Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:13:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008- Marcia da Silva Pedreira.pdf: 4243420 bytes, checksum: 2e2cd88befc9f0c49f34f0b8d43a0b8c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-21 / This thesis aims to examine and interpret the process of competitive insertion and of socioeconomic transformation in the Extreme South of Bahia, Brazil, correlating it to the dynamics of regional development. Such process has taken place due to the expansion of the forest industry, led by great companies of the pulp and paper segment. Theoretical contributions which allow the understanding of the factors that affected regional integration, of the nature of the recent changes and of their relationship with the pattern of regional development have been established. In consonance with the theoretical and analytical references used, the study revealed that the integration of the Extreme South of Bahia, from the competitive exploration of its local resources for wood production (eucalyptus) and cellulose, constitutes an important example of the global production expansion movement - determined by the patterns and strategies of segmental and business competition. Besides the region s advantages, it was also clear that the action of the State based on approaches which associate development to progress, to spatial polarization of economic activities and competitive integration - played a major role in the redefinition of the development pattern and of regional insertion. The empirical analysis was based on data collection and on the systematization of data as well as of quantitative and qualitative information. It showed that the establishment and expansion of forest activities and of cellulose and paper production, on the one hand internalized flows of the global production cycle, and on the other hand, caused a set of transformations in the and social and productive structures in the region. This was expressed by several aspects, such as: i) a higher concentration of land ownership and an increase in business exploration; ii) the de-structuralization of the existing economic and social relationships; iii) the expansion of activities, occupations and lifestyles, predominantly, urban. Nevertheless, economic growth, especially urban, regarded as synonymous to development and modernization, has been of little use to the local society. Such evidences reveal not only the limitations in the spread of the benefits of global economic competitiveness for the local society, but also highlight the need for institutional arrangements and for synergic relationships between the local society and public and private spheres, as fundamental resources for economic and social development. Thus, in accordance with the institutionalist perspective, being competitive is not enough, it is also necessary to create an institutional atmosphere which provides coordination among the actors, enabling the use of local capacities on behalf of the development of such society. / O objetivo da tese ? examinar e interpretar o processo de inser??o competitiva e de transforma??o socioecon?mica da regi?o do Extremo Sul baiano, capitaneado pela expans?o do complexo florestal-celul?sico, correlacionando-os ? din?mica do desenvolvimento regional. Para tanto, foram estabelecidos os aportes te?ricos que permitem a compreens?o dos fatores que condicionaram a integra??o da regi?o, da natureza das mudan?as ocorridas e de sua rela??o com o padr?o de desenvolvimento regional. Em conson?ncia com as refer?ncias te?ricas e anal?ticas trabalhadas, a investiga??o revelou que a integra??o do Extremo Sul baiano, a partir da explora??o competitiva de seus atributos territoriais para produ??o de madeira (eucalipto) e celulose, constitui um exemplo revelador de movimento de expans?o da produ??o global condicionado aos padr?es e ?s estrat?gias da concorr?ncia setorial e empresarial. Evidenciou-se, tamb?m, que, al?m das vantagens competitivas locacionais, a a??o do Estado ancorada em abordagens que associam o desenvolvimento ao progresso, ? polariza??o espacial das atividades econ?micas e ? integra??o competitiva ao mercado exerceu um importante papel na redefini??o do padr?o de desenvolvimento e na inser??o regional. A an?lise emp?rica, com base na coleta e na sistematiza??o de dados e informa??es quantitativas e qualitativas, demonstrou que a implanta??o e a expans?o das atividades florestais e de produ??o de celulose e papel, ao tempo em que internalizaram fixos e fluxos do circuito da produ??o global, provocaram um conjunto de transforma??es na estrutura produtiva e social regional, expressos, entre outros aspectos: i) pela intensifica??o da concentra??o fundi?ria e incremento da explora??o empresarial; ii) pela desestrutura??o das rela??es econ?micos e sociais, tradicionalmente, vigentes; iii) pela expans?o de atividades, ocupa??es e modos de vida, predominantemente, urbanos. Entretanto, a dinamiza??o da economia, em particular a urbana, vista como sin?nimo de desenvolvimento e moderniza??o, tem se mostrado pouco prof?cua para a sociedade local. Tais evid?ncias, al?m de revelar limita??es no transbordamento dos benef?cios da competitividade econ?mica global para a sociedade local, trazem ? luz a necessidade de constru??o de arranjos institucionais e de rela??es de sinergias entre a sociedade local e as esferas p?blicas e privadas, enquanto recursos fundamentais para o desenvolvimento econ?mico e social. Assim, em conformidade com a perspectiva institucionalista, n?o basta ser competitivo: ? preciso criar um ambiente institucional, que proporcione formas de coordena??o entre os atores, capazes de acionar o conjunto das capacidades locais em prol do desenvolvimento da sociedade em foco.

Submitted by Maria Aparecida (cidazen@gmail.com) on 2017-11-13T13:26:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniele de Fátima.pdf: 3283674 bytes, checksum: 56fe8cb03480237e34b489c2b61dbfd6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-13T13:26:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniele de Fátima.pdf: 3283674 bytes, checksum: 56fe8cb03480237e34b489c2b61dbfd6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-10 / The importance of Natural Gas in world is growing, with highlights to its efficiency and competitiveness, reaching the point of being considered the fuel of energy transition to a less carbonized matrix. When it comes to energy transition, a change in the profile of energy consumption is can be observed throughout the development of capitalism. What was an economy based on firewood and charcoal, facing the shortage of resources becomes supplied by mineral coal, that by technological limitations gives space to oil, perhaps the energy source with greater geopolitical strength witnessed until current days. The transition that shall happen in the next years will not be due to paucity or any other technological limitations of oil, but because since the world has become more rigorous and is uniting efforts so that the pollution level, largely due to the use of fossil energy sources, can reduce in order to maintain the future development of nations. In these terms, the natural gas launches as the most appropriated fuel to energy transition, keeping in sight its property of less polluting, reduced cost and high productivity. In Brazil, the energy matrix diversification model, predicting the growth of natural gas supply happened only at the beginning of XXI century, demanding a specific regulation mark so the private agents could also operate its industry and the costs of investments in specific assets could minimize. In the last four years, Maranhão became an important hub of natural gas production, benefiting from the opening of the industry to private agents. One of main questions of this research refers to the use of this input into the industry, having as reference three scenarios of princes into the internal energy market competition. To identify and forecast demand for natural gas into the selected sub-sectors is used as basis the GEE-matrix introduced by Braga (2015) and to measure the environmental impacts is used as reference the Montes (2000) method. Finally, it is proven that the insertion of natural gas into the state's industrial matrix is capable of generating economic, social and environmental gains for the population of Maranhão. / A importância do gás natural em termos mundiais é crescente, com destaques para sua eficiência e competitividade, a ponto de ser considerado o combustível da transição energética para uma matriz menos carbonizada. Quando se trata de transição energética, observa-se uma mudança no perfil de consumo de energia ao longo do desenvolvimento do capitalismo. O que era uma economia baseada em lenha e carvão vegetal, diante da escassez iminente dos insumos, passa a ser sustentada pelo carvão mineral, que por limitações tecnológicas cede espaço para o petróleo, talvez a fonte energética com maior força geopolítica presenciada até os dias atuais. A transição que deverá ocorrer nos próximos anos não será decorrente de escassez ou quaisquer limitações tecnológicas do petróleo, mas porque o mundo tornou-se mais exigente e está unindo esforços para que o nível de poluição, decorrente em grande parte das fontes energéticas fósseis, seja reduzido a fim de preservar o desenvolvimento futuro das nações. Nesses termos, o gás natural se lança como o combustível mais apropriado para a transição energética, tendo em vista sua característica de menos poluente, custo reduzido e elevado rendimento. No Brasil, o modelo de diversificação da matriz energética, prevendo-se o crescimento da oferta de gás natural ocorre somente no início do século XXI, exigindo um marco regulatório específico para que os agentes privados também passassem a operacionalizar a indústria e os custos decorrentes dos investimentos em ativos específicos fossem minimizados. O Maranhão passou figurar nos últimos quatro anos como polo importante de produção de gás natural, sendo beneficiado pela abertura da indústria aos agentes privados. Um dos principais questionamentos desta pesquisa se refere ao aproveitamento desse insumo no setor industrial, tendo como referência três cenários de preços na competição interenergética. Para identificar e prever a demanda de gás natural dos subsetores selecionados utiliza-se como base a metodologia GEE- Matriz, apresentada por Braga (2015) e para mensuração dos impactos ambientais, tomou-se como referência a metodologia de Montes (2000). Por fim, comprova-se que a inserção do gás natural na matriz industrial do Estado é capaz de gerar ganhos econômicos, sociais e ambientais para a população Maranhense.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:26:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marco Antonio de Almeida.pdf: 1348472 bytes, checksum: b377c0e57f793649150c8b6305fdb1ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-03-09 / The present work dealt with the influence of the collaborative planning on the performance of the companies of the food sector. For in such a way, a research was developed, involving two stages. The first stage was constituted of a research of exploratory nature, in a composed sample of seven companies, being that the data had been collected by means of interview in depth and treated by the content analysis. The results had evidenced the presence of the traditional components of the "4 Ps" marketing strategies and of the variable related to Resource Based View (RBV) as sources of competitive advantages. Of ownership of these results, increased of the variable of the model of Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards (VICS), it was broken for one second stage of research, of descriptive nature. It was used, for in such a way, a sample of 31 companies, chosen for convenience. The data had been collected by means of questionnaire, half-structuralized, consisting of open and closed questions, having as base the components or variable, identified in the first stage, as being those that the customers more valued. The components, divided in attributes, had been treated by the statistical methods, as it follows: descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis and (χ2). The results had evidenced that in the application of: a) the descriptive statistics, it had positive trend to infer itself that the collaborative planning influenced the performance of the searched companies; b) multivariate analysis, had possibility to identify two distinct groups, e; c) (χ2), was not possible to detect causal relation between collaborative planning and the others variables of results. Although the (χ2) has not shown robust evidences how much to the influence of the collaborative planning in the searched companies, the multivariate analysis indicated that the relation between collaborative planning and performance exists, despite the limitation of the size of the searched sample, confirming the hypothesis proposal. Finally, it is suggested, for continuation of the research, the magnifying of the sample of the companies in groups (industry/distributor/retail) of form to make possible the analysis for activity and to extend the sample of companies who are not of the food sector, in order to make possible comparisons. / O presente trabalho tratou da influência do planejamento colaborativo sobre o desempenho das empresas do setor de alimentos. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa envolvendo duas etapas. A primeira etapa foi constituída de uma pesquisa de natureza exploratória, em uma amostra composta de sete empresas, sendo que os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista em profundidade e tratados pela análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciaram a presença dos componentes tradicionais das estratégias de marketing "4 Ps" e das variáveis relacionados ao Resource Based View (RBV) como fontes de vantagens competitivas. De posse desses resultados, acrescidos das variáveis oriundas do modelo do Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards (VICS), partiu-se para uma segunda etapa de pesquisa, de natureza descritiva. Utilizou-se, para tanto, uma amostra de 31 empresas, escolhida por conveniência. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, semiestruturado, constituído de questões abertas e fechadas, tendo como base os componentes ou variáveis, identificados na primeira etapa, como sendo aqueles que os clientes mais valorizavam. Os componentes, desmembrados em atributos, foram tratados pelos métodos estatísticos, conforme segue: estatística descritiva, análise discriminante e Chi-Quadrado (χ2). Os resultados evidenciaram que na aplicação da: a) estatística descritiva, houve tendência positiva para se inferir que o planejamento colaborativo influenciou o desempenho das empresas pesquisadas; b) análise discriminante, houve possibilidade de identificar dois grupos distintos, e; c) Chi-Quadrado (χ2), não foi possível detectar nenhuma relação causal entre planejamento colaborativo e as demais variáveis de resultados. Embora o teste Chi-Quadrado (χ2) não tenha mostrado evidências robustas quanto à influência do planejamento colaborativo nas empresas pesquisadas, a análise discriminante indicou que a relação entre planejamento colaborativo e desempenho existe, apesar da limitação do tamanho da amostra pesquisada, confirmando a hipótese proposta. Por fim, sugere-se, para prosseguimento da pesquisa, a ampliação da amostra das empresas em grupos (indústria/atacado/varejo) de forma a possibilitar a análise por atividade e ampliar a amostra de empresas que não sejam do setor de alimentos, a fim de possibilitar comparações.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:36:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva, Marildo Domingos.pdf: 4365984 bytes, checksum: 16ff3f37997272dee78ad1533c8caa81 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-09 / The importance of the triad: Information Science Information Systems and Information and Communication Technology in defining competitive strategies of the companies is a fact on the economical environment in the current days. This triad, along with Michael Porter's five competitive forces can create a significant difference during the stages of establishment and development or even cause the extinction of products and companies. We live in an Information Age which means that a focus on the information has become more and more important. Having the information is valuable to the companies. However knowing how to select, classify and store information besides creating agile mechanisms in order to recover it is something that can distinguish one company from another. The issue is about the tools and systems used capable of refining the information without losing its essence and mainly to spread it correctly in the right moment and to the right person. This research analysis the whole process from receiving to spreading the information connecting it with the companies competitive politics and also seeks to present an interface of its use sub utilization by management of furniture factories in Votuporanga a city in the state of S?o Paulo, Brasil / A import?ncia da tr?ade Ci?ncia da Informa??o, Sistemas de Informa??o e Tecnologia da Informa??o e Comunica??o na defini??o de estrat?gias competitivas empresariais ? fato no moderno ambiente econ?mico global. Esse conjunto, aliado ?s cinco for?as competitivas de Michael Porter, pode criar diferenciais determinantes para os est?gios de implanta??o, desenvolvimento ou mesmo de extin??o de produtos e empresas. As organiza??es vivem hoje a Era da Informa??o, fator que torna ainda mais reluzente o enfoque dado ? informa??o. No entanto, possuir informa??o ? algo de valor, mas ao selecion?-la, classific?-la, armazen?-Ia e ao criar mecanismos ?geis para recuper?-Ia, agrega-se um valor substancial, capaz de distinguir uma empresa da outra. O questionamento que se faz ? sobre as ferramentas e os sistemas utilizados, capazes de lapidar a informa??o, sem perder a sua ess?ncia e principalmente de difundi-Ia na forma, no momento e para a pessoa correta. Assim, o presente trabalho traz uma an?lise de todo o processo, que vai da capta??o ? divulga??o da informa??o, interligando-os ?s pol?ticas competitivas empresariais e busca tamb?m, apresentar uma interface de sua utiliza??o - ou subutiliza??o - pelo segmento empresarial das ind?strias moveleiras da regi?o de Votuporanga.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T16:04:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao versao final.pdf: 1766490 bytes, checksum: 3f05d7bafa35307ee343b73770f367f8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-07 / This thesis aims to analyze the current condition of competitiveness and sustainability of soybean farmers in the West and Southwest of Paraná. The research methodology was descriptive and documentary nature, divided into an analysis of soy-related documents in Brazil, Parana and the United States, and implementation of the MAP model - Matrix of Public Policy. In the second part, was interviewed a sample represented by 42 farmers involved in soybean production and marketing processes. With a sample intentional, sectional with data collected with visits to farms. A questionnaire whose answers were analyzed by averaging Harmonic frequencies as data collection instrument was used. The results in terms of competitiveness, the MAP analysis, pointed out that soy is competitive and has room for expansion of productivity in the state, and the current profitability was achieved thanks to the bonus, represented by the difference of the internal and external exchange rate. Although it has been shown that soybean farmers have a reduction in profitability arising logistics costs and the impact represented by taxes indirectly in production. What about the interview, the social dimension showed the best results, being the most relevant to soybean producer. But as the weaknesses, the information provided shows a low level of compliance with some aspects of labor law and the non-use of protective equipment when using machinery and implements. Also a portion of the soybean farmers believe that soy did not maintain profitability over the years, despite the increase in productivity of crops in the past decade / A presente dissertação procurou analisar a condição atual de competitividade e sustentabilidade dos sojicultores do Oeste e Sudoeste do Paraná. A metodologia de pesquisa foi de natureza descritiva e documental, dividida em uma análise dos documentos relacionados à soja no Brasil, no Paraná e nos Estados Unidos, e aplicação do modelo MAP Matriz de Políticas Públicas. Na segunda parte, foi entrevistada uma amostra representada por 42 agricultores envolvidos nos processos de produção e comercialização da soja. Com uma amostra do tipo intencional, seccional com os dados coletados com visitas às propriedades rurais. Como instrumento de coleta de dados foi utilizado um questionário fechado, cujas respostas foram analisadas através da média Harmônica das frequências. Os resultados quanto à competitividade, análise do MAP, apontou que a soja é competitiva e possui espaço para expansão da produtividade no Estado, e a lucratividade atual foi conseguida graças ao bônus, representado pela diferença da taxa cambial interna e externa. Ainda foi demonstrado que os sojicultores têm uma redução em sua lucratividade advinda dos custos logísticos e ao impacto representado pelos tributos incidentes de forma indireta na produção. E com relação à entrevista, a dimensão social foi a que apresentou melhor resultado, sendo a mais relevante ao sojicultor. Porém, quanto aos pontos fracos, as informações fornecidas demonstram um baixo nível de cumprimento de alguns aspectos da legislação trabalhista e a não utilização de equipamentos de proteção quando uso de máquinas e implementos. Também uma parcela dos sojicultores acredita que a soja não manteve a lucratividade ao longo dos anos, apesar do aumento da produtividade das safras nos últimos dez anos

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T16:05:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ariane.pdf: 3732159 bytes, checksum: 8c23997cdbdd2fa4cf3d8b5cc970076c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-09 / The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of organizational learning and intellectual capital on competitiveness and business mortality of organizations participating in the Bom Negócio Paraná Program. The importance of this study is related to the theoretical, empirical and social contributions it brings to the scientific community and society. The study is positivist; with quantitative and descriptive approach and was conducted through desk research and a survey applied to a sample of 266 entrepreneurs with a response rate of 60% of the sample enabled by the nucleus of Cascavel. The questionnaire was composed of indicators from three different authors: Steil (2002), Bontis (1999) and Gold, Malhotra e Segars (2001). To examine the hypothesis of this study and validity of the model, it was adopted the Partial Least Square PLS statistical analysis proposed by Wold (1966), based on the methodology of Dal Vesco, Popik e Beuren (2012). In general, the results showed that the elements of organizational learning when working in isolation are not capable of generating competitive advantage or reducing business mortality rates. Regarding the intellectual capital, when the company invests in any one of its elements it can contribute to increase competitiveness, although the elements of intellectual capital by themselves are not enough to cause business death. This research also found that business competitiveness affects negatively business mortality. By the results of the analysis of the variables relationships considered in this study, it was concluded that the results are in accordance with the low business mortality rate after PBNP capacitation of entrepreneurs. As suggestions for future work, we suggest the application of this model in other PBNP centres in the state of Paraná, and the comparison of results obtained by this model between classes trained in person and via distance mode. / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo verificar a influência da Aprendizagem Organizacional e do Capital Intelectual na competitividade e na mortalidade das empresas participantes do Programa Bom Negócio Paraná. A importância deste estudo está relacionada às contribuições teóricas, empíricas e sociais. A pesquisa de caráter positivista, com abordagem quantitativa e cunho descritivo foi realizada por meio de pesquisa documental e uma survey, em uma amostra de 266 empresários, e uma taxa de resposta de 60% da amostragem dos capacitados pelo núcleo de Cascavel. Aplicou-se aos respondentes um questionário composto pelos indicadores provenientes do Modelo de Mensuração de Aprendizagem Organizacional de Steil (2002), do Modelo de Mensuração do Capital Intelectual de Bontis (1997) e do Modelo de Mensuração da Competitividade Empresarial de Gold, Malhotra e Segars (2001). Para analisar as hipóteses deste estudo e validade do modelo elaborado, adotou-se a análise estatística proposta por Wold (1966), Partial Least Square PLS com a metodologia Dal Vesco, Popik e Beuren (2012). De maneira geral, os resultados demonstraram que os elementos de aprendizagem organizacional, quando trabalhado de maneira isolada, não são capazes de gerar vantagem competitiva ou reduzir a mortalidade empresarial. Em relação ao capital intelectual, o investimento em qualquer um de seus elementos, em qualquer que seja, contribui para a competitividade empresarial, porém, isoladamente, esses não são suficientes para causar mortalidade empresarial. Constatou-se também que, a competitividade reage de maneira negativa à mortalidade empresarial. Conclui-se que, o resultado das análises das interações das variáveis consideradas pelo presente estudo, está em conformidade com o baixo índice de mortalidade das empresas participantes do PBNP após a capacitação. Como sugestões para trabalhos futuros, sugere-se a aplicação deste modelo às demais unidades do PBNP espalhadas pelo Paraná, e a comparação dos resultados obtidos por esse modelo entre as turmas capacitadas presencialmente e via modalidade a distância.

Este trabalho tem como principal objetivo o de comparar os programas de reciclagem de resíduos sólidos da USP campus São Carlos e da UFSCar campus São Carlos através da logística reversa e da gestão do conhecimento. A principal razão para o desenvolvimento do trabalho é identificar lacunas no fluxo de conhecimento dos programas e, de posse dos dados, sugerir melhorias nesse fluxo. O método consiste em caracterizar os programas desde sua organização até a execução do trabalho e, posteriormente, através dos dados dos questionários aplicados, identificar as possíveis lacunas no fluxo do conhecimento nos programas. As principais conclusões do presente trabalho é que ambos os programas apresentam similaridades nos processos reversos de reintrodução à cadeia produtiva dos resíduos gerados e que as lacunas existentes no fluxo de conhecimento podem prejudicar o andamento dos programas. Os métodos apresentados servem de incentivo e alerta para outros programas de reciclagem de universidades do país e para programas internos de empresas que não priorizam o gerenciamento do fluxo do conhecimento em suas instituições. / The main aim oh this work is to compare the recycling programs of USP campus São Carlos and UFSCar campus São Carlos using the concepts of the reverse logistics and knowledge management. The principal reason for the development of this work is to identify the gaps in the knowledge flow of the programs and, with the data, make suggestions to improve de knowledge flow. The method consists in characterize the programs since their organization until the work execution and, after that, with the data of the questionnaires, try to identify the gaps in the knowledge flow in the programs. The main conclusions of this work are that both programs show similarities in their reverse processes of reintroduction to the productive chain of the generated solid waste and that the gaps in the knowledge flow can be harmful to the programs. The presented methods serve as incentive and alert for other recycling programs of universities of the country and for internal programs of companies that not prioritize the management of the knowledge flow.

Depuis l’application de la politique de Réforme et d’Ouverture, la Chine remporte un grand succès pour attirer les investissements étrangers. Elle est devenue le troisième pays investisseur. Ses IDE sont distribués dans la plupart des pays et régions du monde et leur distribution sectorielle est de plus en plus élargie. Il existe divers facteurs décisifs de l’internationalisation des entreprises chinoises, tels que la croissance économique chinoise, la stratégie d’intégration de l’entreprise, la recherche du marché, de la technologie et des autres actifs créatifs. Les entreprises chinoises possèdent leurs propres avantages concurrentiels sur le marché international, tels que les technologies, des ressources issues du pays mère. Les entreprises chinoises effectuent leur choix de modèles d’internationalisation en fonction de leurs stratégies, de leurs stades de développement, de leurs motivations et de leurs compétences d’organisation internationale. Ces différentes problématiques sont évoqués et analysés à travers d’une étude de cas sur YTO France. / Since the implementation of the policy of reform and opening, China has a great success in attracting foreign investment. It has become the third largest investor country. Chinese FDI are distributed in most of the world's countries and regions. The sectorial distribution is increasingly expanded. There are various decisive factors of the internationalization of Chinese enterprises, as China's economic growth, the development strategy and overall business integration, the search for new markets, for creative assets, etc. The Chinese companies have their own competitive advantages, such as the technologies, the resources from the origin country. Chinese companies do their choices of internationalization models based on their strategies, their stages of development, their motivations and their international organization skills. The different problems are shown and analyzed by a case study of YTO France.

In central North Carolina, small and medium-sized discount retailers have had a high failure rate, which is troubling considering that small businesses create jobs and drive successful innovation that is critical for economic development. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore experiences regarding successful innovation strategies of 20 discount retail industry owners and general managers located in central North Carolina. This study was grounded in Rogers`s diffusion of innovations conceptual framework and Christensen`s disruptive innovation theory. Data collection occurred through semistructured face-to-face interviews with owners and general managers of discount retail industry. Data analysis strategies included a modified Van Kaam method to identify essential ideas and coded data into categories of relevant themes. Three prominent themes emerged during data analysis: (a) Discount retailers supported innovation, (b) innovation was the source of economic growth for these retailers, and (c) discount retailers said they need innovation for competitive positioning. The results may help strengthen innovation strategies of local discount retail businesses, which could produce greater profitability and growth. Further, social change implications include the potential to provide business owners with new ideas, leading to increases in tax revenues, which could help local governments provide better services in their communities.

The productivity of Trinidad and Tobago's public sector workplaces is related to their absorptive capacity for technological adoption. Guided by the technology acceptance model, which suggests that individuals' and institutions' use of technology increases in relation to perceived ease of use and apparent value, this case study explored how Trinidad and Tobago used information and communications technology from 2001 - 2010 to improve public sector workplace productivity. Study data were collected from 22 individual interviews with senior executives from the government of Trinidad and Tobago, members of the e-business roundtable, and local industry experts, and from reviewing the archives of the Ministry of Public Administration and Information. The data were analyzed using keyword frequency comparison, coding techniques, and cluster analysis. The resulting themes include e-legislation, e-infrastructure, e-readiness, government e-services, and e-business. The study findings showed that Trinidad and Tobago's technology agenda centered primarily on connecting government ministries and agencies. It also ushered in a period of telecommunication liberalization, which provided sustainable and cost effective options for government, citizens, and businesses to access broadband technology services. The results of the study showed that this access to low-costs broadband technology provides a platform for digital inclusion by improving workplace productivity, providing access to additional opportunities for education via an online platform, and increasing employment opportunities.