Global sourcing is an important strategy for Swedish businesses since it is a mean to gain competitive advantage which is important on the global market Swedish businesses act on. Consequently it is interesting to investigate the importance of the perceived benefits and challenges with global sourcing since these factors affect the global sourcing decision. Thus, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate how Swedish large businesses perceive the benefits and challenges with global sourcing. To be able to fulfil the purpose primary data was used which was collected through an Internet based questionnaire where the respondents were asked to rank and rate the importance of the benefits and challenges with global sourcing. The data collected was in a quantifiable form and thus quantitative tools were used to analyse the collected data. The result of the study regarding the benefits was that price clearly was perceived as the most important benefit, while counter-trade obligations were seen as the least important benefit. Regarding the challenges, longer lead times and cultural issues were seen as the most challenging aspects, while customs regulations, tariffs and quotas and discrimination from the supplier were perceived as the least important challenges. However since too few responses of the questionnaire were obtained, these results is not generalizable on other Swedish businesses than those that are represented in the sample.

Several studies have shown that there is a negative impact of perceived risk on trust and on the online purchasing behaviour of buyers. Other research suggests a positive impact. However, these relationships have been suggested by using evidence obtained from the purchase of inexpensive, uncomplicated, and hence low risk products such as books, compact disks (CD’s, DVD’s), or clothing. Exploring whether such associations could be generalised within the complex, costly high risk and credence products such as gemstones has not been examined. This gap in the literature was addressed in this study. The results of the study suggest that perceived risk and trust are significant determinants of the online purchasing behaviour of gemstone buyers. The study also shows that the type of Internet marketing strategy used by the seller (the place strategy) and the buyer’s privacy, and security concerns influence a buyer’s perceived risk to purchase gemstones online. Furthermore, Internet fraud protection has been found to be the only significant factor that has an influence on the buyer’s trust to purchase gemstones online. These results have implications for the literature, and all sellers and consumers.

M. Com. (Business Management) / The media and the Auditor General have extensively reported on the ineffective and unethical conduct of public sector employees regarding the procurement of goods and services. The Auditor General’s report demonstrates that there is evidence that public sector procurement processes are less than adequate to achieve constitutional procurement goals, which are to conduct processes that are fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective The delivery of services through staff and the procurement of goods and services from suppliers should take place on the basis of proper strategic leadership and management processes. Inappropriate planning and budgeting, failure to identify priorities, under-spending of budgets and ineffective procurement form part of the root causes of poor service delivery to the public, as ineffective procurement leads to the misallocation of resources and restricts the movement of resources to the right places at the right time The impact of improper procurement practices on society is very serious, as it delays the delivery of basic services and development. The money that could have been used to build schools and hospitals, improve sanitation, and many other infrastructure projects is wasted as a result of ineffective and inefficient procurement and management practices. The objective of the study is to ascertain the extent to which public entities comply with leading procurement practices as identified through literature review. This study focused on public entities. Proper procurement management processes in public entities will lead to better public service delivery, reduction in public resources wastage and increased public wealth. The literature study consist of two components, firstly, the study identified leading procurement practices and procurement objectives in the public sector, secondly, the study further determined leading management practices from two recognised sources of authority to establish the comprehensiveness and robustness of the leading procurement practices. Furthermore, a survey questionnaire was used to determine the extent to which the public entities apply leading procurement practices. Procurement is not just the purchasing of an item but a multifaceted process that includes information technology, risk management, business strategy and operations and legal compliance. All these activities should be coordinated to deliver organisational needs and goals. The procurement function objectives and activities should be directly linked to organisational goals, management plans and stakeholders’ expectations. The leading public procurement objectives, as determined by the literature review, are value for money, ethics and values, competitiveness, transparency, accountability, equitable (unbiased and fair dealing) and preferential procurement. The eight leading procurement practices determined through a literature review are procurement strategy and leadership (which include customer focus), procurement processes and policies, human resource management, procurement information technology, supplier management and procurement performance management. The study made use of questionnaires seeking information on current procurement practices in the public entities. The questionnaire was based on leading practices identified through this study. Respondents were asked to assess the extent to which their public entities apply these leading procurement practices. The three most applied leading procurement practices were indicated as leadership, process management and strategic planning. The study has identified that the public entities possibly apply five out of the eight leading procurement practices to a “lesser extent”, implying that they are being applied but not nearly as often or consistently as best practices would dictate. The study thus indicated that, although some of the leading public procurement practices are applied in the entities under review, these practices are often applied inconsistently and frequently not to the extent that they should be applied. The study thus provided a clear indication that public entities still have a long way to go if they are to achieve the procurement objectives set out for them in terms of the country’s Constitution.

The study explored lack of improvement of public procurement management practices in the public sector. The main themes which the study focused on are the following; causes of non-compliance of public procurement and contracts management procedures, factors influencing the selection of appropriate procurement management processes and the main factors for poor implementation of procurement management processes in the public sector. The study aimed to identify the causes of non-compliance; determine factors influencing selection of appropriate procurement management processes, and lastly examine, the main factors leading to poor implementation of monitoring and evaluation in the public sector. The study employed a qualitative design to investigate the problem using the exploratory method. The purposive sampling method was used to select interviewees from three departments, namely, Department of Local government and Traditional Affairs, Public Works and Office of the Premier with 15 participants as a selective sample of the study. The key findings of this study indicate three main problems which are: that lack of properly understood processes of public procurement leads to poor implementation of the system together with alternative strategies of implementing the system. Shortages of skills and lack of training amongst those who get hired within the supply chain management sections or in the procurement management sections of the departments who have little understanding of holistic public procurement management in general affect selection processes. Findings also indicate lack of adequate monitoring and evaluation on procurement management. The study recommends that people who get hired in the procurement management section of these departments should have proper procurement qualifications. Regulations and rules should be made clear to all those who work in the procurement management sections in the public sector, to enable the improvement of best management practices and also to improve public procurement management practices in the public sector.

This text examines the possible impacts of prior exposure to agriculture, and how this relates to college students’ food purchasing decisions. This study will assess if college students had prior exposure to agriculture before attending college, and what type of exposure this was, as well as assess how this prior exposure may alter purchasing decisions made by students who attend Mississippi State University. To collect this data, this study used a qualitative survey method to question students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Mississippi State University and determine if there is a significant relationship between prior exposure to agriculture and the purchasing decisions of food products. It was found that a college student’s prior exposure to agriculture does in fact impact their food purchasing decisions. It is recommended that this study be replicated with a larger sample size and further research should be conducted to examine specifically how their purchasing decisions are impacted. This study could also aid in future research to find the best agriculture education methods for this specific demographic of college students ages 18-23 in order to raise agriculture literacy rates and preserve the future of the agriculture industry.

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The general purpose of this investigation was to identify general models of materials acquisition cycles for manufacturing firms as found in representative industries. The study further undertook to identify types of industrial situations in which the acquisition cycles display unique characteristics.

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