Master's Thesis

Development of Business Activities in the International Trade of Power Conversion Systems

Final Thesis 1.46 MB

Author of thesis: Ing. Věra Hájková

Acad. year: 2025/2026

Supervisor: doc. PhDr. Iveta Šimberová, Ph.D.

Reviewer: doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D.

Abstract:

This thesis focuses on improving the supporting business activities connected to the international trade of Power Conversion Systems (PCS). The research analyses internal operational processes related to documentation management, supplier coordination, and nterdepartmental coordination within an international project environment. The thesis combines theoretical knowledge with qualitative organisational analysis based on internal process evaluation, secondary data analysis, and semi-structured interviews. Based on the findings, the thesis proposes measures aimed at improving process efficiency and documentation consistency within PCS-related international trade activities.

Keywords:

Power Conversion Systems, business activities, process management, operational coordination, international trade, organisational efficiency, business development

Date of defence

12.06.2026

Result of the defence

Defended (thesis was successfully defended)

znamkaBznamka

Grading

B

Process of defence

In his presentation, the student informed the committee about the objectives, solutions and results he had reached in his thesis. The committee then read the opinions and evaluation of the thesis supervisor and the opponent. The student answered the questions from the supervisor's assessment in full, the questions from the opponent's assessment in full. Questions from committee members: 1. doc. Doskočil - Can you explain the final evaluation in more detail? - answered 2. doc. Doskočil - Is there any connection between the risk evaluation and the final evaluation? - answered On the basis of the presentation and the answers to the questions asked in the discussion, the committee decided that the student defended the thesis.

Language of thesis

English

Faculty

Fakulta podnikatelská

Department

Department of Management

Study programme

International Business and Management (MGR-IBM)

Composition of Committee

doc. Ing. Zdeňka Konečná, Ph.D. (předseda)
doc. Ing. Radek Doskočil, Ph.D., MSc (místopředseda)
Ing. Jan Budík, Ph.D., MBA (člen)
Ing. František Milichovský, Ph.D., MBA, DiS. (člen)
Ing. David Schüller, Ph.D. (člen)

Supervisor’s report
doc. PhDr. Iveta Šimberová, Ph.D.

This thesis is a well-written, application-oriented master’s thesis with high practical value for the company under analysis. Its main strengths include:
clear fulfillment of the assignment, logical structure, a high-quality analytical section, a strong integration of theory and practice, high implementability of the proposals, and the use of interviews and internal data.
The practical applicability of this work is above average.
The author proposes four specific measures:
strengthening process ownership and coordination of screenings, creating a process manual (guidebook), establishing a unified environment for data and documentation, improving supplier onboarding and documentation governance.
The economic analysis is well-prepared, but it is the weakest part of the entire study. The author correctly points out that the goal is not to precisely quantify the financial benefit, but to demonstrate the economic rationale behind the proposed measures. Using a model, she estimates the time savings at approximately 2.5 hours per bid, which, given an estimated volume of 40 bids per month, amounts to: 100 hours per month,1,200 hours per year,an approximate economic effect of CZK 960,000 per year. At the same time, she discusses indirect benefits: reduced error rates, better utilization of employee capacity, greater scalability, reduced dependence on individuals, higher employee retention.
The economic evaluation is less robust. It lacks: more detailed calculations of implementation costs,sensitivity analysis,ROI,and scenario analysis.
The author herself states that she did not have the necessary data available for a full-fledged return on investment model.
The economic evaluation therefore meets the requirements of the assignment, but it represents more of a rough managerial estimate than a full-fledged economic analysis.

It can be stated that the objectives were fully met. The conclusions of the analytical section are directly reflected in the proposed measures, and the thesis demonstrates good coherence between the individual chapters.

Question:

In your paper, you estimate annual savings of approximately 960,000 CZK resulting from the proposed process changes. In your opinion, how would the economic efficiency of the proposed measures change when implementation costs are taken into account, and what metrics would you use to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) after their implementation?
Evaluation criteria Verbal classification Grade
Meeting the objectives This thesis has been prepared in accordance with the assignment. The stated objective was to develop business activities that support international trade in Power Conversion Systems (PCS) by increasing the efficiency, consistency, and alignment of internal processes. The author further broke down this objective into three logically interconnected sub-objectives: a description of the environment and processes of international trade with PCS, an analysis of internal and external factors, and a proposal for measures to develop business activities. The structure of the thesis corresponds exactly to the thesis assignment—it includes theoretical foundations, an analysis of the current state, and a proposal section, including risk identification and an economic evaluation. It can be stated that the objectives were fully met. The conclusions of the analytical section are directly reflected in the proposed measures, and the thesis demonstrates good coherence between the individual chapters. B
Selected procedure of the solution, the adequacy of the used methods The methods and procedures used meet the requirements for this type of work and are appropriate given the objectives and the problem being addressed.The analytical section is structured systematically and employs several complementary methods: PESTLE,Porter’s Five Forces Model,McKinsey 7S,RBV/VRIO,SWOT,TOWS,semi-structured interviews. A strength is the combination of strategic analyses with an internal process perspective. The analysis effectively identifies the organization’s main problems: information fragmentation,inconsistent documentation, high dependence on individual knowledge, insufficient coordination between departments. A certain weakness is the higher degree of descriptiveness. In some analyses (particularly PESTLE and Porter), description outweighs a deeper interpretation of the impacts on the company’s operations. Some of the conclusions are, to a certain extent, based on the subjective assessment of the author and respondents. Nevertheless, the analytical section provides a solid foundation for the proposal section. The economic analysis is well-prepared, but it is the weakest part of the entire study. The author correctly points out that the goal is not to precisely quantify the financial benefit, but to demonstrate the economic rationale behind the proposed measures. The economic evaluation is less robust. It lacks: more detailed calculations of implementation costs,sensitivity analysis, ROI, and scenario analysis. C
The ability to interpret the results and to draw conclusions I consider the ability to interpret the results to be one of the thesis’s greatest strengths. The author does not limit the analytical section to merely presenting the results of individual methods, but rather seeks to identify the interconnections between them and translate the findings into specific management recommendations. The results of the PESTLE, Porter’s, McKinsey 7S, and VRIO analyses, as well as the interviews, are subsequently integrated into SWOT and TOWS analyses, which form the basis for specific proposals for action. There is a clear effort to establish a logical connection between the identified problems and the recommended solutions. A certain limitation is the fact that some interpretations remain at a qualitative level and are not supported by a deeper quantification of impacts. Particularly in the economic evaluation, it would be possible to interpret the results in greater detail through sensitivity scenarios or a more detailed financial analysis. Nevertheless, the author has demonstrated the ability to work with the results of analytical methods and transform them into practically applicable conclusions. I view the following positively: the use of specialized literature in the fields of management and international trade, the inclusion of current EU regulatory sources, the integration of theory with the practical business environment.  Its greatest strength lies in its clear presentation and its ability to translate analytical findings into concrete recommendations for practical application. Some room for improvement can be found primarily in the academic depth of certain interpretations and in the scope of the economic analysis, but not in the overall quality of the presentation of the results.  B
The practical usability of conclusions The practical applicability of this work is above average. The author proposes four specific measures: 1. strengthening process ownership and coordination of screenings, 2. creating a process manual (guidebook), 3. establishing a unified environment for data and documentation, 4. improving supplier onboarding and documentation governance. Each proposal includes: implementation steps,expected benefits,risks,and the author’s own impact assessment. I particularly appreciate the fact that the proposals were not developed solely on the basis of theoretical considerations, but are rooted in internal process issues identified through interviews and analysis of the company. The thesis thus takes the form of a management recommendation that can be realistically implemented. The economic analysis is well-prepared, but it is the weakest part of the entire study. The author correctly points out that the goal is not to precisely quantify the financial benefit, but to demonstrate the economic rationale behind the proposed measures. Using a model, she estimates the time savings at approximately 2.5 hours per bid, which, given an estimated volume of 40 bids per month, amounts to: 100 hours per month,1,200 hours per year,an approximate economic effect of CZK 960,000 per year. At the same time, she discusses indirect benefits: reduced error rates,better utilization of employee capacity,greater scalability,reduced dependence on individuals,higher employee retention. B
The thesis´s framework, formalities, used terminology and the professional level of language The technical quality of the thesis is very high. The thesis has a clear structure, a logical division of chapters, and consistent formatting throughout the document. The individual chapters flow smoothly from one to the next, and the reader can easily navigate the text. Graphical elements, particularly process diagrams, tables, and analytical summaries, enhance the clarity of the exposition and contribute to a better interpretation of the findings. I particularly appreciate the use of process diagrams, clear tables, and visualizations of the results of individual analyses, which enhance the practical value of the work. The scope of the figure and table appendices is appropriate, and their inclusion is effective.he thesis is written in English and, overall, demonstrates a high level of technical proficiency. The author uses terminology appropriate to the fields of international trade, process management, compliance, and strategic management. Technical terms are generally used correctly and consistently. The text comes across as professional and is appropriate for a master’s thesis. I commend the author’s ability to integrate technical terminology with the practical corporate environment without resorting to purely internal corporate jargon. A
Using of information resources, including citations The literature review and theoretical section provide a sufficient foundation for addressing the chosen problem. The author employs standard strategic and process-based approaches (PESTLE, Porter, McKinsey 7S, RBV/VRIO, SWOT, TOWS) and integrates them with issues related to international trade, compliance, and process management. On the other hand, there is a relatively high reliance on online and corporate sources. Some parts of the theoretical chapter read more like a professional industry overview than a deeper academic discussion. However, the literature review is sufficient for an application-oriented thesis. B

Grade proposed by supervisor: B

Reviewer’s report
doc. Ing. Vít Chlebovský, Ph.D.

The thesis fulfils its main objective of developing supporting business activities related to the international trade of Power Conversion Systems (83 %), as it clearly defines the problem not at the level of technical delivery but within internal operational and coordination processes, and consistently addresses this focus throughout the work. The chosen methodology is appropriate (82 %), combining established analytical frameworks (PESTLE, Porter’s Five Forces, McKinsey 7S, RBV/VRIO) with internal process analysis and semi-structured interviews; however, the empirical base remains limited, as the primary research relies on only three interviewees and lacks broader validation or triangulation of findings across external benchmarks or quantitative data. The ability to interpret results and derive conclusions is good (80 %), with the thesis consistently identifying key operational inefficiencies (fragmented process ownership, duplicated checks, dispersed data and documentation, and reliance on informal coordination) and logically linking them to proposed improvements, although the interpretation remains partly descriptive and less critically reflective of data limitations. The practical applicability is high (87 %) and represents the main strength of the thesis: the proposed solutions are concrete, operationally structured, and realistically implementable (process ownership through functional specialisation, PCS process guidebook, unified data environment, and improved supplier onboarding), supported by a model-based economic evaluation of time savings and operational impact; nevertheless, the financial assessment is illustrative and does not fully capture implementation costs or sensitivity to key assumptions. The structure, terminology, and language quality are very good (88 %), with a clear and logical progression from theory to analysis and proposals, reflecting a strong command of professional English. The use of information sources is solid (82 %), combining academic literature with regulatory and industry sources; however, a deeper critical evaluation and stronger integration of external empirical studies would strengthen the research dimension of the thesis. Overall, the thesis represents a well-executed and practically oriented master’s work with significant value in improving operational management of international trade activities; its level is slightly limited by a narrow empirical base and partial reliance on internally derived insights, corresponding to an overall evaluation of 84 % (B).
Evaluation criteria Grade
Meeting the objectives B
Selected procedure of the solution, the adequacy of the used methods B
The ability to interpret the results and to draw conclusions B
The practical usability of conclusions B
The thesis´s framework, used terminology and the professional level of language B
Using of information resources B
Topics for thesis defence:
  1. Which of the proposed measures would you prioritise for implementation, and how would you measure their effectiveness within the first 3–6 months?

Grade proposed by reviewer: B

Responsibility: Mgr. et Mgr. Hana Odstrčilová