The thesis provides an analysis, from the institutional perspective, of the factors that are contributing towards mutually beneficial participation in European University Networks. Previous research about institutional networks has concentrated on the networks' perspective on beneficial operational factors. Joining institutional university networks has been stated to be a recent strategic trend in Europe. Therefore it is important to provide detailed data from the institutional point of view to enable other institutions to make informed decisions about joining such networks. The University of Tartu provides an interesting case study on its experience of participation in the Coimbra Group and the Utrecht Network. Strategic management theory was used as a theoretical framework for this analysis. Relevant documents were reviewed. Twenty three e-mail interviews were conducted among the University of Tartu administrators, faculty members and representatives of both networks. Ten cross-cutting themes were identified as having impact on network participation.

This research is a case study on the lived experience of international graduate students in the Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSAPS) at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Using cultural globalization and internationalization as a lens, this research positions international graduate students as local actors in an abroad community and addresses, 1) how and why students decided on an English Medium degree in Japan, and 2) the lived academic and social experiences of this particular group of students while in Japan. In-depth interviews with 17 degree seeking international graduate students explore graduate students’ past educational and professional experiences and the purpose of seeking an advanced degree abroad. Graduate students also discussed the types of academic and social sodalities they chose to engage in while in Japan and the other actors involved (or not involved) in these communities. Through inductive analysis, conclusions were drawn on how these actors constructed their social and academic lives amidst the influences of internationalization and cultural globalization.

The purpose of this thesis is to gain understanding and analyze how Scandinavian firms’ relationships and networks can help them to create opportunities and reduce risks when conducting project business on African markets. Through this purpose we have created a main research questions that aims to answer: In order to answer the main research question a theoretical framework will be built on project business theories in order to understand project business and the opportunities and risks that are known to the project marketer. The Network Model and Uppsala Internationalization Model will also be applied to gain understanding of how to create opportunities and reduce risks through your networks and relationships. The research approach of this thesis will be an abductive approach and the gathering of primary data will be done through qualitative interviews using a multiple case study of two experienced project business actors. The gathered empirical data will interpreted with the help of the theoretical framework.   The conclusion of this thesis indicates that project business risks and opportunities many times are interrelated to the same actors and that coordination and communication among the project marketer’s relationships and networks are vital to project business success on African markets. Onwards a theoretical gap and our theoretical contribution within the field will be presented, along with suggestions for further research and implications for practicing project business actors.

Principles of business management are increasingly being used to analyze health care systems. Conceptualizing health care as business networks offers the possibility to apply the ARA model of Actors, Resources and Activities to understand the functioning of the system. We have used this model to study the phenomenon of networking in cross-border care using Uppsala University Hospital as a research case. The aim of the study was to understand actor’s perceptions of networking activities and how these related with international sales of health care services. We collected primary data through five interviews with managers involved in internationalization and a survey study with 26 managers at the hospital. Secondary data on patient flows and research activity was collected from hospital and university records. The main actors identified in the health care networks are doctors with professional identity being an important facilitating factor. Patient´s role as active participators in the system is increasing while researchers, innovators and key opinion leaders are also important. Networking activities consist of knowledge transfer via lecturing, meetings and external consulting activities. Resources in the form of supporting clinics, research centers and administrative services correlate positively with the level of internationalization. The study identifies networking activities as important for internationalization and cross-border sales of health care services. We conclude that the ARA model is a valuable instrument for analyzing cross border activities and internationalization of health care.

Despite the substantial amount of work undertaken on internationalization to-date, most has placed little emphasis on the temporal processes and dynamics of internationalization in shaping firm internationalization histories. This is reflected in several problem areas in theories and research regarding internationalization including accelerated internationalization, full and partial de-internationalization and use of multiple modes of entry at a point in time. This study addressed an important question: what factors and processes affect the way a firm???s pattern of internationalization changes over time? Although mainstream theories of internationalization and recent advances that link internationalization and entrepreneurship assume the importance of ???opportunity???, there is a paucity of research that that places ???opportunity??? as the core process in internationalization. By embracing time as a key dimension, this study reconceptualized internationalization as an entrepreneurial process: as the process of opportunity discovery, evaluation and exploitation in international markets. The research was undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 included a literature review covering the internationalization and entrepreneurship research streams. The discovery-evaluation-exploitation framework from entrepreneurship was used to identify relevant factors and explore eight case studies. By drawing on results from the exploratory research, an initial conceptual model and a set of propositions were developed. In Phase 2, fifteen case studies were theoretically sampled from a pool of small and medium enterprises from the knowledge and non-knowledge based industries in Australia. The data collection and analysis followed a process, event-driven approach to case study research involving the mapping of key sequences of events as well as within and cross case analysis. The results clarified the nature and pattern of opportunity discovery, evaluation and exploitation, and a number of factors that influence this process: the role of prior knowledge, network ties, serendipity, absorptive capacity, bricolage, the nature of uncertainty, feedback mechanisms and effectual versus causal reasoning. The findings also suggest the evolutionary process of firm development and internationalization and show that born globals may be a classification error. The results indicate that full and partial de-internationalization as well as the use of multiple modes of entry are influenced by the interconnectedness of opportunities across the founding, domestic and international context over time; the role of Knightian uncertainty which can push or pull the patterns in many directions and how firms rely on effectual reasoning. The results provide a better understanding of the basic mechanisms of internationalization. The academic contributions of this thesis include the extension of Jones and Coviello???s (2005) model and previous models by developing a dynamic, process model of internationalization that is capable of addressing the temporal and dynamic gaps in internationalization; the integration and reconciliation of extant theories of internationalization by understanding the role of mode of reasoning; and the establishment of ???opportunity-firm??? nexus as a suitable unit of analysis in internationalization and international entrepreneurship research. Finally, the managerial contributions include guidance for firms and entrepreneurs in terms of dealing with uncertainty and complexity in international markets using the appropriate mode of reasoning (i.e. effectual, non-predictive approach vs. causal, predictive approach) in the right context and circumstances.

Diss. Stockholm : Stockholms universitet, 2006.

La motion adoptée dès 1963, à l’issue du colloque d’Uriage-les-Bains, appelle à une unification des réglementations sportives en matière de lutte contre le dopage. Pourtant, à partir des années 1990, des cas et des affaires se multiplient soulignant les dysfonctionnements de réglementations internationales éparses élaborées par des représentants des pouvoirs publics, d’une part, du mouvement olympique, d’autre part. En 1999, près de quarante ans après le premier colloque sur le dopage, l’Agence Mondiale Antidopage (AMA) est créée avec comme mission principale d’harmoniser les règlementations de cette pluralité d’acteurs. Ce travail vise précisément à décrire et analyser ce que font les différents protagonistes dans cette tâche d’harmonisation et, dans une perspective sociologique, à saisir cette figure sociale particulière. Celle-ci met en tension une nécessité de stabiliser des matériaux, des dispositifs et des formes de collaboration avec un minimum de réversibilité et de proposer un travail démocratique qui permette de remettre en question les choix précédents. La création de l’AMA, l’élaboration et la révision du Code mondial antidopage, la mise en conformité des partenaires de l’Agence et la construction d’outils de contrôle et de prévention rendent compte de la façon dont les acteurs tentent de s’accorder en articulant des principes axiologiques, des dispositifs et des pratiques. En cela, une entrée par les critiques et les arguments au fil du temps montre que l’harmonisation consiste en des jeux d’ajustements sur la base de jugements fondés sur l’indépendance de chacun dans ses activités quotidiennes et les degrés de contraintes posés par le processus lui-même. / The motion carried from 1963, as the result of the Uriage-les-Bains conference, calls for some rules standardization concerning the fight against doping in sports. But starting in the 1990’s, situations and scandals have tended to increase, emphasizing the dysfunction of scattered international standards elaborated by representatives from local authorities on one side and from the olympic authorities on the other side. In 1999, almost forty years after the first conference on doping in sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is created, meaning to harmonize anti-doping policies and regulations among the great number of protagonists. This particular thesis aims precisely to describe and analyse who does what in this very task of harmonization and, from a sociologic perspective, to understand this particular social figure. It shows the necessity of stabilizing materials, devices and forms of partnerships with a minimum of reversibility and of offering some democratic approach which would allow to question previous choices and orientations. The creation of WADA, processing and updating of the World Anti-Doping Code, compliance of the partners of WADA and building of control and prevention instruments tend to show how the participants are trying to find an agreement combining axiological principles, devices and practices. Thus, entering through critics and arguments in history shows that harmonization is based on adjustment processes which rely on each and every one’s independence in its daily activities and on degrees of constraints inherent in the process of harmonization itself.

A pesquisa nacional sobre internacionalização de empresas brasileiras, via aquisições por empresas estrangeiras desde a abertura do mercado ocorrida a partir de 1990, trata este assunto sob o aspecto comportamental ou então sob o aspecto econômico, e eventuais dificuldades durante a integração entre as empresas são analisadas sob o aspecto da cultura organizacional e nacional. Entretanto, é possível observar que as empresas brasileiras, visando competir no mercado internacional e globalizado, são direcionadas a se associarem a empresas de países mais desenvolvidos economicamente, via processos de aliança, que muitas vezes evoluem para uma fusão ou aquisição, em que a empresa brasileira é a adquirida, salvo algumas exceções. A aceitação desta posição de submissão em uma relação comercial vem do conceito generalizado de que o estrangeiro, por ser mais bem sucedido internacionalmente, é superior, e esta situação pode revelar a presença de relações de poder características de uma dominação neocolonialista, onde as empresas estrangeiras assumem o papel de metrópole, e as empresas brasileiras o papel de colônia, e eventuais conflitos são gerenciados ou mesmo mascarados através de uma explicação reducionista que evoca diferenças culturais e institucionais. O objetivo desta tese é analisar a presença a dominação neocolonialista no processo de aquisição de empresas brasileiras por empresas estrangeiras estudando o desenvolvimento do processo de aquisição de duas empresas adquiridas por multinacionais europeia e norte-americana, assim compreender como os conflitos existentes são gerenciados e como este processo de dominação pode ser normalizado pelo uso do discurso da globalização. / The national research on the internationalization of Brazilian companies, through acquisitions by foreign companies since the opening of Brazilian market in the 1990’s, approach this issue considering behavioral or economic aspects, and possible difficulties during the integration stage of the companies involved are analyzed under the aspect of organizational culture and national. However, it is possible to observe that Brazilian companies, desiring to compete in the international and globalized market, are inclined to form alliances with companies belonging to more economically developed countries, a movement that often evolves into a merger or acquisition, in which the Brazilian company is the acquired one, with some exceptions. The acceptance of a position of submission in a commercial relationship comes from the generalized concept that the foreign company, being internationally successful, has superior knowledge, and this situation can reveal the presence of power relations characteristic of a neocolonialist domination, where foreign companies assume the role of a metropolis, and Brazilian companies play the role of a cologne, and possible conflicts are managed or even disguised using a reductionist explanation that evokes cultural and institutional differences. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the presence of neocolonialist domination in the acquisition process of Brazilian companies by foreign companies, studying the development of the acquisition process of two companies acquired by European e North American multinational companies, seeking to understand how existing conflicts are managed and how this domination process can be normalized by using the globalization discourse.

[pt] A humanidade está testemunhando e experimentando os efeitos da degradação do ambiente natural, em escala e escopo sem precedentes na sua história, o que vem provocando crescente inquietação com a qualidade e o futuro do meio-ambiente diante da perda da biodiversidade e da transformação irrecuperável de ambientes naturais. A pesquisa analisa a estratégia de internacionalização e o uso sustentável da biodiversidade como um diferencial adotado nesse processo por uma empresa brasileira - a Natura - que vem crescendo e tendo destaque internacional além de ser reconhecida pela sua responsabilidade social e ambiental. A interpretação dos dados foi feita com base no referencial teórico, fundamentado na revisão de literatura, utilizando o modelo Genérico Integrativo (GI) de Macedo-Soares (2000). Foi adotada, para a análise do estudo de caso, a estratégia de triangulação de métodos, portanto as informações foram coletadas por meio de investigação documental, de levantamento de percepções por meio de entrevistas com formulário estruturado e de levantamento complementar por meio de entrevistas com roteiro guiado. Por meio dos resultados obtidos evidenciamos que a empresa, ao contrário da maioria, não adota alianças em seu processo de internacionalização. A Natura acredita quem tem mais a perder com uma parceria mal realizada do que fazendo investimento próprio em novos países. Outra evidência importante está no fato de que, embora a empresa possua como estratégia de negócio bem sucedida no Brasil a venda direta, durante seu processo de internacionalização para a Europa precisou repensar essa estratégia empresarial para ter sucesso naquele mercado. Isso foi feito, porque a Europa é, sem dúvida, um excelente mercado consumidor para empresas preocupadas com o uso sustentável da biodiversidade. / [en] The mankind is witnessing and suffering the consequences of the environment degradation, in scale and scope never seen in history. However, there is a growing concern regarding the quality and the future of the environment due to the loss of biodiversity and the definitive changes in Nature. The present research analyzes the strategy of internationalization and sustainable use of biodiversity as a competitive advantage of a Brazilian company, Natura, which has sustained a steady growth pace. Natura is well recognized also for its corporate social and environmental responsibility. The data interpretation found in this study was based on the theoretical references from the literature review, using Macedo-Soares` (2000) systemic and integrative model for strategic assessment. Following that, a strategic triangulation of methods was adopted in order to analyze the case study. The information was collected by documental investigation, perception with surveys and complementary data with guided interviews. Through the results obtained we concluded that the company, as opposed to many other companies, does not adopt alliances in the internalization process. Natura believes that the company has more to risk by choosing a bad partner than using its own capital to start business in other countries. Another important point is that although the company is very well succeeded in Brazil with direct sales, a new strategy had to be implemented in Europe to succeed in the European market. Without any doubt Europe is an excellent market for companies oriented towards sustained used of biodiversity.

O propósito desta pesquisa é investigar quais as principais dificuldades que as pequenas e médias empresas do Vale do Taquari têm para exportar. Com a globalização das economias e a internacionalização dos negócios, as empresas se voltam estrategicamente para os mercados estrangeiros. A internacionalização das empresas, através da expansão de suas operações para os mercados externos ou através da aquisição de insumos, componentes e bens acabados, tornou-se uma questão de sobrevivência. Para atingir os objetivos, foi realizada uma pesquisa em duas etapas. Primeiramente, buscou-se identificar junto às empresas do Vale do Taquari as principais dificuldades para exportar. A partir desses resultados foi estruturado um questionário, enviado para 50 empresas escolhidas por fazerem parte do Comitê Regional de Qualidade do Vale do Taquari (filiado ao Programa Gaúcho de Qualidade e Produtividade - PGQP) e por possuírem a potencialidade e a possibilidade de exportar. Dos questionários enviados, 24 retornaram o que corresponde a uma taxa de resposta de 48%. Das empresas que retornaram seus questionários 37,5% não exportam. Com base nos resultados, identificou-se que dentre as principais dificuldades para exportar estão a questão de preços e a concorrência externa. Propõe-se que as empresas busquem diferenciais competitivos para minimizar as dificuldades de exportar, seja por adequação de custos, aumento de produtividade ou busca de novos mercados. / This study has the goal to go deep in knowledge about the difficulties that Vale do Taquari companies go through to place their product in the export market. With the globalization of economies and internationalization of business, the companies converge strategically for foreigners markets. The internationalization of the companies, through of expansion of their operations for external market, or through the acquisition of inputs, components and accomplished goods, became a way of survival. To reach the purpose, the study was planned in two stages. First of all, it was necessary to understand and to identify the main reasons that stop the companies from the Vale do Taquari to export. With these data, a questionnaire was developed and sent to 50 companies chosen for taking part in Comitê Regional de Qualidade do Vale do Taquari (Programa Gaúcho de Qualidade e Produtividade - PGQP) and for having potentiality and possibilities to export. From the 50 questionnaires sent, 24 returned, which correspond to a return tax of 48%. Of the companies who had returned its questionnaires 37.5% do not export. Based on the results, it was found that the main difficulties to export are the question of prices and the external competition. It is suggested that the companies search differentials competitive to minimize the difficulties to export, either for adequacy of costs, increase of productivity or search of new markets.