Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, June, 2005. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-62)

We analyze issues arising from demand management in decentralized decision-making environments. We consider logistics systems and supply chains, where companies' operations are handled with independent entities whose decisions affect the performance of the overall system. In the first study, we focus on a logistics system in the sea cargo industry, where demand is booked by independent sales agents, and the agents' capacity limits and sales incentives are determined by a central headquarters. We develop models for the central headquarters to analyze and optimize capacity allocation and sales incentives to improve the performance of the decentralized system. We use network flow problems to incorporate agent behavior in our models, and we link these individual problems through an overall optimization problem that determines the capacity limits. We prove a worst-case bound on the decentralized system performance and show that the choice of sales incentive impacts the performance. In the second study, we focus on supply chains in the automotive industry, where decentralization occurs as a result of the non-direct sales channels of the auto manufacturers. Auto manufacturers can affect their demand through sales promotions. We use a game theoretical model to examine the impact of retailer incentive and customer rebate promotions on the manufacturer's pricing and the retailer's ordering/sales decisions. We consider several models with different demand characteristics and information asymmetry between the manufacturer and a price discriminating retailer. We characterize the subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium decisions and determine which promotion would benefit the manufacturer under which market conditions. We find that the retailer incentives are preferred when demand is known. On the other hand, when demand is highly uncertain the manufacturer is better off with customer rebates. We extend this research by analyzing a competitive setting with two manufacturers and two retailers, where the manufacturers' promotions vary between retailer incentives and customer rebates. We find an equilibrium outcome where customer rebates reduce the competitor's profits to zero. We observe in numerical examples that the manufacturers are able to increase their sales and profits with retailer incentives, although this can be at the expense of the retailers' profits under some situations.

Abstract While the relationship between the economy and trade between the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are quite close, the financial industries are enlarging their development rapidly, which influence the banking industry as well. The main topic of this article is, after the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Taiwan and mainland China, whether or not, we can build an efficient financial supervisory mechanism, which is necessary to ensure both safety and development in the financial sector. There were cases of serious financial malpractice, which resulted from the lack of a thorough financial governance system. Because the financial environment is changing very quickly, we expect some faults at first but eventually it should ultimately be a cleansing process. We anticipate minor problems with the new regulation, however, some fixes should be found as soon as possible. Also, only when problems emerge, can we reasonably evaluate whether the governance system is working properly. Thus we understand the importance of well-performing supervisory systems. Effectively, the MOU will serve as a benchmarked reference guide for directors of financial institutions when revising financial governance systems. This article first discusses current financial governance systems between R.O.C and P.R.C and takes the existing agreement as a base to discuss how corporate financial governance systems are handled now. Then the article will analyze the influence and impact of the document, and point out what consequence it entails when we sign the MOU. This is to offer the related strategies as a reference for the internal banking industry. This article, therefore; tries to issue proposals of the integration of the financial governance systems of both sides, in order to provoke the normal development on the economy and trade of R.O.C and P.R.C. To sum up, because R.O.C and P.R.C have signed the MOU during 2009 and 2010 and ECFA, we both have to open domestic markets to each other. In this case, both banking industries will be able to access internal operations of one another. In the meantime, Taiwan's finance industry will face a massive and quick change in the economic environment. How to process globalized layout and control risks becomes the principal question of the financial development in the future. Finally, with regards to the industry's long-term development strategy, we should continue to analyze it and address a countermeasure, in order to offer the financial industry an adjustment into the right way; furthermore, we can connect to the global trend and raise the international competition in the financial industry.

Abstract Laboratory animals play an essential role to level up medical research, life science and biotechnology. On the other hand, animal quality and supply would directly influence the result of research. Since 1940, western countries has been developing the laboratory animal science, and 1990 western countries start to develop biotechnology industry, until 2000, has tremendous growth, especially the human genomic sequence was completed causing the demand of disease model animals increasing and also speed up the development of biotechnology industry. Regarding the biotechnology industry in Taiwan, started in 2000 and has very limit development for laboratory animal industry become an obstacle of biotechnology industry developing. Therefore, it can¡¦t be ignored that laboratory animal industry leveling up and future developing strategy has a high tribute to Taiwan biotechnology. As case study, we got an approval to review two companies how to improve and maintain their competitive advantages through managing process. These two companies are 1) Charles River Laboratories who has more than 50years history and is the largest global laboratory animal supply company; 2) BioLasco Taiwan who is the only one private company in Taiwan producing SPF Rodents. Through Michael Porter¡¦s 5 competitive forces and SWOT together with two companies developing strategies as references of the future development strategy models for government policy making and also for private enterprise who are interested in involving in this industry. The results of this study provides the key developing strategies for Taiwan laboratory animal industry as following aspects: (1) Market globalization : Regionalized marketing and production for SPF laboratory animals and model animals to meet the economy scale in order to reduce the cost and to get more benefits. (2) The diversification of products and services: Excluding laboratory animal supply, breeding equipments production management of animal housing and outsourcing service forming multiple product lines to enhance the industrious competitiveness and expand market potential for risk sharing sake. (3)R&D and talent internationalization: Through national innovation system and human resource integrated, accompany with NIH. Jackson Lab. and other international/ domestic research institutes together developing new products and new technologies to boast the global competitiveness and competitive advantage for Taiwan laboratory animal industry.

Fastener industry has developed for forty years in Taiwan, and it created significant contribution to so-called "Economic Miracle". This research was operated via grounded theory, and we practically visited seven firms in South Taiwan to trace the track on development of fastener industry in Taiwan, investigating the industrial features influenced by interaction of strategy and resource accumulation. The research revealed that the process of resource accumulation and the changes of industry surroundings stimulated the mechanism of industry differentiation, forming two directions of industry development mass production style and delicate production style. Two kinds of firms took different strategic actions and formed divergent features of development. This research also forecasts future development of fastener industry, and offers some suggestions to the participant in the industry.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. BLDSC no. DX94251.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 138 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-108).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (M. L. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes special report study entitled: Design approach on waterfront fish market. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.