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The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the relative influence of state and societal actors on public policy and, specifically, to determine the potential for state autonomy in Canada. To advance this project, two 'paradigms' of state-society relations are developed from an analysis of a range of contending theories of state-society relations. These include Eric Nordlinger's state autonomy theory, elitism, pluralism, and Marxism. The paradigms are then applied to a case study of the design and implementation of the petroleum related elements of the National Energy Program. We conclude that the Canadian state can demonstrate a significant degree of autonomy from societal influence using various strategies and resources which are generally unavailable to societal actors. The specific findings of our case study are that in the development and implementation of the NEP the greatest impediments on the federal government's autonomy arose, not from business interests or public pressure, but from the opposition of other state actors and the impact of market forces and international economic conditions.

Past studies on strategic decision-making are mainly focused on large corporations in the western context. The knowledge on how strategic decisions are made in small to medium sized enterprises is limited. Its application in the context of a transitional economy like China is also lacking. The present study is conducted to fill such a knowledge gap and intended to advance the theory and practice to the context of transitional economy where institutional change is considered the most predominant variable affecting strategic decision-making behaviours. Hence, the overall objective of the present study is to identify the specific pattern of strategic decision-making processes by Chinese private enterprises and to analyse the unique characteristics of their strategic decision-making behaviours. In addition, the study will also address the question of what factors would contribute to the differences in processes and behaviours. / In order to explore the characteristics and the patterns of strategic decision-making behaviours and processes undertaken by private entrepreneurs in China, a qualitative approach using multiple case study method is justified and used in the study. Five companies are selected from various industries and locations in China. Fieldwork includes in-depth retrospective interviews, site observation/participation, document analyses, archival study, and informal discussion, etc. 15 decision events relating to strategic issues are reported, analysed and interpreted. The results are interesting. Firstly, bounded rationality is found the most dominant mode of strategic decision-making undertaken by private entrepreneurs in China. Secondly, dual mode is used in most of the decision events. The most common pattern is the combination of bounded rationality and adaptation/incremental approach or the combination of bounded rationality and political/visionary style. Thirdly, avoidance mode is not applied in all decision events, implying that private entrepreneurs in China tend to deal with strategic issues directly. / Moreover, the results suggest that the decision behaviours of private entrepreneurs in China are characterized with the following: no formality and procedure in making strategic decisions, preferred to search comprehensive decision information, obligatory government involvement but random or ad hoc staff involvement in decision situations, highly flexible and recursive decision making process, strong personal vision in the decision content, and great speed in decision-making. The unique patterns and characteristics of their strategic decision-making behaviours are attributed to four major factors: a) the psychological context of the private entrepreneurs, i.e. decision-makers, who are found “overconfident” and “optimistic”; b) the decision context, which is more opportunity-driven and goal-driven; c) the organizational context, which belongs to the type of “centralization of power” on one single person, i.e. the private entrepreneur; and d) the institutional context, which facilitates opportunistic behaviours of private entrepreneurs in making strategic decisions. / In sum, the study contributes to the understanding of the insight of strategic decision-making processes and behaviours undertaken by private enterprises in China. In particular, the institutional perspective is of more direct relevance in the explanation of strategic decision-making model under the transitional economy like China. Based on the findings of the study, practical implications are drawn to show how private entrepreneurs could make strategic decisions more effectively in the transitional economy like China, e.g. preparing to use dual mode, getting government involved in the decision process, using strong personal vision, making speedy decisions and paying due attention to institutional changes. / Thesis (PhDBusinessandManagement)--University of South Australia, 2003.

This project is concerned with developing an understanding of systems of regional renewal (defined as where a restructuring of regional industries or technologies takes place or where new firms or industries emerge). The framework used for the study was an adapted version of the Holmen-McKelvey analytical tool designed for the systematic study of regional renewal. This included analysing social capital, organisations, and path dependency. As the study was concerned with understanding the operation of regions which by nature are complex systems, the study made use of a qualitative case study method. Four case studies were analysed in depth, two each from Germany and Australia: Dresden, Freiberg, Adelaide, and the Barossa. The conclusions from the research are twofold. The thesis argues that the Holmen and McKelvey framework varies across regions and that that the variation can be explained by the ‘varieties of capitalism’ literature. That is, regional renewal systems work differently in different regions because regions are part of a national political-institutional context (or variety of capitalism). First, the paths to regional renewal vary across regions. There are many and varied contributing factors to regional renewal and a holistic approach is needed in analysing the sources of regional renewal as well as in formulating regional policy. Social capital and path dependency in particular were important across all four cases, suggesting that social capital can enable the mobilisation of regional attributes and that historical and context specific aspects of a region need to be considered in regional direction setting. While some contribution by these factors was consistent across all four cases, their apparent strength and the nature of their contributions varied. The roles of universities, government bodies, multinational corporations, small-and-medium-sized enterprises, technology parks, non-university research bodies, and industry associations displayed even more variation amongst the cases suggesting that there can be no ‘cut and paste’ or one-size-fits-all approach to regional renewal. Before policy is formulated and implemented, there needs to be a systemic analysis of regional assets and deficiencies. Second, the thesis suggests that renewal systems work differently in different regions because regions are part of a national political-institutional context. Different paths to regional renewal can be explained in terms of different institutional capacities for state-led coordination and governance of the regional institutional environment. The thesis puts forward the proposition that we might expect national structures to impact on the functioning of systems of regional renewal. The case analysis suggests that we might expect coordinated attempts at regional renewal involving several actors to be more successful in coordinated market economies than in uncoordinated market economies. The four cases in this research indicate the national business system impacts on the local level. Five key differences between the German and Australian cases were: the approach of the state at a regional level, social capital, the education and training system, policy continuity, and multinational embeddedness. National policies provide a critical role of strategic planning at the local level. How can an uncoordinated market environment at the national level which includes a focus on competition and anti-trust facilitate cooperation between firms and other actors at the local level which is seen as critical for coordinated attempts at regional renewal? Thus a key lesson from this research is that to achieve regional renewal, different regions require locally appropriate policies supported by national directions.

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