Syftet med uppsatsen är att analysera hur de specifika variablerna samverkar i investeringsanalysen bakom strategiska investeringar vid beslutsfattandet. Studien är inriktad mot den dominerande företagssektorn små och medelstora företag, vidare görs en jämförelse mellan yngre och mognare företag. För att analysera detta har en kvantitativ datainsamlingsmetod använts i form av en enkätundersökning. Forskningsfilosofin som är applicerad är deduktiv, för att på så sätt kunna dra generaliseringar i slutsatserna utifrån den empiriska analysen och fullfölja studiens syfte. Studien är baserad utifrån beslutsteori där hantering av risk och osäkerhet har en central roll. Inom området för beslutsfaktorer tillämpas även den situationsanpassade teorin. Intressentteorin och den neoklassiska ekonomiska teorin har även använts som bas.Resultatet uppvisar att det finns ett flertal samband mellan de specifika variablerna, SME-företagens livscykelstadier och investeringsanalysen. Vidare har markanta skillnader identifierats vid investeringsanalysen mellan de yngre och mognare företagen. I analysen illustreras detta med hjälp av statistiska analystabeller.Denna studie skiljer sig från tidigare forskning i ett flertal aspekter. Studien har identifierat ett gap mellan de praktiska tillämpningarna och teorin. Dessutom har studien ett extra brett omfång gentemot tidigare forskning. För att utöver detta även skapa en djupare insikt över företagets attityder och tillämpning av diverse metoder har undersökningen även jämfört yngre och mognare företags förhållningsätt i investeringsanalysen. Denna uppsats kan vara av värde för landets välfärd genom att öka förståelsen för SME-företagens förhållande i samband med strategiska investeringar. / The purpose of this paper is to analyse how specific variables interact the investment analysis behind the investments, in the decision-making process. This study is focused on small and medium sized enterprises where a comparison will be made between young and mature enterprises. To examine this, a quantitative data collection method has been adopted, with the use of a questionnaire survey. A deductive research philosophy has been applied for this study in order to draw general conclusions based on the empirical analysis and fulfil the purpose of this study. This study is based on decision theory where the management of risk and uncertainty play a central role. In the area of decision factors the contingency-theory is also applied. The stakeholder theory and the neoclassical economic theory have also been used as a base.The findings show that there are numerous links between the specific variables, SME business lifecycle stages and the investment analysis. Furthermore, clear differences have been identified in the investment analysis between the young and the more mature enterprises. The analysis is illustrated by means of statistical analysis tables.This research differs from previous studies in several aspects. The study has identified a gap between the practical applications and theory. Moreover, the study has an extra wide range over previous research. To go beyond and create a deeper understanding of the enterprises attitude and application of various methods in their continuous development, the study also compared younger and more mature enterprises approaches to the investment analysis. This paper can be useful for the country's welfare by increasing the understanding of SMEs relationship in the context of strategic investments.

The landscape of banking has changed drastically over the past two decades. Client loyalty is key for banks to stay relevant and deliver sustainable growth. In that context the objective of this research is to identify the main factors that determine client loyalty of small to medium sized businesses to banks and to rank these according to importance. The purpose of the study is using management information systems to determine the client loyalty drivers in SMEs within the banking industry as well as ranking them according to the level of importance. The study defines and provides a broad overview of the different concepts. It further provides an overview of the banking industry and casual factors driving the need to focus on client loyalty. A high-level overview of SMEs are also covered The current problem statement has a look at the various areas of concern to the banking industry such as high level debt ratios, weak corporate demand, and more The research methodology; objectives; design; scope; significance and the limitations of the study are outlined. Obtaining high levels of client loyalty remains a challenge for banks; failing, places banks at risk and hampers their ability to grow. MIS is the main enabler in understanding client loyalty, tracking client behaviour and changing needs. For this purpose a questionnaire was employed to obtain a deeper understanding of what drives client loyalty. A secondary source of information incorporated into the study is recent surveys done by KPMG, Accenture, Ernest & Young, and others. The model currently used by banks is based on the net promoter system. Client satisfaction, and Relationship and Service Quality are factors that get measured and incorporated in the net promoter system. Other factors that showed relevance and impact on client loyalty are Product Quality, Skills/EQ and Corporate/brand image. The researcher aims to explain the effect and influence the aforementioned have on client loyalty as well as rank these in order of importance in small to medium-sized business banking clients in South Africa. Primary data has been used in this study complemented by secondary data. A quantitative method has been adopted for this study. The techniques employed are: Frequency, Reliability (including the mean, standard deviation & Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient) and the Spearman Rank Order Correlations. The sample consisted of SMEs in Johannesburg Central Region and 200 questionnaires were distributed to conveniently selected SMEs out of a total population of 550. Sixty one (61) SMEs responded resulting in a 31% response rate. The study evidenced that the factors listed are interlinked and have an influence on client loyalty. The study has also demonstrated that the link between customer loyalty and true sustainable organic growth is well established. Limitations of the study are discussed. The researcher also recommends that a management information system be employed; that the study be extended to include large and corporate business and that the framework be broadened to include trust, product/channel, skills/EQ and brand/image. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Submitted by ALINE MARIANO ALVES CARNEIRO null (aline.alibauru@gmail.com) on 2017-12-13T21:26:32Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) / Submitted by ALINE MARIANO ALVES CARNEIRO null (aline.alibauru@gmail.com) on 2017-12-14T11:25:01Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) / Submitted by ALINE MARIANO ALVES CARNEIRO null (aline.alibauru@gmail.com) on 2017-12-14T13:50:30Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) Tese Final.pdf: 2411312 bytes, checksum: 8d264a63c08bb6e933ce6fe0637d72bb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Minervina Teixeira Lopes null (vina_lopes@bauru.unesp.br) on 2017-12-14T18:03:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 carneiro_ama_me_bauru.pdf: 2287576 bytes, checksum: 2bd673eb6de4b2dd163cd9f2463c6547 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-14T18:03:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carneiro_ama_me_bauru.pdf: 2287576 bytes, checksum: 2bd673eb6de4b2dd163cd9f2463c6547 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-24 / O contexto digital, por meio das tecnologias da informação e da comunicação (TICs) estão ressignificando o cotidiano dos indivíduos e de suas relações sociais, agora também virtuais. Consequentemente os novos conceitos estruturantes da sociedade em rede vem afetando diretamente o cenário das organizações contemporâneas, principalmente das micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs), uma vez que os indivíduos agora vivenciam uma realidade cultural mediada pela conexão, interatividade e velocidade de informações. Essa mediação exercida especialmente pelas TICs e pela virtualização coloca-nos diante de mudanças estabelecidas pelas relações entre o indivíduo e a tecnologia, alterando costumes, hábitos, a percepção de tempo e do espaço, dos modos de ver o mundo e a si mesmo. Portanto, essa mediação muda também as relações estabelecidas com e nas organizações e seus públicos. Não por acaso, esse estudo pretende fazer uma incursão sobre o contexto digital e sua influência sobre as organizações, considerando que as mudanças sociais, culturais, econômicas pautadas na transição dos meios de comunicação analógicos para os digitais e de como podem afetar e alterar o modus operandi das organizações. Portanto, a pesquisa tem como objetivo refletir sobre as dificuldades que as MPEs enfrentam em relação a comunicação organizacional, especialmente com a ascensão das TICs e da comunicação digital. Para tanto desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa teórica e aplicada, de abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa, com objetivos exploratórios e descritivos. Enquanto pesquisa teórica, utilizou-se da pesquisa bibliográfica, cujas principais referências destacamos Kunsch (2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 E 2014 ); Wolton (2006); Castells (2006); Corrêa (2005, 2008 E 2009); Jenkins (2009); Manucci (2008); Di Felice (2008); Recuero (2017), entre outros. Adicionalmente, adotou-se a pesquisa de campo com aplicação das técnicas do questionários e entrevista semiestruturada para a coleta de dados. A amostragem delimitou-se às micro empresas do comércio de varejo de vestuário do corredor do Calçadão da Batista de Carvalho da cidade de Bauru, São Paulo. Os resultados encontrados apontam que a comunicação organizacional não recebe qualquer tipo de gerenciamento ou atenção pelos empresários e, consequentemente a comunicação digital e as TICs são utilizadas exclusivamente para fins táticos e instrumentais. Com isso verifica-se que a maior dificuldade percebida é a transição da cultura organizacional, que ainda resiste em manter as características do período de industrialização, sendo centralizada no empresário e relutante às mudanças sociais. / The digital context, through information and communication technologies (ICTs) are redefining the daily lives of individuals and their social relations, now also virtual. Consequently, the new structuring concepts of network society have directly affected the scenario of contemporary organizations, especially micro and small enterprises (SMEs), since individuals now experience a cultural reality mediated by the connection, interactivity and speed of information. This mediation exercised especially by ICTs and virtualization puts us in the face of changes established by the relations between the individual and technology, changing customs, habits, perception of time and space, ways of seeing the world and itself. Therefore, this mediation also changes the relationships established with and in organizations and their audiences. Not by chance, this study intends to make a foray into the digital context and its influence on the organizations, considering that the social, cultural, economic changes based on the transition from the analogical media to the digital ones and of how they can affect and change the modus operations. Therefore, the research aims to reflect on the difficulties that MSE faces in relation to organizational communication, especially with the rise of ICTs and digital communication. For that, a theoretical and applied research was developed, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, with exploratory and descriptive objectives. As a theoretical research, we used bibliographical research, whose main references are Kunsch (2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2014); Wolton (2006); Castells (2006); Corrêa (2005, 2008 and 2009); Jenkins (2009); Manucci (2008); Di Felice (2008); Recuero (2017), among others. In addition, the field research was applied with the application of the techniques of the questionnaires and semi-structured interview for the data collection. Sampling was limited to the micro-enterprises of the retail clothing trade in the corridor of Baçade de Batista de Carvalho in the city of Bauru, São Paulo. The results show that the organizational communication does not receive any kind of management or attention by the entrepreneurs and, consequently, the digital communication and the TICs are used exclusively for tactical and instrumental purposes. This shows that the greatest perceived difficulty is the transition of the organizational culture, which still resists maintaining the characteristics of the industrialization period, being centralized in the entrepreneur and reluctant to social changes.

L’objet de notre recherche est double : comprendre le phénomène de fabrique d’une compétence organisationnelle stratégique induite par les usages des TI, d’une part, et aller au-delà des modèles existants d’analyse des impacts des TI en intégrant une approche multidimensionnelle, d’autre part. Nous avons privilégié une approche empirique qui a débuté par une étude de cas pilote qui nous a permis de délimiter un cadre théorique de manière abductive, par un aller-retour constant entre le terrain et les construits théoriques existants. Le cadre conceptuel se veut une synthèse des différents courants RBV intégrant le concept d’apprentissage organisationnel. Les résultats d’une étude multicas soulignent le caractère diffus et partiellement intentionnel d’un processus requérant l’interaction de ressources complémentaires fortement dépendantes du passé et aboutissant à l’amélioration de l‘efficience des routines et de la capacité dynamique d’apprentissage. Nous proposons une modélisation du processus et nous discutons des concepts significatifs quant à l'étude d'un tel phénomène. / Our research object is twofold: understand a strategic organizational competences bulding using IT, on the one hand, and go beyond the existing analysis of impacts of the IT models, integrating a multidimensional approach, on the other hand. We privileged an empirical approach beginning with a pilot case study that allowed us to define a theoretical framework of an abductive way, by a constant back and forth between the field and the theoretical existing constructs. The conceptual framework is a synthesis of the various RBV strands integrating the concept of organizational learning. The results of a multicase study underline the diffused and partially intentional character of a process, requiring interaction of additional resources highly dependent from the past, and leading to improve efficiency of the routines and dynamic adaptability. We propose a design of the process and discuss significant concepts for the study of this phenomenon.

While sustainability is a common trend in business, the practical challenges companies face when striving towards becoming more sustainable are not thoroughly researched. By applying Porter and Kramer's (2011) theory on Creating Shared Value (CSV) to Swedish SMEs in the fashion industry, the challenges of adopting sustainable practices were identified in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight case companies with an ambition to be sustainable. This paper argues that even sustainably-aware companies face complex challenges with activities meant to benefit both society and the company itself. Despite many positive characteristics of SMEs, including more flexibility to adapt to new circumstances and innovative approaches to CSR development (Jenkins, 2009), our research display difficulties with leveraging these characteristics. The study shows that the seven challenges of shared value creation are: investment costs, functionality issues, supplier complexities, supplier control, supplier abilities, managing certifications and cluster control. Moreover, the study has also confirmed Crane et al., (2014) regarding the positioning of CSV as an umbrella construct for loosely related concepts within conscious capitalism.

Background: SMEs represent 97% of Swedish companies that have an increase in the Swedish export by 16% in 2017. Furthermore, Sweden is eager to support its companies to lead the service revolution abroad. This expansion creates the need for overcoming international risks of inconstant psychic distance in terms of culture, economy and geography. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the psychic distance and its influence on internationalization. Method: The current study was based on qualitative research to fulfill the purpose, to answer its three research questions and to fit its time frame using semi-structured interviews of a multiple case study with Swedish SMEs within the service industry. The interviews took place with top managers who have broad knowledge and experiences related to this study. Conclusion: Psychic distance is changing in terms of culture, economy and geography as all SMEs have been exposed to its distances differently. A further outcome shows the relevance of business practices, theoretical methods, and models, although none of the interviewed SMEs have used any of these models. This result might show how those models could have solved various issues the interviewees faced. Cultural distance is a permanent distance that exists in all markets. However, economic distance constitutes a challenging factor to face economic costs and institutional differences but simultaneously gaining profits abroad could certify to meet this challenge. Geographic distance is mostly not considered an issue in the service industry. The psychic distance may decrease within the service industry due to international managerial skills and technology. Managerial Contribution: It is hoped that this study will assist SMEs to gain a clear idea about overcoming the psychic distance during internationalization, for instance, by learning from outcomes of the study from meta-analysis or by using relevant theories and models. / Bakgrund: Små och medelstora företag (SMF) representerar 97% av alla svenska företag. Den svenska exportsektorn har även sett en ökning med 16% under 2017. Sverige är dessutom väldigt angeläget om att stödja företagen genom att leda revolutionen inom servicesektorn utomlands. Denna expansion skapar behovet av att minimera de internationella riskerna associerade med psykiskt avstånd gällande kultur, ekonomi och geografi. Syfte: Syftet för denna studie är att undersöka det psykiska avståndet och dess påverkan på internationalisering. Metod: Denna studie använder sig av en kvalitativ metod för att uppfylla sitt syfte, svara på dess tre frågeställningarna och vara inom tidsramen för denna uppsats. En flerfalsstudie har genomförts genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med svenska SMF inom servicesektorn. Intervjuerna genomfördes med chefer som har breda kunskaper och erfarenheter relaterade till denna studie. Konklusion: Det psykiska avståndet gällande kultur, ekonomi och geografi förändras eftersom alla SMF har varit utsatta för dessa avstånden på olika sätt. Ett ytterligare resultat visar relevansen av affärsmetoder, teoretiska metoder och modeller, även om ingen av de intervjuade SMF har använt sig av dessa modeller. Resultatet visar hur dessa modeller kan ha löst olika problem som de intervjuade cheferna har stått inför. Det kulturella avståndet är ett permanent avstånd som existerar i alla marknader. Ekonomiskt avstånd däremot är en utmanade faktor eftersom man måste kombinera ekonomiska kostnader och institutionella skillnader, men genom att samtidigt göra vinst utomlands kan man överkomma denna utmaning. Geografiskt avstånd anses för det mesta inte som ett hinder inom servicesektorn. Det psykiska avståndet inom servicesektorn kan minskas med hjälp av internationella ledaregenskaper och teknologi. Praktiskt bidrag: Denna studie hoppas kunna hjälpa SMF med att få en tydlig uppfattning om hur man kan överkomma det psykiska avståndet under dess internationalisering, till exempel, genom att lära sig av resultaten från denna studiens metaanalys eller genom att använda sig av relevanta teorier och modeller.

This research focuses on Big Data Facilitators, companies that can help to reduce the complexities of Big Data and offer the value residing in it. These types of companies are highly unexplored, thus the purpose of this research paper is to create an understanding of Big Data Facilitators by studying their drivers and barriers concerning Big Data application, and their general role in the business ecosystem. To answer the overarching purpose four research questions has been proposed: RQ1: What drivers are prominent for Big Data Facilitators concerning the application of Big Data Analytics? RQ2: What barriers are prominent for Big Data Facilitators regarding the application of Big Data? RQ3: What value do Big Data Facilitators offer for their customers? RQ4: What type of customer do Big Data Facilitators offer value to? To answer these questions two phases of research were conducted. Phase one consisted of interviews with 10 different Big Data Facilitators, with the primary focus of understanding their drivers and barriers. The second phase consisted of qualitative analysis of text on websites from 27 Big Data Facilitators, with the primary focus of understanding what value these companies offer and what general customer type they target. The study found that the primary drivers for these companies are Technology as an Enabler, Organisational Knowledge, Agile Organisational Structure and Innovative Foundation and the barriers are Finding Correct Expertise, Process Difficulties, Resource Restrictions and Security Issues. This resulted in the adapted force-field model which shows a weighted representation of these factors. The identified generalizable value being offered was found to be Improved Processes, Innovative Technology, Insight and Convenience. A model called the Four-dimensions model was created with the two phases as basis. It represents an aggregation of the primary factors of influence affecting Big Data Facilitators as well as the value that they offer and most importantly, how the parts interrelate. This thesis provides further depth to the research around Big Data and Big Data analytics, as well as insight in the highly unexplored topic of SMEs relationship with Big Data and Big Data analytics. This since the Big Data Facilitators at hand were either start–ups or small enterprises. Moreover, the research added insight into the almost non-existent research area of Big Data Facilitators and analytics vendors. The managerial implications suggest that companies should strive to, first create an environment for innovation to prosper and continuously strive for keeping an agile organisation structure, by ensuring flexibility, adaptive processes and short lines for data-driven decision making. Second, to create awareness and utilization of the tools and open source–software available during its rapid development. Third, create an attractive environment for managing organisation knowledge and attracting the right expertise needed to understand the complexities of Big Data and handle the abstract algorithms in machine learning and deep learning

This study explores the following research question: How do CEO’s of SME’s seek to achieve and sustain alignment between business strategy and IT strategy in their companies? By conducting in-depth interviews of seven CEOs of SMEs in the Netherlands the experience of these CEOs are explored and most, if not all, of them describe how they do make use of sophisticated strategic planning that combines both business and IT strategy in a manner that appears to be analogous to that previous researchers have documented in large organisations. A number of recommendations are made as to how the methodology used could be improved to gain better understanding of the interplay of the factors involved in achieving and sustaining alignment in SMEs (and, perhaps, even large organisations)

This qualitative study contributes to the research field on legitimacy theory and creating shared value (CSV) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regarding helping entrepreneurs and business owners better understand the journey of engaging with social and environmental issues. Recent years have seen a growing number of organisations engage in CSV, which builds on identifying societal needs and approaching these as business opportunities. A standard that purports to uphold these values and is comprised of for-profit companies committed to sustainability-related initiatives is the B Corp label. We consider B Corp certification and explore how sustainably oriented SMEs engage with their wider community in a way that fosters corporate credibility and legitimacy.  Empirical data about five SMEs organisational narratives working with CSV, implementation of social and environmental activities, and effects of B Corp certification were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with company representatives and a range of secondary data materials. Analysing the data from these five interviewed companies established them to be engaging with the notion of CSV and regard addressing societal or environmental issues as the purpose of their business. Furthermore, findings suggested that values and beliefs incorporated by the SMEs supersede the generally adopted values in society, thereby representing a paradox with legitimacy theory. As a result, these businesses aim to close the perceived legitimacy gap by trying to raise awareness and engage the public with the appropriateness of their business, thereby slowly providing citizens with a more conscious mindset.

Cette thèse se propose de contribuer à la compréhension de la problématique générale de la performance, ceci par l’exploration du contenu de la vision stratégique appliquée au contexte des propriétaires-dirigeants de PME. Notre thèse émerge ainsi des observations du terrain et de son évolution, notamment les difficultés rencontrées par certaines PME pour survivre et à contrario les facteurs favorisants la réussite et la performance de certaines d’entre elles. Cette recherche s’articule ainsi autour d’un processus continu d’aller-retour entre la littérature et le terrain. Les PME représentent un des terreaux les plus propices à la recherche sur le concept de vision stratégique et sa relation à la performance. La revue de littérature fait en effet apparaitre le propriétaire-dirigeant, qualifié d’entrepreneur, comme un facteur central dans l’explication de la performance de son entreprise. Nous proposons ici une approche cognitive de la performance, approche que nous illustrons au travers des représentations de propriétaires-dirigeants de PME de leur performance. Ainsi, nous nous intéressons aux contenus des représentations véhiculées par les propriétaires-dirigeants de PME, la conception de la performance dans leur vision stratégique. Cette représentation se compose de structures émergentes des concepts reliés entre eux à l’intérieur de ces représentations. En ce sens, nous partons du principe qu’un concept ne prend vraiment sa signification que dans ses relations avec d’autres. La thèse présente son projet en termes de problématique et de méthodologie, au travers d’un processus de collecte de données, par entretiens en profondeur, sur 9 PME performantes primées à plusieurs reprises. A cet effet, nous avons utilisé la méthodologie de la cartographie cognitive qui permet d’analyser la vision stratégique comme un réseau de concepts dans une dynamique des relations les liants. Le traitement et l’analyse des données récoltées nous conduisent à proposer un modèle de lecture cognitive de la performance adapté au contexte des propriétaires-dirigeants de PME. La performance apparait comme un concept multidimensionnel, hiérarchique et dialogique. En effet dans sa PME le propriétaire-dirigeant doit faire des arbitrages entre les différents objectifs et les intérêts multiples des différents acteurs. Enfin, l’étude démontre une importance avérée aux ressources humaines et à l’ancrage territorial de son entreprise. / This thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the general issue of performance, this by exploring the contents of the strategic vision applied to the context of SME owner-managers. Our thesis emerges from field observations and its evolution, the difficulties of some of SMEs to survive and conversely the contributing factors of success and the performance of some of them. Thus, this research revolves around an ongoing go-return process between literature and results of our field research. Concretely, we find in the SMEs one of the more conducive soils to research on the concept of strategic vision and its relationship to performance. Indeed, the owner-manager, Often described as an entrepreneur, holds in his SME a central predominant position and is one of the major internal factors to consider. Here we propose a cognitive approach to performance, we illustrate that approach through representations of owner-managers of SMEs performance. Thus, we focus on the content of the representations conveyed by the owner-managers of SMEs, the performance conception in their strategic vision, this representation consists of a emerging structures of concepts interconnected within these representations. In this sense, we assume that a concept really takes its meaning only in its relations with others. The thesis presents its problematic and methodological project, through in-depth interviews of nine performing SMEs (award winning repeatedly). To this end, we used the methodology of cognitive mapping that can analyze the strategic vision as a network of concepts in a dynamic relationship. The processing and analysis of collected data lead us to propose a model of cognitive reading of performanceadapted to the context of SME owner-managers. The performance appears as a multidimensional concept, hierarchical, and dialogical. Indeed, in its SME, the owner-manager must make trade-offs between different objectives and different interests of different stakeholders. Finally, the study demonstrates proven importance to human resources and territorial anchorage of its business.