This Master´s Thesis introduces options of using Comptitive Intelligence to predict future actions of Competitor. The first part describes the current situation of the company and theoretical assumptions. In the second part are shown possible methods of application of competitive intelligence in the company.

This study focuses on corporate social responsibility from a management perspective. The study had the following objectives - to investigate the level of adoption of CSR by companies in Botswana; to find out why companies in Botswana have embraced CSR; to investigate the views of governments, pressure groups and stakeholders on companies which have embraced CSR in their communities; and to recommend to company management and stakeholders on how best they can use CSR to their best advantage. A Positivist (quantitative) strategy was used to execute this study and data capture was done through the use of a structured questionnaire. This instrument was issued to 100 members of management from companies based near Mahalapye and Gaborone. The response rate was 88%. The key findings were that many companies have CSR policies at their workplaces but they are not yet fully functional. Many companies have also embraced CSR for political mileage reasons only and to appear to be environmentally conscious. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013

This thesis takes a step beyond the current discussion on hybrid competitive strategies (HS) by identifying the underlying mechanisms and common elements of successful hybrid strategies. Reviewing empirical and theoretical literature revealed a significant gap in this respect. Therefore, the activity-based view of strategy is introduced to the discussion on HS. In a first step, four consistent and sustainable HS concepts are developed providing the basis for deriving specific HS models. A second step identifies commonalities among these HS types and theoretically derives a synthesized, common HS model. Thirdly, the critical realist stance was selected for answering this thesis’ research questions addressing consistent HS concepts, implementations, common activities achieving external and internal fit, as well as common capabilities and resources supporting these activities. In a case study approach, semi-structured, open ended interviews combining appreciative and laddering methods are conducted with twelve interviewees from five firms. The separate analysis of ladder elements and ladders allowed distinguishing constitutional from relational elements. Based on this, fourth, an empirically revised research construct is substantiated. This research finds HS firms applying intended and consistent, but mixed strategy concepts based on generating high customer benefits through combining competitive weapons of differentiation and price or total customer cost. Moreover, HS concepts centre on three strategic building blocks: customer centricity, fulfilment of customer needs and employee orientation. Additionally, the research indicates that firms apply activities primarily for achieving fit. While all firms combine both views, no activities are directed to both fit types simultaneously. Activities deploy capabilities and resources in general on two adaptive and two absorptive mechanisms. Several practical implications derive from this thesis. First, firms can apply the synthesized model as a kind of ‘blueprint’ providing orientation for how to combine competitive advantages. Second, policy makers can apply the outcomes as principles steering firms or industries to ‘higher’ levels of performance. Last, firm managers can adapt their own as well as their firm’s behaviour accordingly.

While there have been studies on capital structure and corporate strategy, limited research has considered the unique characteristics that influence the capital structures and corporate strategies of Saudi Arabian manufacturing firms. This thesis, therefore, intends to enrich the literature that relates capital structure to corporate strategy in the Saudi context. Informed by the literature, this research has developed a theoretical framework to study the influence of corporate strategy on capital structure. The framework could be extended to other industries with similar characteristics in Saudi Arabia in addition to other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. A mixed methodology was adopted in this research that consists of quantitative analysis, supported by qualitative results where relevant. The findings of this thesis highlight three main points. First, the results on the determinants of capital structure demonstrate the significance of the cost of servicing debt, zakat, industry structures and the nature of assets in influencing leverage. The results indicate a negative relationship between leverage and profitability and a positive relationship between leverage and risk. Second, when considering the influence of stakeholders on capital structure, the evidence indicates that debt is strategically used as a disciplining device for managers. The findings also underline the importance of equity-holders and debt-holders, demonstrating that corporate attitudes towards debt could depend on ownership structures. Institutional and family ownership positively influence leverage. Government ownership is found to be insignificant. The results demonstrate that strong banking relationships and the availability of government loans lead to higher leverage. Limited evidence was found to support a relevant role for non-financial stakeholders. The thesis illustrates to managers the possible strategic considerations of capital structure decisions that go beyond the need for finance. Further, the evidence illustrates that Saudi bankruptcy laws require clarification and that disclosure rules ought to be more stringent.

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The research has been conducted in Bukit Barisan High Land zone consists of eight regencies located in the northern part of North Sumatra province, Indonesia. It is found that the zone is entrapped in a high poverty rate and a high unemployment level. The regions main employment sector is agriculture, where more than 50 percent of the total workforce engages in the sector. The main challenging of the regions is a very low productivity. This is due to lack of management practices and capacities in term of tools inputs, and knowledge now-how. Moreover, the lack of information and coordination between the actors of the economy i.e. farmers-local governments-enterprises-and universities in the regions has dragged away the value added products and inherited in high fluctuation of the commodities in term of prices and qualities. Accordingly a new cooperation needs to be made between all the actors of the economy in the regions. As information has a vital role in the development of the regions, this sector hence ought to be diffused in an appropriate way. This information center then called as a Competitive Intelligence (CI) Center, which is importantly formed in each region in Bukit Barisan High Land zone. The CI center will ensure the formation of the sound development programs to be applied in the regions in order to achieve a desirable growth within the regions and within the country as a whole. The program of CI center is emphasized on enhancing the potentials of each region and overcome its problems and challenging. In this thesis, Bukit Barisan High Land which consists of 8 regions is categorized as one zone regarding similarity in its topography, climate, type of soil, social condition of the society, its potentials and problems. The development of the region then suggested by the creation of the Small and Medium Enterprises close to the region to ensure the achievement of value chain between suppliers and producers in this case Farmers and enterprises. This value chain can only be achieved by a solid collaboration by all economic actors. Based on the findings, it is suggested that the most prospective commodities need to be intensified are coffee and corn. Corn is perceived as one of a prospective export regarding a continuous increase demand for the commodity globally, whereas coffee is a permanent export commodity where the decreasing supply by Vietnam has contributed to more opportunity to Indonesia. In order to provide some vision to investors, the feasibility studies of the plantation and production of two commodities will be presented at the last part of the thesis

Huawei représente un des exemples les plus remarquables de rattrapage réussi par les firmes chinoises. Ayant démarré ses activités en 1987, cette entreprise est maintenant classée deuxième équipementier de télécommunications dans le monde, derrière Ericsson. Dans cette recherche, les sources de compétitivité de Huawei sont étudiées à travers un cas longitudinal incluant tous les évènements majeurs de 1987 à 2011. Ces évènements sont analysés selon 3 unités principales : produit/marché et technologie, relations avec les autres firmes et routines. A cette fin, la littérature sur les ressources (RBV), les compétences dynamiques, les réseaux, et les routines, est mobilisée. La littérature sur le rattrapage technologique et économique est aussi utilisée. Quatre phases sont identifiées et analysées. Ensuite, une analyse longitudinale est réalisée, afin de mettre en valeur les trajectoires de Huawei selon les trois unités d'analyse. Enfin, le style stratégique de Huawei est analysé, afin d'identifier les principes généraux qui ont guidé ses décisions stratégiques au cours de son histoire. Les limitations, les contributions à la recherche à la pratique des entreprises, ainsi que des pistes de recherche sont étudiées. / Huawei is one of the most remarkable examples of sucessful catching-up among chinese companies. It started its activities nearly from scratch in 1987, and is now ranked second telecommunications equipment vendor in the world, after Ericsson. In this research the sources of competitiveness of Huawei are investigated using a longitudinal case study (of arond 100 pages) including all major events from 1987 to 2011. These events are analysed according to three main units: product/market and technology decisions, relationships with other firms, and routines. For this analysis, reference is made to several literature streams, namely the resource-based view, the dynamic capability approach, the network approach and the routines-related literature. The catching-up literature is also mobilised. Four different phases are identified and analysed. Then a longitudinal analysis is conducted for the three analysis untis in order to identify the strategic path of Huawei. Finally, an analysis of the strategic style of Huawei is conducted, in order to identify the general principles that have guided strategic decisions overt the company's history. Limitations, possible contributions to literature and practice are discussed, as well as research directions.

Ngan, Hoi Yee Meko. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-60). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.