Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:50:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6417.pdf: 3427896 bytes, checksum: eb2bc6774c0f88b25959c63a85b754ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-30 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Achieving resilience along the supply chain in today's turbulent business environment requires efforts from both internal and external elements of the company. Because Procurement is currently considered a boundary spanning function, it has become a primary facilitator in helping to create supply chain resilience. The purpose of this study is therefore to understand the role of Procurement in managing the intra- and inter-organisational issues needed to create supply chain resilience. To do so, a literature review was developed by following the systematic literature review method in which intra- and inter-organisational issues that could impact supply chain resilience were identified. These issues were grouped into eight general topics: knowledge acquired, inventory, product and technology for intraorganisational issues; and strategic sourcing, supply chain design, transportation and risk for inter-organisational issues. Dynamic capability (DC) view was also reviewed to offer a deeper analysis and fresh perspective on the empirical results. A multiple case study was conducted in four focal companies from different sectors, including two key suppliers from each one. After all interviews were transcribed, the data was added to the QDA Miner software in order to conduct a content analysis of within-cases and, subsequently, cross-case analysis. Following the theory elaboration defined by Ketokivi and Choi (2014), propositions were developed based on the empirical and theoretical findings through the rationale of the dynamic capability view. As a result, procurement structure and external inventory were found as additional organisational issues, and a new rationale is proposed to explain how Procurement can create supply chain resilience through dynamically managing and controlling the identified organisational issues. The primary theoretical contribution of this research is applying a new perspective to the issue of resilience. The development of these capabilities may help Procurement managers to better cope with current critical supply disruptions and hence help to achieve company survival and competitiveness. / A busca pela resiliência nas cadeias de suprimentos, hoje inseridas em ambientes cada vez mais dinâmicos, requer esforços tanto internos quanto externos às empresas. Como grande parte do risco de ruptura da cadeia de suprimentos se encontra à montante da empresa focal, Compras tem se tornado uma função crítica; principalmente por ser responsável pela solução de conflitos e problemas entre clientes internos e fornecedores. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre como Compras gerencia esses recursos de forma a lidar com rupturas de suprimentos. O objetivo deste estudo é compreender o papel de Compras na gestão de fatores (internos e externos), de modo a criar resiliência da cadeia de suprimentos. Para tanto, uma revisão teórica foi desenvolvida por meio do método de revisão sistemática da literatura. Neste, fatores internos e externos que podem impactar a resiliência na cadeia de suprimentos foram identificados e agrupados em oito pontos gerais: conhecimento adquirido, estoque interno, produto e tecnologia para pontos internos; e estratégia de suprimentos, configuração da cadeia, transporte e risco para pontos externos. Uma revisão sobre a teoria das capacidades dinâmicas foi também realizada, com intuito de oferecer uma análise mais aprofundada dos resultados obtidos na pesquisa empírica. De forma a completar a compreensão destes pontos, um estudo multicaso foi realizado em quatro empresas de diferentes setores, além de incluir dois fornecedores de cada empresa. Após a transcrição de todas as entrevistas, estas foram inseridas no software QDA Miner para a realização da análise de conteúdo caso a caso e intercasos. Seguindo a orientação de Ketokivi e Choi (2014), foram desenvolvidas proposições a partir da revisão bibliográfica e da análise dos dados empíricos dentro do contexto da teoria de capacidades dinâmicas. Observou-se que a estrutura de Compras e a presença de estoque externo foram apontadas como fatores adicionais. É apresentada também uma nova lógica para explicar como Compras pode criar resiliência na cadeia de suprimentos por meio de uma gestão dinâmica dos pontos-chave identificados sob a lente teórica. Tal resultado é caracterizado como principal contribuição teórica deste estudo. Em termos gerenciais, o desenvolvimento destas capacidades podem ajudar gerentes de Compras a reagirem às rupturas críticas de suprimentos, garantindo a competitividade e a sobrevivência da empresa.

How do firms tend to their current viability while remaining competitive in the long-term? This question lays out the basis for this thesis by highlighting their conflicting logics through the concept of organizational ambidexterity. Literature makes a distinction between competing in mature markets and existing technologies (exploitation) versus new markets and new technologies (exploration). The preponderance of studies shows that, as firms grow larger, they tend to form core rigidities in their culture, structure and processes that hamper their efforts to adapt to the changing environment. By overemphasizing exploitative activities, future challenges or opportunities remain unexplored which can have a devastating effect in the event of radical, external changes. The cases of Nokia and Kodak should serve as cautionary tales in this regard. The automotive industry is currently undergoing a transition to electric cars. We conduct a case study at Volvo Cars from a senior leadership perspective, to illustrate the importance of exploration and how it can be legitimized during an industry transformation. Our work points to three major findings. First, communicating the importance of the transformation with the rest of the organization is imperative to creating goal alignment. Secondly, interorganizational collaboration in R&D helps Volvo to tap into knowledge that resides outside the organization and thereby increasing the chances of a successful transition to electric cars. Thirdly, agile management contributes to knowledge diffusion and is a powerful tool to counter organizational inertia by adding to firms’ speed and responsiveness, making them act more similarly to smaller, entrepreneurial firms.

[pt] Transição energética é um fenômeno global que vem sendo acelerado pela necessidade de combate à mudança climática, com fortes condicionantes locais. No centro deste processo estão as empresas de petróleo e gás, que precisam definir como contribuirão no redesenho do setor energético. O Brasil possui uma matriz energética das mais limpas e um grande potencial para desenvolver novos modelos de negócio com base nas energias renováveis, especialmente biocombustíveis, solar e eólica. Por outro lado, o Pré-sal tem o potencial de transformar o Brasil numa província exportadora de Petróleo, que está em pleno crescimento, além de possuir uma demanda interna reprimida, para desenvolver um novo mercado local de gás. Neste contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo identificar quais estratégias e os modelos de negócio que estão sendo adotados pelas empresas de Petróleo e Gás, no contexto da Transição Energética, no Brasil. Para alcançar esse objetivo, utilizou-se uma abordagem qualitativa, através da análise de publicações setoriais e de relatórios empresariais, bem como de entrevistas com especialistas e gestores das empresas do setor. Esta abordagem permitiu identificar quatro tipos de estratégias e cinco modelos de negócios que estão sendo adotados localmente. O estudo permite ampliar a visão dos resultados e do valor que vem sendo alcançado pelos novos modelos de negócios com base nas energias renováveis, contrariando o senso comum de que eles são sempre deficitários. O estudo conclui evidenciando que os negócios em energias renováveis já são uma realidade, e que a transição energética local, pode se beneficiar da sinergia entre a indústria de petróleo e gás e a diversificação para as energias renováveis, sendo necessário para isso, um maior planejamento integrado entre os diversos setores envolvidos. / [en] Energy transition is a global phenomenon that has been accelerated by the need to combat climate change, with strong local conditions. At the center of this process are oil and gas companies, which need to define how they will contribute to the redesign of the energy sector. Brazil has one of the cleanest energy matrices and a great potential to develop new business models based on renewable energies, especially biofuels, solar and wind. On the other hand, the pre-salt has the potential to transform Brazil into an oil exporting province, which is in full growth, in addition to having a repressed domestic demand, to develop a new local gas market. In this context, this study aimed to identify which strategies and business models are being adopted by the Oil and Gas companies, in the context of the Energy Transition, in Brazil. To achieve this objective, a qualitative approach was used, through the analysis of sectorial publications and business reports, as well as interviews with specialists and managers of companies in the sector. This approach allowed us to identify four types of strategies and five business models that are being adopted locally. The study allows to broaden of the results vision and the value that has been achieved by the new business models based on renewable energies, contradicting the common sense that they are always in deficit. The study concludes by showing that the renewable energy business is already a reality, and that the local energy transition can benefit from the synergy between the oil and gas industry and the diversification towards renewable energies, being necessary for this, a greater integrated planning between the various sectors involved.

This thesis draws on the framework of dynamic capability (DC) in an effort to make sense of how small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) use mobile apps in Lagos, Nigeria. There exists significant knowledge regarding the application of the DC framework in large firms but its application in smaller organisations has scarcely been researched. The knowledge of how SMEs use mobile apps is important at this time because it could help these SMEs compete favourably, despite unpredictable environments. Based on pragmatic philosophy and a mixed-methods research approach, the research was conducted in two phases. The first phase of the research used qualitative methods to identify the absorptive, adaptive and innovative capabilities of SMEs in Lagos with a view to discover the extent to which mobile apps are used as enablers and/or drivers of these capabilities. The findings from 20 SMEs identified 15 DC constructs whose impact on SMEs could be enhanced using appropriated mobile apps. The SMEs manifest adaptive capabilities, mainly through using appropriated mobile apps. The SMEs manifest adaptive capabilities, mainly through customer feedback and referrals, and demonstrate absorptive capabilities through the repackaging and repricing of their goods and/or service offerings. The innovative capabilities of SMEs became evident through the imitation and adaptation of offerings. The second phase of this research surveyed 1 162 SMEs in Lagos in an effort to validate the identified constructs through quantitative methods. Descriptive statistics of survey responses affirm the use of mobile apps by SMEs and it also indicated the underutilisation of mobile apps as a DC enabler. Further analysis, using covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), explored the fitness of a conceptual SME model. The model assembled seven latent variables namely: mobile app usage, adaptive capability, absorptive capability, innovative capability, opportunity sensing ability, opportunity shaping ability and opportunity seizing ability. Subsequently, 15 hypotheses aimed at understanding the relationships between the variables were developed. The findings from the quantitative analysis revealed that mobile app usage increases the adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities of SMEs. The results failed to establish a direct relationship between mobile app usage and opportunity sensing, shaping and seizing abilities. Furthermore, the use of the adaptive capability in taking advantage of opportunities could not be generalised in SMEs’ context. The research findings imply the existence of an untapped potential as far as the use of mobile apps by SMEs in Lagos is concerned. The findings suggest that SMEs in Lagos respond to opportunities by becoming innovative and they seldom exhibit innovation in order to create opportunities. Based on the heterogeneous nature of SMEs, it is difficult to suggest a clear-cut narrative as to how all SMEs should employ mobile apps to create and maximise opportunities. However, mobile apps could induce creativity when developed and applied to the contextual requirements of SMEs. The outcome of this research reflects a multidisciplined research experience. The study contributed to IS through the creation of a model for investigating mobile app usage by organisations from a DC perspective. The conceptual model designed in this study could be adapted to investigate the way in which mobile app usage influences organisations in other contexts. The study contributed to the area of Information Systems by revealing the application of the DC framework to SMEs in contrast to the usual practice of researching DC with large organisations in mind. This research work suggests implicit ways of enhancing SMEs which could aid policy makers. This study was limited in that it gathered data from SMEs in Lagos alone as Lagos represents the commercial centre of Nigeria. Considerations for future research include the comparison of DC of large and small organisations in Lagos to examine if similarities and/or contrasts exist. Furthermore, due to the evasive and heterogeneous nature of SMEs, it would be beneficial to delimit future research on SMEs along specific domains of interest. / Iqoqa Lolu cwaningo lususelwa ohlakeni lokuthiwa ngamandla aphilayo (dynamic capability [DC]) emzameni wokuba umuntu aqonde ukuthi amabhizinisi amancane namaphakathi (ama-SME) awasebenzisa kanjani ama-apps ahanjiswayo eLagos, eNigeria. Lolu lwazi lubalulekile ngoba lungasiza la mabhizinisi ukuba ancintisane namanye ngokunempumelelo, noma izimo akuzo wona zingaqondakali kahle. Ucwaningo lwenziwa ngezigaba ezimbili. Isigaba sokuqala sahlonza ama-DC ama-SMSE eLagos, ngenhloso yokuthola ukuthi ngabe ama-apps ahanjiswayo asetshenziswa kangakanani ukukhuthaza kanye/noma ukuqhubela phambili la mandla aphilayo. Okwatholakala kuma-SME angama-20 kwaba ukuhlonzwa kwezinhlelo zama-DC ithonya lazo kuma-SME elalingase liphakame ngokusebenzisa ama-apps ahanjiswayo afanele. Ama-SME afakazela ama-DC ikakhulu ngokushiwo ngamakhasimende nalabo abathintiwe, nokuba kubonakale ngokuba impahla ekhishwayo ipakishwe kabusha, ifakelwe intengo entsha, noma kube yimpahla engukulingisa eyokuqala noma ilungiswe ifane neyokuqala. Ibanga lesibili lalolu cwaningo lwahlola ama-SME ayi-1 162 eLagos ukuzama ukuqinisekisa ngezinga lezinhlaka ezihlonziweyo. Izimpendulo ezavezwa ucwaningo zakwesekela ukusetshenziswa ngama-SME kwama-apps ahanjiswayo, zakhomba nokuthi awasetshenziswa ngokugcwele ama-apps ahanjiswayo njengokunika i-DC amandla. Okunye ukuhlaziya kwakhombiisa ukuthi ukusebenzisa ama-apps ahanjiswayo kwakungasiza ama-SME ngokwandisa amathuba awo. Nokho phela ukusebenzisa amathuba avelayo kwakungeke kwenzeke yonke indawo kuma-SME. Okuvezwa ucwaningo kukhombisa ukuthi kukhona ukusizakala okukhulu okungakafinyelelwa kukho mayelana nokusetshenziswa ngama-SME kwama-apps ahanjiswayo eLagos. Ucwaningo luphonsa itshe esivivaneni enkundleni yezinhlelo zokusebenza ngezolwazi ngokwembula ukusetshenziswa kohlaka lwe-DC kuma-SME uma kuqhathaniswa ngokuphambene nalokhu, okungukucwaninga okwejwayelekile nge-DC ezinhlanganweni ezinkulu. Lolu cwaningo luveza izindlela ezingekho obala zokuthuthukisa ama-SME, okungaba usizo kulabo ababhekene nokusungula imigomo yezwe. / School of Computing / Ph. D. (Information Systems)