Date: 2008-06-08 Program: International Marketing Course: Master thesis in International Marketing (EF0705) Author: Xiongyu Zeng (780925) Yang Du (820830) Tutor: Jan Löwstedt Title: A Study of Marketing Strategy in Chinese Software Market – A Case Study of UFIDA Software Co., Ltd Strategic Question : What should be an Effective Marketing Strategy for UFIDA in order to Increase its Market Shares and Support its Market Leadership Position? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze the current Chinese financial management software market conditions as well as competitors and to utilize the knowledge from the investigation to consider a better application of marketing mix for UFIDA. Theory and Method: Two theories, five forces and marketing mix, were applied in this thesis. The authors collected primary data by interview and questionnaire to learn company’s marketing operation and feedback of customers on the marketing mix. The authors also collected reliable secondary data with the guideline of five forces framework to learn the marketing situation. The analysis was conducted according to the selected theories and the collected data. Based on the analysis, the authors presented a relevant conclusion. Target Audience: The target audience is the market managers of UFIDA. The researchers wish the result of the paper could bring some benefits for them in the market performance. UFIDA can make use of the research result to design an effective strategy. The authors believe that the research could provide a general guidance and bring benefit to marketers in similar fields and help them to learn competitive situation. Conclusion: From the result of analysis, the authors think the market situation is good for UFIDA. UFIDA has competitive advantages to defend itself against the forces and influence them in its favor. As a consequence, in order to increase market share as well as support its leading position, UFIDA should maintain the existing competitive advantages and improve the disadvantages of marketing operation about marketing mix found from the feedbacks of customer. Through the analysis and recommendation, the authors wish that the investigation result could benefit to UFIDA and bring them some cues for designing an effective marketing strategy.

The management consultancy, a 14 billion EUR industry in Europe, has become an attractive market in the last couple of years. The Swedish market is blooming with an economic growth of a staggering 20 % according to analysts at Konsultguiden. The attractiveness of the market has brought many foreign players into the field such as Celerant. Celerant is a UK-based company earning a total of $145 million in 2006 with about 650 employees around Europe and the USA. Their focus is mainly within operational management. A few years ago, Celerant decided to expand in to the Nordic region consisting of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and has just recently started to focus a bit extra on the Swedish market. Using Porter’s model of Five Forces we look at the Swedish management consulting industry to see what factors to consider focusing on when entering the market. Through an analysis of the current management consulting market, we compare it to Celerant’s strategy for entering the Swedish market to see if our analysis differs or is similar to the consultancy’s actual strategy. This gives us a picture of how the management consultancies perceive the market and how they act accordingly. The results show similarities with two factors: the consultants and the clients. These seem to be the main factors to focus on as a management consultancy entering the Swedish market. There seems to be a current shortage of competent consultants on the Swedish market and therefore a necessity to focus on recruitment. Clients are what make business for consultancies and business connections need to be established before entering the market. However, we found that more precaution should be taken for factors such as substitutes and new entrants as well. There is a constant change of trends in the management consultancy industry and needs to be considered in order to stay competitive on the market, since a management consultancy needs to be able to offer what the clients demand.

Titel: Internationalisering med entry mode i fokus – en fallstudie av Zero Belysningar Kurs: 2FE03E ‐ 15 hp. Kandidatuppsats Författare: David Gustafsson 870926, Emmie Thurn 880909, Jasenko Arsenovic 890119 Bakgrund: Globalisering och inträde på internationella marknader har för SME blivit en trend. Åtskilliga företag väljer att konkurrera på en internationell nivå och internationaliseringen sker snabbare och på flera olika sätt än någonsin tidigare. Att välja rätt entry mode har en stor påverkan på om företaget kommer att nå framgång eller ej på den nya marknaden. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka olika faktorer som påverkar småföretag val av entry mode vid expansion. För att kunna svara på problemformuleringen har författarna valt att använda ett fallföretag, där deras situation kommer att användas för att undersöka ett svenskt småföretags val av entry mode vid expansion till Norge. Metod: Denna kvalitativa studie har utgått ifrån hermeneutiska antaganden och utförts ut efter en induktiv forskningsansats. En har applicerats där olika intervjuer och granskningar av dokument har agerat datainsamlingsmetoder. Slutsats: Undersökningen visade att ett flertal faktorer påverkar beslutet. Författarna har funnit att faktorerna attraktionskraft, externa påtryckningar och kulturella skillnader, politik och lagar, tidigare erfarenheter, målmarknad och målgrupp, konkurrens och nya aktörer, substitut, kundernas och leverantörernas kraft, företagets storlek och kompetens och resurser har en inverkan på svenska småföretags val av entry mode. Vilket entry mode ett svenskt småföretag bör välja vid expansion beror till stor del på vilka resurser och kompetenser företaget innehar och hur värdlandets struktur ser ut. Författarna finner därför att det inte finns något generellt entry mode för samtliga småföretag. Undersökningen visar på att betydande styrkor för ett småföretag är hög servicekvalitet, differentierade kvalitetsprodukter, unik internkompetens och flexibilitet. Dess betydande svagheter är att de ej utvecklats inom LED‐teknik, skev bild av marknaden, hög prisnivå och långa leveranstider. Eventuella möligheter är delmarknaders tillvätpotential, småkulturella skillnader och lagliga restriktioner och utveckling inom LED‐teknik. Det finns hot i form av nya aktöer, liten aktö, priskäslig marknad och differens i språ och konsumentbeteende. Nyckelord: Entry mode, SME, Porters Five Forces, Resource Based View, SWOT‐analys / Title: Internationalization with entry mode in focus ‐ a case study of Zero Belysningar Course/course code: 2FE03E ‐15 hp. Bachelor thesis Authors: David Gustafsson 870926, Emmie Thurn 880909, Jasenko Arsenovic 890119 Purpose: The purpose with this study is to examine various factors that affect small businesses in the choice of entry mode. In order to answer the problem formulation, the authors have chosen to use an case company, where its situation will be used to investigate a Swedish small firms' choice of entry mode for expansion into Norway. Method: This qualitative study was based upon hermeneutical assumptions and carried out by an inductive research approach. Various interviews and reviews of documents have been used to collect data. Conclusion: The investigation revealed that several factors influence the choice of entry mode. The authors have found that factors of attractiveness, external pressures and cultural differences, politics and laws, past experience, target market and target audience, competition and new entrants, substitutes, customers' and suppliers' power, its size and expertise and resources have an impact on Swedish small firms' choice of entry mode. Which entry mode a Swedish small business should choose depends largely on the resources and competences it holds and how the host‐country’ structure looks like. The authors find that there is no general entry mode for all small businesses. The survey also reveals that significant strengths for a small business is high service quality, differentiated quality products, unique internal competence and flexibility. Its major weakness is that they are not developed in LED technology, distorted picture of the market, high prices and long delivery times. Possible opportunities are submarkets growth potential, small cultural differences and legal restrictions and development in LED technology. There are threats from new entrants, small player, price sensitive market and the difference in language and consumer behavior. Keywords: Entry mode, SME, Porters Five Forces, Resource Based View, SWOT‐analysis.

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) are a popular strategy companies undertake in order to create value and synergies, and also to increase the competitiveness of the firm.  Findings from previous studies show that many M&As fail to create value, however there is also existing evidence that they do, where the execution plays a major role. The success of an M&A depends on both internal and external factors such as the competitive strengths of the firm, strategic fit, and growth of the market. It is argued that problems such as poor management within M&A processes could affect the outcome of the M&A in a negative way. Previous research shows that middle managers play a key role in strategic change processes such as M&As. When companies go through strategic change, the entire company gets involved; however the middle manager is the one who must keep in contact with co-workers, customers, suppliers, and top management at the same time. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate middle managements’ perception of changed competitiveness after an M&A has been completed. In order to fulfill the purpose, we used a qualitative approach where we conducted a case study and made interviews with middle managers at Toyota Material Handling’s German subsidiary that had recently gone through an M&A process. Our findings show that when a company is buying another company it needs to see the positive assets from another perspective than only through possible gains in market shares and synergies. When the two companies merge they must take advantage of each other’s specific resources that have made each company successful. Furthermore what fosters increased competitiveness after a merger is good information and communication about goals and strategies. What in turn hinders increased competitiveness after a merger is low flexibility in terms of not being able to adapt to market changes fast enough, and to have an organization that does not make it possible for employees to bring up their opinions.

Bachelor thesis in Logistics Management, School of Management and Economics, Växjö University, EKL 361, Spring 2006-05-24 Authors: Jesper Ericsson, Olov Nordgren, Henrik Frick Tutor: Åsa Gustafsson/ Helena Forslund Examiner: Helena Forslund Title: Road cabotage in the Swedish haulage industry Author supplied keywords: Transportation, European Union, Haulage Company, Road Cabotage, Five Forces Model and Generic Strategies. Background: In 1998 the European Union introduced the concept of free road cabotage. The concept implies that haulers from different Member States are allowed to perform domestic transportation in another Member State as long as it is conducted on a temporary basis. The introduction of cabotage has given rise to new competitive conditions on domestic markets within the European Union. Not all haulage companies within the European Union have the same competitive prerequisites. Swedish haulers have a high cost structure in comparison with foreign haulers and therefore it is interesting to see how they are affected by cabotage. Research Questions: o How do Swedish haulers perceive cabotage in their industry and how do they manage it today? o Which improvements can be achieved strategically to sustain and/or improve Swedish haulers’ competitive situation towards foreign haulers? Purpose: The objective of this bachelor thesis is to investigate how Swedish haulers’ are affected by competition concerning road cabotage. Depending on how they are affected by road cabotage we also intend to present strategic improvements that can sustain and/or improve their competitive ability. Methodology: Survey on three haulage companies Theoretical Framework: For our first research question we have chosen to present the concept of cabotage to enlighten readers. To be able to understand what characterises the Swedish haulage industry we have chosen Porter’s Five Forces Model as a foundation. The results from the Five Forces Model are used as inputs to the theories concerning Porter’s generic strategy. Conclusions: Through this bachelor thesis we have concluded that Swedish haulers are in different ways affected by road cabotage. Depending on their type of business, they are more or less affected by cabotage. Through differentiation Swedish haulers can sustain and improve their competitive situation. The differentiation should be focused on issues regarding markets, customers, and specific service characteristics that are difficult for foreign competitors to imitate.

ABSTRACT In recent years China's rapid rise and low-cost advantages, has brought the greatest impact on the printed circuit board industry, low-cost competition for the majority of Taiwanese companies are not strengths, combined with the financial crisis began in 2008, followed by 2009, the world consumer electronics market tightening, are tested in Taiwan for the production of printed circuit board industry base in the viability of manufacturers. In this study, through the study of Taiwan as a production base in case the printed circuit board companies, in the face of financial crisis in 2008, and follow-up to internal and external changes in the industry and the growth and decline of national competitiveness, the restructuring strategy is adopted to overcome the external environmental challenges of rapid change, which concludes with Taiwan as a production base of the printed circuit board industry, in the face of financial turmoil and economic environment changes and the overall production of cross-strait ECFA signed, to the advantage of strengths and talents of Taiwan culture resources, so printed circuit board manufacturing industry can continue to Taiwan as a production base, more competitive challenges towards internationalization. In this study, the research method is qualitative research in the case study method, the scope of the production base of a Taiwanese printed circuit board industry, the use of literature survey and data compilation, and the case company interviews, and data collation, the first stage first motive of enterprise transformation, analysis and use of five forces analysis and diamond model to understand the background and conditions of business transformation, the second stage, the case company interviews, SWOT analysis summarized the case company and the feasibility assessment and develop transformation strategies, and understanding of the transformation strategy of the key success factors. The study concludes on the hope that the production base in Taiwan for the printed circuit board industry in the face of changing external environment when assessing the feasibility of transformation strategy and development, and further development of Taiwan companies for the future a reference transformation strategy. Keywords¡GPrinted Circuit Board (PCB), Five Forces Analysis, Diamond Model, SWOT Analysis, Transformation Strategies

This research, by the case study, is to discuss how one finance securities enterprise, under such drastically worldwide changes, inducts the management strategies and the information management system to those in newly-emerging nations ¡V taking Securities Company C in Taiwan and its Vietnam branch as the example - and seeks possible solutions. The study aims not only to help Vietnam branch face the challenges, which possibly appear, but to find the importance of the information system and the core value to Vietnam branch. With such successful experience of transferring the information system, whenever investing on oversea finances securities, one can enhance efficiency of overseas management and competence, creating a win-win situation. In view of commercial tragedies, major Taiwanese securities, with globalization, hope to expand business. They optimistically set out the global layout. Securities Company C just has the opportunity to enter one Vietnam securities enterprise, now a branch of Securities Company C, which may be an important multinational business case study for the Taiwan securities industry in the securities market. From the management level, Vietnam Branch belonging to Securities Company C may face challenges, such as cultural differences, different value cognition, language and communication disorders, which are severe tests. In the scale, scope, and visibility, domestic securities enterprises can not be compared with those of developed countries in Vietnam. Therefore this study explores the possibility of transferring Taiwan information management system abroad and eventually helps Securities Company C¡¦s overseas branch to enhance competence. Securities Company C in Taiwan is famous as an electronic securities corporation, and well-known for the information management system. Now in Vietnam, as we know, larger securities enterprises are either state-owned or professionally foreign capital-managed; the smaller ones are owned by local powerful celebrities with abundant financial resource. Therefore it is not easy for Securities Company C¡¦s Vietnam Branch to compete. This study is to find the possible solution by analyzing all the aspects of this Vietnamese enterprise and transferring Taiwan information management system. It is believed that in near future the Vietnam Branch of Securities Company C can take more advantage in Vietnamese stock market for development and core competitiveness. Therefore, in this study, specific property information applications of securities industry are trying to be transferred to Vietnam Branch. Moreover by SWOT and Five Forces analysis viewed as the successful factors of Vietnam securities, Taiwan securities industry becomes more competitive in Vietnam, not to mention the fact that Taiwan is Vietnam's largest foreign investment country. It is hopefully believed that this study will help improve the identity and visibility of Taiwan Securities corporations in Vietnam, and successfully enter Vietnam securities market.

With the changing times, on the evolution of industries and enterprises, enterprises had suffered from the corporate development bottleneck as facing the severe competition, international situation variation and fast-moving market. Therefore, for enterprise (or organization), reengineering or transformation is inevitable on account of sustainable development as well as long-term growth needs. However, there are some essentials are relevant to the success of the transformation, such as how to increase the success possibility of transformation, and how to grasp the opportunity of transformation, how to make the transformation strategies and how to exclude the possible risks and obstacles. In Taiwan, petrochemical industry is facing strong resistance of domestic environmental protection, disruption caused by the development, related petrochemical equipment manufacturing industries are also confronting the growing predicament, and obviously it is essential to ponder corporate transformation for sustainable management and growth. Furthermore, how to enhance competitive advantage, increase the company's overall performance and achieve the desired goal by means of implementing corporate transformation, which are also major researches that enterprises anticipate probe into. Therefore, this research aims to study the condition of FOMO company¡¦s one of product divisions (business level) facing environmental change as well as the sales impact of existing petrochemical equipment, to analyze and find the successful strategies of business transformation, then try to identify the importance of such strategies, and evaluate the key success factors, via explore the company¡¦s internal resources and external industries¡¦ environment. This research takes both market transformation and products transformation proceeding at the same time, on the case of a small amount of diversification product division, for improving business performance in the future. There are eleven strategies were developed, and four items of key success factor are derived respectively. The four items of key success factor for market transformation are 1. Reducing the cost for improving the international competition. 2. Good customer relationship management. 3. To arrange the production capacity for special customer, while they need. 4. To establish cooperation makers, and find the proper agents for international market. The four items of key success factor for products transformation are 1. The CEO¡¦s intensive transformation intention and execution. 2. Choosing the appropriate timing to enter. 3. Establishing a clear organization structure 4. Strategic alliance to collaborate in the same industry or related industries.

With nearly two decades of development of Agency Business, the market has experienced a lot of industry up and down. Each time when the market approaches saturation, we always observe the survival drama on the industrial supply chain where the competitions among O.E.Ms are intensive and all are fighting for a limited market. Due to the rapid changes on the high-speed Internet applications with massive global information exchange requirements, revolutionary innovative technology and products are often developed, thus it is expected that network channels industry is still considerable room for growth in the future. Although the revolution of products is expected, in addition to the product's competitive, how to leverage soft power (such as professional and technical services), in the market to seize the initiative and continue to maintain the advantage of competitiveness, is still the subject for the case company to study. We expect by this thesis research to conceive in response to the vigorous development of modern information applications, of which case companies will face issues and challenges, such as: 1. Agency and brand resources coordinating and competing 2. Upstream, downstream and alliance companies¡¦ value chain relationships and competing strategies 3. Agency and OEM branding and product conflict 4. The changes of demand side such as new technologies and applications that may impact the assessment of the industry supply chain and coping strategies Based on three dimensions: industry trends, supply chain competing, internal allocation of resources with the long-term observation of the development of the case company, the internal executives in-depth interviews and secondary data collection methodologies, this research is to explore the case companies¡¦ response to strategy with the result, also try to analyze the feasibility of taking advantage of business operation management (five forces analysis / value network / game theory), to seek the best strategy for the case company in response to the rapidly changing business competition.

According to China Credit Information Service Ltd.¡¦s classification, Taiwan¡¦s women underwear industry is under the ¡§Apparel¡¨ category. The women underwear industry has developed from 1950¡¦s, and now is in a mature period with high entry barrier. Under the ¡§Oligopoly¡¨ market structure and well-developed domestic distribution system, there are seven leading firms--competing in product¡¦s design, fashion and shop ladies¡¦ service based on good on-job education and training with each other. Foreign rivals¡¦ emulating in the industry also prompted domestic firms developing international competence. Because of mounting up in production cost in Taiwan and low-end products dumping from China and South Asia after signing up for WTO, many firms sought to build ¡§International Division of Labor System¡¨ and engage in overseas production to make cost cut down and improve the industry competitive position effectively. This research adopts the qualitative exploratory study method. The first, author collected an amount of domestic and foreign relative references, including industry yearbooks, books, professional reports, journals, magazines and newspapers as the secondary data. Then, author interviewed three firms and formulated these materials by which author can understand the business operation situation and the industry¡¦s competition model. In order to explore the competitive advantage of Taiwan's women underwear industry, author implemented consumer behavior analysis, analysis of Porter¡¦s ¡§structure of five competitive forces¡¨, ¡§value chain¡¨, and Porter's ¡§concept of crystal model of national competitive advantage¡¨. Finally, we drew up the competitive strategies to the industry and the government for further improvement by SWOT analysis. Those competitive strategies will be include ¡§Production Innovation Strategy¡¨, ¡§Market Development Strategy¡¨, ¡§International Strategy¡¨, ¡§Cost Minimize Strategy¡¨, and ¡§Relative Advantage Strategy¡¨.