The aim is the improvement of the company's strategy Prada Group in the Russian market during the economic crisis and sanctions against Russia. Objectives of the study: - Classify the overall exit strategy of the company to foreign markets; - Identify the features of formation of exit strategies of foreign companies (clothing manufacturers) on the Russian market; - To analyze the conditions of Prada Group; - Identify the forms of interaction Prada Group with Russian companies; - To propose changes in the strategy of Prada Group on economic activity in the conditions of the use of economic sanctions against Russia. The object of investigation is the problem of choosing the right exit strategy Prada Group in the Russian market. The subject of research is the gradual promotion of Prada Group in the Russian market, while analyzing the micro and macro environment in foreign markets, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the company. Scientific novelty of the research is to develop a theoretical and methodological approaches to the analysis and use of strategic decisions for the formation of a package of measures to change the strategy of foreign companies, taking into account characteristics of sectors and risk in the administration of the sanctions measures. Among the most important scientific results that define the scientific novelty and significance of the research, should be highlighted: 1) The proposed steps of forming a marketing strategy yield in emerging markets in the context of globalization; 2) The peculiarities of the Russian clothing market, affecting the output of foreign companies into the market; 3) Develop guidelines for choosing the exit strategy of the company Prada Group in the Russian market. The practical significance of the results of the research is both theoretical and methodological and applied character. The proposed recommendations can be applied at the exit of foreign companies to the Russian market. The work carried out situational analysis to develop marketing strategies exit of foreign companies in the clothing market. / Целью работы является совершенствование стратегии компании Prada Group на российском рынке в условиях экономического кризиса и санкций против России. Задачи исследования: - классифицировать общие стратегии выходы компании на зарубежные рынки; - выявить особенности формирования стратегий выхода зарубежных компаний (производителей одежды) на российский рынок; - проанализировать условия развития Prada Group; - выявить формы взаимодействия Prada Group с российскими компаниями; - предложить изменения в стратегии Prada Group на экономическую деятельность в условиях применения экономических санкций к России. Объектом исследования являются проблема выбора правильной стратегии выхода Prada Group на российский рынок. Предметом исследования выступает поэтапное продвижение Prada Group на российский рынок, анализируя при этом микро- и макроокружения на внешних рынках, а также преимущества и недостатки фирмы. Научная новизна диссертационного исследования состоит в разработке теоретико-методических подходов к анализу и использованию стратегических решений для формирования комплекса мероприятий по изменению стратегии иностранных компаний с учетом особенностей отраслей и рисков в условиях введения санкционных мер. В числе наиболее важных научных результатов, определяющих научную новизну и значимость проведенных исследований, следует выделить: 1) Предложены этапы формирования маркетинговой стратегии выхода компаний на развивающиеся рынки в условиях глобализации; 2) Выявлены особенности российского рынка одежды, влияющие на выход иностранных компаний на данный рынок; 3) Разработаны рекомендации по выбору стратегии выхода компании Prada Group на рынок России. Практическая значимость результатов проведенных исследований носит как теоретико-методический, так и прикладной характер. Предлагаемые рекомендации могут найти применение при выходе иностранных компаний на рынок России. В работе проведен ситуационный анализ для разработки маркетинговых стратегий выхода иностранных компаний на рынок одежды.

According to the United States Government’s Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), in 2016 the Government awarded contracts worth over $472 billion. While the majority of these contracts were for products, the Government spends an average of over $76 billion per year on professional services. Roughly 28 percent of these funds go to small businesses, as classified by the Small Business Administration. Supporting Government contractors, several firms provide nearly complete market information on Federal Business (FedBiz) contract opportunities through Data as a Service (DaaS) offerings. Such services create a unique environment where nearly complete information about upcoming opportunities is available to anyone for a price. Businesses need to understand the value of such data services and ask questions about how best to use them. This gives businesses a very unique information resource in a very unique market and should cause firms to adapt by developing new and different ways to become more profitable. The goal of this research is to provide conceptual insights into the impact of FedBiz DaaS on the Government marketplace itself and on the resource mix of Government contractors. The results of this research show that businesses that adopt FedBiz DaaS increase revenue and win more contracts. Implementation of FedBiz DaaS resources leads to an improved Competitive Position for a company; changes to staffing, roles, and processes for a company’s Organizational Capabilities; and changes to the Competitive Intensity of the overall marketplace. / Business Administration/Strategic Management

The influence factors which lead business to success or failure could be very different because of the different times¡Bdifferent industries and different competitive environment. People can also find out the different competitive capacity coming from different organizational cultural¡Adifferent business team structure or different leadership of the business. Up the present , there were so many scholars and experts of business management advocated unanimously the importance of ¡uknowledge innovation¡v ¡B ¡ustrategic human resource management¡v and ¡uorganization competence¡v. Those theories initiated my highly attempt to find out the practical situation of those theories on the rubber industries. This is the origin of writing this thesis. After further research about the rubber industries and according to the interviews and analysis of the company A¡AI am trying to approach the following subjects from the angles of the knowledge innovation¡Bthe strategic human resource management and the organization competitive capacity. 1. The relevance of the knowledge innovation and the strategic human resource management. 2. The relevance of the knowledge innovation and the organization competence. 3. The relevance of the strategic human resource management and the organization competence. 4. The relevance between the knowledge innovation¡Bthe strategic human resource management and the organization competence. 5. The practical applied model for building up the business competitive capacity. This study is using three methods to approach the studying purpose which including¡G1. literature study and sort out 2. the case study 3. interviews. There are four final conclusions of this study which are¡G 1. The strategic human resource management supply qualified manpower to all departments of the organization which also help the progress of the benign cycle of innovation. 1. The balanced development of innovation capacity of every single department the the organization causes continued and long term expanding on it¡¦s entire business competitive capacity. 2. The strategic human resource management directly and strongly relate the business competitive capacity. 4. The Lean strategic human resource management promote the organizational innovation capacity and strengthen itself with continued competitive capacity. In the meanwhile, also discovering five valuable theories as below: 1. The leader of a organization is the rudder of continued innovation spiral. 2. The strategic human resource management prevent the organization from grim or in-harmony atmosphere. 3. The business competitive capacity basic on good strategic human resource management, and be driven by balanced innovation capacity. 4. The management which meets the human demands is the source of innovation. The education which fills up the human lackness strengthen the business competitive capacity. 5. The relevant between the innovation capacity¡Bthe strategic human resource management and the business competitive capacity could be converted due to differences of countries, races, religious believes, generations, personnel structure¡Ketc.

This diploma work analyses existing competitive intelligence of the firm. Contains analysis of competitive intelligence awareness and its utilization like competitive advantage in Czech consulting companies. The work includes proposal for competitive intelligence strategy or recommendation and complementation of existing strategy.

Competitive Intelligence as a supporting system for strategic management system provides system of data collection and analysis for the creation of competitive intelligence for strategic decision making in the company. This thesis analyzes the possibilities, advantages and pitfalls of setting up the system and focuses on both theoretical analysis of operation of the unit, and practical implications of its introduction in the company. The work evaluates the benefits of this system for the company and the particular example demonstrates the way the department works and creation of competitive intelligence, competitive intelligence.

This thesis focuses on the issue of social networks and its potential use as a tool to boost competitiveness. At first, in the theoretical part, basic terms and definitions, which are strongly related to the issue of social networks, are explained. Then the thesis deals with the business sectors, where social networks can be used. Furthermore, the most used representatives of worldwide social networks are characterized along with their potential use in the business. The theoretical part is completed with the chapter that describes and evaluates analytical tools which are used for monitoring and analysis of social networks. Practical part focuses on the aesthetic centre Marttinéz and its competitors in the sector of hairdressing and beauty salons. Firstly, its actual attitude to the social networks is analyzed and further analysis regarding competing salons is carried out the second analysis should reveal competitors' behaviour in the area of social networks. The main output of the practical part is a set of recommendations regarding optimization of company's sites at social networks and also suggestion on a monitoring system of social networks sites of this aesthetic centre.

This diploma Thesis deals with the introducing of the Comptitive Intelligence process and creating a proposal for the implementation of this process to the selected company. The first part contains a description of the theoretical framework, followed by the review of the current situation in the company and the reasons why the Competitive Intelligence process should be implemented. The next part is focused on the proposal of the whole process. The conclusion of the thesis sumarizes the whole proposal and its benefits of this thesis for the company.

The diploma thesis focuses on the practical use of competitive intelligence, a method increasingly used to support decision making nowadays. The essential key principle is based on collection of precise data and their thourough analysis. The obtained information gives a comprehensive overview of the competitor analysis. The acquired knowledge of the competition is important for company's strategic decision-making processes. At the beginning the thesis gives a theoretical background on different means of data collecting including the ethic kodex. Folowing is the identification of the modern sources of information. Further, various methods and approaches of competitive intelligence are described. And the theoretical background on competitive strategies and their impact on the market wraps up the theoretical part of the thesis. The method is applied to create departmet of competitive inteligence for the company. Then the various options for further go to market activities are described and the scope of cooperation with selected customers is evaluted. The thesis describes the competitive intelligence advantages and the possible ways of aplications for the competitive strategy. At the end, the recommendations for the management of the company are summed up.

Competitive Intelligence (CI) has become increasingly important for organisations in the private sector, or profit-making organisations, because the level and intensity of competition has increased in recent years. This increase in the level and intensity of competition has also affected the public sector, or non-profit-making organisations, such as Public Service departments. In South Africa, the Public Service departments have undergone significant changes, in order to rectify the injustices of the past. Despite much progress, it is noticed that government does not have sufficient capacity to deliver and sustain a quality service to its citizens. It is further noted that improved service delivery cannot be implemented by issuing of circulars only, and it is not just an administrative activity, instead it is a dynamic process and to do this, Public Service managers require new management tools. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) was chosen as the case study Public Service department for this study. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how competitive intelligence tools and techniques could be implemented in Public Service departments in South Africa to enhance the delivery of services. This aim was established during this study by addressing the following issues: • Identifying how CI tools and techniques could contribute to the functioning of the Public Service sector. The study outlined the benefits of CI for public service organisations and focussed on several tools and techniques that could be used. Most of these tools and techniques were not used in DHA. • Assessing the current state of Public Service delivery in South Africa. It became evident from the study that the Public Service sector and in particular DHA was experiencing several problems in terms of achieving its service delivery mandate. The Department lacked structured and formal frameworks, policies and strategies for conducting its operations. The organisation was viewed to have many unskilled and de-motivated staff. The current state of service delivery in South Africa also revealed disturbing findings of corruption, fraud, nepotism, and extreme despair in staff that had to work in these conditions. • Identifying gaps in the Public Service current strategies for service delivery. It was established that DHA does not use reliable techniques and methods when conducting its strategic planning. Furthermore, staff lacked the competencies, skills and experience to assist in strategic planning. The existing strategic plan for DHA does not address the future desires of the organisation and can be regarded as a plan to address the immediate issues of the organisation only. • Identifying the forms of competition that impact service delivery in Public Service departments in South Africa. Several forms of competition were encountered at DHA. These forms of competition can be divided into three different areas namely internal competition in DHA, external competition and left field competition. The information about these forms of competition was not readily available to managers and decision makers therefore appropriate actions could not be taken to counteract the impact of the competition on service delivery. • Identifying initiatives adopted by Public Service departments to improve service delivery. It was evident from the study that while the new initiatives being implemented by DHA to improve service delivery would be able to, and in some cases, have already had a positive impact on the operating and service delivery environment, several concerns were also identified. • Designing a new CI related framework for gathering and analysing information that can be used in all Public Service departments in South Africa to improve service delivery. From the empirical investigations it became evident that no single CI tool or technique would have been able to address the situation at DHA, therefore, a combination of tools was necessary. These tools were depicted in a CI framework that DHA could use to gather and analyse information for decision making and service delivery. • Suggesting proposed solutions and recommendations that can assist Public Service departments in South Africa in improving its service delivery. It was evident that CI can contribute towards the enhancement of decision making and service delivery not only in DHA but also in all other Public Service departments in South Africa. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Information Science / unrestricted

The competitive advantage of velvet beans as an economic agricultural commodity. In the past 40 years, although food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation persist, worldwide farmers have made considerable progress in increasing per capita food production whilst better understanding natural-resource management. Literature indicates that — in the decades to come — food demand will both grow and change for three reasons, namely increased numbers of people, increased income (people will have more purchasing power), and increased urbanisation (people will be more likely to adopt new diets containing animal protein and cereal). The world population is expected to increase to 8,9 billion by 2050, with 84% in the developing countries. Food insecurity and malnutrition are expected to persist despite progress on average per capita consumption of food. As a complex system, and despite challenges, agriculture must produce simultaneously unprecedented abundance of food and unparalleled social concerns. As a business, agriculture requires high capital investments in land, facilities and production inputs; most often producing commodities of generally low unit value with thin profit margins, thereby forcing producers to strive for efficiency in all aspects of production. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that farmers should understand sustainable agriculture; where a more sustainable food-production system seeks to make the best use of nature’s goods and services whilst not being harmful to the environment. Sustainable agriculture should maximise the productivity of the land; should focus on locally adapted resource-conserving technologies which assist whole system redesign and large-scale adoption; and should aim to minimise the use of harmful non-renewable and fossil-fuel derived inputs. Fertilisers have not replaced the function of organic matter and other management practices; but soil erosion and toxic waste rather did increase disproportionately along with increased agricultural production. This has led to a progressive decline in crop and land productivity as a result of soil degradation, water contamination, increasing problems of weed infestation, pests and diseases. Often the apparent absence of sustainable productive agricultural systems within the scope of commercial farmers is not because of the lack in technology or low yield potential of traditional varieties, but rather on account of the limited knowledge or lack of awareness on the part of farmers about sustainable production practices which function in harmony with their farming environment. As one of the keys to success the velvet bean — which can grow almost everywhere — is an example of the introduction of a simple regenerative component into a farming system, as well as boosting the capacity of a farmer for local adaptation of the technology. Integrating the natural processes of nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation and introducing natural enemies of pests into food production processes can contribute to minimising environmental damage and/or health of the farmer and the consumer. Using the knowledge and skills of farmers helps to improve their self-reliance and to solve a common management problem, such as social- and human-capital management. The velvet bean is seen as an answer to the agricultural problem of low nutrient supply to the staple crop of maize. The bean creates ground cover, regenerates, fertilises the soil, controls weeds and adds organic matter and nutrients. In arid South Africa the crop is one of the strongest defences of the farmer against the harmful effects of El Niño — with the bean protecting the soil, holding water and fertilising the land with its leaves. With the velvet bean farmers can grow their own organic and inexpensive fertilisers. Commercial fertilisers are becoming more and more expensive and their benefit is decreasing because of a degrading soil resource base. Furthermore, the rise in production costs makes total reliance on inorganic fertilisers more uneconomical for most growers in the agricultural sector; making it imperative for researchers to come up with options which increase the efficient use of fertiliser, and also to identify other nutrient sources — such as legumes — that are not capital intensive. The velvet-bean technique is known to researchers and farmers worldwide for a considerable amount of time, but not in our country. As the technique becomes better known to South African farmers, it can be considered in a broader sense as a modern way to add nitrogen to the soil; benefitting, amongst others, the subsequent crop. The velvet-bean approach has a window of opportunity which can lead to higher yields in crop production, decline in labour costs, crop diversification, as well as agro-processing — all resulting in improved food security for South Africa. Adopting the velvet bean into a production system can benefit a farmer, by achieving maize yields of 3 t/ha–4 t/ha (similar to yields normally obtained with recommended levels of fertilisation at 130 kg N/ha) without applied nitrogen fertiliser or input for weeding. Velvet beans, as an intercrop, can provide more than 100 kg N/ha to the following crop. However, literature shows a declining trend over time for all systems, which suggests that additional external inputs (probably P and K fertiliser) are required to achieve full sustainability. The adoption of the velvet bean in the South African maize industry would result in import savings of about 158 million tons of urea or about R591 billion/year. Information presented in this mini-dissertation is considered to be the current state of knowledge on establishing, managing, and utilising the velvet bean as a legume in South Africa’s commodity market; with the belief that it will expand the use of the bean, and will enhance the benefits from its use. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015