A procurement adjustment strategy for FDI enterprises: A case study under the Belt and Road Initiative

This study combines international trade theories, purchase management theories and SWOT analysis together. Based on these theories, this study firstly finds the problems in multinational procurement management and then studies how multinational enterprises (MNEs) select their procurement strategy for the procurement of raw materials under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Also, this study takes Group A as a case company to perform a detailed analysis on. Contributions of this study are as follows. Firstly, from the macro level, the current research is mainly about the purchasing behaviours and procurement management in MNEs especially the procurement management in MNEs. However, this study conducts a micro level analysis of a specific enterprise, taking Group A as a case study. Secondly, combined with the MNEs location choice and procurement management, this study analysed, in particular, the localised purchase management models. Thirdly, by taking Group A as an example, the author constructed a dynamic mechanism of its procurement management selection mode combined with corresponding data of raw material procurement costs. Fourthly, the study analysed the motivation of procurement management shifts and discusses the possible new growth engine of Chinese MNEs and the localisation selection of MNEs.Este estudo combina teorias referentes ao comércio internacional com as teorias de gestão de compras e a análise SWOT. Com base nessas teorias, este estudo investiga primeiramente os problemas na gestão de aquisições das empresas multinacionais e, em seguida, estuda como as EMNs selecionam a sua estratégia de aquisição para a compra de matérias primas tendo em consideração a Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Além disso, esta tese toma o Grupo A como um exemplo para realizar uma análise detalhada. As contribuições deste estudo são as seguintes. Em primeiro lugar, as pesquisas existentes preocupam se, a um nível macro, com os comportamentos de compra e gestão de aquisições em empresas multinacionais. No entanto, este estudo conduz uma análise mais ao nível micro de uma empresa específica, tomando o Grupo A como um estudo de caso. Em segundo lugar, combinando a escolha da localização das EMs e a gestão de aquisições, este estudo analisa o modelo de gestão de compras. Em terceiro lugar, tomando o Grupo A como exemplo, o autor constrói um modelo dinâmico de seleção e gestão de compras combinando os dados correspondentes aos custos de aquisição de matéria prima. Em terceiro lugar, o estudo analisa a motivação das mudanças na gestão de compras e discute o possível motor novo de crescimento das empresas multinacionais chinesas e a seleção da localização das empresas multinacionais

Management of rural residential housing construction in China's new village development: an empirical study

With the continuous advancement of the construction of beautiful new countryside (CBNC) in China, rural housing construction (RHC) h as ushered in an unprecedented opportunity. The investment, progress, governance, and security of rural housing construction in new villages have troubled local governments and farmers. These problems have always affected farmers satisfaction with housing . The literature and practice mostly focus on project coordination, project group management, housing security, rural assistance, rural culture, housing standards, housing policies, dilapidated house renovation. The study focused on the main line of RHC, i dentified stakeholders of RHC management, studied relevant factors affecting farmers’ satisfaction with the quality of RHC, analyzed the satisfaction degree of RHC management, and determined the degree of influence, based on which problems of land use, con struction control, and process supervision are solved, and suggestions about investment, quality and safety, and progress control were provided. Through data review, questionnaire survey, quantitative analysis and induction, RHC situation in Suining, Sichu an Province was selected as an example, and the satisfaction model was constructed through stakeholder related research. The overall housing satisfaction was relatively high, and two thirds of rural residents were satisfied with their existing housing. Thr ough SWOT strategic analysis, it was innovatively proposed to implement agency construction model (ACM) in RHC in the context of CBNC, which provides a more scientific management path for RHC in the context of CBNC.Com o avanço contínuo da construção de novas e belas paisagens (CBNC) na China, especialmente em 2017, quando o Comitê Central do Partido Comunista da China (CPC) propôs a est ratégia de revitalização rural, a CNBC foi aprimorada e o desenvolvimento de áreas rurais encontra outra perspetiva, portanto, a construção de moradias rurais (RHC) inaugurou uma oportunidade sem precedentes, e a área rural viu uma melhoria substantiva das moradias rurais. Nesse contexto, a gestão do RHC tornou se uma grande preocupação, o que preocupa governos e agricultores locais, especialmente se os agricultores estão satisfeitos, quão satisfeitos estão, quais problemas pendentes existem, como melhorar essas questões, entre outros, tornaram se o foco principal de gestão do RHC no CBNC. Esta pesquisa toma o RHC e sua gestão como a linha principal, seleciona o RHC em Suining, província de Sichuan como exemplo, usa os princípios básicos da gestão do RHC e c ombina a pesquisa e a prática de especialistas e estudiosos em gestão de CBNC e RHC na China recentemente. anos. Como resultado, no contexto do CBNC, o autor conduziu um estudo empírico através da construção de um modelo de avaliação de satisfação, usou a SWOT para propor sugestões estratégicas para o RHC no contexto do CBNC e propôs o modelo de construção da agência (ACM) para RHC. O estudo enfoca a principal linha de RHC no contexto do CBNC e expõe os princípios de gerenciamento do RHC no contexto do CBNC , das partes interessadas e outras teorias. O autor conduziu um estudo empírico sobre a satisfação da qualidade do RCH com o gerenciamento do RHC em Suining como exemplo, e analisou as deficiências do gerenciamento do RHC antes de apresentar sugestões, o q ue abre um novo modelo para o gerenciamento do RHC no contexto de CBNC para governos locais e agricultores

An aesthetic for sustainable interactions in product-service systems?

Copyright @ 2012 Greenleaf PublishingEco-efficient Product-Service System (PSS) innovations represent a promising approach to sustainability. However the application of this concept is still very limited because its implementation and diffusion is hindered by several barriers (cultural, corporate and regulative ones). The paper investigates the barriers that affect the attractiveness and acceptation of eco-efficient PSS alternatives, and opens the debate on the aesthetic of eco-efficient PSS, and the way in which aesthetic could enhance some specific inner qualities of this kinds of innovations. Integrating insights from semiotics, the paper outlines some first research hypothesis on how the aesthetic elements of an eco-efficient PSS could facilitate user attraction, acceptation and satisfaction

Sustainability in design: now! Challenges and opportunities for design research, education and practice in the XXI century

Copyright @ 2010 Greenleaf PublicationsLeNS project funded by the Asia Link Programme, EuropeAid, European Commission

Midterm evaluation Research 2016-2018:

The research of TU Delft’s Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment (Faculteit Bouwkunde) covers the full spectrum of design, engineering, planning, and management of the built environment. Its research portfolio comprises the research that is conducted by four departments: Architecture Architectural Engineering + Technology (AE+T) Management in the Built Environment (MBE) Urbanism The faculty’s research focusses specifically at improving the design and performance of buildings, districts, cities and regions in order to better meet the requirements and expectations of their users and communities. From that perspective, much of the research that is conducted can be understood as applied science, appealing to the curiosity and the needs of other researchers, practitioners and the broader public alike. The research is a blend of humanities, social and engineering sciences. The humanities are strongest represented in the Architecture department, social sciences in the MBE and Urbanism departments, while the engineering sciences find their strongest representation in AE+T

Inovação na diplomacia cultural: o caso da China

This study focuses on the innovation of China’s cultural diplomacy (CCD) by means of the Confucius Institute (CI). The main contents revolve around the following research goals: 1) to understand the strategic framework and practical path of CCD, and to clarify the context of its inheritance and innovation; 2) to analyze whether the CI, epitomized as a crucial innovation of CCD, has improved China’s national image in Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs) and enhanced the attraction and international competitiveness of Chinese culture; and 3) to explore how China can better formulate its CD strategy in line with the exigencies of the modern era. The study combines the methods of literature review, case study, and questionnaire research to explore the topics from different perspectives to strengthen the scientific nature of the research results. In addition to the introduction and conclusion, the thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the connotation and value of CD. Chapter 2 expounds the development and innovation of CCD. Chapter 3 systematically summarizes China’s cultural interaction in its diplomatic process with PSCs. Chapter 4 elaborates on the CI in terms of its operation mode and diplomatic means. Chapter 5 forms the core of the study and involves empirical analysis of case-study and questionnaire data. It aims to investigate the functions, public image, influence, and practical means of CIs in the process of CD. Major findings indicate that CIs in PSCs have achieved ideal social feedback and play a positive role in shaping the image of China. However, according to the different continents where CIs are located, the survey results show distinct characteristics which are closely related to China’s different foreign policies towards Latin America, Europe, and Africa and are determined by the historical experiences and national conditions of the various countries. The future task for CCD is to clarify China’s institutional roots and the cultural genes behind its development by using cultural exchanges and China’s fluid culture to convey a message of China’s pursuit of peace, development, and cooperation.Este estudo tem como foco a inovação da Diplomacia Cultural da China (DCC) através do Instituto Confúcio (IC). Os principais conteúdos giram em torno dos seguintes objetivos de investigação: 1) compreender o enquadramento estratégico e o percurso prático da Diplomacia Cultural da China e clarificar o contexto da sua herança e inovação; 2) analisar se o IC, exemplo de inovação crucial da Diplomacia Cultural da China, melhorou a imagem nacional da China nos Países de Língua Oficial Portuguesa (PALOP) e aumentou a atração e competitividade internacional da cultura chinesa; e 3) explorar como a China pode formular melhor a sua estratégia de Diplomacia Cultural, de acordo com as exigências da era moderna. O estudo combina os métodos de revisão de literatura, estudo de caso e pesquisa de questionário para explorar os tópicos de diferentes perspetivas com o objetivo de fortalecer a natureza científica dos resultados de investigação. Além da introdução e da conclusão, a tese está dividida em cinco capítulos. O Capítulo 1 discute a conotação e o valor de Diplomacia Cultural (DC). O Capítulo 2 expõe o desenvolvimento e a inovação da Diplomacia Cultural da China (DCC). O Capítulo 3 resume sistematicamente a interação cultural da China no seu processo diplomático com os Países de Língua Oficial Portuguesa (PALOP). O Capítulo 4 discorre sobre o papel do IC em termos do seu modo de operar e dos seus meios diplomáticos. O Capítulo 5 constitui o núcleo da tese e envolve a análise empírica dos dados do estudo de caso e do questionário. Tem como objetivo investigar as funções, a imagem pública, a influência e os meios práticos dos IC no processo de Diplomacia Cultural (DC). As principais descobertas indicam que os IC nos PALOP alcançaram o feedback social ideal e desempenham um papel positivo na formação da imagem da China. No entanto, de acordo com os diferentes continentes onde os IC estão situados, os resultados da pesquisa apresentam caraterísticas distintas que estão intimamente relacionadas com as diferentes políticas externas da China para a América Latina, a Europa e a África e são determinadas pelas experiências históricas e pelas condições nacionais dos vários países. A futura tarefa da Diplomacia Cultural da China (DCC) será a de esclarecer as raízes institucionais da China e os genes culturais por trás do seu desenvolvimento, usando intercâmbios culturais e a cultura fluida da China para transmitir uma mensagem de busca de paz, de desenvolvimento e de cooperação por parte da China.Programa Doutoral em Políticas Pública

Land Perspectives: People, Tenure, Planning, Tools, Space, and Health

Good land administration and spatial enablement help to improve people’s living conditions in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. They protect people’s land rights (including of individuals, communities, and the state) through good governance principles and practices. This makes research concerning land administration practices and geographic (spatial) sciences—whether in developed or developing countries—essential to developing tools or methods for securing natural resource rights for people. In the time of COVID-19, understanding the land and health or wellbeing nexus is also crucial for adequate living conditions for people in living urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. This Special Issue comprises 15 articles (including the editorial) that present insights on theories and practices on land administration and geographic (spatial) sciences in the context of land/water/forest–people–health–wellbeing nexus

Policy innovation, asymmetric decentralization and local economic development in post-Mao China -- Case studies of China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park and Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone.

The Chinese government's economic reforms over the last couple of decades have led to rapid economic growth for the country. However, many empirical studies on the post-Mao China show that the economic transition towards market economy is in large part actually propelled by active local governments, which are encouraged to make policy innovations in order to promote better local economic development. This thesis aims to offer an understanding on how, why and under what circumstances the local governments of post-Mao China - while still controlled by a one-party communist regime- are able to make policy innovations to deal with business operating under market transition conditions. Theoretically, the phenomenon of local policy innovation can be analyzed with a framework involving three dimensions. First, local policy innovation can be seen to take place in order to respond to challenges presented by the changing macro development environments. Second, local policy innovation can be understood as a consequence of changing responsibilities and competencies between central and local governments. Third, local policy innovation may be related to the dynamics of local-central strategic interactions. Empirically, with the contextual approach as its chosen methodology, this theoretical framework is applied to two successful cases of innovation in Jiangsu province within the Yangtze Delta of post-Mao China: Kunshan Economic and Technological Development Zone (KETZ); and China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CSSIP). The history of these two national development zones identifies the former as a case of a 'locally initiated project' while the latter represents an example of 'local implementation of a centrally initiated project'. In terms of types of local-central dynamic interaction, 'state- intention to tolerate', 'ex-post state endorsement', and 'ex-ante state adoption' were seen sequentially in the case of KETZ, while 'marginalizing the local', 'local obedience', and 'local flexibility' operated simultaneously in the case of CSSIP. The thesis concludes that in post-Mao China significant local policy innovations were able to take place when localities encountered structural changes, including China's reengaging with globalization, changing local-central relations, and serious territorial competition. Actions of local policy innovations were ignited by agents, across scales, whose self-interests were highly involved in local economic development in the context of asymmetric decentralization. More specifically, in the post-Mao China context of economic decentralization to the local combined with political centralization under the party, career-minded local officials utilized their decentralized 'economic resources' to strive for more development, which in turn became their 'political capital' with the upper-level government to get themselves promoted