The aim of this bachelor thesis was to investigate how local farmers of sunflower and local processors of sunflower oil in Babati, Tanzania perceive constraints and possibilities to value chain upgrading by conducting a case study. Open-ended interviews were conducted during a period of eight weeks with local sunflower farmers, local sunflower processors and other actors with knowledge of the sunflower value chain. The results from the study show that the main constraints perceived by farmers were lack of capital and incentive to buy new seeds, lack of knowledge of how to re-plant old seeds, their lack of bargaining position and market knowledge which together put restrains on their market access. The main constraints, perceived by local processors, were lack of access to credit, lack of market access with regard to sunflower cakes, a bi-product of sunflower oil production, and a shortage of sunflower seeds on the local market. With regard to the shortage of seeds produced in the area this was discussed further with the respondents as it seems to be connected with actors need for diversification as a form of risk aversion. The main upgrading options as perceived by farmers were value addition by also processing and selling the sunflower oil and different forms of horizontal integration. The main upgrading option perceived by local processors of sunflower oil was an insourcing of the labelling and packaging of sunflower oil which would create access to higher value markets.

Thesis (MAgricAdmin.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African wine industry produces a million tons of grapes annually and supports approximately 300 000 people, including dependants. For the biggest part of the zo" century the industry was governed by a system of statutory control, being isolated from the international market by politically-induced sanctions. As a result the main focus of the industry was on the domestic market and the value chain was structured to produce volume. In the 1990's, the removal of sanctions and statutory control, together with the global shift towards free international trade, created a new operational environment for the South African wine industry. New opportunities and threats emerged for the industry. This dissertation starts by creating a theoretical base for the value chain, including value chain management and the transaction costs that influence the economics of the value chain. The domestic wine market is stable, thus future growth of this industry will depend on exports. Chapter three identifies the characteristics of the international wine market, as well as the major trends in global wine consumption. This is followed by a discussion on the four primary drivers in the international wine industry along with an overview of the value chains of leading wine-producing countries. Chapter four commences with a historical overview of the development of the South African liquor industry. This is followed by a discussion on how the reopening of the international market, influenced the structure and composition of the value chain in the South African wine industry. The purpose of this chapter is to outline the value chain of the South African wine industry, stress problems and to investigate the international competitiveness of the chain. It is concluded by identifying the strengths and weaknesses in the value chain. The strengths in the chain were then used to create opportunities, while the weaknesses were used to highlight threats that give rise to transaction costs. The ownership structure and composition within the value chain of the South African wine industry, is the product of the current institutional structure of the industry. The current structure creates transaction costs in the respective links of the value chain. Chapter five identifies 34 problems that cause transaction costs, along with the implications for the wine industry. From these problems, strategies are derived that will enhance the international competitiveness·of the chain, inducing a greater focus on the market. Chapter five concludes by looking at five international markets, with practical suggestions for the future vision of the value chain in the South African wine industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf produseer jaarliks gemiddeld 'n miljoen ton druiwe en voorsien 'n bestaan aan ongeveer 300 000 persone. Die bedryf het vir die grootste gedeelte van die 20ste eeu gefuksioneer onder 'n stelsel van statutêre beheer en was as gevolg van politieke sanksies ge-isoleer van die internasionale mark. Die waardeketting van die wynbedryf was gestruktureer om volume te produseer en hoofsaaklik gefokus op die binneland as mark. Met die verwydering van statutêre beheer en sanksies, gepaardgaande met die globale verskuiwing na vrye internasionale handel gedurende die 1990's, het die waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf skielik 'n nuwe operasionele omgewing betree. Dit het aan die bedryf nuwe geleenthede en bedreigings gebied. Die tesis begin deur 'n teoretiese basis te skep van 'n waardeketting, die bestuur daarvan en transaksiekostes wat die ekonomie van 'n waardeketting beïnvloed. Die plaaslike mark vir wyn het gestabiliseer en toekomstige groei van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf is afhanklik van uitvoere. In hoofstuk drie word na die kenmerke van die internasionale wynomgewing waarin die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf meeding, en die belangrikste globale wynverbruiks tendense gekyk. Die vier primêre drywers in die internasionale wynbedryf word bespreek gevolg deur 'n kort oorsig oor die waardekettings van leier produserende wynlande. Hoofstuk vier begin deur 'n historiese oorsig oor die ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse drankbedryf te gee. Dit word gevolg deur na die invloed te gaan kyk wat die heropening van internasionale markte op die struktuur en samestelling van die waardeketting in die Suid- Afrikaanse wynbedryf gehad het. Die doel van die hoofstuk is om 'n beskrywing van die waardeketting in die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf te gee, probleme te identifiseer en die mededingendheid van die ketting internasionaal te ondersoek. Die hoofstuk word afgesluit deur sterk- en swakpunte in die waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf af te lei. Uit die sterkpunte is geleenthede vir die bedryf geïdentifiseer, en vanuit die swakpunte is bedreigings wat aanleiding gee tot transaksiekostes, geïdentifiseer. Eienaarskapstrukture en eiendomsverhoudings binne die waardeketting van die Suid- Afrikaanse wynbedryf is die gevolg van die institusie waarbinne die bedryf oor tyd ontwikkel het. Die manier wat die ketting egter tans gestruktureer is bring transaksiekostes binne die onderskeie skakels in die ketting mee. In hoofstuk vyf word 34 probleme wat transaksiekostes genereer, met die onderskeie implikasies vir die bedryf, geïdentifiseer. Vanuit die probleme word strategiese opsies geïdentifiseer wat die ketting internasionaal meer mededingendheid sal maak, met grootter markgerigtheid. Die hoofstuk word afgesluit deur na vyf markte te gaan kyk, met praktiese voorstelle, waar die waardeketting van die Suid- Afrikaanse wynbedryf homself behoort te fokus.

O presente estudo, de abordagem qualitativa e descritiva, investiga as relações entre as teorias sobre Economia Criativa, Vantagem Competitiva, Cadeia de Valor e Qualidade no Mercado de Luxo objetivando identificar a contribuição do Programa do Polo de Joias do Pará para a criação de valor na indústria de joias do referido estado brasileiro. O método de pesquisa utilizado abrangeu a construção de proposições a partir da literatura revisada e reduzida, a realização de entrevistas com profissionais do setor joalheiro brasileiro, análise de conteúdo das entrevistas e análise da cadeia de valor do Polo de Joias do Pará com base na observação participante. Os resultados apontam que as estruturas teóricas empregadas neste estudo estão presentes na Cadeia de Valor do Programa do Polo de Joias do Pará, destacando a criação de valor por meio do benefício percebido pelo consumidor. O incipiente estudo cria oportunidade para a realização de novas relações com outros clusters criativos ou para a identificação de atitudes e intenções de compra dos clientes do Polo. / This qualitative and descriptive study investigate the relationship between theories about Creative Economy, Competitive Advantage, Value Chain and Quality in Luxury Market aiming to identify the contribution of the Pará Jewelry Cluster Program for creating value in jewelry industry of that Brazilian state. The research method included the construction of propositions from the literature reviewed and reduced, conducting interviews with professionals in the Brazilian Jewelry Industry, content analysis of the interviews and analysis of value chain of Pará Jewelry Cluster based on observation participant. The results show that the theoretical frameworks used in this study are present in the Value Chain of the Pará Jewelry Cluster Program, highlighting the creation of value through benefit perceived by consumers. The study creates opportunity for the realization of new relationships with other creative clusters or to identify attitudes and purchase intentions of customers from Polo.

In the trend of international development, multinational corporations should face three major international challenges: global integration and coordination, regional differences and responses and global innovation and learning. The backgrounds and motivations that enterprises adopt the strategy of internationalization are different. Whereas, enterprises to implement international strategies will inevitably involve the design and layout of channels. Therefore, ¡§Distribution Channel Strategies¡¨ are the major business strategies of the overseas subsidiaries of multinational corporations. Today is the era of ¡§who controlling the channels will win.¡¨ Besides providing superior quality products or service, enterprises should have adequate channels to, with lower cost or shorter transferring time, give customers convenient points to purchase and send the products to the target market, therefore, to create a good business performance. This thesis focuses on the distribution channel strategies of multi-national companies and gives a case study of ¡§Taiwan Furukawa.¡¨ We investigate internal and external environments and the business performances of two distribution channel strategies, and use case study method to the empirical analysis, which belonging to a single case design with a single design pattern of the subject. Three industry analysis methods, including value chain analysis, SWOT analysis, and five force analysis, is adopted to analyze the internal and external environments. We find that the sharp drop in revenue alerted Taiwan Furukawa to investigate the agencies and corporate customers in the sales network. They found the problem is that the business objectives of the agencies and Taiwan Furukawa are inconsistent, causing a significant reduction in sales volume. Then, the revenue has grown significantly after Taiwan Furukawa adopting ¡§direct sales¡¨ and ¡§zero-stage channel¡¨ substituting for ¡§indirect sales¡¨ and ¡§one-stage channel,¡¨ respectively. Above all, we find the ¡§zero-stage channel¡¨ has three functions, including direct sales, information channel, and customer service.

O presente estudo, de abordagem qualitativa e descritiva, investiga as relações entre as teorias sobre Economia Criativa, Vantagem Competitiva, Cadeia de Valor e Qualidade no Mercado de Luxo objetivando identificar a contribuição do Programa do Polo de Joias do Pará para a criação de valor na indústria de joias do referido estado brasileiro. O método de pesquisa utilizado abrangeu a construção de proposições a partir da literatura revisada e reduzida, a realização de entrevistas com profissionais do setor joalheiro brasileiro, análise de conteúdo das entrevistas e análise da cadeia de valor do Polo de Joias do Pará com base na observação participante. Os resultados apontam que as estruturas teóricas empregadas neste estudo estão presentes na Cadeia de Valor do Programa do Polo de Joias do Pará, destacando a criação de valor por meio do benefício percebido pelo consumidor. O incipiente estudo cria oportunidade para a realização de novas relações com outros clusters criativos ou para a identificação de atitudes e intenções de compra dos clientes do Polo. / This qualitative and descriptive study investigate the relationship between theories about Creative Economy, Competitive Advantage, Value Chain and Quality in Luxury Market aiming to identify the contribution of the Pará Jewelry Cluster Program for creating value in jewelry industry of that Brazilian state. The research method included the construction of propositions from the literature reviewed and reduced, conducting interviews with professionals in the Brazilian Jewelry Industry, content analysis of the interviews and analysis of value chain of Pará Jewelry Cluster based on observation participant. The results show that the theoretical frameworks used in this study are present in the Value Chain of the Pará Jewelry Cluster Program, highlighting the creation of value through benefit perceived by consumers. The study creates opportunity for the realization of new relationships with other creative clusters or to identify attitudes and purchase intentions of customers from Polo.

This diploma thesis is focused on creation of competitive strategy of small family firm. It analyses current status of a company, which is specialized in complete design and stress analysis of constructions. The thesis investigates impact of external enviroment on the firm and it also analyses internal enviroment. The thesis defines strategic targets, contains proposal of competitive strategy of the company and time of its implementation.

This master’s thesis deals with the proposal of a marketing strategy. The part of this thesis is an external and an internal analyse. The proposal part contains the summary of steps how to reach the possible development of the business activities.

This thesis adds the market orientation approach to a global value chain analysis of four farmed seafood value chains from two Asian countries to the EU. The overall aim of the research is to critically evaluate whether, and to what extent, access to market information is the key to unlocking the potential of developing countries to create greater value: whether knowledge is power. The objectives of the thesis are therefore to explore the process of generating market information in seafood value chains from Asia to the EU; understand under what conditions market information is, is not or is only partially disseminated; and, evaluate the role of market information in responses by chain agents that create value. In order to achieve these objectives, fieldwork was conducted along the length of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) and prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) from Bangladesh, and shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Thailand to the EU. The EU is the world’s largest single market for imported fish and fishery products. France, Germany and the UK were selected for fieldwork as they are primary importers of the species from the selected countries. The research found that although increased knowledge is necessary, it is not a sufficient condition for increased value creation. Instead, the research advances existing understanding of seafood value chains by revealing that successful integration of developing country producers into global markets is partly dependent on governance and industry development in the exporting country. Weaknesses in these structures and relationships undermine supplier power by reducing access to market information, lessening incentives for sharing information, and restricting response capabilities. A number of methods for overcoming these constraints were found in the chains examined, focusing on direct links between market and value chain agents. Importantly, the research found that integration is also dependent on the willingness of those with a market presence in importing countries to share knowledge and power. Critically, the research has led to the conclusion that the possession of market information is one way for value chain agents, particularly those downstream, to guard knowledge and power for themselves. A better understanding of seafood markets and an improved analysis of aquaculture value chains from Asian countries to the EU revealed through the research will facilitate public and private responses that focus on the competitive advantage of the whole chain as a means to more sustainable development. This may well promote new chain configurations that place a premium on stronger and more collaborative linkages, increasing coordination between weak and strong suppliers and contribute to private sector development assistance. Only when knowledge is shared and suppliers gain power, will the market orientation of seafood value chains be improved, if not optimised.

The purpose of thesis is to formulate, based on an analysis of the activities taken by the operations and strategic management, measures to improve strategic-operational collaboration and raise the quality of strategic decision making in a selected business company. To accomplish the set objective, internal and external environments in which the company competes have been identified using PESTL analysis, Porter five forces analysis, Value Chain Analysis and Financial Analysis. Based on these analyses, the strengths and weaknesses, important opportunities and threats within the company have been determined. SWOT analysis and Fuller's Triangle Method have been applied to assess the internal capabilities, limitations and chances of the organization in the business environment. The completed analyses have been assessed and used to create proposals and recommendations for developing strategic decision making in the investigated company.

The aim of this diploma thesis is creation of competitive strategy of business company. The thesis analyses current state of company, its subject of enterprise is sale of replacement parts and equipment for agricultural machinery. It analyses influence of the external and internal environment on the company. Further was made the marketing research. The strategic targets are determined from the obtained data. The thesis contains proposal of competitive strategy and its time schedule.