Abstract The purpose of the thesis is to explore two main subjects. First of all by interviewing managers and researchers who are highly involved in industrial e-Marketplaces to understand the developing stage of e-Marketplace in Taiwan domestic Steel and Automobile industry. Then, this thesis will compare the interviewing results with related literatures and researching papers in order to analyze and explain the differences and reasons between them. Second, this thesis also tries to predict the future expanding trends of the domestic Steel and Automobile industrial e-Marketplaces and discusses the impacts on representative companies¡¦ strategies by e-Marketplaces and how the representative companies reach their strategic goals through using e-Marketplaces. The main conclusions of this thesis include the nine lists below. 1. The e-Marketplace can¡¦t replace all established trading process, trading habits and supply relations in the short run. 2. The e-Marketplace can let buyers touch more sellers, increase information transparency and get the commodities with lower price by grouping auctions. 3. Buyers will transfer their transactions to on-line e-Marketplace step by step. 4. E-Marketplace can let sellers touch more customers, decrease inventory cost and grasp the market reactions and news. 5. E-Marketplace is sellers¡¦ new channel, but most of sellers still sell their products through established websites and channels. 6. The functions of e-Marketplaces always emphasize on competitive bidding and auctioning instead of buyer-supplier relations. 7. When an industry fragmentation is lower, that the industrial e-Marketplace led by leading company will be finer; when an industry fragmentation is higher, that the industrial e-Marketplace governed by justice third party will be better. 8. The main revenue of the e-Marketplace comes from transaction fees, subscription fees, added service fees and license fees. 9. The key success factors of the e-Marketplace operating are to gather many buyers and sellers, the most comfortable business services, deeply domain knowledge, good trading relations and good uses of customer data.

Graduated: June, 2002 Student: Hu, Shen Sheng Academic Degree: Master thesis Advisor: G. Gary Hu Abstract: The semiconductors products are the key components for electronics industry. The applications covered the wide field of 3C(Computer, Communication, Consumer) electronics products. The suppliers are the manufacturers of CPU, MPU, Chip set, Logic IC, Linear IC, etc. The customers are the manufacturers of 3C electronics products. The Distributors of Semiconductor are not only sales components or import-export business, but also provide the professional value-added service for suppliers and customers. They are important bridge for the suppliers and customers in the worldwide semiconductors supply chain. They perform a key role in the electronics industry. Taiwan has the competitive advantage in the hardware of information industry such as low cost and high quality. The worldwide manufacturers consider the production cost and the price competitive. They would like to reinforce the strategic alliance relationship with Taiwan. In this trend, the customer of 3C product manufacturers want to reduce their stock risk and production cost. The customer will not buy from the original component manufacturers directly. They will choose the distributors which can provide low cost, fast delivery, design support, FAE support, good quality, e-process, overseas support, etc. The distributors should develop to differentiation business mode in the future. Provide the value-added service for the supply chain in the electronics industry field. The strategic development of Marketing Channels for Semiconductor Components in Taiwan is shown as below: 1. Build and extend core capabilities. 2. Construct a worldwide distributors network. 3. Continuing expend the economic scale. 4. Provide the total-solution for customers. 5. Search for new products and new applications.

The engineering industry has set up the foundation for Taiwanese economical and industrial development. During all phases of the developments, the engineering enterprises play the heavy role respectively in various engineering stages, such as feasibility study, environment impact evaluation, planning, design, construction, test, management, trainning, operation and maintenance etc. of engineering projects. Following the expansion in scale and versatility in content of the engineering project, the turn-key contract type instead of the traditional design and then construction splitted contract type will become more and more popular in engineering industry. Especially, the BOT and BOO of the turn-key contract in Taiwan public engineering projects are set with higher priority considering both the engineering benefit to the public and the finacial effectiveness of the government. Taiwan became the #144 member entity of WTO in early of year 2002 just soon after the #143 member of China in the late 2001. The mutual market oppening induces not only more competition but also more opportunity to the industries of the WTO member entities. The top management of individual enterprises shall consider thoroughly and work out an approach of theirwon leading to concord with the world trend, strengthen the competitive advantages, and survive forever in the industry. The research is started with the analysis of Taiwanese engineering industry. The resource-based view points and strategic management activities outline the core competence capabilities and advantages in various work stages of the indussstry. The key successful factors in the industry are recommended as : (1) financing capability; (2) business reputation and customer relationship; (3) capabilities of planning, design and cost estimate; (4) economical scale and negotiation capability; (5) engineering management and integration capabilities; and (6) operation and maintenance capability. The CTCI Corporation is also taken as an example introducing his operation methods and strategies which are worthwhile for reference. BOT or BOO stated in this research is on the prime contract with the real owner, usually the government. The prime contractor who is then called as the ¡§second owner¡¨ shall use every available resource in the industry to complete the project on schedule, in good quality, and earn the appropriate profit for his enterprise. Sub-contracting, therefore is still the same as what people did in the traditional engineering projects. Either big scale complex engineering enterprises or small size expert firms can still find theirown way for future operation. Talking about the tendering competition, the final game is almost staied on the financial issues. The learning curve, scale economic and expertization of the low cost strategy chain up the concentration and differenciation strategies. All of these will promote enterprises¡¦ capabilities through the improvement in technical aspects, project management, enterprise processing and resource integration, resource leverage etc.. The engineering enterprises, after evaluating their core competitive advantages, may choose and consolidate the market zone most suitable for them and extend therefrom the market through the alliance.

Abstract Competitive Strategies from 2G to 3G ¡V A case of Taiwan Mobile Group In trend with WTO, globalization and government policy, the domestic telecommunication market has gradually moved from monopoly to free market. Suddenly, the liberalization of telecommunication resulted in fierce competitions in the market, each fighting for customers and market share, staging a battle scene in the telecommunication industry. Although 2G has excelled, it could not lead the fixed network out of its distress. Business enterprises were still stuck in the swamp of the last mile. On the other hand, 3G was launched with a thunderbolt posture, but its expensive license fee has deeply scarred business enterprises once again. Competitors tried their best in both hard selling and lucrative promotions, only to find very few customers have been touched. Money has been spent, but the future seems dim. Faced with a chaotic market, fierce competition and a hazy future of 3G market, how the telecommunication business enterprises innovate new business models, provide attractive service content to consumers, so as to avoid fierce price competition and establish new competitive advantage, the business mindset, strategic positioning are crux of the matter. In Porter¡¦s Competitive Strategies, the objective of competitive strategy is to be different. In other words, when a business manager establishes a different set of business activities, provides a unique set of values to customers, can it thus have a unique competitive advantage. Taiwan Mobile Group is one of the three largest domestic telecommunications company. Its scope of business includes fixed network, cellular network, 2G and 3G mobile telecommunication, customer service and all other telecommunication businesses since the liberalization of the industry. The business team ¡V Fubon Financial - is one of the top business group in Taiwan. Is its factor of success in 2G one of internal advantage or one of external opportunity? What is its competitive strategy from 2G to 3G? Can its success in 2G ensure similar success in a competitive advantageous position in the 3G and future market? Faced with a slow development of 3G market, lack of competitiveness in the service function, as well as the impact of 4G WiMAX V technology, what kind of strategic posture should it take? This thesis investigates the development of Taiwan Mobile Group from 2G to 3G, its strategic positioning, internal competitiveness and how it should innovate a new business model, establish a different set of business activities, or provide unique service value, so as to create an unique competitive advantage, to reap greater market opportunities and continually create competitive advantage. Six conclusions are made for the case study company: (1) The success of 2G is the strength and foundation for Taiwan Mobile Group in the 3G market. (2) The development of Triple Play digital bus cross-industry system integration aids in the competitive advantage of 3G. (3) Merger strategy and resource integration strategy may not achieve synergy. (4) Corporate governance has poor results, unclear vision does not aid the long term development of the business. (5) Concern for employee should take a higher priority than focus on customers. (6) Dependence on external technology and lack of R&D capability do not facilitate development of continuous competitive advantage. Eight recommendations to the case study company: (1) Research and develop a killer ¡§integrated mobile digital service platform¡¨ to dominate the 3G and markets of the future. (2) Cultivate senior management with skills in innovation and integration. (3) Institute a forward-looking ¡§vision¡¨ to lead its employees, inspire passion and seize the future. (4) Build up a corporate culture of ¡§customer is paramount¡¨, ¡§employee first¡¨, and ¡§continued business operation¡¨. (5) Decentralize the organization, humanistic management, simplify process, rationalized costs. (6) Construct a ¡§business resource integration platform¡¨ to integrate all internal resources and build up a strong competitive force. (7) Cultivate the ¡§corporate client¡¨ market. (8) Plans moves in China with a global vision. Further studies: (1) Study of the competition and cooperation strategies between 3G and WiMAX. (2) How does Taiwan innovate an ¡§integrated mobile digital service platform¡¨. Keyword: Competitive Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Second Generation Mobile Telephony (2G), Third Generation Mobile Telephony (3G)

Steel industry is highly connected to a lot of industries. In year 2007 Taiwan steel industry is the third industry, after warfer and electronic industry, which achieved hundred billion NTD in total years¡¦s revenue. Taiwaness downstream industries, unlike Japanese and Korean, are mostly owned and managed by small and medium companies. Steel pipe is a long- hollow shaped material, massively adapted in fluid transportation, such as pretrolem, natural gas, water and steam etc. It is also heavily used in mechanic maching and structure engineering. This study focuses on API ERW carbon steel pipe industry in Taiwan. Analysis of pipe manufacture industry strategy is made upon the basis of theories like value chain, competitive strategy and game theory. Moreover, interviews with professionals and specialists are held to collect experiential wisdom regarding management and core competence ability. In another word, theory analyses together with interviews lead to the conclusion of competitive characteristics. Also, illustration of strategic competitiveness forming in CHS provides a practical example. How to evaluate the core competitive ability in Taiwan API ERW carbon steel pipe industry when facing global competition, that depends on every company¡¦s unique global strategy. To sum up, this study describes and analyzes the current state of API ERW carbon steel pipe industry in Taiwan and summits the proposal of competitive strategies by taking CHS as an example.

Taiwan manufacturer has the cost advantage of manufacture and is famous in the world. Taiwan Electronic Passive Component(E.P.C.) company has the big pressure from those lower labor and land cost countries such as China because the technical entry barrier of passive component is low. Due to this situation, Taiwan passive component company endeavor to develop high-valued product and keep the strong relation with the customer in order to maintain the long-term profitability. Thus, the low-end and mid-end of passive component is occupied by Taiwan passive component company. Meanwhile, Taiwan Passive component company plan to develop high-end of passive component and to get more profit from these niche product. Taiwan subsidiary of international passive component company has the big competitive pressure on it. If Taiwan subsidiary of international passive component company does not take the appropriate strategy, this niche market will be expected to lose in the near future. Based on industry analysis and supplier analysis of Electronic Passive Component(E.P.C.),and case study from Taiwan subsidiary of international passive company, the thesis explored the success experience of competitive advantage from the case research of mainly utilizing The Five Force Analysis Model, Resource-Based View(R.B.V.), and SWOT Analysis. The suggestion were conclude as followed. 1.To Taiwan E.P.C. industry: To have the strong relation with each Design-Center of Japan, America, and Europe; to get the advantage of key material and manufacture process; to keep improving quality management. 2.To the research firm: To differentiate professional and technical support service; provide just-in-time delivery; to make the low-end product in the lower land and labor cost country.

The relationships between supply chain management and its corresponding¡@variables are the focus in this research. Furthermore, this study tries to explore the¡@interaction between supply chain management and those corresponding variables on¡@both the effectiveness of supply chain and whole organization. The main variables¡@employed at this study include, supply chain strategy, supply chain ability, competitive strategy, and product diversification. Through mail to collect data, the companies with related diversification are the goals to deliver questionnaires. The results that the more a company emphasizes competitive strategies than his competitors, the better his operating performance is. However, supply chain strategy, supply chain ability, and the degree of product diversification do not have significant effect on a company¡¦s operating performance.

In this work, the market penetrating strategies of Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer in an emerging market was studied by using the methodology of case study with the sales cases in Taiwan. A five force model and key success factors were used to analyze the competition models and strategic logics in a Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer, Company H. The results from this work shows that the new Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer has abandoned the price leading competition strategy and shifted to integrated business strategies based on high technology, professional service, and flexibility in order to develop the market rapidly. Meanwhile, she was able to better manage the penetrating timing and expand the market share; therefore, her market share is gradually increased to the similar level of major leading telecom equipment manufacturers. As the time passes and technology evolution, the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer will be able to become a major player by expanding the market share.

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There can be little doubt that Six Sigma is far more than just another novelty concept; in fact, it can be considered as a proven quality philosophy and if applied correctly, ensures a competitive advantage. A rapidly increasing number of firms, from all industries and of all sizes, are now reporting significant savings or returns on their program and training investments, because of the implementation of Six Sigma. This paper investigates the origin, definition, financial benefits and challenges of Six Sigma and its implementation. Certain critical success factors determine the successful implementation of Six Sigma in any firm. Many firms have reported significant benefits as a result of Six Sigma project implementation, though not all are yet success stories. This paper reviews the literature related to the critical success factors for the effective implementation of Six Sigma. This research will provide the useful information for firms, which are willing to implement Six Sigma and help firms avoid the risks during the process of Six Sigma implementation. The primary objective of this exploratory research is to identify the critical success factors required for the successful implementation of Six Sigma. Then, based on the critical success factors identified in literature and the survey, the purpose is to develop and propose an applicable framework for firms to successfully implement Six Sigma. The research is explorative of nature and a survey research design was used with a questionnaire as data-gathering instrument. Descriptive statistics (e.g. means and standard deviations) were used to analyse the data. The results confirmed that the most critical success factors for successful Six Sigma implementation include management commitment, change management, effective communication and alignment. The proposed framework presents six interlinking components of Six Sigma which is dependent on these four critical success factors. Limitations in the research are identified and recommendations for future research are made. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.