Woodpecker's business development

: where to?

Abstract

This Dissertation presents a situation where a Portuguese pulp and paper manufacturer initiates a development project to enhance its global competitiveness. The Case Study explores the decision-making process by stimulating debate on diverse key factors influencing these decisions. Additionally, it addresses several strategic concepts in real situations, allowing for evaluating hypotheses to enhance the company’s competitive advantage and prompts students to engage critically with real-world business complexities.Furthermore, the case helps to better understand the decision-making process regarding strategic, operational and tactical decisions in determining where to place a factory to increase production. These decisions involve a complex analysis of various factors and require an understanding of strategic and operational considerations. As the decisions for increasing the company’s competitive advantage are pivotal to its success, the Literature Review and the Teaching Note provided in this dissertation assess several aspects related to topics such as supply chain management, integration/collaborations, innovation and product diversification. In addition, the Case Study highlights the importance of sustainable and ethical business practices. Ultimately, a thorough evaluation of these multifaceted aspects enables the company to make informed decisions that positively impact its continuous growth, efficiency, and overall competitiveness in the market.

Date of Award	22 Jan 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Nuno Magalhães Guedes (Supervisor)