Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Diego dos Santos Pereira.pdf: 13715091 bytes, checksum: c581c352c61d60dafad4a6bee2ef3048 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-01-30 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This research aimed to verify how the performance measurement system (PMS) and the quality management system (QMS) work in small and medium-sized Brazilian enterprises in the light of the typology proposed by Garengo (2009). The study was conducted by means of two questionnaires, two semi-structured interviews and the analysis of the performance measures used by five small/medium-sized enterprises based in the State of São Paulo. Using a qualitative approach, this exploratory research were interviewed PMS s and QMS s managers, and the data from the first interview were analyzed using the technique of content analysis and has been subsequently triangulated with other data collected. It was found that four out of five companies have a junction in PMS and QMS, with respect to performance measures, despite of the degree of the quality management maturity is not related to the stage of the PMS evolution. It was also found that in three out of five companies quality management area is responsible for coordinating the process of PMS use, without effective participation from the controlling and/or accounting areas in this process. The typology of Garengo (2009), used to check the stage of the PMS evolution, was validated and can be used in practice by professionals in organizations to diagnose and improve the PMS in their enterprises. From the findings of this research, companies with QMS certified by ISO, particularly with higher degree of quality management maturity, can be encouraged to implement or improve the PMS in their organizations. The results of this study should be considered in the light of its limitations, especially the impossibility of its generalization to the overall universe of SMEs, to the extent that there was used the qualitative approach, without the aim of extrapolating the results for other enterprises. In this sense, quantitative research should be carried out in order to verify these results in a more representative set of SMEs. Finally, it is suggested that research could be carried out to study in more depth the PMS evolution in SMEs, with longitudinal case studies, for example. / Esta pesquisa teve como propósito verificar como funcionam o sistema de mensuração de desempenho (SMD) e o sistema de gestão da qualidade (SGQ) em pequenas e médias empresas brasileiras à luz da tipologia proposta por Garengo (2009). O estudo foi conduzido mediante a aplicação de dois questionários fechados, duas entrevistas semiestruturadas e da análise dos indicadores de desempenho utilizados por cinco pequenas/médias empresas com sede no Estado de São Paulo. Com abordagem qualitativa, nesta pesquisa exploratória foram entrevistados os gestores do SMD e do SGQ, sendo que os dados da primeira entrevista foram analisados com a técnica de análise de conteúdo, tendo sido, na sequência, triangulados com os demais dados coletados. Verificou-se que quatro das cinco empresas pesquisadas possuem uma junção do SMD com o SGQ, no que tange aos indicadores de desempenho, a despeito de o grau de maturidade da gestão da qualidade não estar relacionado com o estágio de evolução do SMD. Verificou-se ainda que em três das cinco empresas a área da gestão da qualidade é a responsável por coordenar o processo de uso do SMD, sem que haja uma participação efetiva da área de controladoria e/ou contabilidade nesse processo. A tipologia de Garengo (2009), usada para verificar o estágio de evolução do SMD, foi validada, podendo ser utilizada na prática pelos profissionais nas organizações para diagnosticar e melhorar o SMD nas suas empresas. A partir dos achados desta pesquisa, os profissionais de empresas com SGQ certificados pela ISO, principalmente aquelas maior grau de maturidade na gestão da qualidade, podem ser encorajados a implementar ou melhorar o SMD nas suas organizações. Os resultados deste estudo devem ser considerados à luz de suas limitações, sobretudo a impossibilidade de sua generalização para o universo geral das PME, na medida em que houve o emprego de abordagem qualitativa, sem o objetivo de extrapolação dos resultados para outras empresas. Nesse sentido, pesquisas quantitativas podem vir a ser realizadas com o objetivo de verificar esses resultados em um conjunto mais representativo de PME. Por fim, sugere-se que pesquisas venham a ser desenvolvidas para estudar em maior profundidade como ocorre a evolução dos SMD em PME, a partir de estudos de caso longitudinais, por exemplo.

In order to survive in highly competitive local and global markets, it is vital to satisfy the changing demand of the customers. Thus, the importance of competitive factors arises. The companies should provide sufficient amount of products or services on time with the most advantageous prices and best possible quality. Additionally, flexibility is crucial to deal with the change in demand. Therefore, a flexible production system for manufacturers is vastly required. The aim of this Master Thesis is to provide a framework for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that seek ISO 9001 and 14001 Certifications by proposing a Lean Production System. As a case study, the Swedish company CombiQ AB is investigated regarding its current situation with short and long term goals. Thereby, this framework includes the design of a suitable production system that meets CombiQ’s needs and additionally to that, instructs the company how to build up a Lean Production System. In parallel with ISO Certification requirements, two main Lean Techniques (5S and Kaizen) are explained and exemplified throughout the project. These techniques are straightly linked with the requirements of Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001). As for empirical data, this project is constructed by six interviews within the company and one additional interview with an ISO auditor. As a complement, operational and managerial processes are observed. Additionally, relevant literature is examined, presented and aligned with empirical findings in order to cover the essential concepts of this thesis. The final proposal is the usage of lean thinking as a core philosophy guided by the lean principles and techniques with the ISO requirements in parallel, which are the selected concepts to design a desired production system. Once the design is proposed; as further steps, the company would be able to continue the development process by implementing and starting-up the production. Last but not least; as the major outcome of this Lean Production System framework, the ISO certifications would be accomplished with a higher customer satisfaction and competitiveness.

Le développement bancaire et financier au Vietnam fait face à de nouvelles conjonctures économiques. Il serait utile d'analyser ce développement dans de nouvelles conditions d'intégration imposées par les normes internationales. La thèse vise à soutenir deux idées : (1) le développement de la relation entre les banques commerciales et les entreprises non publiques, particulièrement les PME, qui résulte des changements de la structure économique du Vietnam - un pays en transition vers l'économie de marché et (2) la micro-finance qui est une innovation permettant une plus grande performance des institutions bancaires et financières vis-à-vis des imperfections du marché ainsi que la réduction de la pauvreté et la pratique de l'usure, dans les zones rurales en particulier.Les grilles théoriques se réfèrent principalement à la théorie néo-institutionnaliste de D.North, à celle du développement financier de King et Lévine, aussi bien qu'à la théorie des complémentarités institutionnelles de Hall & Soskice, et à celle des conventions de Boyer &Orléan. Parmi les principaux résultats que nous avons obtenus, le premier réside dans le résultat positif de la relation entre banques commerciales et les entreprises non-publiques, les PME en particulier. Les banques commerciales contribuent à dynamiser le secteur privé en allouant des crédits et sélectionnant des projets d'investissement et, par conséquent,deviennent un acteur économique important capable de réduire le chômage, promouvoir les affaires et dans une certaine mesure, orienter le développement industriel. A leur tour, les entreprises non-publiques deviennent des clients cibles des banques commerciales et contribuent à créer une nouvelle forme de demande de crédit, de projets d'investissement, du marché du travail, de changements de stratégies d'entreprise et d'évolution des cadres juridiques allant dans le sens facilitant les activités du secteur privé.Le second résultat confirme la corrélation entre le développement économique et le développement bancaire et financier. Le résultat est soutenu par une recherche empirique basée sur une analyse factorielle à partir des données de CEPII 2012. Nous avons réussi à dessiner une carte globale des systèmes bancaires et financiers et localiser la position du Vietnam. Nous observons que le Vietnam se situe dans la zone des pays en émergence, mais à la périphérie, loin des pays développés. Ceci implique qu'il serait utile de se déplacer vers la zone des pays à développement bancaire et financier avancé. Le troisième se trouve dans le résultat positif du rôle de la micro-finance. Cette pratique s'avère efficace dans la réduction de la pauvreté et l'empêchement de l'usure, en particulier dans les régions rurales. Cependant, l'accès au crédit n'est pas facile pour les populations défavorisées à cause de la communication, des spécificités culturelles, du niveau d'éducation,de l'expansion des réseaux ... La micro-finance constitue une innovation permettant de résoudre les problèmes d'asymétrie d'information et d'aléa moral, grâce au contrôle croisé des informations et à la responsabilité réciproque. Cette pratique apporte des preuves du mécanisme d'auto-renforcement prévu par la théorie des conventions, dans le cas de la micro-finance pour les pauvres. En conclusion, le Vietnam, en transition vers une économie de marché, se caractérise par un double changement institutionnel. D'une part, le changement de relation entre les banques commerciales et les entreprises non-publiques, en particulier les PME. Le pays s'oriente vers un secteur privé dont le rôle devient de plus en plus important pour s'adapter à la nouvelle structure économique. D'autre part, l'invasion de la micro-finance devient une alternative efficace pour répondre aux imperfections du marché du système bancaire et financier formel. / The financial and banking development in Vietnam has recently known new challenging economic circumstances. It is useful to analyze this matter to deal with new conditions imposed by the integration process in international norms. This dissertation is devoted to defend two ideas: (1) the development of the relationship between commercial banks and NSOEs, especially SMEs, is a result of change of economic structure of Vietnam, a country intransition, on its way towards a fully market-based economy and (2) micro-finance is a form of innovation making financial-banking institutions more performing in response to market failures as well as in impeding usury and poverty alleviation, especially in rural areas.With different theoretical frameworks mainly based on new-institutionalist vision of D. North, financial development of King and Levine, institutional complementaries of Hall & Soskice, convention theory of Boyer & Orléan, we have had some key findings as following. The first key finding resides in the positive result of the relationship between commercial banks and NSOEs, especially SMEs, in the way that commercial banks contribute to dynamize the private sector by allocating loans and investment selection. Therefore, commercial banks become an important economic agent being able to reduce unemployment, promote businesses and orientate somehow industry development. In its turns, NSOEs, while become target customers of banks, contribute to shape credit demand, project investment, labor market, business strategy changes and legal evolution in the way of facilitating the privatesector.The second finding confirms that the correlation between economic development and financial-banking development does exist. It was proved by empirical study based on a factor analysis from CEPII 2012 databse. We was successful to draw a map and localize precisely the position of Vietnam in the financial-banking world map. And, we saw that Vietnam was located in areas of emerging countries, but merely in peripheral zone far away from developed countries. This suggests an implication that it would be useful to move closer to highly developed countries in the financial and banking sector.The third key finding resides in the positive result that microfinance is proved efficient in poverty alleviation and impeding usury, especially in rural areas; but the accessibility to credit is not easy for poor people due to communication, cultural characteristics, education level, extension of network ... Microfinance is a form of innovation in the way that information asymmetry and moral hazard are well resolved thanks to cross-screening and joint-liability. Micro-finance in Vietnam shows evidence of the process of self-reinforcing mechanism of the convention theory, for the case of micro-finance for the poor. We conclude that on its way to a fully market-based economy, Vietnam in transition is characterized by a double institutional move: on the one hand, the change in relationship between commercial banks and NSOEs, especially SMEs, is moving towards a more important role of the private sector in response to new economic structure; on the other hand, micro-finance invasion becomes an efficient alternative to remedy to market failures of theformal financial and banking system.

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / This study will refer specifically to the reasons why SMEs are not willing to use e-payment as their first-choice method: the reasons hampering e-payment adoption. / South Africa

The purpose of this study is to explain how investment-specific and firm-specific risk affects small and medium sized enterprises’ (SMEs) choice of capital budgeting technique for strategic investments.Furthermore, this study also aims to identify which of these risks affects the choice of capital budgeting technique to the greatest extent. This study assumes a positivistic perspective and adopts a deductive reasoning. The theoretical framework consists of the expected utility theory, the stakeholder theory  and existing research of risk and capital budgeting. The research method has been quantitative and data have been collected through a survey. The results indicates that both investment-specific and firm-specific risk has a significant impact on SMEs’ choice of capital budgeting technique for strategic investments. The results also indicates that SMEs under high levels of risk choose unsophisticated capital budgeting techniques. Furthermore, the findings shows that investment specific risk has a greater impact on SMEs’ choice of technique than firm-specific risk. Since this study examines investment-specific and firm-specific risk simultaneously, it differs from previous research. Previous research have examined each risk independently and therefore drawn individual conclusions for each individual risk’s impact on the choice of capital budgeting technique. This study also differs from previous research since the firm-specific risk is based on firm’s debt structure rather than the firm’s capital structure. Through this, the study contributes to existing research by explaining, previously neglected, underlying factors to SMEs’ choice of capital budgeting technique. / Studien syftar till att förklara hur investeringsspecifik och företagsspecifik risk påverkar små och medelstora företags (SME-företag) val av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik vid strategiska investeringar, samt kartlägga vilken av dessa risker som påverkar valet i störst utsträckning.  Studien utgår från den positivistiska forskningsfilosofin tillsammans med en deduktiv forskningsansats där teorin om förväntad nytta och intressentteorin tillsammans med tidigare forskning om risk och kapitalbudgetering utgjort den teoretiska referensramen. Studiens forskningsmetod har varit kvantitativ där data insamlats genom en enkätundersökning. Efter genomförda analyser av den insamlade datan framgår det att investeringsspecifik och företagsspecifik risk har en signifikant påvisbar påverkan på SME-företags val av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik vid strategiska investeringar. Studiens hypoteser om att hög investeringsspecifik samt hög företagsspecifik risk leder till ökad användning av osofistikerade tekniker har genom resultatet visat sig stämma. Av resultatet framgår även att investeringsspecifik risk har större påverkan än företagsspecifik risk på valet av teknik. Denna studie skiljer sig från tidigare forskning då både investeringsspecifik och företagsspecifik risk undersökts samtidigt. Tidigare forskning har undersökt varje risk individuellt och har således dragit individuella slutsatser för varje enskild risks påverkan på SME-företags val av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik. Likaså skiljer sig studien från tidigare forskning genom att den företagsspecifika risken utgjorts av företagens skuldstruktur snarare än företagens kapitalstruktur. Studien bidrar genom detta till att förklara bakomliggande faktorer till valet av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik som av tidigare forskning försummats.

Tidigare forskning har identifierat ett gap mellan teori och hur företag använder kapitalbudgeteringstekniker i praktiken. Forskning tyder på att gapet är särskilt stort vid SME-företag, eftersom de tenderar att använda de enkla kapitalbudgeteringsteknikerna. Genom att försöka förklara förekomsten av fenomenet the theory-practice gap  har forskare reflekterat kring vilka bakomliggande faktorer som ligger till grund för valet av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik i SME-företag. En bakomliggande faktor som påverkar valet av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik är en individs humankapital, i form av utbildningsnivå och yrkeserfarenhet. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur humankapitalet påverkar valet av kapitalbudgeteringsteknik vid strategiska investeringar i svenska SME-företag. För att undersöka och analysera studiens syfte har en kvantitativ datainsamlingsmetod använts i form av en internetbaserad enkät. Studien har en positivistisk forskningsfilosofi som utgår från en deduktiv forskningsansats som används för att möjliggöra hypotesprövningar. Studiens resultat baseras på 56 respondenter vilka är beslutfattare vid strategiska investeringar i svenska SME-företag, där resultaten illustreras med hjälp av statistiska analysmetoder. Studiens resultat och slutsats visar att beslutfattare i svenska SME-företag med högre utbildningsnivå eller högre grad av yrkeserfarenhet ökar användningen av avancerade kapitalbudgeteringstekniker. Dock kan inte studiens resultat signifikant påvisa att en beslutsfattare i svenska SME-företag med låg utbildningsnivå eller lägre grad av yrkeserfarenhet använder enkla kapitalbudgeteringstekniker. / Previous research has identified a gap between theory and how companies actually use capital budgeting techniques in practice. Research highlights that the gap is particularly large among SMEs, as they tend to use simpler capital budgeting techniques. By trying to explain the phenomenon of the theory-practice gap, researchers have reflected on underlying factors that influence the choice of capital budgeting techniques in SMEs. An underlying factor, that influences the choice of capital budgeting techniques, is on the individual level in terms of educational degree and occupational level of experience. The aim of this thesis is therefore to increase the understanding of how the human capital influences the choice of capital budgeting techniques in Swedish SMEs. To examine the aim of the study, a quantitative method is used by a web-based survey. Furthermore, the study is based on a positivism research philosophy that evolve from a deductive research method in order to draw general conclusions. The result of the study is based on 56 responses from decision makers for strategic investments in Swedish SMEs, where the results are illustrated using statistical analysis methods. The results and conclusions of the study shows that decision makers in Swedish SMEs with higher degree of education or higher level of occupational experience increase the use of more advanced capital budgeting techniques. However, the results do not support that decision makers in Swedish SMEs with a lower degree of education or lower level of occupational experience use more simple capital budgeting techniques.

This diploma thesis deals with Czech economic diplomacy as an instrument or rather tool of the foreign policy of the Czech Republic to promote its economic interests and goals in the People´s Republic of China. Specifically, it deals with the state pro-export policy and state support of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the process of entering Chinese market. The thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter explores the concept of economic diplomacy and the models of the governance of economic diplomacy in the world as well as in the Czech Republic. The second chapter focuses on the realization of the Czech economic diplomacy in China, analyzes the Czech-Chinese foreign trade and the development of political and diplomatic relations between the two countries. The third chapter is devoted to the SMEs and their penetration of the Chinese market. It explains the importance of the SMEs to the Czech economy and export and defines the phases of the penetration. In this chapter, the author examines how the state supports the SMEs entering the Chinese market and whether this support covers all phases of this complex process. Finally, the author explains why SMEs are not satisfied with the state support of export and outlines possible solutions.

La presente investigación tiene como objetivo principal determinar los factores que influyen en la internacionalización de empresas pymes exportadoras de la selva peruana de cacao en grano, entre el periodo 2009 al 2019, puesto que el sector cacaotero en los últimos años ha presentado un alto crecimiento a nivel nacional y la presente investigación se centra en encontrar los factores que son fundamentales para que las pymes ingresen su producto al mercado exterior. Dentro de esta investigación se aplicaron encuestas en escala de Likert a una muestra de 31 empresas pymes exportadoras de la selva peruana de cacao en grano, a fin de obtener resultados a través del método cuantitativo. En base a la metodología, la presente investigación tiene un diseño descriptivo no experimental a nivel correlacional con enfoque cuantitativo. La información se analizó en el programa SPSS con la prueba de regresión logística. Como resultado, se obtuvo que cinco de las diez variables analizadas son significativas para la internacionalización de las pymes exportadoras de la selva peruana del cacao en grano. / The main objective of this research is to determine the factors that influence the internationalization of exporting SMEs of the Peruvian rainforest of cocoa beans, between the period 2009 to 2019, since the cocoa sector in recent years has presented a very high growth and this research focuses on finding the factors that are essential for small and medium-sized companies to enter their product on the foreign market. Within this research, Likert scale surveys were applied to a sample of 31 exporting SMEs from the Peruvian rainforest of cocoa beans, in order to obtain results through the quantitative method. Based on the methodology, this research has a descriptive non-experimental design at a correlational level with a quantitative approach. The information was analyzed in the SPSS program with the logistic regression test. As a result, it was obtained that five of the ten variables analyzed are significant for the internationalization of exporting SMEs from the Peruvian rainforest of cocoa beans. / Tesis

The aim of this work provides an analysis of the possibilities of utilization of Structural funds for the development of Czech SMEs with the focus on the support of human resources development. The theoretical part is focused on the structure of funds in the programme therm 2004 – 2006 and project cycle. The practical part is made as the case study for the Programme Human Resources Development in Vašstav company.

Diplomová práca sa zaoberá analýzou iniciatív podpory a rozvoja malých a stredných podnikov (MSP) v EU a Českej Republike, s konkrétnym návrhmi odporúčaní rozvoja podnikania v Juhomoravskom kraji. Tento koncept vyplýva zo skutočnosti, že malé a stredné podniky predstavujú najväčší podnikový segment na Európskom trhu a v národných ekonomikách členských štátov. Prvá kapitola opisuje teoretický základ MSP a ich význam na európskom a českom trhu. Druhá kapitola analyzuje európske, české a regionálne možnosti podpory a rozvoja MSP. Tretia, záverečná kapitola hodnotí jednotlivé možnosti podľa ich možnosti využitia pre MSP v Juhomoravskom kraji a ponúka autorove návrhy pre ďalšie možnosti podpory a rozvoja MSP do budúcnosti.