Rapid rate of digitalization, emerging financial technology and changes in consumer behaviour have begun to transform the existing paradigm in the financial industry. Incumbent banks have found it difficult to keep up with this change however and are now faced with the challenge of deciding on what digital financial services build internally, buy externally or develop through partnerships. This study attempts to get a general overview of what factors traditional Swedish retail banks need to consider before deciding on a build, buy or partner strategy in order to digitize their financial services offering. This is done through a case study, where the empirical data consists of interviews with the retail division of a Swedish bank looking to digitize their securities trading offering as a response to a transforming industry. A few interviews were also conducted with people outside of the bank to increase the generalizability somewhat. The findings of the study identified 16 factors to be considered by traditional banks when faced with the challenge of deciding on whether to build, buy or partner in order to digitize their securities trading offering. Out of these, 9 factors were deemed to be especially important; Sustainable Competitive Advantage, Flexibility, Uncertainty, Supplier/Partner Relationship, Economies of Scale, Specialized Resources, Integration, Asset Specificity and Regulation. Several of the factors identified were shown to influence the build, buy or partner decision both positively and negatively and their impact should therefore be carefully evaluated and weighed against each other by managers before making a final decision on a build, buy or partner strategy. / Ökad digitaliseringstakt, ny finansiell teknologi och förändringar i kundbeteenden driver på en transformering inom finansindustrin. Traditionella banker har haft svårt att följa med i denna utveckling, och ställs nu inför utmaningen att bestämma vilka digital finansiella tjänster de bör bygga internt, köpa in externt eller utveckla tillsammans med en extern aktör genom ett partnerskap. Denna studie syftar till att få en generell överblick över vilka faktorer som svenska storbanker behöver överväga innan de beslutar sig för en bygg-, köp- eller partnerstrategi för att digitalisera sitt erbjudande av finansiella tjänster. Detta görs i form av en case studie, där den empiriska datan till största del består av intervjuer med nyckelpersonal från en svensk bank som ingår i ett projekt att försöka digitalisera deras värdepappershandelserbjudande som ett svar på en industri i förändring. Ett fåtal intervjuer genomfördes också med personer utanför banken för att öka generaliserbarheten av studien något. Resultatet av studien identifierade 16 faktorer som bör övervägas av traditionella banker som ställs inför beslutet om att bygga, köpa eller ingå i ett partnerskap för att digitalisera sitt värdepappershandelserbjudande. Av dessa anses 9 faktorer vara särskilt viktiga; Långsiktiga Konkurrensfördelar, Flexibilitet, Osäkerhet, Leverantörs-/Partnerrelation, Stordriftsfördelar, Specialiserade Resurser, Integration, Funktionsspecificitet och Regelverk. Resultatet indikerar också att flera av de identifierade faktorer kan påverka beslutet om en bygg-, köp- eller partnerstrategi både positivt och negativt. Deras påverkan bör därför utvärderas noggrant och jämföras mot varandra innan ett slutligt beslut tas gällande en bygg, köp eller partnerstrategi.

This research evaluates the technological, organizational, and environmental determinants of emerging technologies adoption represented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) driving SMEs’ competitive advantage within a resource-based view (RBV) theoretical approach supported by the technological-organizational-environmental (TOE)-framework setting. Current literature on SMEs competitive advantage as outcome of emerging technologies in the technological, organisational, and environmental contexts presents models focused on these contexts individual components. There are no models in the literature to represent the TOE framework as an integrated structure with gradual levels of complexity, allowing for incremental evaluation of the business context in support of decision making towards emerging technologies adoption supporting the firm competitive advantage. This research gap is addressed with the introduction of a new concept, the IT resource-based renewal, underpinned by the RBV, and supported by the TOE framework for providing a holistic understanding of the SMEs strategic renewal decision through information technology. This is achieved through a complex measurement model with four level constructs, leading into a parsimonious structural model that evaluates the relationships between IT resource-based renewal, and emerging technologies adoption driving SMEs competitive advantage. The model confirms the positive association between the IT resource-based renewal and emerging technologies adoption, and between the IT resource-based renewal and SME competitive advantage for the SMEs managers model, with the SME owners model outcomes are found not being supportive towards emerging technologies adoption driving SME competitive advantage. As methodology, PLS-SEM is used for its capabilities of assessing complex paths among model variables. Analysis is done on three models, one for the full sample, with two subsequent ones for owners and managers, respectively, as SME decision makers, with data collected using a web-based survey in Canada, the UK, and the US, that has provided 510 usable answers. This research has a theoretical contribution represented by the introduction of the IT resource-based renewal concept, that integrates the RBV perspective and the TOE framework for supporting organization’s decision on emerging technologies adoption driving SMEs competitive advantage. As practical implications, this thesis provides SMEs with a reference framework on adopting emerging technologies, offering SME managers and owners a comprehensive model of hierarchical factors contributing to SMEs competitive advantage acquired as outcome of AI and IoT adoption. This research makes an original contribution to the enterprise management, information systems adoption, and SME competitive advantage literature, with an empirical approach that verifies a model of emerging technologies adoption determinants driving SMEs competitive advantage.

In studying organisational change in Air Seychelles, the context, content and process of change together with the interconnections of the airline and the tourism industry in Seychelles through time is explored. The literature review shows that the substantive issues of interest to this study, contextualism as a theory of methods in management research, requires a case based research in particular with regards to the following gaps in the literature: the integration of inner and outer perspectives on sustaining competitive advantage, and conceptual insights on how strategy links firms and their environment. The study adopted a contextual and processual framework to build a theoretical perspective of competitive advantage. The study contributes to the field of strategic management and tourism development in Seychelles in the following ways: firstly, the development of a contextual and processual framework to explain the transformation of firms over time; secondly, the development of an understanding of the historical context of the tourism industry and its interactions with other sectors of the Seychelles economy; thirdly, developing an understanding of how Air Seychelles developed its resources and capabilities to sustain competitive advantage; fourthly, linking change processes and action to performance and in a sense developing an understanding on strategy implementation of strategic management practice in Air Seychelles. The study sheds some light on strategy formation and implementation at the firm level, and the dynamics between the firm and the industry. The findings suggest that firms respond opportunistically to external discontinuities in a dynamic environment - the entrepreneurial leadership of a firm prepares and support managers to operate under conditions of great uncertainty and ambiguity and allows them to behave opportunistically. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / DBL / Thesis (D. B. L.)

2015年4月殼牌公司收購英國天然氣集團案，凸顯石油價格修正已重塑全球油氣產業版圖。而根據2015年英國石油公司統計資料顯示，傳統方式開採生產的石油及天然氣尚有50-60年的可開採年限；若加上非傳統方式開採生產的石油及天然氣則可開採年限將至少倍增。油氣探採產業具有技術門檻高、經營風險高、投資金額高、作業時間長的特性。從長期獲利能力來看，油氣探採部門的績效一直是各大國際石油公司主要利潤來源，惟其營業利潤受國際油氣價格的起伏直接連動影響。個案公司油氣探採部門海外投資近年來成功取得美國、印尼、剛果及澳大利亞等地區的探勘新礦區，並與國際油公司在全球10 個國家25 處礦區有合作探採案；其中包括厄瓜多、印尼、尼日以及澳大利亞等具有油氣生產的礦區，歷年累計油氣生產績效卓越。 由於非傳統油氣之一的頁岩油氣開採技術進步，大幅提升美國油氣產量，OPEC產油國為維持市場占有率並未減產，加上全球經濟成長減緩，造成明顯的供過於求趨勢，影響近期油價呈現相對低檔。本研究以產業分析及SWOT分析等理論著手，探討目前經營環境的機會及風險，藉以擬定公司層級的策略方向並檢視成熟期產業環境下的競爭內涵，再從資源基礎論、經營選擇策略、管控流程風險，探討企業長期競爭優勢。 　　本研究經與個案公司海外分公司高階經理及總公司資深部門主管進行深入訪談方式，並且參酌公開的期刊、論文報告與網站資訊，進一步對照研究相關理論分析與個案公司實務案例，結果證實在運用購買LNG整合上下游投資、國際大油公司的策略聯盟、流程管控海外投資風險等均有助於提升競爭優勢，足以提供產業參考；同時建議後續研究個案公司落實平衡計分卡學習成長構面的相關要項，加強策略核心組織的競爭力，輔佐策略的執行，俾能提昇企業未來經營競爭力，達到永續經營之目的。 / The acquisition of BG Group by Royal Dutch Shell in April 2015 was the latest sign of how the slumping oil prices are reshuffling the global upstream petroleum business. BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2015 depicts that the reserves to production ratio is about 50 to 60 years for conventional petroleum resources, while this number almost doubles up for unconventional petroleum resources. The characteristics of upstream petroleum industry are the high technical threshold, high operational risk, highly capital-intensive investment, and long operational life. From the perspective of long-term earning power, the performance of upstream petroleum business division always drives the profitability for all major integrated oil companies, notwithstanding the operational profit is under direct impact from the fluctuations of the global oil prices. The successful overseas investment from the Exploration and Production Business Division of the company under study include many exploration rights in the new assets from U.S.A., Indonesia, Congo, and Australia, as well as the joint operation projects with international oil companies at 25 locations in more than 10 countries from Ecuador, Indonesia, Niger, and Australia with excellent profitability over the years. The advances made in the shale oil and gas production technology brought the U.S.A. oil production to another peak, which coupled with OPEC's non-cutting oil production strategy and global economy slowdown triggerd the dive of global oil price. This study first explores the opportunity and risk under current business environment using industrial analysis and SWOT analysis to propose strategic planning on corporate level and evaluates the competition nucleus in a mature industry cycle; secondly, explores the long-term competitive advantage of the company through Resource-Based Theory, Strategic Positioning, and Risk Management and Process Control. Through in-depth interviews with senior management from overseas division and headquarters office of the study company, published periodicals, journals, and web information, along with various related research analyses and company case studies, this study demonstrates the combination of liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase contract with the acquisition of participating interest in LNG development project as a means of vertical supply chain investment, strategic alliance with international oil companies, and using risk management and process control on overseas investment are all beneficial to increasing the competitive advantages. Suggested follow-up research of implementing Balanced Scorecard (BSC) to the Learning & Growth Perspective, promoting competitive power through Strategy-Focused Organization, and execution on assising strategies can increase future competitive advantages and accomplish the objectives in sustainable management.

本研究之個案公司其專業於微波通訊零組件之代理銷售，及配套完整測試方案之整合。目前公司市場範圍延伸至商用與消費性市場，且合作夥伴分佈在台灣、大陸甚至歐美各國。企業面對全球化競爭，若要在世界經濟舞台上扮演重要角色，其中關鍵成功因素之一就是供應鏈夥伴建立緊密的關係。 以本研究之個案公司而言，其專業於微波通訊零組件之代理銷售，及配套完整測試方案之整合。近年來行動世代的崛起，更加速無線射頻通訊技術的革新，目前公司市場範圍延伸至商用與消費性市場，且合作夥伴分佈在台灣、大陸甚至歐美各國，因此供應商與客戶之間的合作與公司策略有密不可分的關係。 本研究藉由個案分析方法，得到以下結論：(一)供應商攻入客戶需掌握的要點，包括己之能力與價值、客戶需求、與客戶達成之共識並發展解決方案、服務之擴大與產品之提升。（二）供應商對於穩固客戶關係需考量之因素，包括產品品質、產品價格、產品交期、服務與信賴關係、進入障礙。 透過本研究結果作為供應商訂定營業策略時的參考，藉以提升供應商能力，增加攻入客戶的機會，並加強客戶與供應商的互動，提高客戶忠誠度並維繫客戶關係，以期獲致最大利益。 / The case company specialize in sale agent in microwave communications components, and supporting complete solution. Currently, the company extend its marketing range to the commercial and consumer markets, it has partners in Taiwan, mainland China, Europe and the United States. Companies face global competition, each of them wants to play an important role on the world economic stage. The key is to establish a close relationship to supply chain partners. This study explores how the case company meets clients needs by their own ability and value on the basis of Resource-Based theory. The relationship between companies and their clients is a special “strategic partnership”. The relationship let company make good use of the core competitiveness in procurement process, maintain a dominant position, thereby affect the clients or industry. This study using case analysis has the following conclusions: (a) There are five points in establishing relationships with clients by supplier, including “our own ability and value”, “clients need”, “the consensus with clients and develop solutions with clients” and “expand the services and products”. (b) There are five points in solidifying relationships with clients by supplier, including “product quality”, “product price”, “product delivery”, “service and relationship of trust”, “barriers to entry”. Suppliers can formulate strategies through the conclusion to enhance its capability, increase the chance of establishing clients, enhance interaction between clients and suppliers, increase clients loyalty, maintain relationship with clients and earn more profit.

This doctoral thesis presents the basic and the main developments of the theories of the firm rooted in Transaction Cost Theory (TCT). Since the article of Coase on the nature of the firm, this question has been elaborated by number of economists. In my point of view, I would like to introduce the last theory developed by the representative of the school called New Institutional Economics. The theory concentrates on the role of institutions. We distinguish institutions formal and informal. The formal are laws, constitution, regulations, contracts and other written rules. The informal don't require a written form and they represent informal restrictions such as rules of behaviour, conventions, traditions and habits. The main purpose of the institutions in their various forms is mainly to protect property rights, enforce voluntary contracts and establish the physical and regulatory infrastructure to facilitate economic activity. Generally, we can call them the rules of the game. They inform us about possible economic behaviour and give us basic restrictions in this sense. First -- the theoretical part of this thesis, we can find a simple model with human asset specificity based on TCT. The main proposition is that transactions with a high level of asset specificity are more probably internalised because the firm handles better such transactions compared to the market, even if asset specificity increases the cost of coordination in the firm. If the hierarchy, for example through the formation of routines, may enhance the efficiency compared to the market, we can modify the previous model. The model developed according to a Knowledge-based view assumes that asset specificity reduces transaction costs inside the firm and increases transaction costs on the market. In the conclusion of the theoretical part is discussed the reply on first formulate hypothesis if the TCT is still compatible with a newer Capability and Knowledge based view. In my opinion based on the presented arguments and views, both theories are compatible, they can answer more questions and explain more issues. The last step links the aforementioned theories into one Theory of firm boundaries. In the practical part of the thesis, I bring basic arguments about the institutional framework quality in the Czech Republic. These arguments rely on the latest studies of the international institutions such The Transparency International, The Heritage Foundation, The Kurtzman Group and mainly The World Bank. Studies reveal certain weak arrangements concerning for example the number of procedures when starting a business, complicated construction permits, rigidity of working hours, time-consuming and administrative demanding tax system, duration of judicial process which results in ineffective contract enforcement and mainly poor protection of property rights. Taking these disclosures into account we have to say that emergent transaction costs are enormous. These transaction costs influence negatively the competitiveness of the firms and the whole Czech economy. Therefore a negative response to the second hypothesis relating to the quality of the institutional framework in the Czech Republic.

A área de estratégia, por meio da teoria baseada em recursos (RBT), desenvolve estudos que procuram compreender as características, recursos, capacidades e processos que levam algumas empresas, na mesma indústria, a terem um desempenho melhor que seus concorrentes. A RBT atingiu a maturidade teórica exigindo novos rumos para a sua revitalização. Simultaneamente, os estudiosos de marketing internacional afirmam que a teoria sobre a imagem do país de origem (COI) precisa ser revigorada e recomendam que ela seja analisada à luz da literatura de estratégia. É sob essa perspectiva que esta tese apresenta a sua contribuição, desenvolvendo e validando uma escala de importância de COI na perspectiva empresarial. O construto foi desenvolvido com base em uma capacidade específica da empresa: a construção e gestão da marca. Para isso, as bases teóricas sobre RBT, interface entre RBT e marketing, COI e marca foram revisadas e, ancorada nesta literatura, foi possível identificar os processos para incorporar a COI na estratégia da marca, os quais foram utilizados como dimensões da escala. Foram realizados diversos procedimentos psicométricos seguindo as recomendações de diversos psicometristas. O constructo foi definido como a capacidade de gestão da incorporação da COI à marca (BCOI), que reflete a importância conferida pela empresa para usar a COI como um recurso na construção da capacidade de marca. Após a etapa inicial, em que foram gerados e validados os itens com pesquisadores e com gestores, realizou-se um levantamento com 457 executivos. A amostra foi dividida em duas subamostras para aplicação de diferentes técnicas estatísticas. Na subamostra 1 foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória que confirmou o modelo inicial da escala delineado junto a pesquisadores e gestores no processo de geração de itens. Esse modelo foi testado na subamostra 2 por meio da análise fatorial confirmatória e da modelagem de equação estrutural. Os resultados indicaram que a BCOI se manifesta por meio de 26 itens organizados em cinco dimensões: elementos textuais e visuais, sentidos, recursos culturais, recursos naturais e empregados / The strategy stream, through resource theory based (RBT), develops studies that seek to understand the characteristics, features, capabilities and processes that lead some companies in the same industry, to have a better performance compered to its competitors. The RBT has reached the theoretical maturity requiring new directions for its revitalization. Simultaneously, international marketing scholars claim that the theory about the country of origin image (COI) needs to be invigorated and recommend it to be examinated in the light of the strategy literature. It is from this perspective that this thesis presents its contribution by developing and validating a scale of importance of COI in business perspective. The construct was developed based on a specific capability of the company: building and manageming the brand (branding). For this, the theoretical basis of RBT, the interface between marketing and RBT, COI and branding were reviewed and anchored in this literature, it was possible to identify the processes to incorporate the COI in the brand strategy, which were used as scale dimensions. various psychometric procedures following the recommendations of several psychometricians were performed. The construct was defined as the branding capability of COI incorporation (BCOI), which reflects the importance given by the company to use the COI as a resource in brand building capability. After the initial stage, in which items were generated and evaluated with researchers and managers, a survey with 457 executives was held. The sample was divided into two subsamples for application of different statistical techniques. An exploratory factor analysis was performed with subsample 1. The EFA produced an initial scale model that was tested in subsample 2 through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results indicated that the BCOI iis manifested through 26 items organized into five dimensions: textual and visual elements, senses, cultural resources, natural resources and employees.

近年來，環境汙染、能源危機等議題，使世界各國莫不開始重視環境永續經營之課題。目前被認為具發展潛力之替代能源包括太陽能、風力、地熱、水力、生質能等，其中，由於太陽能為取之不盡、用之不竭的循環再生能源，具無汙染、發展歷史悠久、取得來源穩定、發電成本逐年下降等優勢，因此，各國政府皆致力於太陽能光電產業之發展與推動。 根據統計，太陽能光電產業產品製造重心在2008年金融風暴後，快速往亞洲地區移動，產量增加最快的地區為中國和臺灣，兩岸因各自不同的地理環境、發展條件、政府政策等因素，促使相關產品在全球市場佔有率持續增加。2009 年全球太陽能電池產量為9.34GW，其中，中國與台灣佔全球總產量的49%（中國38%、台灣11%），可見兩岸同時共享全球太陽能光電市場，亦共同競爭全球再生能源產業版圖。 本研究由廠商角度出發，針對兩岸太陽能光電產業競爭與合作策略進行多面向分析研究。首先透過Porter (1980, 1990)五力分析與鑽石模型，對兩岸太陽能光電產業進行探討，並以廠商層次之資源基礎與交易成本等理論，瞭解個案廠商的交易成本與交易價值，同時探討國家和產業因素是否在廠商合作或不合作決策間形成調節效果。本研究發現，面對中國廠商，不同價值鏈階段的台灣廠商需選擇不同的競爭或合作策略，垂直整合並非台灣太陽能光電廠商首選之發展策略。同時，基於資源與能力的互補性可發現，兩岸同價值鏈階段廠商呈相互競爭狀態，廠商合作動機低，而兩岸不同價值鏈階段廠商的合作動機則高。在合作方式方面，則因台灣廠商的目的性差異，主要分作長短期契約和合資兩種方式。此外，本研究亦發現國家條件，如生產要素互補性與政府政策，以及產業發展現況將帶動兩岸廠商建立合作關係的可能性。 / Due to increasingly environmental issues such as pollution or energy crisis, people begin to regard environmental sustainability as an important topic in recent years. There are several kinds of potential substitute energy, including solar, wind, geothermal, water power, biomass energy, etc. Solar energy is one of important substitute energies because of its pollution-free characteristics, stability and decreasing cost trend. Therefore, the governments are committed to develop and promote the solar photovoltaic industry. According to statistics, the production area of photovoltaic products has been moved quickly from Europe to Asia after the financial crisis in 2008. The two of the fastest growing areas are China and Taiwan. Due to geographical environment, development conditions, government policies and other industrial factors, photovoltaic products from China and Taiwan continue to increase in the global market share. For instance, China and Taiwan accounted for 49% (or 93.4GW) of the worldwide solar cell production (38% in China, 11% in Taiwan) in 2009. It is obvious that China and Taiwan are competing the global photovoltaic market share. Based on five forces model, diamond model, transaction cost theory and resource-based view, this study provides a multi-strategic analysis of co-opetition in the cross-strait photovoltaic industry. By collecting secondary data and conducing case study, I complete a serious of systematic analysis and results with the grounded theory approach.

International tätige Unternehmen werden durch ihre grenzüberschreitenden Tätigkeiten mit zunächst fremden Kulturen konfrontiert. Die Diskussion über die Konzentration der Unternehmen auf ihre Kernkompetenzen führt zu der grundsätzlichen strategischen Überlegung, ob nicht auch die Kulturelle Diversität eine Quelle für die Generierung von Wettbewerbsvorteilen sein kann, und zu der Frage, in welchen Organisationsstrukturen sie proaktiv genutzt werden kann. Es wird ein Organisationsansatz für die wettbewerbsrelevante organisationale Fähigkeit Interkulturelles Lernen entwickelt. Der ressourcenorientierte Ansatz des strategischen Managements dient hierbei als Bezugsrahmen. Die Prozesse organisationalen Lernens bilden die dynamische Komponente, um von der Ebene der Ressourcen zu organisationalen Fähigkeiten zu gelangen. Die Kollektivierung organisationaler Lernprozesse bedarf dabei der Mechanismen von Reflexion und Sozialisation grundlegender Normen und Werte sowie Basisannahmen. Damit überhaupt Interkulturelles Lernen (i.S. von Lernfähigkeit) entstehen kann, werden Gestaltungselemente entwickelt, welche Kulturelle Diversität nicht unterdrücken, sondern explizit in der Organisationsstruktur berücksichtigen. Die organisationstheoretischen Basis hierfür bildet der systemorientierte Ansatz des entwicklungsorientierten Managements. Vor dem Hintergrund einer transnationalen Strategie werden die folgenden Gestaltungselemente entwickelt und kritisch diskutiert: - der Abbau von Lernbarrieren, - interkulturelle Personalentwicklungsmaßnahmen, um die individuelle Lernfähigkeit - als Voraussetzung organisationaler Lernfähigkeit - zu erhöhen, - kulturell gemischte überlappende Arbeitsgruppen, - die heterarchische Konfiguration als integriertes Netzwerk, um Interaktionsräume zwischen Organisationseinheiten aus unterschiedlichen Kulturen zu schaffen, - synergetische Unternehmenskultur, da mit einer hohen Differenzierung der erforderliche Grad an Integration steigt, und um die vielfältigen landeskulturellen Orientierungen zu einer Ganzheit zu integieren, - Organizational Slack, um dysfunktionale Effekte interkultureller Interaktion im langfristigen Gestaltungsprozeß zu überbrücken. Abschließend erfolgt die Diskussion der Kulturabhängigkeit und der Probleme im Anwendungszusammenhang von Interkulturellem Lernen.

無 / Facing today’s highly competitive market and changed business environment, whether the company has the capability to implement successful inter-organizational information systems to achieve efficient supply chain management becomes a significant issue. To fulfill this need, this research aims to develop a framework for measuring the IOS capability. After company interviews, our proposed framework is simplified to measure four IOS capabilities: (1) physical assets, (2) path dependency, (3) relational intangibles (trust and complementary resources), and (4) market power. We propose that firms with these IOS resources can have higher IOS usage, which in turn creates greater IOS performance. / A general survey is then conducted in the Taiwan PC industry to validate our proposed framework. The instrument was tested for validity and reliability properties, and multiple linear regression was used for testing our hypotheses. The results indicate that physical IT assets and relational specific intangibles are positively related with IOS usage. On the other hand, path dependency and market power do not have significant impact on IOS usage. We further explore the relationships between the IOS capabilities and firm performance. The result indicates firms with more IOS usage are more likely to achieve better firm performance. These results can further be examined in a more industry-wide survey in the future. The researchers can also build upon this model to further examine the factors that are discovered.