The phenomenon analyzed within this thesis is the uprising of cloud computing technologies and their potential impact on SMEs. Cloud computing is ought to enable new capabilities for SMEs by the key benefits of being less expensive and its ubiquitous accessibility. The research was constituted on the theoretical framework of the resource based view and was conducted via semi-structured interviews along the themes of application history, financial impact, structural impact, strategic impact, risk considerations and future outlook. Thereby the core research question was to understand the impact of cloud computing technologies as new resources on the competitive advantage of SMEs. Therefore, 183 SMEs were contacted via email which were selected from a commerce authority and internet inquiry from which 6 agreed to an interview. The interview outcomes were analyzed by coding and an interpretation of the qualitative findings. Significant outcomes were that cloud computing provides SMEs capabilities of collaboration and mobility. The impact on innovation could not be verified but was indicated. Moreover, the adaption of cloud computing has led to SMEs saving resources in terms of time, IT budget and specific IT knowledge. The provision of the new capabilities and the savings of resources have shown to improve the SMEs’ overall performance by complementing, supplementing and substituting existing resources. Nevertheless, no direct linkage could be identified to a contribution to a competitive advantage but suggestive indirect linkages were found. However, the findings might deliver new comprehension about the organizational impact of cloud computing on SMEs in terms of resource enhancement and their impact on business practices. Furthermore, implications for future research include the need for investigation of the internal charging of cloud services and particular to narrow down the key advantages of cloud computing for SMEs and raise their business awareness as a source of competitive advantage. / <p>This paper has been a collective effort between Sten Ekström Winroth and Franco Bettels, the thesis has though been written in collaborative between the Management and Informatics department at Jönköping International Business School. These two departments have different requirements of the thesis writing process, which entails that we the authors have had different requirements. This is the reason that two theses exist with the same name, these two theses differ in the details, but are overall the same. </p>

This thesis is concerned with caching algorithms. We investigate three variations of the caching problem: web caching in the Torng framework, relative competitiveness and caching with request reordering. <br /><br /> In the first variation we define different cost models involving page sizes and page costs. We also present the Torng cost framework introduced by Torng in [29]. Next we analyze the competitive ratio of online deterministic marking algorithms in the BIT cost model combined with the Torng framework. We show that given some specific restrictions on the set of possible request sequences, any marking algorithm is 2-competitive. <br /><br /> The second variation consists in using the relative competitiveness ratio on an access graph as a complexity measure. We use the concept of access graphs introduced by Borodin [11] to define our own concept of relative competitive ratio. We demonstrate results regarding the relative competitiveness of two cache eviction policies in both the basic and the Torng framework combined with the CLASSICAL cost model. <br /><br /> The third variation is caching with request reordering. Two reordering models are defined. We prove some important results about the value of a move and number of orderings, then demonstrate results about the approximation factor and competitive ratio of offline and online reordering schemes, respectively.

Purpose: The purpose is to gain a better understanding in how a construction com-pany like Held &amp; Francke calculate the price of an offer for a building project and what role cost calculation, in relation to quality and time, plays in achieving competi-tive advantage. Method: Since the method of cost calculation only was investigated at one company we found it suitable for us to use a holistic single case study as the research strategy. The method used in this study is a qualitative research method since our empirical data, to a large extent, is based on interviews. Further, because our study is of a quali-tative nature, we have chosen to perform semi-structured interviews. Conclusions: After examining Held &amp; Francke we found that they manage very well to use some of the theoretical methods for cost calculations. Their main method of calculation is ABC, where the project is broken down into smaller work steps. Cost calculation plays a large role as a competitive advantage for Held &amp; Francke. Cost is the sole as-pect where Held &amp; Francke has full control and providing competitive project prices therefore becomes imperative in order to generate sales. With the focus on costs the cost calculation becomes an important role in achieving a competitive advantage.

In organisation, diversity in term of human resource is a new phenomenon which evolves and takes everyday more place in the global strategy of the company. For different reasons, human resource diversity could make the organization competitive in the market where the competition is all the time stronger. But the difficulties for human resource management officers is to elaborate human resource policies based on reaching the organization’s objectives and in the same time managing the workforce diversity in order to satisfy the all protagonists and in order to manage the diversity to make it a competitive advantage. They have to use appropriate tools in order to establish the employees’ loyalty and efficiency.

¡@¡@While an organization facing a dynamic environment, the only way to survive is to learn as soon as possible. Therefore, organizational learning becomes more and more important. Age of knowledge economy is coming, human resource becomes the key of the competitive advantages. Does learning-oriented human resource have positive influences in organizational performances? In this thesis, the study will discuss this topic from the aspect of learning-oriented human resource and try to find the relationship between learning-oriented human resource and organizational performances and as well as the relationship between the system of learning-oriented human resource and organizational performances. Moreover, the indirect impact of human resource practices intertwined with human resource and competitive strategy as a moderator is also under scrutiny. ¡@¡@This thesis is conduct through opinion survey, relied by the directors of human resource and core department in each company, the findings of the thesis can be summarized as follows: 1. ¡§ Control ¡¨ and ¡§ performance appraisal ¡¨ of the learning-oriented human resource practices impact the organizational performances positively. 2. There is no evidence to show that the system of learning-oriented human resource impacts organizational performances either positively or negatively. 3. The relationship between ¡§cooperation¡¨ ¡§cooperation within departments¡¨ and ¡§training¡¨ of learning-oriented human resource practices and organizational performance will be contingent on an organization¡¦s competitive strategy.

Machinery industry is the engine of the industrialization for a nation. During the last four decades of industrial development in Taiwan, machinery industry has played a key leading role. With an overall production value at NT$680 billion in 2009, the Taiwanese machinery industry ranks among the top 20 nations worldwide. Its tooling machines and carpentry machines etc. are ranked in the global top 5 exporting countries. Mainland China (including Hong Kong), with increasingly importance, is currently the number one export destination as well as the number three country of origin for imports for the Taiwanese machinery industry. With the cross-strait relations becoming progressively more close, Taiwan and the Mainland are about to sign the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). ECFA will serve as Taiwan¡¦s breakthrough in the country¡¦s participation in regional cooperation, promote its signing of Free Trade Agreement with other countries, and stimulate its economic development further. The signing of ECFA will enable the machinery industry in Taiwan to benefit and prosper from a huge Mainland market. It will also likely to cause some in the industry to stumble because of massive cheap Mainland imports. This research has studied the key competitive factors for corporations, the competitive situation and operations issues of the machinery industry in Taiwan. By conducting a survey on the senior managers of the machinery industry we understand what their current status, problems and competitive strategies are. Through the insight gained we hope to provide a blueprint for the machinery industry and the subject company reviewed to better their competitive strategies after ECFA is signed across the straits. This research has confirmed that in an ever increasingly competitive industry such as the machinery industry, any company wants to continue to make money and grow sustainably, it is vital to always adapt to the environment and adjust its competitive strategies. After the signing of the ECFA across the straits, the machinery industry together with many other industries in Taiwan will benefit from the lowering of the tariffs and favorably gain access to the Mainland market. Hence a good opportunity for all companies concerned to make the best of the cross-straits cooperation this time around, further their investment in China and further their competitiveness globally.

According to the Yearbook of Chemical Industry Statistics of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the total sales of domestic cosmetics market in 2008 was approximately 1,507. 1 billion yen, slightly less than that of 2007. In Japan's mature cosmetics market, however, the sales of anti-aging skin care products has been growing every year. The reasons are the arrival of an aging society and females' increasing emphasis on their appearances. There are over 1,200 cosmetics manufacturers in Japan. The distribution of these companies according to their sizes appears to be M-shaped. The top five¡XSHISEIDO, KAO, Kanebo, Kose, and P&G Japan, have been in heated competition for years, but it does not stop new entrants from joining the battlefield. In the face of fierce competition among the cash-rich giants and the threats of aggressive new entrants, the smaller-scaled companies that lie in between are facing daunting challenges. This study intends to show how such medium-sized companies might come up with a competitive strategy to ensure their survival and profitability. Saishunkan Co. Ltd. is one of those medium-sized cosmetics manufacturers. Saishunkan has modest capital amount of 100 million yen, yet it is able achieve annual sales of over 20 billion yen. The company has unique ways of marketing and sales, clearly targeted customers, products with special ingredients, and a sound market segmentation strategy. This thesis intends to examine, through the case study of Saishunkan, how a smaller-scaled company might compete and survive in a theater filled with cash-rich big companies who enjoy the economy of scale.

In the rapid development of mobile communication industry, mobile phone converted from general voice-guided to smart phones, tablet PC and other handheld, which through multi-functional integration of operating system and value-added services, is changing the whole market demand. The main purpose of this thesis is to provide the competitive strategies for the mobile communication industry, mainly from system operators, channel and mobile equipment manufacturer, analyzed by SWOT, industry profiles and trends to evaluate mutual relations of valued chain and digital convergence. With the literature review and the investigations of the mobile communication industry, practitioners and experts in Taiwan, we establish the following strategies: 1.Smart phones and tablet PC in the future development of the market with high growth opportunities, integration between system platform and hardware/software, and the user interface and application services will enable higher value added in the industry. 2.Mobile equipment manufacturer develops enhanced features to networking function peripheral products, coupled with the popularity of mobile networks, to make mobile devices more functionality expanded. 3.The role of channel needs to create differentiated service, integrated telecommunications services and market information, as well as professional and dedicated service to the channel to exert influence on the market. 4.The system operator, channel and mobile equipment manufacturer in close cooperation between the three is bound to become the mainstream business model. Integrated strategy of digital convergence and application service is mainly required to long-term growth and development.

From the Mexican gulf oil spill of British Petroleum to Fukushima nuclear crisis of Japan. The awareness of impact on climate change, environmental pollution and natural resource depletion has led a wide range of stakeholders such as government, consumer and non-profit organization to put pressure on the companies to act in a more environmentally and socially responsible way. This study adopts both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Five Taiwanese green enterprises were interviewed along with thirty three questionnaires which were collected from other green enterprises for further analysis. This study attempts to explore how green entrepreneurial leader brings sustainable competitive advantage through building green human capital for the firm in the growing pressure of industrial environmental protection. The findings indicate that green entrepreneurial leaders articulate green vision, act as ethical role model, and identify environment related opportunity for exploitation. This leadership style influences the management practices on green human capital selection, development, and leverage which then lead to innovation, cost saving, and profitability.

The mounting environmental problems cause the strict international environmental regulations, arouse the customers¡¦ environmental awareness, and changing the patterns of business competition around the world. Green management, which is highly connected to sustainable development, is bringing to light and the curtain of corporate greening lifts. This study aims to probe the relationship between green strategy and competitive advantage- what strategies enterprises take under the green trend and what competitive advantages are achieved. The role green corporate culture plays is also discussed. The findings show that the practice of green strategy which differs from firm¡¦s resources and industrial characters generates different competitive advantages. The strength of green corporate culture is positively related to companies¡¦ ¡§age¡¨. Firms with strong green corporate culture can efficiently execute the green strategy and bring out strong competitive advantages. Otherwise, TMT should make efforts on conveying green vision to drive the practice of green strategy and secure competitive advantages.