The main objectives of this thesis are analysis of change in inventory management system in the selected company and propose measures to reduce the financial capital tied up in inventories and an increase of the service level. Several recommendations that could lead to optimization of inventory, while maintaining or even improving the service level were generated based on the analysis.

In this thesis, we develop a SKU level market basket model and apply the model to investigate cross-category reference price effects. This research extends previous work on the category-level multivariate logit model (Russell and Petersen 2000). Our model is a generalization of the multivariate logit model which allows for both complementarity and substitution effects at the brand level. The modeling effort in this thesis allows us to use conditional probability distributions of individual items to construct the final joint-distribution of all possible basket selections. The resulting model is very flexible and accommodates a large variety of market structure patterns. The model structure implies that the changes in brand-level marketing variables directly affect category incidence (by altering category attractiveness) and indirectly determine market basket composition. Because the model can be written in a closed form manner, we can easily study the pattern of brand price competition by computing a matrix of cross-price elasticities. We use scanner panel data for the yogurt category to demonstrate the structural flexibility of the model. The results from this application reveal asymmetric competition consistent with price-tier competition literature. We use this model to investigate how consumers' responses to reference prices within a category spillover into their choices across multiple categories. The notion is that a consumer's subjective judgment of the fairness of the price levels in one category influences the choice decisions of related items in other categories. We begin with building within-category SKU-level model based on previous findings from single category reference price models (i.e., internal versus external reference prices, asymmetric response due to loss aversion, and heterogeneity in response across consumers). We then develop four alternative model specifications for cross-category spillover effects and test competing theories about those effects. Using scanner panel data for detergent and softener categories, we discover valuable implications for reference price effects. First, SKU-level reference price effects exist and improve forecasting ability. Second, those reference price effects influence category attractiveness, but do no spillover across categories. Finally, category-level reference dependent evaluation may exist but not be important in forecasting.

Globalization and market competition drives new product development. As a consequence, companies are forced to eliminate products more frequently. However, the process of eliminating products is often overlooked both in academia and in practice. Omitting the product elimination process can lead to production inefficiencies and unnecessary costs of retaining the products. The results in this thesis discovers inconsistencies in the present product elimination process at PharmaCompany. The inconsistencies are grouped in the four categories: Interaction & Collaboration, External Analysis, Resource Prioritization & Decision Making, Proactivity Analysis. The main suggested improvements comprise a clearer internal communication, increased documentation and restructuring the current process design. In addition, reframing the current elimination process to emulate the academical approach is suggested in order to further legitimize the elimination process and increase interest on the area. The thesis concludes that a more standardized elimination process can lead to increased efficiency by adopting additional filters to identify and analyze underperforming products. Furthermore, the thesis increases awareness of the topic of product elimination and enhances the knowledge within the research area. By linking the product elimination process to the resource allocation process, the thesis marks the overall neglect of the topic, and gives insights on the need for increased attention towards the product elimination process. / Globaliseringen och ökad konkurrens har drivit på ny produktutveckling. Som en konsekvens tvingas företag att eliminera produkter mer frekvent. Borttagning av produkter har dock förbisetts både i den akademiska världen och i praktiken till förmån för andra forskningsämnen. Att utelämna produkt elimineringsprocessen kan leda till produktionsineffektivitet och onödiga kostnader för att behålla produkterna. Avhandlingen resulterar i upptäckten av flera brister i den nuvarande produktelimineringsprocessen på PharmaCompany. Bristerna är grupperade i större kategorier, Interaction & Collaboration, External Analysis, Resource Prioritization & Decision Making, Proactivity Analysis. De viktigaste föreslagna förbättringarna innefattar tydligare intern kommunikation, ökad dokumentation och omstrukturering av den nuvarande processdesignen. Dessutom föreslås omramning av den nuvarande eliminationsprocessen för att efterlikna den akademiska metoden för att ytterligare legitimera eliminationsprocessen och för att få högre prioritet inom resursallokeringsprocessen. Avhandlingen drar slutsatsen att en mer standardiserad eliminationsprocess kan hjälpa processen att bli effektivare genom att använda fler filter för att identifiera och analysera svaga produkter. Dessutom ökar avhandlingen medvetenheten om ämnet produkteliminering och förstärker kunskapen inom forskningsområdet. Genom att länka produktelimineringsprocessen till resursallokeringsprocessen markerar avhandlingen den övergripande försummelsen av ämnet och ger insikter om behovet av produktelimineringsprocessen behöver få högre fokus och forskning.

宏碁在 2005 到2010 創造了爆發性營業額成長，這個高度成長已超過一般公司的表現；也引起 Dell 和 HP 研究 Acer 的威脅分析。每個公司都有它們的核心競爭能耐，去贏得在PC業界傑出表現的方程式。此論文動機是去發覺出真正Acer內部贏的方程式，看看這個公司在過去五年來；如何得到手提電腦中最高成長的市佔率。 有三個研究目的，此論文將研究: (1) 是什麼全球策略帶領新產品開發能力與技術創新? (2) 有什麼主要的新產品開發流程與系統，導致最低開發成本及最快的開發時程? (3) 客戶的評論與回饋如何影響產品計畫與管理方式。總之，本研究將找出Acer核心競爭力，在2005 到2010快速成長的五年。 此研究架構包含三的項目: (1) 全球策略: 全球，事業，和產品層次。(2) NPD 新產品開發流程的組織、流程、與系統。(3) 技術創新和其管理能力。我們用Acer這個擁有16%全球PC市佔公司來探究與其質量研究 。首要資料得到、收集、消化 ，都是從各個相關部門來增加資料正確性；如業務、行銷、產品管理、研發、與品質服務。但有些資料及表格式內容則由許多資深內部同仁的問卷調查和他們各別的想法。同時，研討最高階管理者，為何深刻影響全球資源整頓與分配? 看到內部NPD組織與不斷研發改善流程結合?最後，也看出什麼專案應包含那種NPD 系統的優化? 這本論文共發現了十個研究發現如下: （１）Acer的全球事業開發策略目標已經清楚定義事業團隊與NPD 新產品研發團隊相關工作職責（２）Acer 的全球外包策略也幫助公司的營運效率，也加強產品設計品質；藉由結合外部優勢資源與其管理能力。(3) Acer 管理層不斷推動的成本領導策略，來保持全球產品競爭力。(4) 四次在 2006-2009 M&A 事件，產生快速市佔提昇，但也付出相當整合資源投入。(5) 專案矩陣組織是最通用的，也讓最高管理者，快速安排適當開發資源，來控制時間、成本、和規格。(6) 在NPD開發中，簡化系統模組共同設計，來節省開發成本，也能創造市場中更有彈性產品。(7) 一個簡化的公司，藉由不斷流程精化與專案效能管理來達到最佳NPD境地。(8) 在不同的管理和功能團隊，都有導入NPD跨平台快速新技術能力。(9) 整合全球法務系統與資源，加強法務專利管理能力，並高度結合研發團隊與NPD 設計工程。(10) 聽取客戶端價值聲音，以改善產品規劃和品質，提昇其競爭力。 最後，有些實際有效建議，將會給在PC產業界事業和產品管理團隊思考策略管理計劃；並如果最佳化內部NPD系統去調整其各個不同層級研發流程、專案與組織的管理能耐和技術創新。這些建議將促使公司具有高度國際PC競爭力。 關鍵字: 宏碁 戴爾 惠普 新產品開發 核心競爭力 全球策略 技術創新 成本領導 研發 企業倂購 專案矩陣組織 出貨單元 / Acer has made rampaging business growth during 2005 – 2010. The outstanding and surpassing performance was an unusual case that induced Dell and HP to conduct Acer analysis projects how to react to the Acer’s threatens. Each company would have its core competence or competitive capability to make it a winning formula to attain breakthroughs in the PC industry. The motivation of this study is to figure out what real winning formula inside to keep Acer obtaining the highest market share and growth in laptop sales for the continuous five years till 2010 Q3. Three objectives will be studied in this thesis: (1) what are the global strategies that lead to new product development capability and technology innovation? (2) What are the key process and systems of new product development (NPD) that result in the lowest development cost and fastest development lead time? (3) How do customers’ comments and feedbacks impact product planning and management? In summary, this study is to explore Acer’s core competence that results in business rampaging growth during the years 2005 to 2010. Research framework of this study consists of three constructs: (1) Global strategies: global, business and product level, (2) NPD organizations, processes and systems, (3) Technology innovation and management capabilities. As an exploratory study, qualitative research is adopted to conduct case study on the firm – Acer, which has attained 16% global PC market share in 2010. For data collection and digestion, primary data were obtained through multiple sources of evidence and findings in order to increase its validity. Some data came from internal business and product development documents especially on sales, marketing, product management, R&D and quality service. There are other data sources such as articles’ tabular content, case study database, and senior colleagues’ notes and opinions to the above-mentioned questions. Why do top-management strategies of a corporate deeply influence allocation and integration of global resources? What does internal NPD organizational adaption should be engaged with continuous improving design process? Which projects could attain optimization of the NPD systems will be analyzed as well. Findings of this study are as below: 1. Acer business goal develops varies of global strategies that clearly define task ownerships between business teams and NPD teams. 2. Acer’s global outsourcing strategy may assist with company’s operational efficiency and enhance product design quality by leveraging talented resources with their capable management skill. 3. Acer cost leadership strategy driven by top management stays the sustainability of global competitiveness. 4. The four times M&A events increased market share significantly but took heavy resources to the companies being acquired during the years of 2006-2009. 5. Project matrix organization is most common one that allows top management to allocate capable development resources to control projects in schedule, cost, and specification. 6. Simplification with modularity of system design during NPD is to save development cost and create flexibility of product SKU to the market. 7. A learning company like Acer may improve internal NPD design defects by continuously taking process refinement and project management to achieve the best NPD practice. 8. A fast adaptability of new technology design in platform during NPD for different managerial and function teams to perform technology innovation. 9. To leverage global legal experienced resource and system to enhance legal management capability to closely engaged with R&D during NPD design works. 10. Listen to the value voices of customers for product planning and quality improvement may play a key refinement process to sustain product in competitiveness. At the end, practical suggestions will be given for companies in PC industry on business and product strategies management plan and how to optimize internal NPD system to refine process, project and organization by different level of management capabilities and technology innovation. That could render a company highly competitive in a global PC market place. Keywords: Acer, Dell, HP, NPD, core competence, global strategies, technology innovation, cost leadership, R&D, M&A, project matrix organization, SKU

The thesis is a comparative and multidisciplinary study of legendary genealogies in the historical writing of northern England and Iceland c. 1120 – c. 1241. Historical writing was produced in abundance over this period in both areas and the frequent contact between England and Scandinavia, as well as shared use of early medieval insular sources make them especially suitable for comparison. The Viking invasions and settlement in England had a significant impact on English culture, language and literature and changed attitudes to their own legendary past. The Danish conquest of England in the early eleventh-century also brought the insular and Scandinavian worlds closer together, and even after the Norman Conquest in 1066, England and Scandinavia engaged in scholarly and textual exchange The theoretical framework for the thesis combines approaches from religious history, art history, political history, literature history and gender history. The main research questions of the thesis consider the dissemination, development, and purpose of legendary genealogies. The sources are a collection of Durham related manuscripts with illuminations of the pagan god Woden (c. 1120–88) in two historical works De Primo Saxonum Aduentu and De Gestis Regum; Genealogia Regum Anglorum (Rievaulx, 1153x54) by Aelred of Rievaulx; two works attributed to Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda (Iceland, 1220s) and Heimskringla (Iceland, 1225x35). Common to the sources is the inclusion of genealogies that stretch from legendary generations to living individuals at the time of writing. Thus, genealogies connected dynasties and civilisations in mutual descent from pagan, Trojan and biblical ancestors. By analysing textual dissemination as well as political contexts, literary patronage and mechanisms in legitimisation of power, the thesis address amalgamations of origin myths, the use and significance euhemerised pagan gods, and female generations in genealogies.