It is possible for firms to survive within declining industries. However, growth through internationalization within this stage of an industry’s life-cycle has not been sufficiently explored in the past. As SMEs supposedly face many barriers during this process, the purpose of this thesis is to research the internationalization of SMEs within declining industries, with a focus on finding what is the biggest challenge to their internationalization. A multiple-case study and semi-structured interviews were used to explore internationalization in a declining industry, the watch industry. A theoretical framework was built and compared to both the primary and the secondary data collected throughout this study. The analysis shows that finding the right distributor is the biggest challenge throughout SMEs’ internationalization. It also finds trade shows related to declining industries not to be effective promotion tools for firms from this industry. Finally, this thesis finds smartwatches not to be perceived as a threat by traditional watch brands, due to the different values associated to these products.

El desempeño del PBI de Construcción ha sostenido un crecimiento significativo entre los años 2015 y 2017, llegando a superar el PBI Global con una proporción de 5 a 1. Dentro de este rubro, se encuentra el sector ladrillero que paralelamente incrementa su demanda debido a ser uno de los principales materiales utilizados en la construcción. La presente investigación engloba el estudio de pymes ladrillera que presentan una baja productividad, afectando su rentabilidad y participación en el mercado. El principal problema del proceso fue identificado utilizando como referencia estudios pasados y diagnósticos a todo el proceso productivo, a través de la aplicación de herramientas de ingeniería industrial (VSM, DAP, DR) en una empresa del sector. A partir de este análisis, se identifica que el problema es el alto nivel de desperdicios habiendo cuatro mudas presentes en el proceso: almacenamiento, tiempo de espera, reprocesos y productos terminados defectuosos. El modelo de solución de basa en el impacto a cada causa raíz identificado del problema, reforzándose en la filosofía Lean Manufacturing y empleando técnicas como 5S, SMED, TPM, Poka Yoke, Jidoka y estandarización del método de trabajo. Este modelo es validado a través de un piloto y una simulación presentando resultados comparables del proyecto propuesto. / The performance of the Construction GDP has sustained significant growth between 2015 and 2017, exceeding the Global GDP with a ratio of 5 to 1. Within this area, there is the brick sector that in parallel increases its demand due to being One of the main materials used in construction. This research encompasses the study of brick SMEs that have low productivity, affecting their profitability and market share. The main problem of the process was identified using as reference past studies and diagnoses to the entire production process, through the application of industrial engineering tools (VSM, DAP, DR) in a company in the sector. From this analysis, it is identified that the problem is the high level of waste, with four molts present in the process: storage, waiting time, reprocesses and defective finished products. The solution model is based on the impact on each identified root cause of the problem, being reinforced in the Lean Manufacturing philosophy and using techniques such as 5S, SMED, TPM, Poka Yoke, Jidoka and standardization of the working method. This model is validated through a pilot and a simulation presenting comparable results of the proposed project. / Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesional

This report explains how an SMES is operated and how SMES systems could be used to increase the efficiency of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the Future Circular Collider (FCC) as well as to reduce the very high power needs of a future Muon Collider (MC). The performance of SMES for other applications and late developments of the technique will also be described.

Object of the thesis is to define differences in financial reporting according to the Czech Accounting Standards and to the standard file International Financial Reporting Standards and to the International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Entities and cost accounting and statement of benefits of transition to financial reporting according to the International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Entities.

Diplomová práca popisuje exportnú konkurencieschopnosť malých a stredných podnikov v Európskej Únii, faktory ovplyvňujúce ich výkonnosť a rozhodovanie ohľadne exportných aktivít. Použitie relevantnej literatúry a štúdií umožnuje poskytnúť kritický pohľad na danú problematiku. Na konci práce sú navhrnuté odporúčania na zlepšenie a záver.

The purpose of the study was to investigate how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in local procurement create supply chain value. The study investigated supply chain value creation (SCVC) by testing three initiators of SCVC: entrepreneurial competencies; supply chain collaboration; and supply chain trust as well as the moderation effects of trust on SCVC. Feedback from a cross-sectional survey of 294 respondents in the construction, furniture and fitting, food processing and agricultural sectors was utilized to test hypothesized relationships. The study employed factor analysis and structural equation modelling to conduct analysis. The unit of analysis was an SME and level of analysis was the SME owner-manager. The results show that building value-driven supply chains in Uganda’s local procurement context requires SME owner-managers to integrate competencies, share information with customers, communicate collaboratively with suppliers and build an optimal level of trust. Supply chain trust is highly regarded in facilitating the exchange of resources within local communities but the owner-managers’ perspective – which differs in terms of how they view customers and suppliers – alters how managers assess trusted customers and suppliers, and what different tactics they may employ in building trust in customer, as opposed to supplier, relationships. The research findings demonstrate how managers, who trust customers on the basis of transparency and reliability, by contrast trust suppliers on the basis of operational flexibility, fairness and market credibility. The study contributes to existing knowledge by separating out and defining the key competencies most important in the management of local SME supply chains: opportunity competence and commitment competence. These are what the study has named Entrepreneurial Supply Chain Value-creating Competences (ESCVC). In addition, the study illuminates how trust increases the value suppliers create for the focal firm. Finally, by demonstrating that cost and goal congruence are not key value drivers, the research provides compelling evidence for why managers should instead focus on developing competencies, facilitating the flow of information and building trust in order to optimally benefit from local supply chains. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / PhD / Unrestricted

As firms intend on entering low-income markets as a result of stagnation in developed economies, they face numerous organisational barriers within their firms and external that hinder entry and ensure continued success in these markets. In order to successfully serve these BoP consumers in emerging markets, new innovative business models are required; however there are entities that are currently serving the BoP successfully – these are Small and Medium Enterprises.The purpose of this study was to deepen our understanding of why small and medium sized businesses have been successful in low-income markets through an understanding of their business models and their competitive advantages over MNCs.The objective of this report, hence, was to explore the business models for firms that are currently serving the BoP successfully and what their competitive advantages are as compared to their MNC counterparts within the South African context. Using the grounded theory approach of building theory from data that offers a new perspective on the BoP for MNCs a framework resulted and was theorized from the data from interviews with owners of SMEs in the FMCG manufacturing domain. The BoP Blueprint is a framework that describes elements of business models of SMEs in the context of SME Fundamentals – basic business fundamentals and the Customer Core – focus on the customer. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with owners from 11 different companies to test the research questions that were derived from the literature.As a result of the grounded theory, no unique or innovative business models were discovered that made these SMEs successful contrary to the literature and the essence of the findings is that MNCs need to focus on fundamental business practises with the customer as the centre of their decisions when entering BoP markets. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The need for this research stemmed from the fact that most of what we know about the internationalisation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) emerges from developed countries; little is known about internationalisation of African SMEs or, in particular, South African SMEs. The impact of globalisation, trade liberalisation, and technology advancement on SMEs is that they face increased competition right on their doorstep. To remain in existence and sustain their growth, SMEs are concertedly seeking opportunities in foreign markets. In order for SMEs to succeed and exploit international opportunities, they develop and rely on networks to compensate for their liability of foreignness, as well as their lack of resources in terms of finance, marketing, human capital, reputation, and technology.This research investigated the effect of resource acquisition networks on the internationalisation of small and medium enterprises. The study involved SMEs who had internationalised their operations. Data were collected through unstructured interviews in Phase One and semistructured interviews in Phase Two of this research study, with SME owners and their managers who were responsible for international operations. The key focus was the three research propositions dealing with networks, which focused on three network characteristics: network diversity, network density, and network size.The findings show that the South African SME internationalisation process is highly influenced by resource acquisition networks. SMEs use their networks to exploit international opportunities by accessing resources that they lack internally. A highly diversified and highly connected network is significant to the SMEs’ opportunity identification of and access to resources, while the size of the network is quite important. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Les recherches en Management/Organisation ont quelque peu mis de côté la Perspective Temporelle ou PT (selon Lewin, la somme des points de vue individuels à un moment donné sur le passé et le futur psychologique). Cette Thèse étudie comment le(la) dirigeant(e) et sa PME agissent pour générer de la croissance en se focalisant sur la PT. Les questionnaires et les entretiens avec les 22 dirigeant(e)s d’entreprises (effectif : 10-49 salariés) permettent la mise au jour de leurs PT mais aussi des liens entre les différentes composantes du cadre conceptuel (ex : l’orientation entrepreneuriale de la firme, la vigilance individuelle) et d’autres éléments importants (ex : les biais cognitifs). La construction et les comparaisons des 22 cartes cognitives permettent également la mise au jour des différentes trajectoires de croissance et le questionnement de « l’équilibre » de la PT comme critère « discriminant ». Enfin, un modèle à tester et des directions de recherche sont proposés. / Organization and Management studies have somewhat neglected Time Perspective (TP), which is, according to Lewin, the sum of the individual’s viewpoints of his psychological past and future existing at a given time. This dissertation examines how small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner-managers and their firms generate growth, with a focus on TP. Questionnaires and qualitative interviews with 22 SME owners (10‒49 employees) revealed individual TPs and links among diverse components of the conceptual framework (e.g., alertness, entrepreneurial orientation) and other important factors (e.g., cognitive biases). The 22 cognitive maps also showed several firm growth trajectories and raised questions about the “balanced” TP as a discriminating criterion. Last, a model and directions for future research are proposed.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / In this mini-thesis, I explore what impact a particular project in Indonesia on strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has on economic development. I argue, firstly that the project makes a positive contribution to development and secondly that an approach which combines training programs and technical assistance with credit makes a greater contribution than training programs and technical assistance alone. I use the view that SMEs are very important for development as the basis of my argumentation. In spite of this, there is a lack of support for SMEs from the Indonesian government. This gap of support for SMEs was and is partially filled by non governmental organizations (NGOs). The NGOs support SMEs in dealing with problems such as the lack of working capital as well as the lack of knowledge about production, marketing, and management. I focused my field study on the USC-Satunama project. USC-Satunama is a non-governmental organization which works (amongst other activities) to strengthen SMEs. Its activities include the provision of training programs and technical assistance to improve the human capital of the entrepreneurs as well as providing credit. Training programs and technical assistance are provided to all the beneficiaries of the project. However, not all beneficiaries are provided with a credit facility. Therefore, the respective impact of the two different types of support, (i)' a combination of training programs and technical assistance with credit and (ii) training programs and technical assistance alone, can be explored. I use the improved welfare of the entrepreneurs indicated by the increase of their profits as yardstick to ascertain the impact of the project on development. The result of the field study is: the approach of the USC-Satunama project, according to which a training program and technical assistance are combined with credit, indeed makes a significant and positive contribution to the welfare of the entrepreneurs and thus it contributes to the development of Indonesia.