Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research report evaluated the concept of Economic Value Added (EVA) and investigated the application of EVA as a performance measure to a particular company. It was found that EVA overcomes some of the problems associated with the traditional measures of company performance. These traditional measures are profit based and are calculated from standard accounting methods. They are inadequate measures to account for the creation of shareholder wealth, as they do not take the full cost of capital into account and also distort the economic reality of the company. It was however observed that there are limitations when applying EVA. It was found that significant effort (and associated costs) could be required to implement an EVA system in a company. The EVA calculation can also become very technical, and is heavily biased by the company's risk index (or beta coefficient), which is also a subjective measure (especially for private companies). In addition, the choice of adjustments to standard accounting methods have a significant impact on whether the company creates or destroys value in terms of EVA, and can lead to a certain degree of manipulation of the EVA calculation. In the case of the particular company reviewed, it was however found that these potential limitations were overshadowed by the benefits that can be gained from the increased focus on the creation of shareholder wealth that comes from the implementation ofEV A. It was concluded that should EVA be fully implemented at this particular company, it could form the backbone of the financial management and employee incentive system, guiding decisions made at all levels, and changing company culture so that every employee thinks and acts like an owner of the company. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsverslag het die konsep van Ekonomiese Toegevoegde Waarde (ETW) geevalueer, en ook die toepassing van ETW as prestasiemaatstaf by 'n spesifieke maatskappy ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat ETW sommige van die probleme wat geassosieer kan word met tradisionele maatstawwe van maatskappy prestasie (wins gebaseerde maatstawwe wat bereken word met die standaard rekenkundige metodes) kan oorkom. Hierdie maatstawwe is nie voldoende om die skepping van aandeelhouer welvaart te bereken nie, aangesien hulle nie die volle koste van kapitaal in berekening bring nie, en ook die ekonomiese realiteit van die maatskappy verwring. Daar is weI uitgewys dat ETW sekere beperkings het. Daadwerklike inspanning (asook gepaardgaande koste) kan nodig wees om 'n volle ETW implimentasie uit te voer, en die berekening van ETW kan ook baie tegnies wees. Die berekening word ook heweglik beinvloed deur die beta-koeffisient, wat op sy beurt ook 'n subjektiewe maatstaf is - veral vir privaat maatskappye. Gepaardgaande hiermee het die keuse van aanpassings aan die standaard rekenkundige metodes ook 'n groot impak op die eindproduk van ETW - of 'n maatskappy welvaart skep of vernietig. Dit kan op sy beurt lei tot 'n mate van manipulasie van die ETW berekening. In die geval van die spesifieke maatskappy wat ondersoek is in die navorsingsverslag was dit egter gevind dat die potensiele beperkings van ETW oorskadu word deur die voordele wat kan voortspruit uit die verhoogde fokus op die skepping van aandeelhouer welvaart wat gepaard gaan met die implementering van ETW. Daar was tot die slotsom gekom dat indien ETW ten volle implementeer sou word by die spesifieke maatskappy, dit die steunpilaar van die finansiele bestuur en werknemer vergoeding stelsel kan word, besluite op aIle vlakke kan beYnvloed, en die maatskappy se kultuur kan verander sodat elke werknemer kan dink en optree soos 'n eienaar van die maatskappy.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This report contains a strategic management model to assess the impact on the EVA тм of the individual business units and the consolidated group total of a Company, when manipulating any of the key business drivers. The model has been designed to deliver a solution to the end-user that is simple to operate and presents graphical outputs to enhance understanding and interpretation. The sensitivity analysis, the EVA тм tree and the financial statements are presented in Excel. A simulation technique is used to forecast NOPAT values from a set of key drivers. The theories used to construct the model are explained and a hypothetical example is provided. The appendices also provide the concept of EVA тм, simulation techniques, list of assumptions and model instructions. The report is comprehensive enough to allow the reader to develop, implement and test a model of this nature. Opportunities for further research are also provided. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bevat 'n strategiese bestuursmodel om die impak van individuele besigheidseenhede op ekonomiese waardetoevoeging (Engels: EVA тм) en die gekonsolideerde groeptotaal van 'n maatskappy, wanneer enige een van die sleutel besigheidsdrywers gemanipuleer word, te bepaal. Die model is ontwerp om 'n eenvoudige oplossing vir die eindgebruiker te verskaf en verskaf grafiese uiteensettings om verstaanbaarheid en interpretasie te vergemaklik. Die sensitiwiteitsanalise, ekonomiese waardetoevoegingsontleding en die finansiële state word in Excel weergee. 'n Simulasie tegniek is gebruik om NOPAT waardes van 'n stel sleutel drywers te voorspel. Die teorieë wat gebruik is om die model saam te stel, word aan die hand van 'n hipotetiese voorbeeld wat voorsien word, verduidelik. Die aanhangsels voorsien die konsep EVA тм, simulasie tegnieke, 'n lys van aannames en instruksies vir die model. Die verslag is volledig genoeg om die leser in staat te stel om 'n model van hierdie aard te ontwikkel, te toets en te implementer. Voorstelle vir verdere navorsing word voorsien.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "Imagine improving the value of a capital project by 30%, or increasing the throughput of an organisation with 20% less capital expenditure!" The normal reaction to this sort of statement is that it is impossible and only looks good on paper. However, by applying proper principles and techniques, an organisation or project team can embark on a journey which will allow them to creatively apply those skills and knowledge in order to maximise the value of the organisation, project or venture. It will allow business to evaluate and extract value by analysing business cases, process- and engineering design issues, project development and implementation plans. Too frequently project teams find themselves tied up with the nitty gritty issues of projects, causing them to loose sight of the bigger picture. The existence hereof of this is often indicated by too much focus on actions to reduce capital expenditure and too little on the impact thereof on operational cost and value adding potential, destroying overall value of the venture in the process. This aim with this document is to provide the reader with an overview of tools, techniques and principles to aid organisations to enhance the value of capital projects. It is not intended as a handbook or manual to enable the reader to become a skilled practitioner in this field, but rather to give the interested novice, general manager or project leader a background overview of, and insight into, the steps, tools, techniques and principles available, to improve the value of a project. The basic fundamentals are not rocket science, but it is the process of becoming involved in applying lateral thinking to each phase of a project, or existing operation that unlocks the true value. This document firstly gives background on the reasons why value adding potential usually exists in capital projects, and identifies tell tale indicators of hidden value opportunities in projects. Basic fundamentals are discussed to familiarise the reader with general concepts used in later chapters. Subsequently, the steps for execution of a value improving intervention are discussed, to give the reader a thorough background and understanding of the value improving processes involved. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Verbeter die waarde van 'n kapitaal projek met 30%, of verhoog die deurset van 'n organisasie met 20% minder kapitaal spandering!" Die verwagte reaksie op hierdie tipe stellings is dat dit onmoontlik is en net goed lyk op papier. Die aanwending van toepaslike beginsels en tegnieke kan 'n organisasie egter in staat stel om daardie vaardighede en kennis, waaroor hulle reeds beskik, te benut om die waarde van die organisasie of projek te maksimeer. Dit kan besighede toelaat om waarde te evalueer en te ontsluit deur besigheidsplanne, proses- en ontwerp aangeleenthede, projek ontwikkeling en implementeringsplanne te analiseer, te verstaan en te verbeter. Te dikwels bemoei projekspanne hulle met die detail van projekte, wat veroorsaak dat hulle die groter prentjie uit die oog verloor. Die teenwoordigheid hiervan word veral aangedui deur te veel fokus op aksies om kapitaal spandering te verminder, en te min op resulterende bedryfskoste en waarde skeppende potensiaal te konsentreer. Hierdeur word die algehele waarde waartoe die projek instaat is ondermyn. Die doel met hierdie dokument is om 'n oorsig te gee na die gereedskap, tegnieke en beginsels wat beskikbaar is ter ondersteuning van organisasies wat die waarde van kapitaalprojekte wil verbeter. Dit is nie bedoel om 'n handboek of voorskrif te wees om die leser instaat te stel om 'n vaardige verbeteringspraktisyn te word nie, maar eerder om aan die geinteresseerde leek, projekbestuurder of algemene bestuurder agtergrond en insig te gee oor die stappe, gereedskap, tegnieke en beginsels wat beskikbaar is om die waarde van 'n projek te verhoog. Die grondbeginsels is nie kwantumfisika nie, maar behels 'n proses om betrokke te raak in die toepassing van laterale denke en kreatiwiteit in elke fase van 'n projek of besigheid, om die werklike waarde te ontsluit. Hierdie dokument gee eerstens agtergrond oor die redes waarom potensiaal vir waarde toevoeging in kapitaalprojekte bestaan, en identifiseer 'n aantal indikators van die teenwoordigheid van verskuilde waarde aan. Grondbeginsels wat in verdere hoofstukke gebruik word, word bespreek en toegelig. Daarna word die stappe ter uitvoering van 'n waarde verhogingsintervensie bespreek, om 'n deeglike agtergrond te verkry van die betrokke proses.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Purchasing strategies impact on the value added to operations by the items included in the specific purchasing strategy. In mechanised mining operations the mining equipment plays a significant role in the production process as it is the primary production tools. This study reviews literature on the application of buyer-supplier collaboration to purchasing strategies in order to improve the value added to operations and focus on mining equipment purchasing. Most authors agree that the origin of this type of relationship is the adoption of the production management concept of Just-in-Time. Models for buyer supplier collaboration include one dimensional models such as the Traditional and Advanced Supply Management model, Models on the automotive industry, and Supplier partnerships. The one dimensional models mainly compare traditional market type supplier relationships to advanced partnership or relational type relationships. The models reviewed also include multi-dimensional models such as the portfolio management models and the strategic supplier segmentation model. These multidimensional models propose the adoption of a variety of supplier management models based on certain contextual parameters relating to the purchase and expands on the one dimensional models. The benefits of buyer-supplier collaboration include reduced inventory, increased inventory turnover, reduced scrap, increased quality, reduced costs, improved delivery reliability, design and productivity, reductions in lead time, and additional effort from suppliers. The risks associated with buyer-supplier collaboration include significant resource requirements, lack of support from suppliers, shifting of inventory, industry type exclusivity, higher switching costs, and increase in supplier's power. Buyer-supplier collaboration has certain requirements to be successful. These include a fundamental change in the purchasing strategy relating to supplier selection criteria, number of sources and time horizon, multi-dimensional evaluations, a move to single-sourcing and long term relationships. The development of buyer-supplier collaboration is dependant on similarity in industry and technology, prior experiences change, effective communication and information sharing, and experiential learning. Other success factors include two-way information sharing, top management support, shared goals, early communication to suppliers of specification changes or new products, suppliers adding distinctive value, total quality management initiatives and Just-in-time initiatives. The models for buyer-supplier collaboration form the basis of most discussions on implementation. The main implementation guidelines reviewed include the implementation of operational links relating to design, logistics and quality. The more complete implementation models include the model for Five phases in the development and evolution of purchasing partnerships. The most complete models are the portfolio management models to supplier relationship management which includes contextual analysis as well as relationship analysis and implementation. Portfolio management models were found to be the most applicable to application in industries other than manufacturing. The final part of this study applies the theory to mining equipment purchases. The theory and application of buyer-supplier collaboration were developed for the manufacturing industry and therefore several issues arise in the application of these approaches in the mining industry. No significant literature was found relating to the application of buyer-supplier collaboration to mining equipment purchasing strategies. Applying the portfolio management approach to the mining equipment purchase and suppliers, reveals that mining equipment purchases are strategic in nature and buyer-supplier collaboration is the applicable management approach. Several areas of possible value add were identified and include acquisitions costs, replacement parts, efficiency and productivity of mining equipment. The initial review of the implementation of buyer-supplier collaboration at a mining operation reveals early performance improvements in terms of service levels. The review also indicates the existence of some of the risks associated with this type of relationship, mainly the shifting of inventory to the supplier.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 1998. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigated the divergent practice in the presentation of Value-Added Statements (V AS) by industrial companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A standard statement (for 1997 only), as suggested by the author, was constructed for all 188 companies analysed to eliminate unusual or faulty recording of certain items. Overall, the calculated value added differed from that published by the companies due to the inclusion of certain items which are specific to particular companies. The information compiled during the investigation will also he used to upgrade the database of the University of Stellenbosch Business School. The results of the study suggest that there are indeed some deep-rooted conceptual problems in reporting value added as well as problems associated with the treatment of individual items in the statement. Taxation reporting in the V AS was found to be the major item where inconsistency was prevalent. Of the 188 companies studied, about forty percent included what the author tenned "taxation mistakes" in their VAS. Minority reporting was found to be another significant problem area where companies were very inconsistent in reporting the item. In addition, there were some strange items that the writer came across in the published VAS. [f value added is to be accepted as a useful tool in financial reporting, that is, if it is to gain popularity and usefulness, it must be derived from a consistent model and should be systematically applied. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie het die verskillende wyses ondersoek waarop Toegevoegdewaardestate (TWS) opgestel is deue industriele maatskappye op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs. 'n Standaard staat (slegs vir 1997) soos voorgestel deur die skrywer is opgestel vir elk van die 188 maatskappye wat ontleed is ten einde ongewone of foutiewe rapportering te elimineer. Oor die aigemeen het die berekende toegevoegde waarde verskil van die syfers soos gepubliseer deur die maatskappy. Die verskille was hoofsaaklik toe te skryf aan die insluiting van sekere items wat uniek was aan bepaaJde maatskappye. Die informasie versamel gedurende hierdie ondersoek sal ook gebruik word om die databasis van die Bestuurskool van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch op te gradeer. Die resultate van die studie het getoon dat daar weI sommige diep-geworteide konseptuele probleme in die rapportering van toegevoegde waardc bestaan het sowel as probleme geassosieer met die hantering van individuele items in die TWS. Veertig persent van die 188 maatskappye ondersoek, het belastingfoute (soos deur die skrywer omskryf) ingesluit in die gepubliseerde TWS. Die rapportering van minderheidsbelang was ook 'n groot probleem area wat gelei het tot 'n groot mate van inkonsekwente rapportering. Verder het die skrywer op 'n hele aantal ongewone items in die gepubliseerde TWS gevind. As toegevoegde waarde as 'n handige hulpmiddel in finansiele rapportering aanvaar wil word, dit is om groter populariteit en groter gebruikswaarde te verkry, sal dit ontwikkel moet word uit 'n bepaalde model, en op 'n sistematiese wyse opgestel word.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mobile penetration in Ghana and the rest of Western Africa is reaching maturity. Mobile operators are looking for ways to complement their traditional revenue streams, as they cannot merely rely on voice and short message service (SMS) income anymore. Mobile value-added services are a good addition to the portfolio, bringing much needed services like transactional banking, commerce, information and entertainment, insurance, and health information services to mobile users that had difficult to no access to the above services until recently. South African mobile value-added services (VAS) companies that have a good relationship with market leading mobile providers, like MTN, have the opportunity to tap into the Ghanaian market as these services predominantly consist of mobile financial services products with limited functionality. Other specific services like agriculture, health, entertainment and insurance have been identified as mobile subscriber needs in the Ghanaian market. The benefit that South African mobile value-added companies have is that they already have developed similar well-functioning value-added services for the local market where comparisons with the Ghanaian market dynamics can be found. These companies can tailor them to the specific needs and requirements of the market in Ghana, saving them time and having the much-needed first mover advantage with regards to new or better mobile VAS in this market. Ghana is seen as the most stable country in the West African region and ease of doing business is good in comparison with neighbouring countries like Nigeria. Ghana is therefore a good entry point for South African mobile VAS companies in the West African market to truly scale their business model. The researcher chose to investigate the opportunities and best ways to enter this market by interviewing a project manager and managing director of a leading mobile value-added services company doing business in emerging economies, including Ghana. Questionnaires were also sent to employees working for various mobile VAS employers with extensive experience in the research and development of mobile VAS in these markets. The researcher derived information on the difficulty of doing business in Ghana; the current available VAS in the Ghanaian market; factors that hinder business growth in this market specifically; drivers of success; the importance of partnering with leading mobile operators like MTN to be successful; how the South African business model can be compatible; South African and other African trends that will most likely overflow to Ghana; together with the size data-enabled VAS which will form part of the portfolio of products that mobile VAS companies can offer and be market ready for in the near future. The findings of the researcher can be used as a starting framework to further investigate and determine specific market size and to conduct in-depth market analysis of the needs and requirements of mobile subscribers with regards to mobile VAS in Ghana with the vision of moving into the rest of Western Africa.

<p>Problem area and purpose</p><p>Nowadays, 2006, the downloading of music and movies is an increasingly more burning issue. But while the music industry has made great progress in using the Internet as a distribution channel the film industry has been at a standstill for several years. Recently however there has been progress in the form of a few film companies beginning to offer their customers legal ways to acquire films over the Internet. But with this progress one central question arises, which this report will try to answer; what are the important factors for selling films as the Internet moves from primarily being a information channel to also functioning as a distribution channel? The purpose is to examine what the consumers find important when purchasing film, and to establish to what degree there is a substitution effect between DVDs and downloadable films.</p><p>Method</p><p>The report is first and foremost based on an Internet survey with a total of 383 participants. The respondents are divided into two separate selections, the first consisting of people already with a genuine interest in film (both watching and purchasing) and the second selection consisting of people with a more average interest. To get a wider perspective, but also to get an in-depth view of the business, we interviewed a Swedish journalist with strong connections both with the film companies and with the consumers.</p><p>Theory</p><p>The survey is based on three theoretical concepts; added value, differentiation and substitution. Together these concepts form two variables, Inclination to purchase DVD and Inclination to pay for downloading. Depending on the respondents’ answers to the survey, different values are given the variables, which in turn shows how inclined the different groups are to substitute DVD with downloaded films.</p><p>Result and conclusion</p><p>The report’s result shows that the first selection is not very inclined to replace DVDs with downloaded films, while the second selection shows slightly more interest. In conclusion, the most important factors for the consumers when, or rather if, downloading films are low price and an easy and functional system. When looking at the industry today this is not what the companies are offering the consumers, which puts the film industry’s role as Internet distributor in question.</p>

Verslas labai svarbus kiekvienos šalies ekonomikai, jo teikiamą naudą gali pajusti tiek verslininkai, verslo atstovai, tiek ir kiti visuomenės nariai. Lietuvoje šiuo metu verslo sektorius yra pažengęs, tačiau jame yra dar daug neišspręstų problemų, neatsakytų klausimų. Šiuo metu Lietuva dar negali pasigirti aukštą pridėtinę vertę kuriančių verslų gausa, ir pati šalies vyriausybė tik po truputį pradeda suprasti pridėtinės vertės kūrimo ir jos generavimo svarbą visai šalies ekonomikai, tad darbe autorė aptarė pridėtinės vertės kaip pagrindinio ekonominio sverto svarbą verslui ir šalies ekonomikai, nustatė kokie ekonominiai svertai, kokios priemonės versle padėtų kurti aukštesnę pridėtinę vertę. Baigiamojo darbo tikslas – išsiaiškinti verslo Lietuvoje plėtros ypatumus, nustatyti, kokie ekonominiai svertai didina verslo kuriamą pridėtinę vertę. Darbo hipotezė – nepakankamas verslo sektoriaus pridėtinės vertės kūrimas ir generavimas Lietuvoje. Baigiamojo darbo pagrindiniai uždaviniai: supažindinti su Lietuvos verslo sektoriumi, atskleisti pagrindinius šio sektoriaus ypatumus, išskirti pagrindines jo problemas; apibūdinti pridėtinę vertę, jos kūrimo procesą bei teikiamą naudą; apibūdinti pagrindinius ekonominius svertus, didinančius verslo Lietuvoje kuriamą pridėtinę vertę, išnagrinėti kur ir kam ši sukurta pridėtinė vertė yra paskirstoma; atlikti pasirinktos verslo sektoriaus šakos Lietuvoje analizę, įvertinti kokią pridėtinę vertę ši šaka sukuria ir kokią naudą ta sukurta vertė... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Business is extremely important for any country's economy; its benefits can be experienced by both the business community, business representatives and also by other members of the public. Lithuanian business sector is currently advanced, however there are still many unsolved problems and open questions. Lithuania cannot yet be proud of plenty businesses, creating high value added, moreover, the government itself is only beginning to gradually realize the importance of value added creation to the national economy, therefore the author of this paper has discussed the importance of value added as a major economic leverage to both business and the national economy, determined the factors and measures are required for creating higher value added. The aim of the paper: to identify business development characteristics in Lithuania; to determine, what economic levers increase the value added of private business. Working hypothesis: lack of value added, generated by Lithuanian business sector. Main tasks: to introduce the theoretical side of the business sector; to identify the main features of the sector; to highlight its major problems; to analyze factors and measures, helping create a higher value added and promoting development of the country's private business; to perform analysis of a selected Lithuanian business sector branch; to assess the value added, created by that branch and the benefits to Lithuanian economy. Research methods: analysis of primary data sources; analysis... [to full text]

The understanding of Swedish lobbyism is so far insufficient and misguided. In order to understand Swedish lobbyism better this thesis calls for a shift to theory testing case studies of actors that are capable to lobby in an organized and recurring way. To do this it offers a theoretical framework developed from three established theories of lobbying strategy adjusted for a Swedish context. The purpose of this framework is to chart strategies for how Swedish lobbyists lobby against Members of Parliament (MPs) and if and how these strategies influence MPs’ attitudes towards a policy. The case is the lobbying campaign for a reduced restaurant sales tax from 2000 to 2014 ending with a reduction from 25% to 12%. The study concludes that Swedish lobbyism is built from alliances, trust, perceived seriousity, and public interest, more than actual expertize of a specific topic.

Bakgrund:Handeln på externa handelsområden ökar stadigt och har ett fortsatt högt tryck, då ny handelsyta om 2 miljoner kvadratmeter planeras byggas i Sverige. Trots det väljer vissa företagare att ha kvar sina verksamheter i stadskärnorna. Syfte: Syftet är att skapa en djupare förståelse för vad entreprenörerna i Växjö city gör för att attrahera kunder tillbaka till stadskärnan efter att gallerian Grand Samarkand öppnat på en extern handelsplats i Växjö. Metod:  En kvalitativ metod med ett induktivt angreppssätt har använts där empirisk data insamlats genom att låta intervjupersonerna berätta sin berättelse inom det valda ämnet. Slutsats: Entreprenörerna väljer att inte bara stå still och låta motgångarna passera, vilket skulle vara ett steg i negativ riktning. De har flera idéer och tankar på hur de ska attrahera kunder till city. Genom att vara serviceminded och erbjuda kunderna webbhandel, egendesignade smycken, workshops, unika produkter och aktiviteter tillsammans med andra företagare och partners försöker de attrahera kunder till city för shopping. Vidare forskning: Ta reda på kundens aspekt av att handeln flyttar till andra arenor och vad som skulle kunna få dem till att shoppa mer i stadskärnan. / Background: Trading on areas outside town centers is steadily increasing and this area have remained high pressure, new retail space of 2 million square meters are planned to be built in Sweden. But some entrepreneurs choose to keep their businesses in city centers. Purpose: The aim is to create a deeper understanding of what entrepreneurs in Växjö city do to attract customers back to the city center after Grand Samarkand opened on an external trading place in Växjö. Methodology: A qualitative method with an inductive approach has been used where the empirical data was collected by allowing respondents to tell their story in the chosen topic. Conclusion: Entrepreneurs choose to not stand still and let the setbacks pass, which would be a step in a negative direction. They have several ideas and thoughts on how to attract customers to the city center. By being service minded and offering customers e-commerce, selfdesigned jewelry, workshops, unique products and activities with other business owners and partners they try to attract customers to the city for shopping. Further research: The customer aspect of the trade moving to other arenas and what might get them to shop in the city centers.