In the United States, 20% of newly established small businesses, including small businesses in the life insurance industry, fail within 2 years, and over 50% of them fail during the first 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify and explore the strategies that life insurance brokerage owners use to sustain business operations beyond 5 years. Porter's 5 forces model served as the conceptual framework for exploring this subject matter. Owners of 3 separate small life insurance brokerage firms in Texas, who sustained their businesses beyond 5 years, participated in semistructured interviews. A secondary source of data was relevant company documents. Methodological triangulation and member checking assured the reliability and validity of the interpretations. Through thematic analysis and supporting software, 5 themes emerged: exceptional customer service, relationship-building, efficient promotional strategies, regular training of salespersons, and hiring the right employees. The application of the findings of the study could contribute to positive social change by reducing unemployment and thereby catalyzing an economic environment supporting employees, families, and communities.

African immigrant business owners create jobs and often stimulate economic growth in distressed inner-city areas, yet they continue to experience barriers obtaining financial support in the United States when trying to gain entrance into the broader economy. The objective of this multiple case study was to explore strategies African immigrant business owners used to succeed in business beyond 5 years. The conceptual framework of this study included resource-based theory, human capital theory, and disadvantage theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 3 African immigrant business owners in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who had succeeded in business beyond 5 years. Thematic analysis from interviews, organizational documents, and Bureau of Labor Statistics data identified 8 emergent themes. Findings indicated that, for these 3 African immigrant business owners, education, managerial-related experience, motivation, and networking were key attributes related to small business success. Additionally, for this group, innovation, steady flow of resources, and adequate access to capital were predictive of successful businesses. This study may contribute to positive social change by providing guidance to African immigrant business owners about effective business strategies; this knowledge may help to improve the quality of life for African immigrants in the United States. Increasing the prosperity of the business community is incumbent upon the development and use of new knowledge.

Submitted by Marte Osen (osen.marte@gmail.com) on 2017-10-10T17:16:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, MO.pdf: 1647286 bytes, checksum: d1138ff4a00b7b9a6f515e53aa3fb0be (MD5) / Rejected by Josineide da Silva Santos Locatelli (josineide.locatelli@fgv.br), reason: Dear Marte, Please, put your full name; The words Acknowledgments, Abstract and Resumo must be in capital letters. Withdraw all the numbers of the page before the introduction, but they must to be considered. on 2017-10-10T17:49:05Z (GMT) / Submitted by Marte Osen (osen.marte@gmail.com) on 2017-10-10T18:17:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso.pdf: 1648147 bytes, checksum: b7612fbed427162f51ee6df16af8ab21 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Josineide da Silva Santos Locatelli (josineide.locatelli@fgv.br) on 2017-10-10T18:33:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso.pdf: 1648147 bytes, checksum: b7612fbed427162f51ee6df16af8ab21 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-11T12:39:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso.pdf: 1648147 bytes, checksum: b7612fbed427162f51ee6df16af8ab21 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / The purpose of this study is to apply value-based business concepts to a product in order to gain insight into the competitive environment within its related industry. This case study is based upon qualitative information from the decision makers in a company producing a product. It is shown that the value based business theories, when organised into one framework, does facilitate the organisation of data, and hence some conclusions about the competitive dynamics of the industry can be drawn. The approach to thinking about business suggested by the value based business concepts might hence lead to insights that can serve as a new background for strategic decisions. / O propósito deste estudo é aplicar conceitos associados à geração e captura de valor a um produto específico para melhor compreender o ambiente competitivo de seu respectivo mercado. Este estudo de caso é baseado em dados qualitativos obtidos de tomadores de decisão de uma empresa produtora do produto em questão. Será mostrado que os conceitos de captura e geração de valor de fato facilitam a organização de dados e, portanto, permite traçar conclusões sobre a dinâmica competitiva da respectiva indústria. A abordagem sugerida a partir destes conceitos permite direcionar perspectivas que podem ser usadas como plano de fundo para tomadas de decisão estratégica.

This thesis is focused on the topic of collaborative strategies, their design and application in the field of business. Collaborative strategy is represented as a series of recommendations for companies (and other organizations) that are considering participation in a shared economy. Collaborative strategy can be also used in company which is already involved in shared economy. This document is based on the analysis of the business models and associated IT platforms which are used by organizations operating in the shared economy. In the thesis are identified key mechanisms and technical resources that enable the businesses to implement a sharing of resources between suppliers and users of these resources. Based on the obtained data were compiled individual strategies, each containing recommendations for the area of ICT, business models, law and summary of business fields in which they can be implemented. The conclusion of thesis contains a procedure for the identification of enterprise resources suitable for use in the shared economy. The final results together with collaborative strategies can be used by companies (and other organizations) to find new business potential, to participate in a shared economy and for innovation of business processes and business models. The benefit of this approach is a new perspective on the collaborative use of corporate resources. Combined with modern technology it helps to increase competitiveness and helps save the resources required for primary processes and also creates new ways to reach customers.

The diploma thesis deals with the niche market strategy as one of the marketing strategies used mainly among small and medium-sized companies. The aim of the thesis is to analyze successful Czech firms that indicate the occurrence of characteristics of the studied direction, and to determine the key factors that influenced their success. In the research, primary data obtained through on-line questionnaires and interviews with company representatives as well as secondary data downloaded from the Internet were used.

The business environment is constantly being challenged with growing complexity and rapid changes, usually unforeseeable, as it could be observed during the last decades. One topic growing intensively in importance is environmentally sustainable business practices, which are often driven by societal expectations and new regulations; and which, under the enormous pressure of external stakeholders, cannot be avoided by companies anymore. Circular Economy, a relatively new concept, is becoming more popular, offering businesses not only a competitive advantage, but also the possibility to operate profitably, while still contributing to a sustainable development. This thesis provides insights on how MNCs with linear business models can take advantage of dynamic capabilities in order to incorporate circular business strategies. Current literature lacks research about the connection of how dynamic capabilities can support companies with the implementation of Circular Economy principles. Startups often implement sustainable strategies from inception, but: how can traditional MNCs of complex character successfully innovate their business models and strategies, without major disruption and losing their profitability? We argue that not only these young and born circular companies will lead the markets in the future, but also existing MNCs can successfully develop and stay competitive. This study wants also to highlight what resources and capabilities both types of companies state as key for successful circular business strategies, and how they are handled and embedded in the organizational structure by managers. A qualitative case study approach provided the detailed necessary information (from different industries and degree of circularity) to address the question. The findings widen the research of business model innovation towards circular business strategies and show a clear picture of which dynamic capabilities are of importance and how they can be successfully incorporated. We conclude by indicating that the concepts of learning, knowledge, relationships, leadership and management style were perceived as the most decisive within the organizations; with remaining external barriers as challenging.

El presente proyecto tiene como finalidad contribuir el desarrollo de un plan de continuidad operativa para proteger y garantizar la operatividad de los servicios críticos de TI basado específicamente en la norma ISO/IEC 27031:2011 y otras guías o normativas para la entidad del sector público, la cual es el Registro Nacional de Identificación y Estado Civil (RENIEC) con el fin de tener una mejor capacidad de respuesta ante una paralización parcial o total de los servicios que brinda la entidad, asimismo, lograr una correcta disponibilidad con el análisis de los tiempos de recuperación tolerables para continuar con las operaciones del negocio. El proyecto cuenta principalmente con cinco capítulos para saber cómo podremos diseñar un plan de continuidad operativa. En primer lugar, se elaboran los aspectos introductorios donde nos señala la situación problemática, los objetivos, general y específicos, la justificación del proyecto para saber la importancia del desarrollo y el estado del arte. En segundo lugar, se desarrolla el marco teórico que se encarga de la definición de todo lo relacionado al plan de continuidad operativa de los servicios de TI, su valor y sus etapas de diseño. En tercer lugar, se analizará la situación problemática que se plantea, el análisis de impacto al negocio y sus niveles de servicios, el análisis de riesgo y su catálogo de amenazas, vulnerabilidades y controles para mitigar los riesgos, el alcance y los requerimientos del proyecto. En cuarto lugar, se elabora las políticas de continuidad, las estrategias de recuperación para cada escenario de amenaza evaluado y las alternativas de solución para cada uno; y la propuesta del diseño que se realiza por medio de las fases del Ciclo de Deming (PDCA). En quinto lugar, se desarrolla el plan de pruebas, su ejecución y ensayos de los escenarios establecidos, resultados y validación de las pruebas; y los planes de mejora para el plan de continuidad operativa del servicio de TI. Finalmente, se elaboran conclusiones y recomendaciones para trabajos a futuros. / The purpose of this project is to contribute to the development of an operational continuity plan to protect and guarantee the operation of critical IT services based specifically on the ISO/IEC 27031: 2011 standard and other guides or regulations for the public sector entity, which is the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) in order to have a better response capacity before a partial or total stoppage of the services provided by the entity, in addition, to achieve correct availability with the analysis of the times tolerable recovery measures to continue business operations. The project mainly has five chapters to know how we can design an operational continuity plan. In the first place, the introductory aspects are elaborated where it points out the problematic situation, the objectives, general and specific, the justification of the project to know the importance of development and the state of the art. Second, the theoretical framework that is responsible for defining everything related to the operational continuity plan of IT services, its value and its design stages, is developed. Third, the problem that arises, the analysis of the impact on the business and its service levels, the risk analysis and its catalog of threats, vulnerabilities and controls to mitigate risks, the scope and requirements of the project are analyzed. Fourth, continuity policies, recovery strategies for each threat scenario evaluated and alternative solutions for each one are developed; and the design proposal that is carried out through the phases of the Deming Cycle (PDCA). In fifth place, the test plan, its execution and tests of the established scenarios, results and validation of the tests are developed; and the improvement plans for the IT services operational continuity plan. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future work are drawn up. / Tesis

According to the Cameroon Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employ over 70% of the active population and contribute significantly to economic growth and development, yet the failure rate of SMEs in the region within the first 5 years remains at 72%. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that SME owners used to sustain their businesses for longer than the first 5 years. With the resource-based view as the conceptual framework, purposive sampling was used to select 5 owners of small food-processing enterprises in Cameroon who demonstrated successful sustainability strategies. Data were collected using semistructured, open-ended interviews and review of business documents. Data were analyzed using member checking and methodological triangulation. Yin's 5- step process for data analysis revealed 9 themes including education, technical experience, and skills; entrepreneurial and business management skills; access to external support; bookkeeping and working capital management; human resource management; owners' dedication and commitment; research and development and marketing strategies; resource-based strategic planning; and owners' understanding of the business ecosystem, regulations, and taxation. The results may contribute to positive social change by increasing the survival rate for SMEs leading to job creation and improvement of the living standards in local communities.

No description available.

S’inscrivant dans une approche par le contenu de l’expérience, cette recherche vise à évaluer le niveau d’influence du vécu du consommateur à l’intérieur du lieu de vente dans la réalisation d’achats impulsifs suscitant un besoin de réexpérience. L’objectif ultime de cette démarche est d’identifier les techniques susceptibles d’être adoptées par les managers des points de vente en vue de concilier rentabilité immédiate (i.e. fréquence des achats impulsifs) et rentabilité future (i.e. intention de revenir dans ce même magasin). La thèse s’emploie à tenté d’ouvrir la boite noire du vécu du consommateur à l’intérieur du lieu de vente et à proposer une conceptualisation dynamique de l’expérience d’achat impulsif en croisant différentes voies méthodologiques, qualitatives et quantitatives. A partir d‘une vaste investigation auprès des clients des magasins d’habillement et accessoires du centre commercial Géant Casino à Tunis, nous avons réussi à prouver que le contenu de l’expérience vécue par le consommateur à l’intérieur du lieu de vente est un construit de second ordre composé de trois dimensions: le plaisir, l’éveil-sensoriel et l’immersion. Ce construit global est explicatif de la formation d‘une attitude positive par rapport aux produits du magasin, de la naissance d’impulsions d’achat, de l’atténuation du regret anticipé d’achat et de l’accentuation du regret anticipé de non achat (mécanismes de la négociation intérieure) et donc de la réalisation d’achats impulsifs. Il influence également le besoin le réexpérience du consommateur éprouvé à l’instant de l’expérience et 15 jours. Le contenu de l’expérience vécue par le consommateur à l’intérieur du lieu de vente pourrait, ainsi, être considéré comme un outil de contrôle performant du niveau d’interactivité des consommateurs avec les contextes expérientiels mis en place par les enseignes, un moyen de fidélisation de ses clients et un levier d’action permettant de renforcer leur avantage concurrentiel commercial. / As part of an approach by the content of experience, this research aims to assess the level of the influence of the consumer‘s experience inside the place of sale in the realization of an impulse buy-inducing need to reexperience. The ultimate goal of this approach is to identify techniques that could be adopted by managers of retail outlets in view of balancing immediate profitability (ie frequency of impulse buying) and future profitability (ie intention to return to the same store). The thesis seeks to attempt to open the black box of the consumer experience inside the point of sale and offer a dynamic conceptualization of impulsive buying experience by combining different methodological ways, quantitative and qualitative ones. From an extensive investigation from consumers of clothing and accessories stores in the “Géant Casino” shopping mall in Tunis, we succeeded in proving that the content of the consumer’s experience inside the place of sale is a subsidiary construction of three dimensions: pleasure, sensory-awakening and immersion. This global construct explains the formation of a positive attitude towards the store products, the appearance of impulses of purchase, the mitigation of the anticipated regret of buying and the accentuation of the anticipated regret of not buying (internal mechanisms of negotiation) and therefore the realization of impulse buying. This construct also affects the need of reexperience that the consumer felt at the time of the experiment and also after 15 days. The latter could thus be seen as a powerful tool for monitoring the level of interactivity with the consumer experiential contexts set up by brand stores, a way to customer loyalty and an instrument of strategic action for strengthening their competitive commercial’s advantage.