Diploma thesis deals with competitiveness of lasertag facility. Costumer value creation is analysed based on value chain theory and compared with competition. Enriching of company product range by auxiliary services, mainly non-smoking club, is drawn up considering this and other analysis. Realization of these new ideas and evaluation of their success is also part of this thesis.

ABSTRACTDate: Seminar Date: 2 June 2020, Submission Date: 7 June 2020Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 crInstitution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen UniversityAuthors: Gabriel Arteaga Fakhri Qusay Shehab Christine Katusabe Mukidi(96/03/31) (99/01/05) (97/05/15)Title: Global Value Chains, the effects and responses of Multinational Enterprises in a crisis environment: A case study on the effects of the COVID-19 crisisTutor: Edward GillmoreKeywords: Global Value Chain, Contingency, Resource-based Management, Global Crisis, Multinational EnterprisesResearch questions:RQ 1: How does a global crisis affect the parts of multinational enterprises’ global value chain?RQ 2: How do multinational enterprises respond to a global crisis with their functions and actions?Purpose: This study seeks to gain in-depth understanding of how a global crisis can affect an MNE’s production and what response an MNE can use to mitigate the consequences of a global crisis.Method: The method consisted of an abductive approach with the combination of secondary data and semi-structured qualitative interviews with varied top- and middle-level managers within the chosen MNE, to help answer the research questions of the thesis.Conclusion: The global crisis disrupted parts of the MNE’s GVCs and affected demand, business relationships and caused production facilities to shut down. Since the GVCs are being impacted, the COVID-19 crisis has also impacted the way in which an MNE operates. Both MNEs showed the importance of flexibility and adapted their strategies and operations as the crisis progressed.

Market economic values have for the last decades been given an increasing role with the establishment of financial institutes and global organisations with a capitalistic focus as a consequence. As a counter reaction, the concept of sustainable development has emerged complementing the economic focus with environmental and social aspects. However, there are still challenges on how to make balanced decisions based on all three view points and consequently the decision makers still primarily reside to the established tangible financial data. Within the industrial setting there is no difference. The manufacturing system design is based on multiple criteria and requirements, but commonly the final investment decision is primarily based on what can be financially justified. Longterm solutions probably lies in combining the tangible economy with the less tangible soft values that cannot be valued in monetary means. Therefore, to find this sweet spot, the purpose of this research is to in-depth investigate the world of economy, but from an engineers' point of view. A financial analysis is done to understand the economical components and how these are related to the manufacturing system. Furthermore, to connect cost with contributed value of the manufacturing system, a holistic business value chain analysis is done to ensure that less tangible aspects can be understood and utilised. The result of this research, highlights for example that sales volume has a larger impact on the manufacturing profitability, than that of the initial investment cost. Therefore, manufacturing systems should also be evaluated on the bases of how well it can meet the volatility in market demands. Another result presented is a portfolio of new graphical representation used as a support tool for investment decisions. Furthermore, to be able to invest in manufacturing systems that contribute to a more competitive company, the wider business value with manufacturing is discussed.

Introduction: It is undeniable that green effort returns more than just a better image for firms. GSCM initiative has resulted in many successful companies transition to a more sustainable organization and supply network. However, the evidence for smaller entities are not abundantly available and one can assume that GSCM is not currently adopted among this size of enterprises. With this premise, the study focuses on why these firms are reluctant to adopt GSCM initiative. The study focuses on a single case study of one successful business not adopting GSCM.   Purpose: To help SMEs prepare for what they might expect when taking green initiative, this study seeksto find barriersfor why GSCM is not adopted among smaller firms. Method: A single holistic explorative study have been conducted. With qualitative approach, the interviews are analyzed and deliver enriched data to unveil reason for thefirms in this study supply network.  Findings: Every respondent admitted to having financial constraint. Therefore, they are not investing in the GSCM initiative because of unknown ROI.This indicate that the firm do not know enough about the initiative and left out one important activity following the initiative, the value chain. These firms also recognize external barriers, this again turnsback to knowledge of value chain and lacking in communication.  Conclusion: The barriers appear in internal and external form, meaning that some barriers are over the firm’s owncontrol. However, smaller firms somehow unconsciously create own barriers by not having a good communication and neglecting shared environmental value within their own supply network.

The WoodCluster project (2017-2021) focused on national bio-economies based on farm wood production in East African Countries. The project consortium was a South-South-North network with partners from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Germany. In the project, the dynamics and resulting problems of an increasing wood supply gap, and possible solutions were investigated. The project had two main components: research and teaching. As an output of the teaching component, this trainer manual was developed for wood-based value chain actors in Ethiopia. This trainer manual aims to combine the theory of value chain development with participatory teaching methods and integrate this approach into extensions services linked to wood-based value chain actors in Ethiopia, thereby supporting their sustainable development. It especially intends to provide these trainers with insights into value chain development (VCD) tools and participatory knowledge transfer methods. The focus will be on participatory VCD approaches relevant to wood-based value chain actors. With the trainer manual, officers and trainers will be able to apply participatory VCD trainings to wood-based value chain actors in a Training of Trainers (ToT) session. Since these value chains and actors can vary depending on the regional setting, the raw material or end-product of interest, the defined scope, or the value chain development goals, the ToT will teach several approaches on the basis of which the officers and trainers can design suitable participatory VCD workshops. The trainer manual serves as a reference guide for trainers, who conduct participatory trainings, and extension agents linked to wood-based value chains in Ethiopia. The manual is constructed and arranged in such a way, so that a wide range of trainers with different skill levels and capacities may apply the participatory training in different conditions. Rather than presenting one appropriate teaching method, the manual presents several that allows the trainer to adapt the overall training approach based on the target group and conditions of the training.:Acknowledgements IV List of Figures V List of Tables VI 1 Preface 1 2 Introduction 1 2.1 Natural forest 3 2.2 Woodlots 4 2.3 Trading wood products 4 2.4 Sawmilling and furniture production 5 2.5 The need for value chain development tools 5 3 Value Chain Development (VCD) 6 4 Supporting Wood-based Value Chain Actors in Ethiopia 8 4.1 Extension services for rural development 8 4.2 Current challenges of extension services in Ethiopia 9 4.3 Value Chain Development through participatory trainings 9 5 Planning and Initiating Participatory VCD 10 5.1 Setting the objective 10 5.2 Defining the value chain scope and selecting participants 10 5.3 Logistical preparations 12 5.4 Designing and planning VCD workshops 12 6 Implementing Participatory VCD workshops 12 6.1 Introductory Session 12 6.2 Session 1: Value Chain Mapping 17 6.3 Session 2: Challenges and Upgrading Options 25 6.4 Session 3: Value Chain Development with Collective Action 30 7 Post-training Activities 34 7.1 Reflecting on training outcomes 34 7.2 Monitoring and Facilitating Value Chain Development 34 Literature 35

The focus of this thesis is to analyze the management of supplier relationships in a supply chain and develop cost-effective processes for manufacturing of a finished product at a global company in Sweden. The study was initiated when the application of literature was of interest to one of the company's products that is under development. So far, the company's great focus has been on developing the product and getting as close to the finished product as possible. Equal focus has not yet been focused on managing suppliers and on defining the processes that arise after the finished product. The intention has been to facilitate decision-making in supplier management and manufacturing that will arise when the prototype will become a finished product and will be launched on the market. The aim for this study is to analyze the value chain in order to develop and check various production facilities to create opportunities for cost savings. -          RQ1. How does a good manufacturing strategy help in developing cost efficient products? -          RQ2. What are the challenges in developing a value chain containing several external suppliers? The approach applied in the study has been a review of scientific literature that provides a basis for answering the purpose and the questions that have been created. Data collected from the literature have been critically reviewed and adapted based on the purpose of the work and the empirical findings collected from the company. Data collected from the company in the form of interviews and observations have been regularly analyzed. The differences and similarities that exist between the empirical data and the literature have been elucidated by adapting the analysis to a pattern. The analysis provided a basis for the results where the development of two different concepts that can be used as an approach in the future could be created. The concepts were created and analyzed based on the company's prerequisites for applicable solutions. The results from the analysis were then summarized in results and recommendations with the categories: Value Stream Map, Hypothetical Production Line and Recommendations related to the modules of the product. These categories will facilitate decision-making regarding the choice of production in the future. Concepts that will facilitate decision-making for economic factors and process factors have also been developed as a “guideline” for approaches to supplier management and management of financial aspects.

Thesis (Master of Retail Business Management)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2020 / Like many other suppliers, South African fashion-clothing designers have dealt with a very competitive environment within the retail industry. Thus, this research study explored the most suitable supply-chain-management model for South African fashion designers to achieve efficiency and economic sustainability within the retail environment. In today’s complex markets, the susceptibility of the supply chain is viewed as an ongoing issue for several industries and it is no different for fashion designers. As a result, in the past, the visibility of South African fashion designers in the retail environment appeared to be minimal. Matching the appropriate supplychain-management model with South African fashion designers in retail was the purpose and core focus of this research study, as the “one size fits all” approach appeared questionable and perhaps unrelatable to SMMEs. This research study explored the relationships between fashion designers and clothing retailers, together with supporting stakeholders such as government institutions, fashion councils, educational institutions, and the different consultants or agents. This was done to establish how the different parts could potentially function individually or collaboratively in order to develop an effective and sustainable supply-chain-management model for South African fashion designers in the retail environment. The primary focus and aim of the study was to assess the different functions within the supply-chain-management model and propose a more relevant model for South African fashion designers supplying the retail clothing environment. To reach the objectives of this research study, the empirical information was collected through the qualitative approach, by making use of in-depth semi-structured interviews, as that allowed the participants to answer the questions unreservedly based on their own personal and professional experience. The problem this research study identified was that a significant number of South African fashion-designer brands struggled to maintain longevity and success within the retail environment, due to the supply-chain changes South African fashion designers experienced when supplying retail. Through empirical research, it was identified that the supply-chain-management models available for retail clothing suppliers were designed for larger businesses and not specifically for fashiondesigner businesses which were classified as small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs). The findings revealed that, for the fashion and retail clothing industry to realise an effective and sustainable supply-chain-management model for South African designers, the supply chain required good communication and support. The study recommended the establishment of close-proximity hubs, with fashion clothing supply chain functions, in major South African metropolitan cities, which could possibly be achieved through specialised and regulated education and the formation of a national fashion council.

Las empresas del mercado actual, como las familiares crecen mientras pasan los años, donde aprovechan muy bien la coyuntura del mercado. Sin embargo, con la globalización y el crecimiento de otras empresas, muchas de las empresas familiares comienzan a disminuir su índice de crecimiento, esto por no tener una buena organización interna que permita una mejor administración de los recursos. Esta propuesta comprende mejorar la estructura interna de la empresa, la cual es una importadora de repuestos mecánicos para los sectores industriales y mineros. Esta mejora se basará desde la recopilación bibliográfica y revisión de casos de estudio, elaboración de mapas, análisis estadísticos y análisis de los resultados que permiten integrar todas las variables que determinara una nueva estructura y nuevos procesos para el crecimiento de la empresa. Se realizo un análisis de la situación actual que atravesaba la empresa, con diagrama de procesos, análisis del problema, causas, consecuencias e impactos económicos. Donde posteriormente se realizaron análisis cualitativos a las causas raíces y posteriormente un análisis cuantitativo usando el software estadístico MINITAB que corroboraron la inestabilidad e incapacidad de los procesos actuales de la compañía. Lo antes mencionado se realizó de una manera eficaz, al contar con la data real de la empresa, lo que aporto mucho al análisis. Posteriormente se definieron las mejoras en los procesos como las estandarizaciones y nuevas estructuras de las áreas en la cadena de valor de la empresa. Esto se corroborará por medio de las simulaciones de los nuevos procesos, los cuales se compararon con los actuales, resultando disminuciones de tiempos en espera. / Companies in the current market, such as families, grow as the years go by, where the market conjuncture takes advantage very well. However, with the globalization and growth of other companies, many of the family businesses decrease their growth rate, this does not have a good organization that allows a better administration of resources. This proposal includes improving the internal structure of the company, which is an importer of mechanical spare parts for the industrial and mining sectors. This improvement is based on the bibliographic compilation and review of case studies, mapping, statistical analysis and results analysis. An analysis is made of the current situation that the company went through, the process diagram, the analysis of the problem, the causes, the consequences and the economic impacts. Where a qualitative analysis has been carried out, the causes, the roots, and the quantitative analysis, through the statistical software MINITAB that corroborate the instability and the incapacity of the current processes of the company. What has been published in an effective way, as well as with the real data of the company, which contributed a lot to the analysis. Subsequently, improvements in processes such as standardizations and new structures of the areas in the company's value chain will be defined. This will be corroborated by means of the simulations of the new processes, which are compared with the current ones, resulting in the reduction of waiting times. / Tesis

The emergence of new media technologies has influenced the broadcasting marketplace causing it to evolve and become more competitive. The various platforms that new media technologies have made available for content repurposing and the increased number of channels available via digital television and radio has altered the landscape of the public service broadcaster in an unprecedented manner. Thus, questioning its viability amongst the other private media organisations whose core focus is on commercialisation of content rather than serving the public interest. Based on the case study of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), this study articulates the influence of new media broadcasting on the public broadcaster’s business model and value chain. It investigated the legitimacy of public service broadcasting in the new media age. This study examined the current status of the SABC’s broadcasting policy and concluded that there is urgency for policy revisions to be fast tracked.

Globalization transformed supply chains, resulting in increased productivity, complexity, and risk exposure. Textile supply chains are complex and facing similar challenges along with more specific for the industry. Africa is of increasing interest in textile supply chains due to low cost of production. Participating in supply chains through manufacturing, and infrastructural issues limit the possibility of adding value, which is an issue for African countries. The aim of this thesis is to analyze effects of participating in a global textile supply chain, current trends in textile manufacturing, and African countries’ role. Especially of concern for this thesis are South Africa, eastern African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, and northern African countries such as Morocco. The questions that have been answered are; (1) what trends are impacting textile supply chain manufacturing from a global perspective? and (2) what role does the African region play in textile manufacturing within global supply chains? For this thesis inductive research was performed with relativistic ontology, constructionist epistemology and single case study methodology. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews and secondary data, and that data will be thematically analyzed with triangulation between the primary and secondary data. The research found and concluded that the major trends in textile manufacturing are sustainability and nearshoring. Africa’s role in global textile supply chains is mainly through manufacturing with complex supply chains, low education levels, and limited value adding activities. Due to young populations and sustainable practices, there are opportunities for the continent to continue to develop and add more value in the future.