This thesis explores different aspects of the effect the organization and the level of vertical integration of an organization have on the investment decisions the firm takes and subsequently the effect of such decisions on the performance of the firm. This thesis uses the biopharmaceutical...

Japanese major alcoholic beverage companies, whose businesses are mainly the production and sale of beer products, stand at a strategic crossroads. There are several reasons: a slow decrease in the Japanese population, which leads to a smaller drinking population; diversification of customers'...

Firm boundaries have been the subject of much scholarly interest in recent years, as firms increasingly hire external, "contingent" workers and outsource previously core activities. However, little empirical research has directly studied what happens differently inside the firm's boundaries,...

This thesis explores the changes occurring in the software industry and the strategic implications thereof. The software industry has historically benefited from the rapid introduction of new platforms and applications, an increasing user base and nearly contiguous cycles of growth. However,...

The primary goal of this research effort was to integrate several pieces of relatively simple dynamics simulations into a full blown system dynamics simulation of the telecom industry. The economic simulation model was used to analyze potential dynamics, reaching basic qualitative insights on...

Competition in the business world is becoming harsher as markets shrink due to the financial crisis of the late 2000s. Firms have to leverage their core competencies to survive by attracting more customers and attaining more efficient operations. In such circumstances, diversified corporations...

This thesis consists of three chapters that broadly investigates, theoretically and empirically, the effect of firm boundaries and organizational processes on internal resource allocation and corporate investment. In the first chapter, I develop an equilibrium model of internal competition for...

Organizations face increasing pressure to improve internal conflict management, which has led to experimentation with different types of dispute resolution components. These include: Rights-based processes, in which third-parties determine the outcome of a dispute based on laws, contracts or...

In this dissertation, we explore problems in two areas of Supply Chain Management. The first relates to strategic supplier management. The second focuses on tactical decisions on inventory and pricing during inter-generational product transition. In many industries, manufacturing firms use...

In the backdrop of the dotcom bubble burst, companies cleaned up the excesses of the nineties and are more agile and efficient than ever before. However, companies face tremendous pressure to improve shareholder returns. A new trend is emerging as more and more capital is flowing into Private...