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This research concentrates on the relation between the self-reported entrepreneur’s identity and the entrepreneur’s account of their actions. The contribution is to specify the content of the elements that constitute the entrepreneur’s identity process model. In particular, this relates to the adaptation of the identity standard and the output to the environment. The central research questions of the study are: “What do entrepreneurs think about themselves?” and “How does it influence their entrepreneurial actions?” I posit that entrepreneurial actions stem from the way entrepreneurs control the feedback about themselves in a situation to confirm the meanings in their identity standard. The entrepreneur’s identity is examined in the context of digital technology entrepreneurs. The research subjects are 27 entrepreneurs from a high-tech incubator programme based in a UK university. One-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with each individual.

There is no doubt that Technology Transfer (TT) activity from the transferees' view point is an important issue when it comes to economic development, especially in developing countries. This present study is concerned with Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P) within/between Nigerian construction organisations, from the transferees' perspective where emphasis is placed more on the indigenous construction organisations. The aim of this study is to develop a framework of TTS&P for Nigerian indigenous construction organisations. This study recognised the importance of collaboration in any Technology Transfer (TT) activities, as Technology Transfer (TT) is a give and take process. Therefore, the study investigated Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P) from both indigenised foreign construction organisations and indigenous construction organisations in Nigeria. It investigated the current Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P) employed, the effectiveness of Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P), the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that influence the implementation of Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P), the benefits and challenges associated with Technology Transfer Strategies and Practices (TTS&P). Evidence from literature revealed the need for TTS&P in Nigerian indigenous construction organisations. It also revealed that there are very few studies on TT that have been undertaken in developing countries, whilst no study has been done on TTS&P, especially in Nigerian construction organisations. The objectives of this empirical study were to explore TTS&P within Nigerian construction organisations. The research adopted an interpretive stance and employs multiple data collection methods. It employed a combination of both postal questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A total of 143 completed questionnaires representing 108 questionnaires from indigenous construction organisations and 35 questionnaires from indigenised foreign construction organisations, formed the data base for the quantitative analysis. The qualitative data were from 23 semi-structured interviews (9 interviews came from indigenised foreign construction organisations and 14 interviews from indigenous construction organisations). The study concluded that organisational alliance through technology transfers are growing and the potential benefits of such organisational arrangements are not being realised because participating organisations are emphasising on short-term profit sharing to the detriment of more long-term and ultimately, core value-added, dimensions of knowledge creation and organisational learning. The study therefore recommended a long-term collaboration that would embrace technology transfer strategies and practices which would encourage construction organisations to move away from their traditional client-contractors relationships to more contractorscontractors- clients relationship for more knowledge, skills and techniques sharing processes. This study was limited to Nigerian construction organisations, especially the indigenous construction organisations, but can be generalised and thus applied to other organisations that exhibit similar characteristics.

In what seems to be an ever competitive and fast paced environment, many organisations attempt to plan their future in the hope that they will either retain or gain a foothold in their respective markets. In practice, one method many organisations use to achieve this is the creation of a strategy. The term strategy itself is vague, leading to misunderstandings about what it is and how to do it. As a consequence, a strategists may lack the tools and skills necessary to create a strategy that is fit for purpose. The focus of this research is to build a better understanding of the practice of strategy formulation. It achieves this through qualitative means. Through an engage approach, I follow the Chief Strategy Officer as he creates and develops a strategic plan that outlines a future for innovation activity of the organisation that he works for. This research reflects on the strategy formulation process as a lived experience and as a consequence humanises it. It reflects on the process of sense and re-sense making throughout the process of formulation and thus sheds light on the decision making in flight that which impacted the process. A central finding of this thesis, connects the challenges experienced by the CSO as he makes choices and decisions that corresponded to the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. It shows how the diversity of these needs impacted the CSO’s ability to make meaningful choices and as a consequence of this he created a strategy that was not valuable in the eyes of the Director and as such not implemented.

The concept of social accounting dates back to the mid 1970’s as one response within third sector organisations to traditional monetised accounting systems. As third sector organisations face increased funding challenges alternative reporting and measurement systems support information provision within a competitive funding market. A growing accountability movement within the sector supports this increased reporting. Yet, despite a substantial effort towards addressing accountability concerns and taking the fact that social accounting is an important enabler of third sector organisations; the concept of accountability and its role are not well specified or theorised. The focus of much literature is on the theoretical or political determination of a business with the concept of accountability as a mechanism to demonstrate moral obligation. Yet, there are few in-depth studies illustrating the issues in designing, implementing, and using social accounting in practice. The thesis is set within a third sector supported housing organisation and demonstrates the nature of reflective change and development within a social situation. Hence, the objective of this study was to define a practical model of accountability in respect to ‘social accounting’ whilst exploring the concept of ‘social impact measurement’ and its purpose within the case organisation. The study involves theoretical and practical understandings of developing a social impact measurement framework from the initial plan, design, implementation and usage of the framework. This research extends knowledge of accountability practice as cumulative process over time, an understanding of the potential challenges to such development in nonprofits, and draw attention to the complex, interrelated and cumulative relationships between accountability dimensions in practice. The research also illuminates how social impact measurement supports organisational dynamic change and development and the accountability obligation to stakeholders throughout social impact measurement implementation. The chosen methodological framework takes that of an insider action research approach to offer an explanation of the journey of understanding the theoretical alongside the practical experience. This is achieved through the critical reflection on the development of social impact measurement within the case organisation. The focus is to demonstrate the reflective ongoing process of change and maturation in a social situation in the ii workplace within a third sector supported housing organisation. This study highlights the importance of measuring social impact in facilitating and shaping a practical model of accountability in respond to the sustainability of nonprofits within a competitive funding market.

Technology Foresight exammes the future of the Greek economy and in particular what the contribution of science and technology is to this. Greek Technology Foresight started in October 2001 as a programme co-financed by the European Union and the target was to create a functional view after two decades. The main purpose of this project is the identification of cost-effective Aerospace and Defence Technologies for Greece in the year 2020. Firstly, the capacity and capability of Greek industries and the research environment are examined in conjunction with the products demanded by Armed Forces. Secondly, comes the examination of all relevant factors (industry, university, government) which have a considerable contribution to research and innovation in order to promote networking and further institutional development. Research was absolutely necessary to foresee and evaluate specific technologies within a frame of long-term development strategy for the various stakeholders. This research area is directly related to my managerial role as I have been in charge of this programme during its implementation. The research methods employed are documentary evidence, interviews and the Delphi approach. Thus the data collected from a variety of sources ensure the qualitative character of the thesis. The main findings are that the outlined Aerospace and Defence technologies can playa decisive role in the three different scenarios for the future of the country and they are related to the outcomes of science and technology evolution. The general conclusion is that taking into consideration Technology Foresight results defence procurement could be managed better which would result an efficient contribution to national economy, an improvement in intra-community transfer and several benefits from export opportunities of dual-use products.

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No description available.

This dissertation analyses imminent innovations in public policy that will impact upon the whisky industry, and, through linkage adjustments, the regional Scottish economy. An analysis of the interconnectedness between the whisky industry and the wider Scottish economy reveals that such linkages are substantial. A holistic conspectus of the whisky industry in the first part of the dissertation reveals that the predominant form of structural change in the past has been merger & acquisition. Such consolidation has permitted economies in marketing & distribution, but it is contended that in this arena at least there is scope for further performance improvement in the industry. Nevertheless, with taxation forming such a significant proportion of the final price of the product, realising a sustained increase in demand is deemed to be largely outwith the capability of the industry. It is advanced, therefore, that two tax-related developments in public policy in the next few years will impact not merely upon the whisky industry, but materially upon the regional Scottish economy as well. The first of these imminent innovations examined is the proposed abolition of the intra-EU duty free concession in 1999. Whilst it is concluded that such a move is inevitable (and economically logical), it is nonetheless determined that this will have a meaningful detrimental impact upon the whisky industry and Scottish economy. Secondly, the current proposals of the European Commission for the harmonisation of alcohol excises across the European Union are critically appraised, and are shown to be grounded on no logical economic principles, but instead, enshrine protection for European vinicultures. The rationale for alcohol taxation is considered de novo, concluding that within the United Kingdom & across the European Union, at a minimum all alcoholic beverages should be taxed on an equal basis according to alcoholic content, at a level sufficient to cover an estimate of the negative externalities associated with alcohol consumption. Mindful of the importance of the whisky industry to the Scottish economy, it is revealed that in times past, the public authorities have been proactive in intervening to secure the continuing prosperity of the whisky industry, and it is contended that such a stance may be required of the present government. The dissertation concludes by advocating a set of reforms to the structure of alcohol excises in the United Kingdom. An approximate halving of the excise applied to spirits, such that all alcoholic beverages are taxed equally according to alcoholic content, would ensure that the whisky industry & government could lobby with credibility for comparable structures to be adopted overseas, particularly in any revised proposals for European excise harmonisation. In addition, it is suggested that the fillip such a reform would give to domestic sales of whisky would mitigate the negative effects upon the whisky industry & regional Scottish economy of losing the intra-EU duty free concession in 1999.