Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 224-235).

Diss.--Hamburg. / Lebenslauf. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. v-vii.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Yale University, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 195-218).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1980. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 446-451).

No description available.

It is argued that the neo-classical approach of regarding the market economy as a largely sufficient means of optimising technological and economic development is quite unrealistic and market forces alone cannot assure rapid technological and economic development. It is suggested instead that the pace of technological change and industrial transformation can be accelerated by well-directed pro-active State intervention. To do so, the State must allocate resources, articulate goals, identify time frames, design and implement appropriate policies as well as establish linkage and integrative mechanisms. This thesis focuses on defining the characteristics of a State that can stimulate technological advancement in carefully selected sectors to achieve mastery of particular technologies in the drive for economic development. According to the argument of this thesis, it is by means of a developmental State, that technological development can become endogenised and it is differences in State capacity that largely explain variations in economic performance amongst developing countries. State actions that create coherence between the public and private sectors, so leading to a synergistic interaction promoting the strengths of both to the detriment of neither are also defined and described. From the starting position that it is the developmental State that is best positioned to co-ordinate and prioritise in order to bring about rapid technological and economic development, the thesis explores what are the defining characteristics of such a State. In addition to the three features recognised in the literature: - relative autonomy, capacity, and embeddedness - the thesis argues that for a State to become developmental, four other features are required. These are: - legitimacy of the State, unity in society, motivation for economic development, and political stability. The essence of this thesis's theoretical contribution is that it is the extent to which these seven features are developed, as well as the manner and extent of their interaction with one another, that determines the level of developmental capacity of a State in any particular period. By means of this theoretical framework, the socio-historical and political processes in the South Korean and Turkish States are analysed with reference to their car manufacturing industries. Technical changes implemented throughout the history of the three Turkish passenger car plants are investigated, together with the firms' characteristics and performance. The nature and objectives of technological changes generated in the plants are explored and both macro and firm-level factors that affect the firms' technological efforts are identified. The focus of the case studies is to uncover the precise nature of the means and mechanisms whereby the South Korean State's interventions proved to be so much more effective than those of the Turkish State.

O objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa é realizar uma análise exploratória do desenvolvimento de novos produtos e produção em empresas do segmento automotivo que adotam a estratégia modular. A estratégia para a indústria automotiva é uma forma de simplificar a gestão de um produto, considerado complexo, num ambiente de intensa competição, inovação tecnológica e redução do ciclo de vida do produto. Na verdade, é um conjunto de conceitos que leva a novas formas de organizar o desenvolvimento do produto e a produção, possibilitando a transferência de atividades de projeto do produto e produção na cadeia produtiva. Para o delineamento da pesquisa foi utilizado o estudo de caso na análise de duas montadoras de veículos comerciais que produzem produtos semelhantes (caminhões e chassis de ônibus). Uma das montadoras opera com o sistema de consórcio modular e a outra, embora mais convencional, aplica o conceito de modularidade na linha de montagem final. O estudo de caso também foi utilizado na análise de dois fornecedores de primeiro nível, que fornecem motores para a montadora que opera o consórcio modular, sob a óptica do desenvolvimento de novos produtos e montagem do módulo no veículo. De uma forma ampla, a pesquisa revelou que os novos desenvolvimentos de produtos modulares influenciam o sistema produtivo existente e por outro lado, este também exerce influência no projeto do produto. Para minimizar as consequências as montadoras lançam medidas que integram os times de engenharia e fornecedores e adotam medidas para simulação do processo antes do início de produção. / The aim of this research paper is performing an exploratory analysis of the new product development and production in automotive companies that use the modular strategy. The strategy for the automotive industry is a way to simplify the management of complex products in an environment of intense competition, technological innovation and shorter product life cycles. Indeed, it is a set of concepts that lead to new way of organizing the product and production development, enabling the transfer of project activities and production in the chain. Aiming the research design, it was used the case study analysis in two automakers, which produces similar products (trucks and bus chassis). One of the automakers operates the modular consortium system, and the other, though more conventional, applies the modular concept in the final assembly line. Also, the case study was used in the analysis of two first tier suppliers, which supplies engines for the automaker that operates the modular consortium, in order to know how the new product development happens. Generally, the research has shown that the new product development influences the existing modular production system, and in the other side, this also influences the product design. However, to minimize the consequences, automakers launch measures in order to integrate the teams and suppliers, and adopt measures to simulate the process before starting of production.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Sc. (Environmental Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. / The objectives of this research can be summarised as follows: To integrate the customer research technique of attribute analysis with the volume planning process. To determine whether attribute analysis, is a useful and reliable tool for determining purchase behavior in the small sedan segment of the motor industry. To determine a customers perception of total product value through attribute analysis. To analyse the influence of price in the purchase decision. To determine whether a market share theorem that weights the perceived value of a vehicle, relative to its competitors perceived value is a reliable predictor of market penetration. To identify the determinant attributes in the decision making process of purchasing a small sedan vehicle. The research component of this dissertation is limited to the small sedan passenger segment of South African car market. While it is recognised that the small sedan segment is only one sub-sector of the vehicle market, it is felt that the study will provide a fair reflection of how the approach could be utilised in other sectors.