A presente investigação tem como objetivo identificar tipos de usos que podem ser agregados aos dados governamentais abertos por prestadores de serviço, para oferecer produtos e serviços através de aplicativos para smartphones ou através de páginas web. O foco desta pesquisa buscou explorar modelos de negócios que utilizam bases de DGA, as quais devem estar organizadas em sítios, com objetivos de dar transparência, podendo ainda utilizar bases de dados construídas a partir da captura de dados públicos e de dados pessoais. Os modelos de negócio em questão têm como objetivo reorganizar e combinar esses dados de forma que produzam um produto ou serviço que crie valor para o cliente do modelo de negócio. Foi realizado um estudo explorado para identificar qual a participação desses prestadores de serviços na cadeia de valor dos dados abertos, como estão sendo estruturados os modelos de negócio que suportam o funcionamento dessas ferramentas e quais as dificuldades que esses prestadores de serviço têm encontrado no acesso as bases de dados governamentais, que possam ser utilizadas como fonte de dados para produzir informação com valor agregado. Neste estudo estão apresentados sete casos que foram elaborados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas com auxilio do software Skype, quando a distância geográfica impossibilitou a entrevista presencial. Os casos foram então submetidos à análise de conteúdo, através da codificação aberta onde, buscou-se identificar fenômenos ou características que poderiam ser replicadas e encontradas em novos casos. Elaborou-se, para cada caso, uma proposta de interpretação do modelo de negócio adotada com a representação gráfica da ferramenta Canvas Também foram analisados o posicionamento de cada caso na cadeia de valor dos DGA e as bases de dados utilizadas. / The following research aims to identify types of uses that can be aggregated to open government data by service providers, to offer products and services using smartphone applications or web pages. The main focus of this research was to explore business models that use DGA databases, which are organized in sites aiming to give transparency, and to optionally use databases built from the capture of public and personal data. These business models intend to reorganize and combine these data in order to produce a product or service that create value to the business models\'s client. A research has been made to identify what is the participation of these service providers in the open data value chain, how are structured the business models that support these tools and what are the problems that these service providers have been found trying to access government databases that can be used as data sources to produce value aggregated information. In this study, seven cases are presented , which were developed using semistructured interviews, carried out using Skype software when the physical distance made it impossible to make a face interview. The cases were subjected to content analysis through open source coding , in order to identify phenomena or characteristics that could be found or replicated in new cases. For each case, a business model interpretation proposal using Canvas tool has been made, together with the position of each case in the DGA value chain and in the used databases.

[pt] Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo da utilização da Tecnologia RFID na empresa Petrobras em sua operação de transporte de cargas para suas Unidades Marítimas de Exploração e Produção de Petróleo e Gás na Bacia de Campos. Podem ser destacados como principais objetivos analisar a cadeia de valor do transporte de carga marítima nesta área e o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta dedicada à avaliação competitiva do impacto da futura implantação da tecnologia RFID nestas unidades. A partir dos custos envolvidos na estrutura atualmente utilizada, a introdução da tecnologia RFID nas operações de transporte de cargas é considerada e avaliada. A cadeia de valores de acordo com o modelo proposto por M. Porter é utilizado para descrever os dois cenários. As vantagens competitivas resultantes devido a utilização da tecnologia RFID são descritas e destacadas. Dentre os resultados finais obtidos podem ser destacadas a descrição detalhada da logística utilizada no momento atual e a elaboração de um modelo simplificado capaz de simular os ganhos de implantação futura da tecnologia RFID nas unidades de serviço e transporte em toda Bacia de Campos. / [en] This dissertation presents a study of the RFID Technology applied in cargo transport operations for PETROBRAS (The Brazilian oil holding company) oil platforms at Campos Basin. The main purposes are the value chain evaluation associated with the cargo transportation in this area by the sea and also the elaboration of a model able to indicate the main competitive advantages resulting due RFID technology applications. The costs of today legacy operation are evaluated and the impact of RFID introduction in this operation is also evaluated. The value chain concept according M. Porter is applied to describe the two evaluations. The main final results are the detailed description of today logistics and the elaboration of a powerful and simple model able to indicate the costs gain resulting of future applications of RFID technology in the service and cargo transportation units at Campos Basin.

Aquaculture is playing an important role in the development of fisheries in Vietnam, a role which has accelerated since 2000. Sustainability in aquaculture is receiving increasing attention, and this issue is not only the concern of government, but also stakeholders participating in the value chain. Therefore, this study aims to identify sustainability issues of farmed seafood by assessing the main sustainability issues raising concern. The Global Value Chain framework described by Gereffi et al. (2005) is applied for this study to explore the business relationships in supply chain and the perceptions of sustainability concerned by the value chain actors. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to collect data. An assessment of four species cultured on the Mekong Delta, the countries farmed seafood ‘hub’, found a clear distinction between species cultured with a local domestic market orientation (Giant Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii; and Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus) and the two key export commodities - Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and Penaeid shrimp (Penaeus monodon & Litopenaeus vannamei). These orientations were based on a range of factors including the development of effective seed supplies and the cultural value of marketing in the live format. This study, conducted in ten provinces in the Mekong Delta from 2009 to 2013 had a focus on understanding the export-orientated commodities, striped catfish and shrimp through collection of baseline information on the value chain of farmed seafood, focusing on the farming sector, the actors and institutions involved and beneficiaries. Sustainability issues and perceptions of experts (top-down) and primary stakeholders (bottom-up) opinions were assessed through participatory workshops. Shrimp and striped catfish production are mainly farmed for export, with 83% and 95% of its production, respectively, leaving the country mainly after processing. Currently, mainly families operate small-/medium-scale farms; while large-farms are integrated within seafood processors. Production efficiency of large-farms tends to be better than small-/medium farms. Many striped catfish and shrimp farms are likely to reach several standard criteria such as economic feed conversion ratio (eFCR), stocking density, no banned chemical/drug and wild-seed use, and land property rights; however, there were still many standard criteria that existing farms could not meet such as effluent management, farm registration, fishmeal control, farm hygiene and record-keeping requirement. Hence, current farming practices, especially small-/medium farms have a long way to go to meet emergent international food standards. Recently, many small-/medium catfish farms faced problems with low fish prices, so they have had to cease catfish farming activities and temporarily stop farming; while some larger farms also had to temporarily stop farming. Therefore, fish price has tended to be a main driving force for catfish farm changes. In the shrimp industry, there were technical changes occurring in the high intensity level of shrimp farms (HiLI); whereas, the remaining shrimp farms had fewer changes in farm management. Most HiLI shrimp farms were affected by AHPNS disease, which was a main factor driving their farm changes. Many perceptions of sustainability were identified by stakeholder groups, however seven sustainability issues had a high level of agreement among stakeholders including input cost, capital & credit costs, unstable markets, government regulation & policy, disease, seed quality, water quality and water availability factors. Hatcheries, farmers and manager groups were more concerned about environmental issues; while for the input suppliers and processors, economics was the main issue. Farmers and processors were two main actors that played an important role in the production process of the value chain. Small-/medium farms dominated the number of farms overall and still played an important role in primary production. However, small-scale farms were considered as more vulnerable actors in the value chain, and they faced more difficulties in meeting increasing requirements on food quality/safety. To maintain the position in the value chain, the solutions could be horizontal and vertical coordination. Thus policy makers will need to find ways to include them in the planning processes. To reach sustainability will require the efforts of direct stakeholders, the role of the state agencies is essential in negotiation and diplomacy to create partnerships with the seafood importing countries. However, efforts to develop sustainable production become impossible without participation from importers, retailers and consumers.

Le débat à propos de la contribution des chaînes de valeur domestiques à la sécurité alimentaire nationale dans les pays en développement a été ravivé par les dernières crises alimentaires. En Asie, les entreprises du segment intermédiaire réalisent un changement technique et intègrent de nouvelles fonctions, ce qui provoque une augmentation de la valeur ajoutée et un prix de vente au consommateur plus bas. L’objectif général de cette thèse est de contribuer à la connaissance de l’organisation des chaînes de valeur alimentaires domestiques en Afrique et leurs implications économiques et sociales pour les petits producteurs. Elle traite trois questions. Premièrement, la thèse analyse l’organisation de la chaîne de valeur du riz au Sénégal dans le but d’estimer si elle connaît une modernisation similaire à celle observée en Asie. Deuxièmement, la thèse examine l’inclusion des petits producteurs dans l’agriculture contractuelle, avec un intérêt particulier pour la combinaison de modes de commercialisation. Troisièmement, la thèse évalue l’impact des contrats sur les revenus et la sécurité alimentaire des petits producteurs. Le cadre théorique est celui de la gouvernance des Chaînes Globales de Valeur, qui analyse l’influence du pilote de la qualité sur la répartition des tâches et compétences entre les acteurs de la chaîne. Il est combiné avec les cadres théoriques des formes plurielles et des moyens d’existence pour traiter la seconde question. Le cas étudié est celui de la chaîne du riz dans la vallée du fleuve Sénégal. Les analyses de données sont basées sur 154 entretiens qualitatifs et des données quantitatives concernant 913 acteurs de la chaîne de valeur. La participation des producteurs dans les contrats est analysée par un modèle logit multinomial, et le biais de sélection est corrigé avec les modèles de la variable instrumentale et de l’appariement au score de propension. Le premier résultat est que la modernisation de la chaîne de valeur du riz du Sénégal est similaire à celle ayant lieu en Asie. Néanmoins, au Sénégal, (1) la situation de référence est une transaction spot (et non une transaction dans laquelle les intrants et le produit sont liés), et les transformateurs réalisaient la collecte du paddy avant la modernisation, (2) les politiques de crédit contribuent directement au changement de gouvernance et (3) la chaîne de valeur moderne n’est pas compétitive par rapport aux importations de riz brisé. Le second résultat est que les petits producteurs participent aux contrats afin de sécuriser le financement agricole. La segmentation du marché du crédit est liée à l’endettement des petits producteurs auprès de la banque nationale. L’incertitude est un déterminant de second ordre des formes plurielles. De plus, les producteurs commercialisent aussi le paddy par des transactions spots qui peuvent être adaptées aux besoins du ménage. Le troisième résultat est que les impacts des contrats sur les petits producteurs sont différents. Le contrat de commercialisation est un dispositif financier qui n’a pas d’impact sur les pratiques agricoles, les rendements, la qualité du produit et le revenu. Néanmoins, il améliore légèrement la sécurité alimentaire par l’atténuation de la saisonnalité des prix. Le contrat de production a un impact positif sur le revenu des producteurs exclus du crédit bancaire. Néanmoins, il inclut des coûts implicites d’intérêt et d’assurance qui impliquent que ces producteurs obtiennent un profit moins important que celui des producteurs financés par la banque. Dans le but de soutenir la modernisation, les politiques publiques devraient favoriser l’élaboration d’un système d’assurance approprié au crédit agricole. Elles devraient aussi inclure les petits transformateurs dans la modernisation par la promotion de techniques semi-industrielles et l’ouverture de crédit au fonctionnement et à l’équipement. / The debate about the contribution of domestic food chains to national food security in developing countries was revived by the last food price crises. In Asia, midstream enterprises implement technical changes and integrate new functions, resulting in increased added value and lower prices for consumers. The general objective of the thesis is to contribute to knowledge about the organization of domestic food value chains in Africa and their economic and social implications for small-scale farmers. It addresses three issues. First, it analyzes the organization of the rice value chain in Senegal to determine if it follows the same modernization pattern as the Asian one. Second, the thesis examines the inclusion of small-scale producers in contract farming, with a specific focus on the combination of marketing modes. Third, the thesis assesses the impacts of contracts on small-scale farmer incomes and food security. The theoretical framework is the governance of the Global Value Chain, which analyzes the influence of the driver of the quality on the distribution of tasks and skills among the actors of the chain. It is combined with the theoretical frameworks of plural forms and livelihoods to address the second issue. The case studied is the Senegal River Valley rice value chain. Data analyses are based on 154 qualitative interviews and a body of quantitative data involving over 913 actors in the value chain. Producer participation in contracts is analyzed with a multimodal logit model and the selection bias is corrected with instrumental variable and propensity score models. The first result is that modernization of the Senegalese value chain is in step with what is taking place in Asia. Nevertheless, in Senegal, (1) the benchmark situation is a spot transaction (and not a tied output-credit transaction), and processors carried out paddy collection before the modernization, (2) credit policies directly contribute to the change in governance, and (3) the modernization of the rice value chain does not make it competitive relative to imports of broken rice. The second result is that small-scale producers participate in contracts to secure agricultural financing. The segmentation of the credit market is linked to the indebtedness of small-scale producers to the national agriculture bank. Uncertainty is a second order driver towards plural forms. Besides, producers continue marketing through spot transactions which can be adapted to household needs. The third result is that the impacts of contracts on small-scale farmers are different. The marketing contract is a financial device which has no impact on agricultural practices, yields, product quality and income. It nevertheless slightly improves food security by mitigating price seasonality. The production contract has a positive impact on the income of producers who were excluded from bank credit. It nevertheless includes implicit interest and insurance costs, meaning that these producers make less profit than those financed by the bank. In order to support the modernization, policies should enhance the design of an appropriate insurance system for agricultural credit. They should also include small-scale processors in the modernization through the promotion of semi-industrial technics and the opening up of operating and equipment loans. Finally, they should fund studies about the use of small-scale mechanization.

L’émergence des technologies Big Data et Cloud computing pour répondre à l’accroissement constant de la complexité et de la diversité des données constituent un nouvel enjeu de taille pour les entreprises qui, désormais, doivent prendre en compte ce nouveau paradigme. Les opérateurs de services mobiles sont un exemple de sociétés qui cherchent à valoriser et monétiser les données collectées de leur utilisateurs. Cette recherche a pour objectif d’analyser ce nouvel enjeu qui allie d’une part l’explosion du nombre des données à analyser, et d’autre part, la constante émergence de nouvelles technologies et de leur adoption. Dans cette thèse, nous abordons la question de recherche suivante: « Dans quelle mesure les technologies Cloud Computing et Big Data contribuent aux tâches menées par les Data Scientists? » Sur la base d’une approche hypothético-déductive relayée par les théories classiques de l’adoption, les hypothèses et le modèle conceptuel sont inspirés du modèle de l’adéquation de la tâche et de la technologie (TTF) de Goodhue. Les facteurs proposés incluent le Big Data et le Cloud Computing, la tâche, la technologie, l'individu, le TTF, l’utilisation et les impacts réalisés. Cette thèse aborde sept hypothèses qui adressent spécifiquement les faiblesses des modèles précédents. Une enquête a été conduite auprès de 169 chercheurs contribuant à l’analyse des données mobiles. Une analyse quantitative a été effectuée afin de démontrer la validité des mesures effectuées et d’établir la pertinence du modèle théorique proposé. L’analyse partielle des moindres carrés a été utilisée (partial least square) pour établir les corrélations entre les construits. Cette recherche délivre deux contributions majeures : le développement d'un construit (TTF) spécifique aux technologies Big Data et Cloud computing ainsi que la validation de ce construit dans le modèle d’adéquation des technologies Big data - Cloud Computing et de l’analyse des données mobiles. / A new economic paradigm is emerging as a result of enterprises generating and managing increasing amounts of data and looking for technologies like cloud computing and Big Data to improve data-driven decision making and ultimately performance. Mobile service providers are an example of firms that are looking to monetize the collected mobile data. Our thesis explores cloud computing determinants of adoption and Big Data determinants of adoption at the user level. In this thesis, we employ a quantitative research methodology and operationalized using a cross-sectional survey so temporal consistency could be maintained for all the variables. The TTF model was supported by results analyzed using partial least square (PLS) structural equation modeling (SEM), which reflects positive relationships between individual, technology and task factors on TTF for mobile data analysis.Our research makes two contributions: the development of a new TTF construct – task-Big Data/cloud computing technology fit model – and the testing of that construct in a model overcoming the rigidness of the original TTF model by effectively addressing technology through five subconstructs related to technology platform (Big Data) and technology infrastructure (cloud computing intention to use). These findings provide direction to mobile service providers for the implementation of cloud-based Big Data tools in order to enable data-driven decision-making and monetize the output from mobile data traffic analysis.

The purpose of this thesis is to explore factors, actors and processes which condition innovative commercialization of bamboo in Ethiopia. The thesis particularly focuses on how traditional technologies and entrepreneurial innovations can be a source of knowledge and foundation for bamboo commercialization in Ethiopia. In tandem with technology development, it also attempts to shed light on how variations in value chains and market availability result in differential levels of commercialization. The research is designed based on the system of innovation and value chain approaches as main theoretical lenses. Data is collected from three districts and cities. The main data collection method was surveys of key value chain actors, complemented by expert interviews, case studies, group discussions and analysis of secondary data sources. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques including inferential statistics are used for analysis. The results demonstrate that traditional knowledge and technical skills are key sources of innovation for bamboo commercialization. These technical skills are gradually transferred from rural to urban and from traditional to semi-modern via recreational houses and furniture production. The research found that the major factors which significantly explain the differences in technical skills are bamboo income, use knowledge, market distance and management regimes. The study further reveals that there are diversity of enterprises which have a major role both in generation of innovation and production of value added products. Innovation performance is influenced by level of technology, financial access and business experience while economic performance is influenced by the age of the enterprise owner, their innovativeness, level of technology and location (urban functions). Institutional actors play an intermediary role at the production and processing levels in promoting bamboo sector development through training provision, policy development and linking actors along the value chain. Similarly, consumers are also key actors in the value chain and are the major drivers of bamboo commercialization. Rates of commercialization are found different among regions where areas with a better access to consumer markets reportedly engage more in commercial extraction and earn a correspondingly higher income from bamboo than regions far from centers of consumption. In summary, the empirical analysis depicts that innovative commercialization is the result of a combination of technological capability, entrepreneurial competency and market accessibility. Thus, future policy for bamboo resource commercialization and development should be geared towards establishing and nurturing a bamboo sector innovation system which in turn supports the development of technology-led resource commercialization and facilitates entry into the global value chain. / Diese Dissertation hat zum Ziel, Faktoren, Akteure und Prozesse zu erforschen, welche die innovative Kommerzialisierung von Bambus in Äthiopien bedingen. Insbesondere wird in dieser Arbeit darauf eingegangen, inwiefern traditionelle Technologien und unternehmerische Innovationen eine Wissensquelle und ein Fundament für die Bambuskommerzialisierung in Äthiopien sein können. Zusammen mit der Technologieentwicklung wird auch dargestellt, wie Variationen in der Wertekette und der Marktverfügbarkeit zu unterschiedlichen Graden der Kommerzialisierung führen. Die Forschung basiert auf dem System von Innovations- und Wertekettenverfahren als grundlegende theoretische Aspekte. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte in drei Distrikten und Städten. Die Haupterfassungsmethode war die Befragung von Schlüsselakteuren in den Werteketten, ergänzt durch Experteninterviews, Fallstudien, Gruppendiskussionen sowie Analysen von sekundären Datenquellen. Sowohl qualitative als auch quantitative Verfahren einschließlich der Interferenzstatistik dienen der Analyse. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass traditionelles Wissen und technische Fertigkeiten Schlüsselquellen für Innovationen in der Bambuskommerzialisierung sind. Diese technischen Fertigkeiten werden nach und nach vom Ländlichen zum Städtischen sowie vom Traditionellen zur Semimoderne überführt, was sich hauptsächlich durch den Erholungssektor sowie durch die Möbelherstellung zeigt. Die Forschung fand heraus, dass die Hauptfaktoren der Unterschiede in den technischen Fertigkeiten das durch Bambus erzielte Einkommen, das Wissen über dessen Verwendung, die Distanz zum Markt sowie Managementregime sind. Ferner zeigten die Untersuchungen, dass es eine Vielfalt von Betrieben gibt, welche eine Hauptrolle sowohl bei Innovationen als auch bei der Herstellung höherwertiger Produkte spielen. Die Innovationsleistung wird beeinflusst durch den Stand der Technik, durch finanziellen Zugang sowie Businesserfahrungen, während die ökonomische Leistung beeinflusst wird durch das Alter der Betriebsbesitzer, deren Innovation, den Stand der Technik, sowie durch die Lage (urbane Funktionen). Institutionelle Akteure spielen eine Zwischenrolle auf Produktions- und Verarbeitungsebene bei der Förderung der Entwicklung des Bambussektors durch Bereitstellung von Ausbildung, der Entwicklung von Methoden und verbindenden Akteuren entlang der Wertekette. Ähnlich sind auch die Konsumenten Schlüsselfaktoren in der Wertekette sowie Hauptantrieb für die Bambuskommerzialisierung. Die Kommerzialisierungsraten in den einzelnen Regionen sind unterschiedlich, wobei Gebiete mit besserem Marktzugang eine größere Kommerzialisierung bewirken und ein besseres Bambus-basiertes Einkommen erzeugen als Regionen, die sich fernab von den Zentren der Konsumption befinden. Zusammenfassend kann ausgeführt werden, dass die empirische Analyse zu dem Schluss kommt, dass innovative Kommerzialisierung das Ergebnis einer Kombination technischer Fähigkeit, unternehmerischer Kompetenz sowie der Marktzugänglichkeit ist. Folglich ist die zukunftsorientierte bambusbasierte Kommerzialisierung und Entwicklung so zu lenken, dass das Innovationssystem auf dem Bambussektor etabliert und gestärkt wird, wodurch auch die Entwicklung technologiegeführter Ressourcenkommerzialisierung gefördert sowie der Zugang zur globalen Wertekette begünstigt wird.

Cette thèse CIFRE s’est déroulée au sein de la Coop de Construction, promoteur constructeur rennais. Afin de se différencier sur le marché de l’immobilier, le promoteur souhaite intégrer la dimension de la mobilité dans son offre de logements partant du constat que les ménages modestes se logent en dehors des grands centres urbains, ce qui les conduit à dépendre de la voiture, moyen de transport coûteux, tant d’un point de vue économique qu’écologique. Le but de cette démarche est de réduire le coût de transport des ménages, de poursuivre une démarche de conception de logements respectueux de l’environnement et de renforcer la capacité de l’entreprise à être un partenaire des collectivités locales. Notre travail s’inscrit dans le cadre conceptuel du Knowledge Management et a consisté  à impliquer les différentes parties prenantes de l’entreprise (clients, collectivités, etc.) dans une démarche de création de connaissances organisationnelles afin de définir des solutions de mobilité adaptées à chaque contexte. Ces différentes actions ont pu être décrites à partir d’un modèle de « chaîne de valeur de la connaissance » (Knowledge Value Chain) et des concepts développés par Nonaka et Takeuchi qui montrent que l’innovation repose sur un processus de création de connaissances organisationnelles produites l’interaction sociale entre les différents acteurs impliqués. La lecture des expérimentations menées sur le terrain à l’aide de ces outils théorique nous a permis de poser les jalons d’une méthodologie reproductible dans d’autres contextes afin que l’entreprise puisse intégrer cette dimension de la mobilité dans ses futurs programmes immobiliers. / This thesis CIFRE took place at the Coop de Construction, a real estate promoter in Rennes. To differentiate themselves in the real estate market, the enterprise wants to integrate the dimension of mobility in the supply of housing. The basis of this  approach is that the poorest households living  outside urban centers, which leads them to depend on car, expensive way, both economically and ecologically. The goals of this approach is to reduce the cost of transporting household, pursue conception of ecological housing and  strengthen the capacity of the company to be a partner of local authorities. We are working on  the Knowledge Management framework and we involve the various stakeholders of the company (customers, local authorities, etc.) in an organizational knowledge creation approach to define mobility solutions for each context. These activities have been described with the model of "knowledge value chain" (Knowledge Value Chain) and the concepts developed by Nonaka and Takeuchi who show that innovation is based on an organizational knowledge creation process produced by the social interaction between the different actors. Reading the experiments conducted with these theoretical tools, we build a reproducible methodology for future building.

The purpose of this research was to quantify what value could be gained from cutting solid wood products from old-growth western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) logs that are used to produce pulp in British Columbia. These logs represent a significant portion of the resource and increasing their value recovery would be beneficial to the forest industry. One hundred and sixteen logs were sampled from the coastal and interior regions of British Columbia. Dimension and quality attributes were measured to enable estimates of gross and merchantable volume. Logs deemed likely to yield lumber were sawn with the aim of maximizing value recovery. The nominal dimension and grade of all lumber recovered was recorded. Margins and breakpoints at which sawing became profitable were calculated. Models to predict the volume of lumber and proportion of Clear grade lumber recovered (“C Industrial” grade at the interior mill, “D Select” grade at the coastal mill) were developed. Lumber recovery, especially Clear grade lumber, was significantly higher from logs from the coastal site. At current market prices, cutting lumber from these logs was profitable, with the highest margins achieved when chips were produced from the milling residue. It was not profitable to recover lumber from the interior logs regardless of whether chips were produced. The disparity between locations was attributed to differences between the logs, the sawmilling equipment, the sawyers’ motivations and the lumber grades. Between 60% and 67% of coastal logs and 13% to 21% of interior logs returned a profit, depending on whether chips were produced. Models were developed to better identify these logs using observable attributes. A linear model described the total volume of lumber recovered. Significant predictor variables in the model were the gross log volume, the average width of the sound collar and the stage of butt/heart rot at the large end. A second model predicted the proportion of Clear grade lumber. Regional models were developed to account for different Clear lumber grades between sawmills. Significant predictor variables were knot frequency, diameter at the large end, volume, length, taper and the width of the sound collar at the large end. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Teoretická část práce se zabývá strategickou analýzou vnějšího okolí firmy i firmy samotné s ohledem na možnou zahraniční expanzi. Druhý oddíl této části se věnuje formám vstupů na zahraniční trhy. Praktická část je věnovaná belgické firmě Sepia, která poskytuje kompletní služby spojené řízením propagačních materiálů a pořádáním reklamních akcí. Společnost uvažuje o vstupu na holandský trh. Cílem práce je zhodnotit situaci firmy a její příležitosti na holandském trhu, a doporučit eventuální formu vstupu na tento trh.

Manufacturing activities in the personal computer industry are organised in a complex global production network (GPN) led by a variety of branded global lead firms. Increasingly, considerations on environmental, health and safety governance have emerged as an important element to the management and co-ordination of these production networks by lead firms. Within the personal computer GPN, the printed circuit board (PCB) industry is commonly subcontracted by branded firms to suppliers located in developing countries such as Penang, Malaysia. The activities of PCB manufacturing and assembly involve the use of various hazardous chemicals that pose environmental health risks to workers. This research aims to understand how governance over environmental health is implemented in the GPN led by Hewlett Packard (HP) and in particular with lower tier suppliers in the printed circuit board industry in Penang, Malaysia. The main research question is: how are environmental health concerns managed by governance mechanisms in GPNs that involve the relocation of harmful manufacturing activities to developing countries? Governance mechanisms within the GPN include private standards and codes of conduct, which are supplemented by government regulation in the host country. Governance outcomes are shaped by relations between firms and non-firm actors such as government agencies, civil society organisations and trade unions. Therefore, a GPN analytical framework is utilised to understand more specifically how a variety of firm and non-firm actors and their relationships and power dynamics influence governance practices in the industry. Fieldwork for the research was conducted in 2008 and 2010 and consisted of semi-structured in-person and telephone interviews with thirty seven key actors in Malaysia, Western Europe, and the United States. Key informants included HP; first tier suppliers to HP and second tier suppliers located in Penang, Malaysia; global and Malaysian civil society organisations; an international federation of trade unions and Malaysian trade unions; Malaysian government agencies; and a politician, occupational health doctor and journalist in Penang. The findings from this research show that a combination of factors results in a weak scenario for governing environmental health risks of suppliers in Penang. These factors are resource constraints among suppliers; weak host country capacity and willingness to regulate; weak knowledge of environmental health risks by firms and regulatory agencies; and weak contestation by external stakeholders. Findings from the analysis also show the need to have differentiated views of power amongst different actor relationships in order to understand the complexity of GPN governance.