Researchers studying the alignment of business resources usually focus on business cases that inherently have a going-concern interaction built on long-term relationships at the firm level (e.g., Barney, 1991) dyadic level (e.g., Eisenhardt & Martin, 2000) or the broader network level (e.g., Dyer, 1996). Resource alignment is usually flexible in terms of the timeline for identifying and aligning resources and resource engagement. While contractual limitations can be applied to resource alignment, resource engagement holds a notion of persistent value adding relationship. However, there are multitudes of contexts where relationships are bounded by the limited life of a project and by the way where resources must be rapidly aligned and managed. Examples exist in sectors as diverse as construction, filmmaking, and oil exploration. The study examined theories and empirical studies of resource alignment ranging from resource-based views (e.g., Wernerfelt, 1984) to more complex network views of social organizational interactions (e.g., Gulati et al., 2000). The majority of these literatures treat the development of business relationships and the acquisition of resources as a phenomenon that occurs over an extended period. Time-bound transactions challenge these theoretical perspectives built around the longevity of inter-organizational relations. Thus, the key strategic management problem this research addresses is how resources and capabilities can be rapidly aligned and managed in a time-bound network to achieve sustainable competitive advantages (SCA) at the network level. The fieldwork was conducted on more than 20 construction projects in the United Arab Emirates. Using secondary source data, I mapped the projects??? networks and interviewed 45 industry experts about the resources and capabilities their firms bring to the network, and how quickly they can be aligned to achieve the objectives of the project. The interviews were conducted over 11 months between 2011 and 2012 and amounted to more than 20 hours of audio and hundreds of notes including network sketches. I also investigated the transfer of resources and capabilities that may help network members to increase their competitive advantage when bidding on future projects. The benefits of long-term relationships are evident in any business; however, firms in the project-based construction industry often cannot reap those benefits. This study built upon theories of network-based resource alignment in the extreme situation of time-bound projects. The two-phase qualitative research approach relied on intensive interviews with key decision makers. Template analysis was used as the primary method of data analysis. This research???s primary finding is that there is no evidence of the concept of sustainable competitive advantage at the network level, while it is evident at the firm level. Other findings confirm that the events of full replication and non-replication of networks after project completion do not exist nor do decision makers favour them. While these findings imply the lack of attention to the benefits of contributing to a network, the more apparent scenario is replication of parts of a network, which is a result of two factors: 1) capabilities developed at firm level, which in return develop resources, and other capabilities, 2) movement of resources across network entities. The results shed light on decision-making techniques for efficient management of resources in time-bound business transactions such as construction and other projects. However, they may also generalize to dynamic business situations such as the entry of a firm into a new market or the entrepreneurial start-up of a new company in which resources must also be quickly aligned.

Many organisations use strategic management as an imperative to gain competitive advantages. Theorists have not been able to ascertain whether prescriptive or emergent strategic approaches will be most suitable within an organisational climate for sustaining these competitive advantages. The notion of creativity has been identified as a source of competitive advantage that organisations may make use of within their strategic frameworks. However, within the organisational climate, there may be various barriers to creativity that will impede performance outcomes, efficiency and potential competitive advantage for an organisation. The study concerns itself m d y with an investigation into the strategic and organisational climates within selected higher education institutions in South Africa, as these institutions are in need of an assessment regarding potential sources of competitive advantage, in order to survive. The imperative to remain competitive is primarily due to the turbulent and changeable environments that these institutions find themselves in. This instability has occurred as a result of various changes in higher education due to the merging of several higher education institutions and the changes in the configuration of others. The study has shown that creativity is a source of competitive advantage. This was done by determining which barriers to creativity were present within the organisational climates of the selected institutions, as well as which strategic management approaches were being employed by the said institutions. The information obtained from the data gathered was compared to two competitive advantage measures (throughput and research output rates) of those higher education institutions. Three pivotal questions were asked and answered by the study in this regard. What are the prevalent prescriptive strategy dimensions and processes being employed by selected South African public higher education institutions? What are the prevalent creativity barrier dimensions that exist with selected public higher education institutions in South Africa? What relationships can be observed between the prescriptive strategy dimensions, the creativity barrier dimensions and the organisational competitive advantage performance output dimensions of throughput rate and research output in selected public South African higher education institutions? Non probability, judgment sample was obtained from four selected higher education institutions located in the Gauteng province in South Africa during the latter half of 2004. The survey requested certain biographical information on respondents (who had to fulfill the criteria of being full-time academic employees working for the institution in question), information on the strategic climate and barriers to creativity with the organisational climate. The last section of the questionnaire contained open-ended questions. Data on the throughput and research output rates of the institutions was obtained separately from the South African Department of Education (DOE), and correlated against the data obtained from the questionnaire. The questionnaire was testing for eight pre-determined creativity factors within the organisational climate (identified from the literature review and previous studies), and a separate dimension of prescriptive strategic planning. Overall only five of the creativity barriers were found to be most predominant within the selected higher education institutions, namely: Insufficient Resources; Lack of Team Unity; Lack of Organisational Support; Organisational Hindrances and Workload pressure. The factors were compared to the measures of competitive advantage and it was determined that there was a positive correlation between a higher prevalence of barriers and a lower performance output, which indicated that creativity could be identified as a source of competitive advantage within those institutions. This lent evidence to support the initial, first hypothesis of the study. Furthermore, it was discovered that those institutions that were utilising prescriptive strategic management approaches were more inched to achieve higher performance in terms of their throughput rates. Refuted the second hypothesis of the study that was advocating that emergent strategy was more likely to result in competitive advantage. More education institutions, known for their typically bureaucratic approaches might be more able to utilise formal procedures to obtain increased competitive advantage than utilising a more informal, emergent approach, as academic employees might more freely be able to explore creative alternatives under the security of prescriptive strategic approaches. It is likely that any organisation would wish to improve their competitive performance in order to be more effective. Higher education institutions also need to be concerned about their performance in order to continue operating effectively. It is necessary, then for those higher education institutions, to take note of these potential barriers to creativity with their organisational climates, which were highlighted by the study and to proactively remove them to ensure they remain competitive into the future. In addition, these institutions should consider which strategic management approaches they are currently utilising and streamline them to cement the competitive advantage. It was advocated that South African higher education institutions should be adopting formalised strategic management approaches in this regard. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Business Management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Background – In today´s globalized environment, a stronger emphasis on moving production to low-cost environments is present. Assembling a complex product usually involves multiple smaller manufacturing firms across the globe. As a result, smaller specialized firms have an important role in the market but are also strongly dependent on the demand for the final product. Hence, their business model can be dependent on a specific patch which inhibit innovation and evidently leaving them vulnerable to changes in the environment. One main challenge for companies´ business model is the question of continuous flexibility and adaption to an ever changing business context. Purpose - The purpose of this thesis is to explore dynamic capabilities as a source of business model innovation in manufacturing subcontractor SMEs in Jönköping County. The studies aim is to explore how these firms develop dynamic capabilities in order to identify and then overcome barriers for business model innovation. Method – Primary data was collected through a multiple case study of three manufacturing companies in Jönköping County. The data was later coded and findings cross-case compared with a lens of dynamic capability view in order to find similarities and dissimilarities. Conclusion- The findings from the three case companies indicates that dynamic capabilities are interdependent to each other, meaning all need to be taken into consideration for continuously successful business model innovation. Disregarding the development of one business model component can restrain others, thereby resulting in inadequate innovations. A sensing capability was identified however yet the abilities to seize and reconfigure opportunities taking the whole BM into consideration were not present for all of the three case companies. By lack of a coherent development of the BM, barriers become present and a sustained competitive advantage is unreachable. All three cases agreed upon the human resource management to be the major challenge for their organization to sustain a healthy growth.

O cenário de competição empresarial exige das empresas diversas posturas diferenciadoras, dentre estas, posturas que sejam capazes de desenvolver vantagens competitivas sustentáveis. Como resultado de sua busca pela competitividade, as empresas procuram desenvolver suas competências essenciais por meio das pessoas que a compõe. Dentre as formas de desenvolvimento organizacional, solidificou-se a realização de treinamentos no ambiente das corporações. O pensamento científico relacionado ao tema, observa a necessidade de que o treinamento esteja alinhado às estratégias da empresa e que seja capaz de produzir resultados. Surge a necessidade de se avaliar sistematicamente o treinamento e em especial seus resultados. Com o objetivo de delinear as características particulares do fenômeno, este estudo analisou as dimensões qualitativas de um programa de treinamento o MBA (Master in Business Administration) Gestão Pública realizado no Banco do Brasil. A metodologia utilizada foi o estudo de caso, valendo-se da realização de grupos focais, de entrevistas semiestruturadas e de análise de dados secundários para a obtenção de evidências que ofereceram elementos de análise do treinamento realizado. Conclui-se que o programa produziu resultados no contexto da Diretoria de Governo do Banco do Brasil, tendo atingido os objetivos de proposição do treinamento. Foram estudados quatro modelos de avalaição de treinamento, tendo sido defindo o Modelo MAIS como adequado para explorar o curso estudado. A avaliação de treinamento delineou o quanto o programa atendeu ao modelo, tendo sido observada a presença maioria dos parâmetros e ausência de alguns outros. Observou-se resultados objetivos do curso, como o planejamento de produtos e o dimensionamento de estratégias organizacionais. Muitos dos resultados observados encontram-se no contexto de outras ações organizacionais da Diretoria estudada e não podem ser apontados como resultado do treinamento, por outro lado o treinamento é apontado como um dos elementos de contexto que contribuíram com este resultado. Foram identificados ainda resultados que podem ser classificados como fonte de Vantagem Competitiva Sustentável da Diretoria de Governo do Banco do Brasil e que estão associados ao programa MBA Gestão Pública. / The competitive business environment demands differentiation postures from every company, especially, postures that are capable to develop sustainable competitive advantages. In consequence of their search for competitiveness, companies look for developing their essential abilities through the people who compose it. Amongst different forms of organizational development, training becomes a frequent practice in companies environment. The scientific thought related to the subject emphasizes a necessity of alignment between training and companies strategies, and the capability of producing results. Systematic evaluation of the training and especially its results becomes necessary. In order to delineate the particular characteristics of the phenomenon, this study analyzed qualitative dimensions of a training program called MBA Public Management implemented at Banco do Brasil. The methodology was a case study, based on focus groups, half-structuralized interviews, and secondary data analysis to attain evidences that offered analysis elements of the studied training. It is concluded that the program produced results in the context of the Government Board of the Banco do Brasil, and reached the proposal objectives of the training. Four models of evaluation of training had been studied, and the Model MAIS was considered adjusted to explore the studied course. The training evaluation delineated how much of the model was attended by the program it was observed the presence of the majority of the parameters and absence of some others. It was also observed objective results of the course, for instance the planning of products and the sizing of organizational strategies. There were many of the observed results, which are related to other organizational actions of the studied Board, and they cannot be pointed as resulted from the training. However, the training is pointed as one of the context elements that had contributed with these results. It was also identified results that can be classified as sources of Sustainable Competitive Advantage of the Government Board of the Banco do Brasil, which are associated to MBA Public Management program.

A tese trata de tipos distintos do conceito chamado de marcas compartilhadas, sendo: Indicações Geográficas (IGs), Marca Coletiva e Marca Setorial. Neste sentido, o objetivo geral da tese foi o de investigar se a construção do recurso marcas compartilhadas leva à obtenção de Vantagem Competitiva Sustentável (VCS) na perspectiva Resource-based view (RBV) no setor vitivinicultor brasileiro. A pesquisa foi exploratória com abordagem qualitativa. Realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica, documental, observação direta e entrevistas em profundidade. Os dados primários foram coletados por meio de entrevistas no mês de maio/2015 junto aos órgãos governamentais como MAPA, INPI, SEBRAE e IBRAVIN. As entrevistas com as associações ocorreram com a APROVALE, ASPROVINHO, APROMONTES, APROBELO, AFAVIN, CPEG e AVIGA. Com os proprietários e/ou gestores das vinícolas foram realizadas dezoito entrevistas em seis municípios da região da Serra Gaúcha. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se a técnica da análise de conteúdo. Foram delineadas três proposições: P1 - o grau de desenvolvimento das marcas compartilhadas varia em cada associação; P2 - o uso de marcas compartilhadas proporciona a construção do recurso interno como fonte de VCS e P3 - as marcas compartilhadas proporcionam a obtenção de VCS, de acordo com o VRIA- Valoroso, Raro, Imperfeitamente imitável/substituível e Associação -. Estas proposições foram confirmadas, seguindo o conceito de construção do recurso interno (building) e o modelo VRIO - Valoroso, Raro, Imperfeitamente imitável/substituível e Organização - adaptado para VRIA neste estudo. A primeira proposição mostrou que existe uma associação pioneira e mais antiga, a qual possui maior experiência em termos de gestão. As outras associações surgiram depois e estão em processo de desenvolvimento. Na segunda proposição, constatou-se que as Marcas Compartilhadas são recursos que podem ser construídos internamente. E, na terceira proposição, confirmou-se que as Marcas Compartilhadas preenchem as quatro condições do VRIA. As contribuições teóricas foram a interação entre Marcas Compartilhadas e VCS; o entendimento dos conceitos de cada tipo de Marca Compartilhada e o desenvolvimento do modelo VRIA com o A de Associação, de modo que o pensamento de análise para uma empresa passa a ser feito para a coletividade, pois a existência de uma Marca Compartilhada implica na criação de uma associação que se torna detentora da marca.Assim, com os resultados alcançados, pode-se concluir que as Marcas Compartilhadas são recursos que podem ser construídos internamente dentro do modelo VRIA, sendo fonte de obtenção de VCS na perspectiva RBV. / The thesis deals with different types concept called shared brands, as follows: Geographical Indications (GI\'s), Collective Brand and Brand Sector. Therefore, the general aim of the thesis was to investigate the construction of resource shared brandes leads to achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) in Resource-based view perspective (RBV) in the Brazilian winery sector. The research was exploratory with a qualitative approach. It conducted a bibliographic research, documentary, direct observation and in-depth interviews. Primary data was collected through interviews in May/2015 with government agencies such as MAPA, INPI , SEBRAE and IBRAVIN. Interviews with associations occurred with APROVALE, ASPROVINHO, APROMONTES, APROBELO, AFAVIN, CPEG and AVIGA. With the owners and/or managers of the wineries were held eighteen interviews in six cities of the Serra Gaucha region. Data were analyzed using the technique of content analysis. Three propositions were outlined: P1 - the degree of development of shared brands varies in each association; P2 - the use of shared brands provides the construction of the internal resource as source SCA and P3 - shared brands help obtain SCA according to VRIA- Value, Rareness, Imitability,Association -. These propositions were confirmed, following the concept of building the internal resource (building) and VRIO model - Value, Rareness, Imitability and Organization - adapted to VRIA in this study. The first proposition has shown that there is a pioneer and oldest association, which has more experience in terms of management. Other associations emerged later and are in the development process. In the second proposition, it was found that the shared brands are resources that can be built internally. In the third proposition, it was confirmed that the shared brand fulfill the four VRIA conditions. The theoretical contributions were the interaction between shared brands and SCA; understanding the concepts of each type of hhared brand and the development of VRIA model with the Association, so that the thought of analysis for a company is to be done for the collective, since the existence of a shared brand implies creation an association that becomes owner of marca.Thus, with the results achieved, it can be concluded that the shared brands are resources that can be built internally within the VRIA model, a source of obtaining the SCA RBV perspective.

Submitted by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2018-03-01T15:40:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rony_Salgado_Locher.pdf: 3026470 bytes, checksum: c47f4365b124896e5d1467fad82113d6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Alves Rodrigues (aalves@espm.br) on 2018-03-01T15:41:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Rony_Salgado_Locher.pdf: 3026470 bytes, checksum: c47f4365b124896e5d1467fad82113d6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Debora Cristina Bonfim Aquarone (deborabonfim@espm.br) on 2018-03-01T18:46:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Rony_Salgado_Locher.pdf: 3026470 bytes, checksum: c47f4365b124896e5d1467fad82113d6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-05T10:51:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rony_Salgado_Locher.pdf: 3026470 bytes, checksum: c47f4365b124896e5d1467fad82113d6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-12-20 / This research investigates how strategic networks contribute to the financial and operational performance of an recycling company in the international field. The theoretical and conceptual framework includes: industrial ecology, strategic networks and sustainable competitive advantage. In the empirical part of the qualitative nature, which has the natural environment as a direct source of data and the researcher as a fundamental instrument, a case study was carried out, which is a specific process chosen for the development of this research, through exploratory research with a company Brazilian company for the recycling of electronic circuit boards, which has been operating in the market for more than 15 years, exporting this type of material for processing in secondary smelters abroad. In all, seven in-depth interviews were conducted with the managing partners of the company, and one executive of the smelter processing company abroad. From these interviews, three of them requested confidentiality of both their identities and the content presented. The rest are in this in the research described in their entirety. As results, the main findings indicate that a company to participate in a network, must have proprietary resources, its full domain and knowledge, such as: access to information, resources, markets and technologies with the advantages of learning and economies of scale And scope allowing companies to achieve their strategic objectives as risk reduction and outsourcing of the stages of the value chain and organizational functions. These resources must also be those of the other companies in the network; There must still be a durable and reliable relationship over time, a relationship that is not opportunistic and that generates mutual trust. With these elements we will have the creation of ties, which can be identified as links of common interest, which will keep the network cohesive and competitive in their respective markets. This relationship can generate over time a sustainable competitive advantage, which can express superiority of the network in relation to its competition, adding value, which can not be simultaneously implemented by other companies. / Esta pesquisa investiga como redes estratégicas contribuem para o desempenho financeiro e operacional de uma empresa de reciclagem em âmbito internacional. O referencial teórico e conceitual inclui: ecologia industrial, redes estratégicas e vantagem competitiva sustentável. Na parte empírica de natureza qualitativa, que tem o ambiente natural como fonte direta de dados e o pesquisador como instrumento fundamental, foi realizado um estudo de caso, que é um processo específico escolhido para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, através de pesquisa exploratória com uma empresa brasileira de reciclagem de placas de circuito eletrônico, que atua no mercado há mais de 15 anos, exportando esse tipo de material para processamento em fundições secundárias no exterior. Ao todo foram conduzidas sete entrevistas em profundidade com os sócios gestores da empresa, e um executivo da fundição processadora no exterior. Dessas entrevistas, três delas solicitaram sigilo tanto de suas identidades, como dos conteúdos apresentados. As demais estão nesta na pesquisa descritas na sua totalidade. Também foram analisados seis estudos e relatórios nacionais e internacionais, e mais de 200 páginas de matérias publicadas em mídia impressa e digital sobre o tema. Como resultados, os principais achados indicam que uma empresa para participar de uma rede, tem que ter recursos proprietários, do seu pleno domínio e conhecimento, tais como: acesso à informação, recursos, mercados e tecnologias com as vantagens de aprendizado e economias de escala e escopo permitindo às empresas atingirem a seus objetivos estratégicos como diminuição de riscos e terceirização dos estágios da cadeia de valor e funções organizacionais. Tais recursos devem também ser os das outras empresas da rede; tem ainda que existir um relacionamento durável e confiável ao longo do tempo, relacionamento esse, não oportunista, e que gere confiança mútua. Com esses elementos teremos então a criação de laços, que podem ser identificados como vínculos de comum interesse, que manterão a rede coesa e competitiva nos seus respectivos mercados de atuação. Essa relação pode gerar ao longo do tempo uma vantagem competitiva sustentável, que pode expressar superioridade da rede em relação a sua concorrência, agregando valor, que não possa ser simultaneamente incorporado por outras empresas.

A tese trata de tipos distintos do conceito chamado de marcas compartilhadas, sendo: Indicações Geográficas (IGs), Marca Coletiva e Marca Setorial. Neste sentido, o objetivo geral da tese foi o de investigar se a construção do recurso marcas compartilhadas leva à obtenção de Vantagem Competitiva Sustentável (VCS) na perspectiva Resource-based view (RBV) no setor vitivinicultor brasileiro. A pesquisa foi exploratória com abordagem qualitativa. Realizou-se pesquisa bibliográfica, documental, observação direta e entrevistas em profundidade. Os dados primários foram coletados por meio de entrevistas no mês de maio/2015 junto aos órgãos governamentais como MAPA, INPI, SEBRAE e IBRAVIN. As entrevistas com as associações ocorreram com a APROVALE, ASPROVINHO, APROMONTES, APROBELO, AFAVIN, CPEG e AVIGA. Com os proprietários e/ou gestores das vinícolas foram realizadas dezoito entrevistas em seis municípios da região da Serra Gaúcha. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se a técnica da análise de conteúdo. Foram delineadas três proposições: P1 - o grau de desenvolvimento das marcas compartilhadas varia em cada associação; P2 - o uso de marcas compartilhadas proporciona a construção do recurso interno como fonte de VCS e P3 - as marcas compartilhadas proporcionam a obtenção de VCS, de acordo com o VRIA- Valoroso, Raro, Imperfeitamente imitável/substituível e Associação -. Estas proposições foram confirmadas, seguindo o conceito de construção do recurso interno (building) e o modelo VRIO - Valoroso, Raro, Imperfeitamente imitável/substituível e Organização - adaptado para VRIA neste estudo. A primeira proposição mostrou que existe uma associação pioneira e mais antiga, a qual possui maior experiência em termos de gestão. As outras associações surgiram depois e estão em processo de desenvolvimento. Na segunda proposição, constatou-se que as Marcas Compartilhadas são recursos que podem ser construídos internamente. E, na terceira proposição, confirmou-se que as Marcas Compartilhadas preenchem as quatro condições do VRIA. As contribuições teóricas foram a interação entre Marcas Compartilhadas e VCS; o entendimento dos conceitos de cada tipo de Marca Compartilhada e o desenvolvimento do modelo VRIA com o A de Associação, de modo que o pensamento de análise para uma empresa passa a ser feito para a coletividade, pois a existência de uma Marca Compartilhada implica na criação de uma associação que se torna detentora da marca.Assim, com os resultados alcançados, pode-se concluir que as Marcas Compartilhadas são recursos que podem ser construídos internamente dentro do modelo VRIA, sendo fonte de obtenção de VCS na perspectiva RBV. / The thesis deals with different types concept called shared brands, as follows: Geographical Indications (GI\'s), Collective Brand and Brand Sector. Therefore, the general aim of the thesis was to investigate the construction of resource shared brandes leads to achieving Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA) in Resource-based view perspective (RBV) in the Brazilian winery sector. The research was exploratory with a qualitative approach. It conducted a bibliographic research, documentary, direct observation and in-depth interviews. Primary data was collected through interviews in May/2015 with government agencies such as MAPA, INPI , SEBRAE and IBRAVIN. Interviews with associations occurred with APROVALE, ASPROVINHO, APROMONTES, APROBELO, AFAVIN, CPEG and AVIGA. With the owners and/or managers of the wineries were held eighteen interviews in six cities of the Serra Gaucha region. Data were analyzed using the technique of content analysis. Three propositions were outlined: P1 - the degree of development of shared brands varies in each association; P2 - the use of shared brands provides the construction of the internal resource as source SCA and P3 - shared brands help obtain SCA according to VRIA- Value, Rareness, Imitability,Association -. These propositions were confirmed, following the concept of building the internal resource (building) and VRIO model - Value, Rareness, Imitability and Organization - adapted to VRIA in this study. The first proposition has shown that there is a pioneer and oldest association, which has more experience in terms of management. Other associations emerged later and are in the development process. In the second proposition, it was found that the shared brands are resources that can be built internally. In the third proposition, it was confirmed that the shared brand fulfill the four VRIA conditions. The theoretical contributions were the interaction between shared brands and SCA; understanding the concepts of each type of hhared brand and the development of VRIA model with the Association, so that the thought of analysis for a company is to be done for the collective, since the existence of a shared brand implies creation an association that becomes owner of marca.Thus, with the results achieved, it can be concluded that the shared brands are resources that can be built internally within the VRIA model, a source of obtaining the SCA RBV perspective.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to find out when Research and Development (R&D) becomes a suitable attribute for a production company to outsource. In an environment where innovations are following up quickly up and uncertainty about the type of innovation and customer is a fact, external sourcing can bring a competitive advantage. The empirical evidence shows that when R&D is outsourced the total cost does not increase at a due cause of outsourcing in this given study.</p><p>Although a lot of theory explains outsourcing as a cost increasing factor, the internal experience and frequent relation between the technical production company Beta and its R&D vendor company Alfa can decrease costs considerably due to lower communication and governance costs. This was not explicitly expressed in related theory and is therefore a contribution to the academia as well as for managers who seek to find an answer to the question of when to outsource and when not to outsource.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to find out when Research and Development (R&amp;D) becomes a suitable attribute for a production company to outsource. In an environment where innovations are following up quickly up and uncertainty about the type of innovation and customer is a fact, external sourcing can bring a competitive advantage. The empirical evidence shows that when R&amp;D is outsourced the total cost does not increase at a due cause of outsourcing in this given study. Although a lot of theory explains outsourcing as a cost increasing factor, the internal experience and frequent relation between the technical production company Beta and its R&amp;D vendor company Alfa can decrease costs considerably due to lower communication and governance costs. This was not explicitly expressed in related theory and is therefore a contribution to the academia as well as for managers who seek to find an answer to the question of when to outsource and when not to outsource.

The previous chapters described in detail the literature, theory and research on Co-alignment, RBV and SHRM that was the basis for the development of a construct for the conceptualization of HPWP in the casual theme restaurant sector of the US hospitality industry for management. Firms able to implement such HPWP systems possessing universality, i.e. complementary internal fit, have been shown to increase the intangible value of their human capital (employees) and create greater economic value (Delery, 1998). This study used the co-alignment principle in conjunction with concepts in SHRM and RBV to develop a theory for a HPWP system for casual theme restaurants in the US, which is named a High Performance People System (HPPS). The co-alignment model for hospitality organizations which is the foundation of the theoretical model for this research (Olsen, West, and Tse;1998) describes the relationship between four key constructs, i.e. the environment, strategy choice, firm structure, and firm performance. Briefly, the four constructs in the model must be in alignment with each other in order for the firm to produce the greatest value for its stakeholders. Co-alignment theory purports that, "if the firm is able to identify the opportunities that exist in the forces driving change, invest in competitive methods that take advantage of these opportunities, and allocate resources to those that create the greatest value, the financial results desired by owners and investors have a much better chance of being achieved" (Olsen et al. 1998, p.2). SHRM researchers have been advocates of the theory that supports the causal relationship between HRM practices, sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) and firm performance. Several strategic human resource management researchers such as, Cappelli & Singh (1992),Wright & McMahan (1992), Pfeffer (1994), Lado & Wison (1995), Huselid (1995), Jackson & Schuler (1995),Becker & Gerhart (1996), Delany & Huselid (1996), Boxall (1998), Pfeffer (1998), Schuler & Jackson (2000), Ulrich & Beatty (2001), Lepak & Snell (2002), Hartog (2004) and others have directly or indirectly made attempts to theorize the effects of single or multiple human resource management variables on firm performance. These efforts have led to the incremental development of the strategic human resource management literature that stresses the relationships between the HRM practices, SCA and firm performance. There is an emergent body of evidence demonstrating that "the methods used by an organization to manage its human resources can have a substantial impact on many organizationally relevant outcomes" (Delery, 1998, p. 1). Convoluting the research on HPWP is incongruity among researchers on the micro HRM practices which are included in the SHRM system; there is little concurrence among scholars with respect to specifically which human resource practices should be incorporated (Becker & Gerhart, 1996; Rogers & Wright, 1998; Chadwick & Cappelli, 1999). RBV is one of the ten schools of thought in the field of management theory (Mintzberg, 2000) and is predicated on the concept that in order to create a sustainable competitive advantage and produce value for the firm, individual policies or practices produce the greatest results when they operate in a complex system that is not easily imitated (Barney, 1995). Resources are the "physical things a firm buys, leases or produces for its own use or the people hired on terms that make them effectively part of the firm" (Penrose, 1959: 67). Wernerfelt (1984) defines a firm's resources as "tangible or intangible assets which are tied semi-permanently to the firm" (p. 172). Barney (1991) further suggested that resources which can be used to create a SCA must have value, rareness, inimitability and substitutability The research focused on the discovery of the components of a HPWP system construct in the US casual theme restaurant segment for operating managers and the performance metrics used to judge their effectiveness. An exploratory study, in part using the Delphi method, serves as the overall research approach. A cross section of restaurant industry experts including company executives, consultants, academics and investors/owners contributed to the study. The outcome is a list of HRM work practices that are common to the casual theme restaurant industry and performance metrics. Based on prior empirical work the study started with 14 HRM work practice dimensions (See Table 3.1) and 3 performance measurements of productivity, turnover and financial performance (Huselid, 1995; Huselid & Becker, 1995; Delery & Doty, 1996; Becker & Huselid, 1996; Huselid & Becker, 1997; Hartog, 2004). These dimensions and performance metrics were presented to the panel of expert's making up the pilot study group as a starting point in the development of the HPWP system construct for the casual themed restaurant industry. After compiling the results of the pilot study and pretesting the survey instrument, the first Delphi survey (see Appendix 3) and a subsequent reminder were sent out electronically to the preselected Delphi participants for the study. A consensus on the research questions was not reached from the first-round survey according to the protocol Therefore, the second round was administered which provide opportunity for participants to change their position to help the group reach a consensus. Since consensus was reached according to the protocol (see tables 4.9, 4.12 & 4.13), the Delphi was concluded at this point. In summary, figure 1.1 put forth a conceptual model to clarify the relationships between the above mentioned schools of thought and firm performance. Figure 1.2 presented a working theoretical model which expounds on the relationships between the key concepts in the conceptual model and firm performance. Finally, figure 5.1 displays the results and the relationships of the study which methodically confirms the components of a HPPS for unit level managers, and identifies appropriate evaluation criteria for determining the performance of HPPS in the US casual restaurant market. / Ph. D.