A prática da terceirização por parte das organizações é uma prática que vem sendo utilizada há muito tempo e tornou-se cada vez mais comum. O mesmo também ocorre em relação às atividades da área de Tecnologia da Informação, onde a terceirização vem assumindo um papel muito importante devido ao crescente do número de organizações que estão adotando essa prática, pelos altos valores envolvidos, ou ainda pelas formas e arranjos cada vez mais inovadores que estão se formando para o uso da terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação. Diversas são as razões que levam os executivos a terceirizar, parcial ou totalmente, suas diferentes atividades e serviços na área de Tecnologia da Informação, sendo muitos deles associados à redução de custos, melhoria da qualidade e foco nas atividades essenciais da organização. Os motivos pelos quais as organizações terceirizam têm sido foco de muitos estudos acadêmicos importantes, onde ainda são identificadas lacunas. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho tem como objetivo identificar os fatores que impactam no processo decisório de terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação. Diante disso, o principal objetivo desse trabalho é responder a seguinte questão: “que fatores devem ser considerados no processo decisório com relação à terceirização da Tecnologia da Informação?” O método utilizado é a pesquisa Survey realizada a partir de modelo validado apresentado pela literatura. O modelo precisou ser adaptado para a área de Tecnologia da Informação que resultou em um modelo contendo as dimensões Estratégia, Ambiente, Características do Processo de TI, Custos e Características dos Fornecedores de TI. O processo de validação e refinamento utilizou a Análise de Confiabilidade (Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach) e a Análise Fatorial Fatorial Exploratória Discriminante. A partir do resultado dessas validações, foi identificada a possibilidade de diferentes arranjos de variáveis nas dimensões, porém manteve-se o padrão validado anteriormente sem contestação da literatura. A principal contribuição dessa pesquisa para a prática gerencial é o fornecimento de um instrumento de pesquisa que prevê a identificação dos fatores de determinantes para a decisão de terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação sob o ponto de vista do contratante. Esse modelo pode auxiliar executivos na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades em Tecnologia da Informação. / The practice of Outsourcing by organizations has been used for years and it has become more and more common. The same has been occurring as to the activities of the area of Information Technology , where outsourcing has been occupying a relevant role due to the growing number of companies adopting this practice, the high amounts involved, or, still, the more and more innovating arrangements being formed for the utilization of outsourcing in Information Technology. There are many reasons for the executives to outsource, partial or totally, their different activities and services in the area of Information Technology, many of them associated to the reduction of costs, quality improvement and focus on the essential activities of the organization. The reasons why the organizations outsource have been the focus of many important academic studies, where many gaps are still identified. In this context, the aim of this work is to identify the factors that impact on the decision process of outsourcing in Information Technology. So, the main goal of this work is the answer for the following question: “which are the factors that shall be considered in the decision process relating to outsourcing of Information Technology".This work is a survey developed from a validated model presented by literature. The model had to be adapted to the area of Information Technology and resulted in a model containing the following dimensions: Strategy, Environment, Features of IT Process, Costs and Characteristics of IT Suppliers. The validation process and refining have used the Analysis of Reliability (Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient) and Discriminatory and Exploratory Factor Analysis. From the result of such validations, it has been identified the possibility of different arrangements of variables in the dimensions; however, it has been maintained the standard previously validated with no objection of literature. The main contribution of this survey for the managerial practice is the supply of a research tool which foresees the identification of determinant factors for outsourcing in Information Technology related to the contractor. The model may help the executives decide on the outsourcing of their activities related to Information Technology or not.

A prática da terceirização por parte das organizações é uma prática que vem sendo utilizada há muito tempo e tornou-se cada vez mais comum. O mesmo também ocorre em relação às atividades da área de Tecnologia da Informação, onde a terceirização vem assumindo um papel muito importante devido ao crescente do número de organizações que estão adotando essa prática, pelos altos valores envolvidos, ou ainda pelas formas e arranjos cada vez mais inovadores que estão se formando para o uso da terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação. Diversas são as razões que levam os executivos a terceirizar, parcial ou totalmente, suas diferentes atividades e serviços na área de Tecnologia da Informação, sendo muitos deles associados à redução de custos, melhoria da qualidade e foco nas atividades essenciais da organização. Os motivos pelos quais as organizações terceirizam têm sido foco de muitos estudos acadêmicos importantes, onde ainda são identificadas lacunas. Nesse contexto, esse trabalho tem como objetivo identificar os fatores que impactam no processo decisório de terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação. Diante disso, o principal objetivo desse trabalho é responder a seguinte questão: “que fatores devem ser considerados no processo decisório com relação à terceirização da Tecnologia da Informação?” O método utilizado é a pesquisa Survey realizada a partir de modelo validado apresentado pela literatura. O modelo precisou ser adaptado para a área de Tecnologia da Informação que resultou em um modelo contendo as dimensões Estratégia, Ambiente, Características do Processo de TI, Custos e Características dos Fornecedores de TI. O processo de validação e refinamento utilizou a Análise de Confiabilidade (Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach) e a Análise Fatorial Fatorial Exploratória Discriminante. A partir do resultado dessas validações, foi identificada a possibilidade de diferentes arranjos de variáveis nas dimensões, porém manteve-se o padrão validado anteriormente sem contestação da literatura. A principal contribuição dessa pesquisa para a prática gerencial é o fornecimento de um instrumento de pesquisa que prevê a identificação dos fatores de determinantes para a decisão de terceirização em Tecnologia da Informação sob o ponto de vista do contratante. Esse modelo pode auxiliar executivos na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades em Tecnologia da Informação. / The practice of Outsourcing by organizations has been used for years and it has become more and more common. The same has been occurring as to the activities of the area of Information Technology , where outsourcing has been occupying a relevant role due to the growing number of companies adopting this practice, the high amounts involved, or, still, the more and more innovating arrangements being formed for the utilization of outsourcing in Information Technology. There are many reasons for the executives to outsource, partial or totally, their different activities and services in the area of Information Technology, many of them associated to the reduction of costs, quality improvement and focus on the essential activities of the organization. The reasons why the organizations outsource have been the focus of many important academic studies, where many gaps are still identified. In this context, the aim of this work is to identify the factors that impact on the decision process of outsourcing in Information Technology. So, the main goal of this work is the answer for the following question: “which are the factors that shall be considered in the decision process relating to outsourcing of Information Technology".This work is a survey developed from a validated model presented by literature. The model had to be adapted to the area of Information Technology and resulted in a model containing the following dimensions: Strategy, Environment, Features of IT Process, Costs and Characteristics of IT Suppliers. The validation process and refining have used the Analysis of Reliability (Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient) and Discriminatory and Exploratory Factor Analysis. From the result of such validations, it has been identified the possibility of different arrangements of variables in the dimensions; however, it has been maintained the standard previously validated with no objection of literature. The main contribution of this survey for the managerial practice is the supply of a research tool which foresees the identification of determinant factors for outsourcing in Information Technology related to the contractor. The model may help the executives decide on the outsourcing of their activities related to Information Technology or not.

In this paper, I investigate the use of SWOT analysis and the resource based view as tools to elaborate a business plan and in academic research by assessing the two methods’ strengths and weaknesses.   I found that SWOT analysis is useful to structure and prioritise information in a short and concise way. Even though, the information and the information collection methods as well as the concepts and theories used in combinaton with the model and their quality is of the most importance for a proper use of the model.   The resource based view is useful to reflect over which internal resources are the most valuable for the company, even though it can be difficult to assess the most important assets, i.e. the intangible assets. I also found that the fact that the resource based view, which is a explanantory theory, is used as a predicative theory causes uncertainaty and is problematic.

Value and waste are concepts that are used in improvement projects. In lean the concepts are fairly simple. Reduce the waste and the value has increased. However, value is both multidimensional and differs over time. If the concepts value and waste are to be used, the concepts must be clearly defined and measured. Otherwise, value can be reduced for the customer/user and the cost increased for the producer/seller. The purpose in this thesis is to investigate how value and waste are perceived by different stakeholders, how value and waste are related, and how value and waste are measured. The focus of the study is the improvement of production and services. The study does not investigate the product/service development. The conclusions are based on a number of cases and research from different fields such as resource-based view and marketing. The study use mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Measures of forecasting accuracy and their relations where explored with different statistical tools in order to understand the influence of measures and dimensions. The view of value concerning energy efficiency was examined in a statistical analysis of a survey concerning stakeholders’ view of a specific value, energy efficiency, as well as their influence on the value creation process. A multiple qualitative case study explores the relation between value and waste in different settings and the consequences of waste focus. The findings in the multiple case study are confirmed and elaborated further by an additional case study, both qualitative and quantitative, of value stream mapping.Value and waste are analysed with the use of order winners and qualifiers. Also, a model to clarify the consequences of mixing value creation and value exchange for customer/user and producer/seller have been defined and used in the analysis.Depending on the stakeholder there is a difference between whether value can be regarded as a use value, exchange value or both. Even if exchange value is related to a specific moment in time, use value is not. The view of value differs among stakeholders which increase the risk of sub-optimisation in production.Value and waste have multi-dimensional properties and there are links between the different dimensions. The relationships depend upon the situation in question. The lean seven types of waste are not independent dimensions. Also, the concept of waste as anti-value is too simplistic. In all cases studied the focus is on waste, not value. Also, it is often the symptoms of waste that are of interest in measures taken not the root causes. Reduction of waste without considering the value can create new waste. Since waste is a dependent variable, it should not be measured without considering value. Another complication is that value and waste often occurs at different points in time and in different settings.Single measures are sensitive to its environment. Several measures are more robust. Measures distort and influence the perception and thereby the decision of the studied phenomena. Also, the notion of value and waste becomes harder to define and trace as the resolution and detailing of the studied process increases. / Godkänd; 2016; 20151028 (petwal); Nedanstående person kommer att disputera för avläggande av teknologie doktorsexamen. Namn: Peter Wallström Ämne: Byggproduktion /Construction Engineering and Management Avhandling: On Value and Waste Opponent: Docent Kristian Widén, Avd för Byggproduktion, Institutionen för Byggvetenskaper, Lunds tekniska högskola, Lund. Ordförande: Professor Ove Lagerqvist, Avd för byggkonstruktion och -produktion, Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser, Luleå tekniska universitet, Luleå. Tid: Onsdag 14 september, 2016 kl 13.00 Plats: F1031, Luleå tekniska universitet

A study on corporate leadership failure in America by Vugt and Ronay has shown that the failure rate of business leadership in meeting profitability targets is as high as 60%. Most organizations fail to attain profitability targets due to limited experience and exposure to strategic leadership. The aim of this single case study design was to explore the role of strategic leadership in banking profitability. Twelve purposively selected senior bankers and members of the board of directors with over 10 years of experience in banking and profitability and 3 years in the top management team participated in the study in western Tanzania. The resource-based view framed the discussion regarding strategic leadership skills needed to enhance banking profitability. Data were collected through semistructured interviews using open-ended questions to elicit in-depth responses from the participants. Other data sources included social media, company websites, and annual reports. The modified van Kaam approach was used in the data analysis. Meaningful statements were grouped into larger units to form themes. Findings confirmed that strategic leadership skills development had an important influence on banking profitability. Five themes emerged from the study results including strategic leadership and organization performance, planning, risk management, training and skills development, and the unique resources. Findings may also help to improve banking profitability, create employment, and contribute to social change to the poor and unbanked communities in Tanzania.

Any mitigation action will neglect climate change impacts (CCI) (Gillett et al., 2011: 83; Parry et al., 2009: 1102) occurring in a change of average weather patterns as well as in an increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events (EWE) (IPCC, 2007: 8 and 52 f.; IPCC, 2012: 119 f.). For this thesis of special interest are businesses of the construction industry. Construction activities are carried out in an open environment which makes the construction companies´ highly impacted on weather conditions compared to many other sectors (Wedawatta et al., 2010: 364). Furthermore, the construction sector is a fundamental part in any economy (Wedawatta, et al. 2010: 365; Squicciarini and Asikainen, 2011: 672). In mitigation literature a sound amount of studies researches on the relation of corporate fi-nancial performance (CFP) and emissions. Guenther et al. (2012) analyzed empirical studies with regard to their connection between environmental and financial performance of corpo-rations whereby the majority of results implement a positive as well as negative relation. Therefore, this thesis investigates a possible association of implemented measures as re-sponse to the CC and the financial performance on a corporate level. In particular, the aim of this thesis is to analyze the association between corporate financial performance (CFP) and implemented climate change adaptation measures (CCAM) especially for companies of the construction industry. For providing a solid base for this point of interest the affection for construction businesses by CC and the response to the CCI of construction businesses is in-vestigated in addition. For the investigation of an association between CCAM and CFP the statistical methodology of regression was applied. The results clearly support the raised hypothesizes by computing a relationship between these variables in both directions. The results gained in this thesis stress adaptation to CC as a crucial proxy to handle CCI by mitigating risks and exploiting oppor-tunities. Nevertheless, still a reluctant attitude of businesses exists for the implementation of CCAM. This was found in literature and could be reassured by the results of the content analysis since businesses connote CCAM often with increasing cost and expenses and do not draw back on the effect on financial performance. This thesis found a positive effect of im-plemented CCAM on ROA on the short-run. These findings do refer to appropriate CCAM in terms of the right amount. For the opposite direction it was investigated, that if a construc-tion business is financially impacted by CC, an increase in slack causes the implementation of adaptation measures. By the implementation of adaptation measures the dependency from environmental changes is increased (RDT) and the companies´ structure becomes more het-erogenic (RBV). Financial slack is proved to be important to keep the company flexible in taking action. Especially, if a company is financially impacted by CCI financial slack is used for implementing measures.:1 Introduction 2 Theory 2.1 Resource Dependence Theory 2.2 Resource Based View 2.3 Organizational Slack 3 State of Research 3.1 Introduction to Climate Change Adaptation 3.2 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Literature dealing with CFP 3.3 Financial Implication of CCI and CCAM 3.4 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations Measures on Construction Enterprises 3.4.1 Construction Enterprises and their specific Value Chain 3.4.2 CCI on Construction Enterprises 3.4.3 CCAM for Construction Enterprises 3.5 Hypothesis development 4 Methodology 4.1 Content Analysis 4.2 Regression Analysis 4.2.1 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis 4.2.2 Poisson and Negative Binominal Regression Analysis 4.3 Model description 4.3.1 Operationalization of the Content Analysis 4.3.2 Operationalization of the Regression Analysis 5 Results 5.1 Results of the Content Analysis 5.2 Results of the Regression Analysis 5.2.1 Results of the Multiple Linear Regression 5.2.2 Results of the Negative Binomial Regression 6 Discussion, Limitation, and Further Research 6.1 Discussion of Results for the Association between CFP and CCAM 6.2 Limitations and Further Research 7 Conclusion

Yes / Procurement digitalisation can provide significant opportunities for excellence in remanufacturing operations. The close attention of firms is required during the configuration of procurement 4.0 resources for applying front end and base technologies in order to develop the correct set of these resources. Based on Resource Based View theory, this research examines the role of resources influencing procurement 4.0 for driving productivity in remanufacturing operations and circular economy performance. The survey data for this research was gathered from working professionals in South Africa and results reveal that technological resources are necessary in procurement 4.0, which can in turn improve the productivity in remanufacturing operations. An upsurge in performance in remanufacturing operations can enhance the circular economy outcome. To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide insight for researchers, practitioners and academics with an empirical test of digital procurement on remanufacturing operations and of circular economy performance in an emerging economy like South Africa.

I will look at what impact big data have had on the managerial strategic decisions in the food and beverage industry. This in order to understand the complexity and theory of organizational strategic management, an effort to define the contemporary strategic theory into a holistic conceptual model is done through a literature review on organizational strategy. This literature explicitly proposes four distinctly different types of strategies that management need to consider in the organizational context. Namely, long-term strategy, internal business strategy, external corporate strategy, and competitive strategy. The study analyzed the food and beverage industry over a decade (2005-2014), where the three of the largest actors in the industry were selected, Nestlé S.A, PepsiCo Inc, and Unilever. The choice of method was content analysis, where three structured categorization matrixes were developed which each analyzed parts of the annual reports. The study propose the role of big data as a strategic tool for managerial decision from a theoretical standpoint. The content analysis show that hypothesis 1, could be confirmed, big data have an impact on all the proposed four managerial strategic decisions. Second hypothesis could not be confirmed, since decentralization does only occur for one of the organizations, but increased external environment turbulence could be concluded for the industry in general. The third hypothesis could be confirmed, which show that there is an increase in individualization due to increased customer involvement and demand. The analysis discovered three distinct time periods during the last decade, namely pre- economic instability period (2005-2007), economic instability period (2008-2011) and finally the post-paradigm period (2012-2014). Where the year 2011 was the most turbulent in terms of economy and technology for the industry. The study clearly show that customers are now involved in the production process, customers are co-creators of the products. There is now a two-way communication and increased social responsibility awareness. This study shows that the old traditional approach of looking at markets in order to position yourself to stay competitive are obsolete as this study predicted. customers demand to be a part of the organizational culture. This conclude that big data is an important tool for all strategic managerial decisions.

Submitted by William Justo Figueiro (williamjf) on 2015-08-20T17:56:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 18e.pdf: 3571110 bytes, checksum: 0630bd9741c0fc9e3717871ac10256d7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-20T17:56:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 18e.pdf: 3571110 bytes, checksum: 0630bd9741c0fc9e3717871ac10256d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-14 / Nenhuma / A mobilização de recursos que as organizações constantemente impetram reflete as mudanças estratégicas que buscam implementar. Ao longo do tempo, estes recursos são erigidos no intuito de criar diferenciação perante seus competidores. Nas últimas décadas, a profusão da concorrência, de diversas origens, atuando no mercado internacional, traz novas dimensões a serem estudadas. O ambiente competitivo, que, durante o século XX, vinha sendo avaliado em duas principais esferas, organizacional e industrial, passou a receber maior carga de influência dos aspectos institucionais. As análises do ambiente competitivo, portanto, tornaram-se mais complexas e fez-se necessário que decisões estratégicas envolvessem mais variáveis. A importância da história da organização e o papel que determinados posicionamentos tem no planejamento de ações futuras passa a ser um ponto a ser mais bem investigado. Assim, a dependência de trajetória, como vantagem ou como desvantagem precisa ser mais bem avaliada no que tange à mobilização de recursos para a inserção internacional e a reconfiguração de suas estratégias globais. Como pano de fundo desta investigação, a indústria calçadista mostrou-se um campo fértil a ser pesquisado, uma vez que é uma indústria madura com tradição exportadora de longa data. Dentro do objetivo geral de compreender como os recursos foram reconfigurados, ao longo do tempo, segundo o enfoque da Visão Baseada em Recursos (RBV – Resourced-Based View), e como foram capazes de contribuir ou responder às estratégias de atuação em mercados internacionais de empresas calçadistas do Rio Grande do Sul, buscou-se responder como a reconfiguração de recursos se relaciona com tais mudanças. Para tanto, como estratégia investigativa, optou-se por um estudo de dois casos de empresas exportadoras que tiveram diferentes trajetórias. Inicialmente, foram entrevistados três profissionais com historicidade dentro da indústria, que não estavam atuando nas empresas estudadas e, posteriormente, se fez três entrevistas em cada uma delas, com pessoas chave na configuração de recursos ao longo do tempo. Concluiu-se que a mobilização de recursos está atrelada a decisões no passado e podem gerar novos pontos de inflexão que podem balizar movimentos estratégicos futuros. Ainda, que avaliações do ambiente institucional e de historicidade devem fazer parte das análises contra factuais que os gestores enfrentam cotidianamente. Percebeu-se, que os estudos sobre estratégias de internacionalização, erigidos em países avançados, necessitam aprofundamentos para entender a complexidade dos ambientes de economias emergentes. / The mobilization of resources that organizations constantly do reflects the strategic changes that aim to implement. Over time, these features are built in order to create differentiation against its competitors. In recent decades, the profusion of competition, from diverse backgrounds, working in the international market, brings new dimensions to be studied. The competitive environment, which, during the twentieth century, had been evaluated in two major spheres, organizational and industry, began to receive greater burden of influence of the institutional perspective. The analysis of the competitive environment, therefore, becomes more complex. Hence, it was necessary to involve more strategic decision variables. The importance of the organization's history and the role that certain positions have in the planning of future actions becomes a point to be further investigated. Thus, the path dependence, as an advantage or a disadvantage to be better evaluated with regard to resource mobilization for international integration and reconfiguration of entry strategies. As background to this research, the footwear industry has proved a fertile field to be searched, since it is a mature industry with long-standing tradition of exporting. Within the overall goal of understanding how resources have been reconfigured, over time, depending on the approach of the RBV (Resourced-Based View), and how they were able to contribute or respond to the action strategies in international markets of footwear companies from Rio Grande do Sul, we sought answer how the reconfiguration of resources relates to such changes. To do so, as a research strategy, we chose to study two cases of export companies that have different trajectories. Initially, we interviewed three professionals with historicity within the industry; they were not acting in the companies studied and later became three interviews in each of them, with key persons in the configuration of resources over time. we concluded that the mobilization of resources is linked to decisions in the past and can generate new inflection points that will mark out the future strategic moves. Thus, those assessments of the institutional and historical analysis should be part of the evidence against that managers face daily. We also noticed that the studies on internationalization strategies, erected in advanced countries, must be studied harder to understand the complexity of the environments of emerging economies.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:25:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lais Duarte Vieira.pdf: 1175916 bytes, checksum: 6c086c4d21a1b0b8df308103291acff9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-16 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This dissertation investigated the characterization of features and capabilities involved in business strategies more applicants in companies production of luxury, seeking competitive advantage, taking into account the perception of managers and customers of this type of product. The concepts used were related to resource-based view and strategy. Thus, the constructs were revised perceived value, competitive advantage, strategic management and strategic resources. The research method adopted was exploratory and descriptive, qualitative in nature, with interviews conducted based on a semi structured script. Were interviewed six managers of companies production of luxury and six consumers these companies. The content analysis technique was used for the treatment and interpretation of the data collected. As a result, it was possible to identify the resources strategic source of competitive advantage for companies studied, they are, the designer, the reputation of the brand name and innovation capacity of the designer. Through the model identified VRIO evidence points these resources as valuable, rare, difficult to imitate and dependent on the conditions organizational for use of your full potential. From the analysis of data collected was possible to see that the luxury product aims for perfection from the moment of conception and this requires that it be done with high aesthetic standard, is rare and inaccessible and conceived from innovative ideas. / Esta dissertação teve por objetivo a caracterização dos recursos e capacidades envolvidos nas estratégias de negócios mais recorrentes nas empresas de confecção de luxo, visando à vantagem competitiva, levando em conta a percepção de gestores e clientes deste tipo de produto. Foram utilizados os conceitos referentes à visão baseada em recursos e à estratégia. Para tanto, foram revisados os construtos de valor percebido, vantagem competitiva, administração estratégica e recursos estratégicos. O método de pesquisa adotado foi exploratório descritivo de natureza qualitativa, com entrevistas realizadas com base em um roteiro semiestruturado. Foram entrevistados seis gestores de empresas de confecção de luxo e seis consumidoras destas empresas. A análise de conteúdo foi a técnica utilizada para o tratamento e interpretação dos dados coletados. Como resultado, foi possível identificar os recursos estratégicos fonte de vantagem competitiva para as empresas estudadas, são eles, o estilista, a reputação da griffe e a capacidade de inovação do estilista. Por meio do modelo VRIO foram identificados indícios que apontam estes recursos como valiosos, raros, difíceis de imitar e dependentes das condições organizacionais para utilização total de seu potencial. A partir da análise dos dados coletados foi possível perceber que o produto de luxo busca a perfeição desde o momento da sua concepção e para isso é necessário que ele seja feito com elevado padrão estético, sendo raro e inacessível, concebido a partir de ideias inovadoras.