Guiada por uma extensa revisão bibliográfica e pelo método de múltiplos casos, esta pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva e dedutiva, iniciada em 2009 e concluída em novembro de 2010, objetiva identificar o posicionamento estratégico das subsidiárias brasileiras da HP e da HTC, bem como a configuração da principal rede de negócios que cada uma das unidades integra. A situação-problema que motiva este estudo versa, especificamente, sobre a coerência entre os propósitos e características dos posicionamentos estratégicos de empresas e os propósitos e características das redes, quando as organizações, integradas àquelas, operacionalizam estratégias de negócios. Após a apresentação e debate de trabalhos no campo das estratégias genéricas, das redes de negócios, da implementação de estratégias e da internacionalização de negócios, decidiu-se que as propostas de Hax e Wilde II (1999; 2001) e Moller e Rajala (2007) guiariam as investigações de campo e a análise dos resultados no tocante ao posicionamento estratégico das empresas analisadas e à rede de negócios por elas integradas, respectivamente. No caso da subsidiária brasileira da HP, identificou-se que a empresa adota uma rede vertical de demanda e fornecimento para operacionalizar o posicionamento melhor produto, enquanto, no caso da HTC o que se constatou foi a opção estratégica de solução total para o cliente, sendo implementada em uma rede de renovação de negócios. Embora, com esses resultados, se tenha alcançado o objetivo da investigação, adicionalmente, verificaram-se indícios de coerência entre os propósitos e características de ambos os posicionamentos, uma vez confrontados aos propósitos e características das redes correspondentes. Sugere-se, portanto, a partir dos achados desta pesquisa, que novos estudos se concentrem na identificação de opções estratégicas de empresas e tipos de redes, a fim de que se possa concluir se a coerência entre as variáveis é necessária para o bom desempenho das empresas ou não. As hipóteses, a seguir, podem servir de inspiração para novas pesquisas: (1) redes do tipo vertical de demanda e fornecimento ou horizontal de mercado são mais adequadas à operacionalização do posicionamento estratégico melhor produto; (2) redes do tipo renovação de negócios ou solução para o cliente são mais adequadas à operacionalização do posicionamento estratégico solução total para o cliente; (3) redes do tipo aplicação ou padrão dominante ou inovação são mais adequadas à operacionalização do posicionamento estratégico aprisionamento no sistema; ou (4) empresas líderes de mercado que adotam um mesmo posicionamento estratégico, embora atuem em diferentes setores, integram o mesmo tipo de rede de negócios. / Guided by extended bibliographical research and multiple case study method, this qualitative, descriptive and deductive study, that began in 2009 and was finished in November 2010, aims at identifying the strategic positioning of HP and HTC subsidiaries in Brazil and the configuration of the main business network in which the mentioned business units act. The situation problem that motivates this research, deals specifically with the consistence between the purposes and characteristics of the strategic positioning of business units and the business networks purposes and characteristics when organizations implement business strategies through business networks. After the presentation and discussion of academic studies in the field of generic strategies, business networks, implementing strategies and business internationalization, the Hax and Wilde II (1999; 2001) and Moller and Rajala (2007) proposals were chosen to guide the field investigation and the analysis of the results regarding the strategic positioning of companies and the business networks built by them, respectively. In the HP Brazilian subsidiary case, it was identified that the company adopts a vertical demand-supply net to operate the best product positioning, whilst HTC opted for implementing the strategy of total customer solution in a business renewal net. Although the goal of this research was achieved, based on these results, there were additional evidences of consistency between the purposes and characteristics of both positions once confronted with the purposes and characteristics of the corresponding networks. It is suggested, therefore, from the findings of this research, that new studies should focus on the identification of company´s strategic options and types of networks integrated by them, in order to check if coherence between the two variables is necessary to make the firms achieve outstanding performance or not. The following hypothesis, then, can serve as inspiration for further researches: (1) vertical demand-supply nets or horizontal market nets are better suited to implement the best product strategic positioning; (2) renewal business nets or customer solution nets are better suited to implement the total customer solution strategic positioning; (3) application or dominant design or innovation nets are best suited to implement the system lock-in strategic positioning; or (4) market leading companies, which adopt the same strategic positioning, although acting in different industries, integrate the same type of business network.

Ph.D. (Business Management) / This study is premised on the recognition that small and medium enterprises have a potential to significantly contribute to national economies through job creation, economic growth and innovation. However they have limitations with regard to resources that are required to achieve a competitive advantage, a prerequisite to survive and be successful in the globalised economy that is epitomised by intense competition. The potential that these enterprises hold can only be realised when they can compete effectively in the globalised market. The literature review conducted identified that there are a number of resources and capabilities that enterprises require to achieve a competitive advantage. There are however specific resources and capabilities that are pertinent to achieving and retaining competitive advantage under the prevailing intense competition emanating from the globalisation process. These are technology know-how, finance, human resources and leadership capabilities, the independent variables in this study. Given the resource limitations experienced by small and medium enterprises, literature reviewed further indicated that interorganisational relationships can be a source for resource gaps experienced by enterprises. In particular the relationships with large enterprises are considered to be an effective platform for accessing resources and capabilities by small and medium enterprises. However, it is recognised in literature that the identified resources and capabilities must enable small and medium enterprises to innovate, produce quality products and/or services, be efficient and effectively respond to customers if competitive advantage is to be achieved. In this study innovation, quality, efficiency and customer responsiveness were identified as mediating variables. In view of the problem identified above, that is achieving and maintaining competitive advantage in the globalised economy by small and medium enterprises, the primary objective of this study is to establish how interorganisational relationships with large enterprises influence the competitive advantage of small and medium enterprises. Competitive advantage is the dependent variable in this study and was measured in terms of cost reduction and unique and/or improved products and/or services.

Magister Commercii - MCom / One major contribution to entrepreneurship in the past decade is the introduction of social media, which has changed the way in which businesses are operated. It is argued that using social media has signalled a departure for many businesses from the tradition of word-of- mouth advertising of products and services. Furthermore, it has been suggested that social media has become a crucial mechanism of promoting products owing to its potential of reaching many people as well as being cost effective. Following this line of thought, it can be argued that social media platforms can revolutionize communication among individuals and businesses by increasing their networking circle. This study aimed to establish how female- owned Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the fashion retail sector in Cape Town use social media for both business and social networking purposes. The study used a qualitative research design where data were collected through semi-structured interviews and unobtrusive methods. These techniques were preferred because they allowed for an in-depth understanding of social media networking strategies. The findings highlight that social media contributes towards enhancing the existing business networks and the working activities of the female entrepreneurs; with both weak and strong ties playing a vital role towards cementing these connections.

The first of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015 is to “Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”. Achieving this goal would be aided by having an effective and productive agricultural community. Agricultural organisations assist producers to be more effective in their operation through Commercial Extension Services (CES). Through CES, producers are advised and educated about new agricultural practices, techniques and products. A key component of CES is the provision of relevant information to producers. The problem this research addressed was that producers experience difficulty in accessing the information they require in a timeous, relevant and personalised manner. No suitable framework was found for agricultural organisations to use when designing and implementing an Information Services Platform. The main research objective was to develop and evaluate an Information Services Framework (ISF) for organisations offering information as a CES. The research methodology used to achieve this objective was Design Science Research (DSR). DSR is an iterative methodology with three cycles, namely the relevance, the design and the rigor cycles. The relevance cycle was used to acquire the information required to inform the design cycle. The information was collected by using literature research and empirical studies. The first study, the Producer Information Requirements Survey (PIRS) sought to determine the information requirements of grain producers and was conducted by interviewing grain producers in the Swartland region of South Africa. The second study, the Internet and Mobile Device Usage Survey (IMDUS) investigated the use of the Internet and mobile devices amongst South African producers by means of a national on-line survey. The quantitative and qualitative results of the analysis were used during the design phase to develop the ISF. The design phase of DSR process led to the creation of an ISF for providing Information as a Service (IaaS) in CES. The framework allows for information services to be provided in a manner and form customised to an individual producer’s preferences. The foundation of the framework is that information can be sourced from various sources, internal or external to the organisation and distributed to producers by using a unified platform. During the research, an agricultural organisation, BKB GrainCo used the proposed ISF to develop an Information Services Platform (ISP) to provide information to its producers. BKB GrainCo’s development process included two evaluations. The first evaluation, the Information Preferences Prototype Survey, was intended to test a key component of the framework, the nformation Preferences Profile. The Information Preferences Profile was conceptualized following the PIRS. In the PIRS it was determined that individual producers would prefer to specify what information they would receive, when they required it and have it delivered by using a medium of their choice. The second evaluation of the design phase was a Usability Study. The Usability Study was intended to test the functionality of the system across various technologies. The rigor cycle, following the implementation of BKB GrainCo’s ISP, contained the main evaluation, the Information Services Platform Evaluation. The evaluation was used to test the impact of BKB GrainCo’s ISP on perception of received service. The evaluation used a standardised version of the standardised SERVQUAL instrument specifically adapted in this research to measure the provision of IaaS. The results obtained during the evaluation indicated that the BKB GrainCo’s Information Services Platform was found to be valued by producers and improved the communication services of agricultural organisations. It was inferred from the successful implementation of BKB GrainCo’s ISP and the positive response from producers, after the evaluations, that the developed ISF was suitable for an agricultural organisation to provide CES. The theoretical contributions included underpinning the concept of CES in terms of stakeholder theory. Its underpinning provides justification for agricultural organisations to improve CES – including the provision of information. A second theoretical contribution was the extension of SERVQUAL as an IS theory by developing and validating a dimension designed to test the provision of IaaS. Providing producers with accurate and reliable personalised information has the capacity to improve producers’ ability to make informed decisions. Informed decision making will contribute to having an effective and productive agricultural community; resulting in improvement of agricultural output and contributing to food security and job creation. Improved agricultural output, better food security and job creation are aspects which will contribute toward the attainment of the first of eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals for 2015, which is to “Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger”.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine and understand the nature of Information and communication technology (ICT) supported formal women business networks (eFWBNs) and their contribution to the development of women entrepreneurs. For over a decade, studies on women’s entrepreneurship, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, have reiterated the importance of, and need for, women’s involvement in formal women business networks (FWBNs). In this study, FWBNs are defined as networks that have women entrepreneurs as key actors and are often affiliated with consultants, business practitioners, and government. FWBNs provide benefits and access to useful resources that are not easily accessible to women entrepreneurs due to several constraints. FWBNs have been found to be slow to leverage ICTs to facilitate and enhance their activities even in the era of globalisation. While FWBNs exist in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a dearth of research on their characteristics, structure and operation. Particularly within the information systems field, there is paucity of recearch around the integration and use of ICTs in WBNs. Thus, there is limited guidance on what makes a FWBN achieve its objectives and how these networks may leverage technology to enhance and facilitate their operations and activities. For these reasons, this study sought to shed light on the nature of eFWBNs and their use of ICTs. To achieve this objective, multidisciplinary theories were reviewed and an integrative theoretical framework developed. This revealed that an eFWBN is a configuration of distinct but inter-related elements – actors, relationships, resources, governance, external support and ICTs – which interplay to provide contributions and benefits to women entrepreneurs. This thesis proposed that the stronger the coherence among the core elements of the eFWBN, and the operating and support mechanisms, the greater will be their contribution and benefits. This proposition was tested in an empirical study involving three network cases in Kenya and South Africa, using mixed methods. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis, and converted to quantitative data using the quantitisation technique. The quantitised data and the data collected using quantitative methods were combined to test the model using cluster analysis. The cluster analysis resulted in three clusters representing the three eFWBNs cases in this study. The findings revealed that the Kenyan networks had achieved coherence amongst the elements of the network and as such attained good outcomes. However, the South African network did not report good outcomes, suggesting they had not attained coherence amongst the element in the network. The findings also provided results contrary to the observations in literature about the use of ICTs in eFWBNs. In this study, not only ICTs were highly leveraged at the network-level and were an integral part to the strategy, the existence and operation of the network. This research makes significant contribution to knowledge by providing insight and understanding into an under-researched area (eFWBNs). The key theoretical contribution of this study is the integrative theoretical framework that overcomes the limitations of earlier theories used to study networks. It integrates various theories into a framework that identifies and explains more comprehensively the various aspects and operations of eFWBNs. It also advances the configurational theory as an effective approach to measuring complex relationships. This study also makes significant methodological contributions. There is currently a dearth of knowledge on how to fully integrate both qualitative and quantitative data in mixed methods research. Thus, by adopting the quantitisation technique, this study provides knowledge on how to convert qualitative data to quantitative data to achieve synthesis of both methods in a single study. Also, the adoption of realism as a philosophical stance helped to overcome the challenges of mixing methods and paradigms in one research project. The findings of this study also have practical implications. The findings showed that at the membership level, women entrepreneurs need to apply more agency in establishing relationships and translate the acquired resources within the network into benefits for their businesses. At the network-level, the evidence revealed that leaders of eFWBNs need to ensure they balance the needs of their members in order to carry the members along and preventing them from feeling excluded. The findings also asserted the importance of developmental, private and public organisations to eFWBNs. Lastly, government and practitioners can draw from the understanding provided of eFWBNs, to create and establish policies that can aid women entrepreneurs’ successes and growth. The theoretical, practical and methodological contributions are further discussed in this thesis. The study concludes with a discussion on the limitations of the study and recommendations for future research.

Digitala plattformar är idag vanligt förekommande ochanvänds av flera organisationer. Tidigare forskning harframförallt fokuserat på de tekniska aspekterna avdigitala plattformar och främst på de större mervälkända digitala plattformarna som Facebook ochGoogle. Därför har denna studie som syfte att beskrivade möjligheter och utmaningar sex svenska företagverksamma inom olika affärsområden upplever meddigitala plattformar i relation till samarbete. Studiengenomfördes med sex små och medelstora företagverksamma inom olika affärsområden. Studien är enkvalitativa intervjustudie med en abduktiv metod.Intervjuerna genomfördes med en respondent från varoch en av företagen. Resultatet av studien visar att detfinns många möjligheter och utmaningar med digitalaplattformar i relation till samarbete. De möjligheter somidentifierades var mer effektiva processer, integrationmellan olika system, förändrade roller, uppkomsten avdigitala ekosystem, kombination av resurser ochmöjligheter till kunskapsdelning. Möjligheternaskapade också olika utmaningar som identifierades somsambandet mellan människor och den digitalaplattformen, kontroll av innehållet, värdeskapandet föralla parter, rutiner och processer och beroendet mellanaktörer i nätverken. Med resultatet av denna studie villjag bidra med ny kunskap inom fältet digitalaplattformar, men även visa företag vilka möjligheternadigitala plattformar skapar i samarbete och vilkautmaningar de behöver tänka på / Digital platforms are common today and manyorganizations use digital platforms. Recent research inthe field have focused on the technical aspects of thedigital platforms and often on the more recognizeddigital platforms such as Facebook and Google.Therefore, this study has purpose to describe theopportunities and challenges six Swedish companiesoperating in different business areas experience withdigital platforms in relation to cooperation. The studywas made with six Swedish small and medium sizedbusiness that operated in different business areas. I haveused qualitative interview studies with an abductivemethodology. The interviews were conducted with onerespondent from each of the businesses. The resultshows that there are many opportunities and challengeswith digital platforms in the aspect of cooperation. Theopportunities that was identified was more effectiveprocesses, integration between different systems,changing roles, the creation of digital ecosystems,combination of recourses and possibilities to shareknowledge. The opportunities also created differentchallenges which was identified as the connectionbetween people and the digital platform, the control ofthe content, value creation for all parties, routines andprocesses and dependency between actors in thenetwork. With the result from this study I want tocontribute with new knowledge to the field digitalplatforms but also to show the businesses theopportunities digital platforms create in cooperation andwhat challenges they need to think of.

Many studies have recognised the importance of a variety of factors in the internationalisation of firms. Only a few, however, have attempted to integrate these factors into a comprehensive framework. In this study, taking the network approach as its main analytical foundation, an integrative theoretical framework is developed and tested empirically to assess the impact of a wide range of factors on the internationalisation of firms. The internationalisation phenomenon is examined in a more comprehensive manner than in many previous studies, as a two-sided process of both inward and outward international operations. Using logistic regressions in the analysis of empirical evidence gathered through a national survey sample of 148 Brazilian software firms, the theoretical framework proposed in this study obtained substantial support. The findings expand previous knowledge through a comprehensive explanation that incorporates determinant factors from four distinct dimensions ¿ contextual, organisational, network, and entrepreneurial ¿ in examining the internationalisation of firms from emerging markets. The findings indicate that business networks are indeed strategic mechanisms for a firm in developing its internationalisation trajectory, as hypothesised. The results of this research suggest that studies based on the business-network model of internationalisation can no longer ignore the impact of other factors at the contextual, organisational, and entrepreneurial level. Incorporating these elements into research that seeks to explain the internationalisation of firms could provide a more sophisticated understanding through new insights and allow scholars to go beyond one-dimensional and static theorising. / Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises

李林艷. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2006. / 參考文獻(p. 251-269). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Can kao wen xian (p. 251-269). / Li Linyan.

Wong Lai Fong Yvonne. / Thesis submitted in: July 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Motivation --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Common explanations of economic success --- p.2 / Chapter i) --- Explanation from Neoclassical Economic Perspectives --- p.3 / Chapter ii) --- Explanation from the Statist Perspective --- p.5 / Chapter iii) --- Limitations of Neoclassical and Statist Perspectives --- p.7 / Chapter iv) --- Importance of the interorganizational relationships perspective --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Research --- p.11 / Chapter i) --- The choice of studying the software industry --- p.11 / Chapter ii) --- Research questions and significance --- p.12 / Chapter 1.4 --- Thesis Layout --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW: THE STUDY OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE TO THE IT INDUSTRY / Chapter 2.1 --- Importance of Social Networks --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Theories in the Network Approach I - Social Embeddedness: The Fundamental Building Block of the Network Approach --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Theories in the Network Approach II - The Social Network Approach --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4 --- Theories in Network Approach III - Factors affecting the formation of networks --- p.22 / Chapter i) --- Prior ties or pre-existing network --- p.22 / Chapter ii) --- Expectations from social networks --- p.23 / Chapter iii) --- Incentive schemes by government - industry promotion schemes nurturing public-private or private-private partnership --- p.26 / Chapter iv) --- IT clusters --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- Theories in Network Approach IV ´ؤ Interorganizational Alliances and Social Capital --- p.31 / Chapter i) --- Interorganizational alliances and organizational outcomes --- p.31 / Chapter ii) --- Enhanced performance through social capital --- p.33 / Chapter 2.6 --- Mechanisms: From Interorganizational Relationships to Performance --- p.34 / Chapter i) --- Client acquisition --- p.35 / Chapter ii) --- Capital Accumulation --- p.36 / Chapter iii) --- Product Innovation --- p.37 / Chapter iv) --- Interorganizational Learning --- p.39 / Chapter 2.7 --- Implications from the Literature Review --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.43 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Objectives --- p.44 / Chapter i) --- Research Questions --- p.44 / Chapter ii) --- Propositions --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3 --- Definition of Concepts in the Proposals --- p.46 / Chapter i) --- Performance --- p.46 / Chapter ii) --- Interorganizational relationships --- p.47 / Chapter iii) --- The mechanisms affecting performance by IOR --- p.48 / Chapter iv) --- Factors affecting IOR --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Methodology --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5 --- Chapter Summary --- p.58 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AND THE NATURE OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Mode of Production of the Software Industry in Hong Kong --- p.60 / Chapter 4.3 --- Performance of the Software Industry in Hong Kong --- p.61 / Chapter i) --- Definition of the Software Industry --- p.61 / Chapter ii) --- About the Industry --- p.62 / Chapter iii) --- Performance Indicators --- p.64 / Chapter 4.4 --- Performance of the Software Firms in Hong Kong --- p.70 / Chapter 4.5 --- Nature of Interorganizational Relationships in the Software Industry --- p.71 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary Remarks of the Chapter --- p.81 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND PERFORMANCE --- p.1 / Chapter 5.1 --- Performance and Network Position of Firms --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Case Studies --- p.88 / Chapter i) --- A peripheral firm with negative performance: Company L --- p.88 / Chapter ii) --- Node firm with negative performance: Company C --- p.94 / Chapter iii) --- Node firm with a positive performance: Company A --- p.98 / Chapter iv) --- Node firm with a positive performance: Company M --- p.104 / Chapter 5.3 --- The Mechanism ´ؤ Resource-based perspective --- p.110 / Chapter i) --- Client acquisition --- p.110 / Chapter ii) --- Capital Accumulation --- p.112 / Chapter iii) --- Product Innovation --- p.117 / Chapter iv) --- Interorganizational Learning --- p.118 / Chapter 5.4 --- Concluding Remarks of this Chapter --- p.121 / Chapter CHAPTER 6: --- FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO NETWORK DEFICIT / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.122 / Chapter 6.2 --- Pre-existing Ties --- p.123 / Chapter 6.3 --- Government --- p.128 / Chapter 6.4 --- Intensity of Competition --- p.134 / Chapter 6.5 --- Cluster Effect --- p.137 / Chapter 6.6 --- Concluding Remarks --- p.138 / Chapter CHAPTER 7: --- CONCLUSION / Chapter 7.1 --- The Hong Kong Story: IOR and Performance --- p.140 / Chapter 7.2 --- Research Limitations --- p.144 / Chapter i) --- Difficulty in Explaining a Negative Story --- p.144 / Chapter ii) --- Effect of the Economy --- p.145 / Chapter iii) --- Response Rate --- p.146 / Chapter iv) --- Time Factor --- p.147 / Chapter 7.3 --- Discussion and Further Research --- p.149 / APPENDIX I: LIST OF IT ASSOCIATIONS IN HONG KONG --- p.AI-1 / APPENDIX II: INTERVIEW OUTLINE --- p.AII-1 / REFERENCES --- p.R-1

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references.