This thesis investigates strategic alliances in the aviation industry, focusing on resource sharing, using Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) within Star Alliance and SkyTeam as case studies. It examines the operational and competitive benefits of these collaborations through qualitative research, including interviews with executives and experts. The study highlights alliance dynamics like antitrust immunity, code sharing, and the resource-based view. Findings show alliances improve operational efficiency, competitive positioning, and customer service. It also considers the impact of new technologies and global events on alliances, which pool tangible (technology, infrastructure) and intangible assets (brand reputation, identity), fostering deeper integration. This research enhances understanding of strategic drivers in airline alliances and the complexities of resource sharing in the global aviation sector.

There is increasing evidence that relational behaviors play a role in helping firms improve the performance of their strategic alliances, but there is still a preponderance of attention given to firm level elements and a dearth of literature investigating lower levels of analysis. This has helped create a "managerial relevance gap" (Bell, den Ouden, & Ziggers, 2006) between theoretical and operational requirements. This study attempts to fill one portion of that gap by investigating individual and team level factors that shape decisions to promotively collaborate with partners in alliances. The question of interest in this paper was whether supervisors and workgroup peers influence individuals to collaborate in an alliance, and whether those individuals consequently perform collaborative behaviors that improve performance. An analysis of survey responses from 1,242 members of a pharmaceutical sales organization produced three key findings. The first indicates that individuals' attitudes toward collaboration are related to collaborative behaviors, and that these behaviors in turn are positively related to performance. The second outcome of the study shows that attitudes of one's peer group do influence collaborative attitudes while those of one's supervisor do not. Third, there is an insignificant relationship between collaborative attitudes and performance. While evidence of indirect effects mediation was shown, it is therefore not possible to demonstrate either a full or partial mediation effect between collaborative attitudes and performance. These findings, along with the limitations of this study, are discussed. Finally, implications for future research and managerial practice are explored.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cross-sectoral collaborations between non-profit organisations (NPOs) and the business sector are on the rise. The success of the cross-sectoral collaboration is varied and based upon the value generated for both parties. Most literature around cross-sectoral collaboration has been written with a bias towards the corporate sector, not taking into account the challenges faced by NPOs. This research project focused upon the value generated from collaborations between NPOs and individuals from the corporate sector, within the NPO landscape. The University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development (USB-ED) presents a course to develop the skills of senior managers in the Senior Management Development Programme (SMDP). As part of the programme, participants (from the business sector) are required to complete a business driven action learning (BDAL) assignment where they engage NPOs in order to do a strategic analysis and develop a strategic plan for them. The BDAL assignment is not only designed to provide the SMDP participants with the opportunity to apply knowledge acquired in the course, but also aims to make a social contribution. Qualitative research methods were employed to study the engagement between the NPOs and the SMDP participants, the outcomes of the BDAL assignment and the perceived value created for the NPOs and SMDP participants. The research was not an evaluation of the BDAL assignment but drew on the information generated from the BDAL assignment to understand how value was generated through the process of business and NPOs working together. Value was generated for the NPOs through the relationship with the SMDP participants and the skills the SMDP participants employed during the collaboration. It was found, however, that the outcome was mostly generated on a strategic level for the NPO. But, as a result of a lack in capacity, the NPOs were not able to maximise the value from the BDAL assignment implementing it on an operational level. Where the SMDP participants were able to close the gap between the strategic and the operational level, through skills transfer and providing practical guidelines, the value increased significantly and operation efficiency increased. The findings on how value was generated through the BDAL assignment and the literature review formed the foundations for the guidelines that are provided for cross-sectoral collaboration, within the NPO landscape. Subsequently, the aim of the study is to enrich the cross-sectoral collaborations between NPOs and business, as well as the BDAL assignment and its outcomes.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: On 27 September 2010, the much anticipated entry of Walmart to the South African retail sector was announced. Walmart Stores Incorporated publicised that they would make a non-binding offer of R148 per share for the entire number of Massmart Holding’s outstanding shares. The offer presented a premium of 19.2 percent and valued Massmart at R31 billion rand. Walmart later altered the offer to purchase 51 percent of the outstanding shares at the same offer price which Massmart consequently accepted. This concluded the largest investment by an American company, the tenth largest corporate transaction in South Africa and the fifth largest acquisition by Walmart. From a Massmart shareholders’ perspective, was it the correct decision to accept Walmart’s offer? Academic literature suggests that most mergers and acquisitions fail to live up to their expectations and ultimately fail to create shareholder value. Some of the most common reasons listed are the failure to determine the fair market value of an acquisition and engaging in mergers and acquisitions for the wrong reasons. Another common pitfall is that valuation methods in general do not link the company’s strategy to the valuation process, to assess the potential impact of the merger or acquisition on company performance. This case study based research report analyses the Walmart-Massmart acquisition to review Walmart’s offer price. The analysis links both companies’ business model and strategy to the valuation process, to determine the outcome on shareholder value within Massmart following the acquisition.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

As the economy shifts from a heavy emphasis on defense science and technology to a focus on the application of innovation to commercial markets, decision makers are eager to learn how to shape successful university-industry partnerships. Given that the trend is toward greater numbers of relationships, this national survey project investigated whether scientists and administrators involved in university-industry cooperation share similar perspectives. It explored the benefits, conflicts and mechanisms related to collaborative activity, and sought to determine the implications for universities, industry, and policies directed towards this collaborative activity. Sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation, this study is one of the first to solicit responses from persons not involved in university-industry collaborative activity as well as from those who are. This research successfully captured three aspects of conflicts: conflict of interest, conflict of commitment and conflict over internal equity. The study found that conflict of interest turns on potential financial gain and revenue generating activities. Conflict of commitment is viewed in terms of responsibility and loyalty to the academic or industrial sector to which the individual belongs. Conflict over internal equity centers on traditional academic duties such as teaching and interaction with students. The primary benefits society will receive as a result of collaborative activity are new knowledge and know-how of new techniques and technologies. Regarding specific mechanisms preferred by survey respondents, collaborative universities and firms will rely heavily on conflict of interest policies guide appropriate activities. These should be specific enough to counsel an individual who has come to a decision point with regard to loyalties and at the same time be general enough to treat each collaborative endeavor on its unique merits. Regardless of the type of collaborative relationship in which academics become involved, the study found that decision makers should hold firm in their promotion of teaching and equitable treatment of students. In order to be true to their academic identity, university representatives should ensure the scale is tipped in favor of teaching, or delicately balanced so that teaching activities are equal to collaborative activities.

This research contributes to the emerging dialogue concerning power relationships and the alliances that are challenging current frameworks in an attempt to create positive change. Worldwide, local people in rural places are threatened by development paradigms and conflicting social, political, economic, and ecological values. Large-scale development, such as the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project (NGP), provide a tangible example of our failing systems and make the interplay of these elements palpable. Increasingly, communities are coalescing to challenge the current models and economically motivated agendas threatening Indigenous sovereignty and local lifeways. Central to these coalitions are Indigenous peoples who are aligning with non-Indigenous neighbours to renegotiate power relationships. This research examines these dynamic alliances and uses Haida Gwaii’s resistance to the NGP as an example of the formidable strength of community coalitions mobilized by intersecting values. To contextualize the NGP within the broader discourse, I problematize Canada’s environmental assessment process and consider how media portrays the growing resistance to the proposed project. Drawing on information presented through the environmental assessment, I analyze the main messages and shared values of Haida Gwaii citizens opposed to the NGP. This thesis focuses on this unanimous and galvanizing resistance, which is largely motivated by the reliance on local food sources and an embodied connection to Haida Gwaii shared by Island citizens. The continued denial of Aboriginal title and rights was inherent throughout this consideration and is an underlying theme throughout the analyses. / Graduate

Transaction cost economics (TCE) theorists traditionally have classified transactions between firms as governed by either market or hierarchy. By assessing characteristics of the transaction - asset specificity, uncertainty, and frequency - firms choose the governance form which minimizes transaction costs, the costs of administering the business deal. During the 1980s, however, TCE has found itself unable to explain the proliferation of strategic alliances. These hybrid relationships seek the benefits of both markets and hierarchies, including quasi-integration, the control of assets without actual ownership. Further, hybrids tend to prefer trust-based relational contracting. TCE's acknowledgment of hybrids, however, raises other questions surrounding the behavioral assumptions which supposedly influence the transaction characteristic governance linkage. Various dissenting researchers have theorized that (1) trust is more dominant in business than opportunism (2) the behavioral assumptions actually function as variables in different contexts, and (3) trust offers an integration mechanism for behavioral variables.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

[pt] Esta pesquisa foi motivada pela percepção do momento favorável pelo qual a indústria de óleo e gás passa no Brasil com a descoberta de novas reservas de petróleo, e com o crescimento econômico do país. A partir dessas novas descobertas, diversas oportunidades começam a surgir para empresas que atuam nesta indústria. Porém, devido à complexidade e ao alto investimento necessário para atuar nesse segmento de mercado, a formação de alianças estratégicas se torna indispensável para melhor aproveitar essas diversas oportunidades. Sendo assim, o objetivo do trabalho é contribuir aos estudos sobre alianças estratégicas globais, através de um estudo de caso, identificando as alianças estratégicas existentes entre a empresa Technip Brasil e os atores-chave da indústria de óleo e gás, em termos de constituírem oportunidades e/ou ameaças. Dada a relevância da pesquisa e desenvolvimento para a evolução do setor e a ausência de um estudo que delimite as implicações estratégicas destes tipos de alianças, o presente estudo visa suprir esta lacuna. Para tal, ele adaptou o arcabouço de análise estratégica relacional global de Macedo-Soares (2011) para as alianças identificadas. Os resultados encontrados demonstram a relevância estratégica e a importância da formação dessas alianças, no sentido de aproveitar as oportunidades e mitigar as ameaças no nível da indústria de óleo e gás. / [en] This research was motivated by the perception of momentum that the oil and gas industry is going through in Brazil, with the discovery of new oil reserves, and consequent economic growth of the country. Thus, from these new discoveries, several opportunities begin to arise for companies operating in this industry. However, due to the high complexity and investment required to serve this market segment, the formation of strategic alliances have become necessary to take better advantage of these various opportunities. Therefore, the objective is to contribute to studies on global strategic alliances, through a case study, identifying strategic alliances between the company Technip Brazil and the key players of the oil and gas in terms of constituting opportunities and / or threats. Given the importance of research and development for the evolution of the sector and the absence of a study that establishes the strategic implications of these types of alliances, the research aims to fill this gap. To this end, this study adapted the framework for strategic analysis of global relational from Macedo-Soares (2011) for identified alliances. The results demonstrate the strategic relevance and importance of the formation of these alliances, in order to seize opportunities and mitigate threats at the level of oil and gas industry.