe zaseLesotho. Idatha iqoqiwe yahlaziywa ukwenzela amanani achazayo, i-convergent and discriminant validity, i-composite kanye ne-internal reliability and correlation ngenhloso yokuhlomisa uhlelo lwe-structural equation modelling ngolwazi, ulwazi olusetshenziswe ukuhlola imodeli yocwaningo kanye nehayipothesisi ukuze kuphenduleke imibuzo yocwaningo. Uhlaziyo lwe_correlation analysis luveze ubudlelwano obubonakalayo phakathi kwezinhlaka zamasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe, ukutholakala kwezimali kanye nokuhluma ngamandla kwezomnotho kwamabhizinisi amancane nasafufusa (SMEs). Imiphumela yohlelo lwe-regression ikhombe amasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe (technological dynamic and competitive intensity) kanye nokutholakala kwezimali (collateral requirement and financial information access) njengezinhlaka ezinomthelela omuhle nobalulekile phezu kokuhluma ngamandla komnotho wamabhizinisi asafufusayo (SMEs). Uhlelo lokuhlaziya imodeli elibizwa nge-structural equation modelling liqhubeke nokuveza uhlelo lwe- equation model olususelwe kwisilinganiso se-covariance sezinhlaka zonke ezichazayo zamasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe kanye nokutholakala kwezimali kumnotho ohluma ngamandla wamabhizinisi amancane nasafufusa ukuthi kube ngaphakathi kohlelo lwe-goodness-of-fit threshold. Ucwaningo belugxile ikakhulu kumabhizinisi aamancane nasafufusa, , kanti ulwazi olufunyenwe luphakamisa ukuthi ukuze kuqedwe izinkinga okuhlangabezanwa nazo eLesotho, (i) la mabhizinisi adinga ukuba ahlonyiswe ngamasu aqhutshwa yimithombo yezimakethe (competitive intensity and technological dynamic) ngenhloso yokuletha izinga eliphezulu lomkhiqizo kumakhasimende; kanti (ii) kudinga imizamo yemigomo eyanele ukuthuthukisa izinga lokutholakala kwezimali ngamabhizinisi; le mizamo yomgomo kufanele (a) igxile ekuthuthukiseni izinga lokutholakala kolwazi lwezimali ngokusebenzisa izinhlelo zokwexwayisa, (b) ukunikeza ulwazi olwanele olumayelana nezomgomo, nezinhlelo zokuxhasa kanye nezikhwama zezimali ezihlelelwe ukuthuthukisa ukuthuthukisa uhlelo lizinga lokutholakala kwezimali ngamabhizinisi amancane nasafufusa, kanti futhi (c) ukuhlanganisa ndawonye izimfuno ezifanayo ngamabhange ukwenzela ukulungisa uhlelo olusiza ukunikezwa kwamabhizinisi amancane nasafufusa izikweletu zemali eyanele. Sekukonke nje, imiphumela iphakamisa ukuthi kube nohlelo oluhlanganyelwe lokusetshenziswa kwamasu aqhutshwa yizimakethe kanye nokutholakala kwezimali ezinceda imithombo ukuthi incede amabhizinisi ekufinyeleleni izinhloso kanye nokugcina ummoya wokuncintisana kwisizinda samanje sezebhizinisi. / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)

Purpose -- Given the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, this thesis set out to reveal an updated perspective of the service-oriented small business experience, particularly in their access and choice of financial resources to fund operations and adapt marketing strategy. By the time this study started, it was clear which businesses had been rising with the new tides of swelled categorical demand vs. those that were persevering like embers in a 'slow burn' state of low income against persistent expenses. Therefore, the research sought to compare the results of marketing experimentation with current plans for increasing resiliency, or enabling robust growth, coming out of the pandemic.  Methodology / Design / Approach -- As the quantitative understanding of the business impacts had been generalized, a closer look was needed into what entrepreneurs and small business leaders were thinking about in the present moment, by reflecting on factors for survival / thriving, until this point and going forward. To capture this wide range of perspectives and strategies in formulation, qualitative methods with a diverse set of businesses were selected. Theoretically, customer-centric marketing principles were employed, focusing on three intangible firm resources (of the resource-based view): 1) Stakeholder Relationships; 2) Brand Equity and 3) Knowledge / Capabilities. Findings -- With the realization that adequate financing is inaccessible and government support perceivably unreliable, small businesses naturally tested several emergent strategies within the limits of their available resources. During times of crisis and radical change, as entire industry ecosystems are reassuming their fundamentals, companies have the opportunity to maximize and develop their resources, in alignment with differing and changing customer demands.  Practical Implications -- While the recommendations are tailored for small business and optimistically many, cities are also suggested to take a resource-based VRIO (Value, Rarity, Imitability and Organizability) approach to supporting the economic value and potential of their retail, restaurant and service-oriented business communities.  Originality / Value -- Applying a modern customer-centric view for the small business resources most potentially valuable and developable, this research contributes a unique crisis-borne framework, which may be conceptually used as a hotbed -- by both internal and external (i.e. municipalities, partners and customers) stakeholders -- for ideating novel marketing strategies and supporting business growth / resilience.  Keywords: Adaptation, Crisis Management, Financial Liquidity, Access to Capital, Government Aid, Alternative Finance, Marketing Strategy, Resource-based View (RBV), Customer-Centric, Stakeholder View, Brand, Authenticity, Knowledge, Capabilities, Marketing Management, Marketing-Finance Interface, Paid Marketing, Organic Marketing, Customer Loyalty, Community and Decision-Making

В данной работе проводится обоснование теоретических положений и разработка методического инструментария для развития въездного медицинского туризма в России в условиях трансформации экономики страны. / In this paper, the substantiation of theoretical provisions and the development of methodological tools for the development of inbound medical tourism in Russia in the context of the transformation of the country's economy are carried out.

在國際時尚舞台中，台灣在過去一直扮演代工的角色：儘管手中握有無與倫比的研發與生產技術，然而報酬率卻遠不及握有「國際品牌」的廠商。 1990年起，台灣以往勞力、技術密集的紡織產業開始走下坡。台灣紡織產業開始面臨勞工短缺、工資上漲，許多低價紡織品在國內生產已無獲利空間；從2000年左右開始，隨著全球化市場發展，中國大陸與東南亞等新興國家陸續崛起，我國紡織產業開始產生外移。2005年，WTO協定生效，取消「紡織貿易配額」，以及全球各地逐漸形成的「區域經濟體」，使得全球紡織產業發生結構性的變化。 近來「美學經濟」指標性產業：「時尚產業」，已經成為亞洲國家積極發展的目標，而政府也大力鼓吹由過去專業代工的「製造經濟」，轉型為以品牌、設計為主的「創意、知識經濟」。2008年國家重點發展計畫中提出「產業高值化」政策，除了研發，強化行銷能力以提升品牌知名度亦是創造高附加價值的重要關鍵。 台灣在本土時裝設計師品牌不少。然而，礙於台灣市場規模，始終無法有大幅的成長。因此，台灣設計師如何進軍國際市場，便成了一個值得深入探討的議題。 本研究結合Csikezentmihalyi創造力系統模式、與設計師日常事業經營，探討本土設計師時裝品牌國際化的動態過程：設計師如何以服裝設計專業、結合創業營運相關知識，不斷與國際時尚界專業人士與買家們溝通互動，進而使其品牌在國際間佔有一席之地。 本研究同時歸納設計師在進軍國際市場時需要哪些能力，以及在進入國際市場不同階段所應注意的管理議題，期望能供業界、後續學術研究參考、指教。 / This research is about how Taiwanese fashion designers market their products internationally. Taiwanese textile companies didn’t have their own brands before. They mainly manufactured and sold products overseas under foreign brand names. However, the textile manufacturing industry in Taiwan has already moved abroad to low-labor-cost area during the past two decades. Taiwanese designer brands have been struggleing between the small domestic market and the competition of foreign brands. I explored three cases of Taiwanese fashion designers who market their brands and products internationally. They are respectively Hong, Li Fen’s designer brand ‘Sophie Hong’, Chien, Yu Feng and Pan, Po Shun’s ‘Shawnyï’, and Chia, Wen Lan’s ‘Twinkle by Wenlan’. I analyzed these cases based on the Creativity Dynamic System Model (Csikezentmihalyi, 1990). First, I discovered how they combine their expertises of fashion design and business management to organize their international network. Second, the abilities a fashion designer has to possess during his way to international fashion market have already been clearly listed and categorized. In the end, I casted several managerial issues the fellow designers should pay attention to in different stages when they try to internationalize their brands and products.