In South Africa, the small business sector has been identified as a sector that is not performing optimally. In a turbulent environment, this type of small business profile is magnified. Therefore, it is important to examine mechanisms through which the performance of this sector can be enhanced. Dynamic capabilities have emerged as a strategic tool of the highest order in terms of firm management and strengthening these capabilities is a key concern for firms that operate in a turbulent environment. Dynamic capabilities are described as the processes required to reconfigure existing resources into new functional competencies. Therefore, this study investigated the strategic processes of small businesses and developed a new strategic model and theory to illustrate and elucidate intervention mechanisms and strategies to strengthen the dynamic capabilities of these small businesses. Methodology: The retail community pharmacy sector was chosen as a model sector for this study since it is a sector that comprises mainly of small businesses and it is currently experiencing environmental turbulence. The methodology followed an initial exploratory, qualitative approach followed by a formal, empirical, quantitative approach. The research questionnaire was derived after ensuring that content validity, criterion related validity, construct validity and reliability criteria were met. This questionnaire was administered to a sample of 477 out of a population of 2549 small businesses in the retail community pharmacy sector, using an unrestricted, simple, random, probability sampling approach. As a consequence of having received 130 completed questionnaires, the results obtained in this study were expressed at the 95% confidence level with a confidence interval of 0.08. Results and Discussion: From a gap analysis of the level of importance of dynamic capabilities and their extent of implementation, seven dynamic capabilities whose implementation can be enhanced by an alteration of the management importance perception of them, were extracted. These capabilities revolve around staff reward, well-being, empowerment and education and training, as well as the abilities of the small business leadership to sense the environment and opportunities while being sensitive to stakeholder needs. Through a consolidation of the results of the gap analysis, a model for the initiation and the sustaining of innovative resource reconfigurations was developed. Conclusion: For the management practice setting, this study�s findings suggest that the dynamic capabilities of small firms operating in a turbulent environment can be enhanced and strengthened by the employment of the model developed by this study. From a management education perspective, this study�s findings also suggest that the employment of specific and focussed management education that revolves around the seven identified processes will enable not only the initiating phase of the proposed model but will also provide a multiplier effect in the model since management capability is also part of the general resource base of the firm. This study thus proposes the use of these management practice and educational approaches to strengthen and enhance the dynamic capabilities of small businesses operating in a turbulent environment. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / D. BL.

The number of startups is on the rise, specifically digital startups with products entirely based on software. These companies are facing a resilient challenge when it comes to increasing their user base, revenue or market share. This process is called scaling, which is an essential part for every startup in order to establish themselves in the market. While there are several generic models focusing on scaling a business, there seems to be a lack of scientific research focusing on the challenges during the process of scaling. This paper describes a qualitative study focusing on purely digital companies which have scaled or are trying to scale. Resulting in finding several distinct challenges and barriers related to scaling digital companies, by comparing and contrasting growth literature with the data generated by this study. Besides these challenges, our findings suggest that B2B and B2C companies are facing different challenges during their scaling processes.

Submitted by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2011-05-06T18:32:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 1420834.pdf: 4111638 bytes, checksum: 5503acf3e9055af310cc471ffb0088b9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha(marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2011-05-06T18:32:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1420834.pdf: 4111638 bytes, checksum: 5503acf3e9055af310cc471ffb0088b9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha(marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2011-05-06T18:32:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1420834.pdf: 4111638 bytes, checksum: 5503acf3e9055af310cc471ffb0088b9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-06T18:32:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1420834.pdf: 4111638 bytes, checksum: 5503acf3e9055af310cc471ffb0088b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-09-02 / O presente estudo aborda o modelo Simples Nacional como diferencial de tributação aplicado as microempresas e empresas de pequeno porte com a finalidade de garantir maiores perspectivas de consolidação desses negócios no mercado, a partir de um tratamento tributário diferenciado. Tal mudança deu-se a partir das determinações do novo Código Tributário em vigor por meio da Lei Complementar nO. 123, da Microempresa (ME) e da Empresa de Pequeno Porte (EPP). Trata-se de um conjunto de normas que determinam um tratamento simplificado e favorecido aos pequenos negócios, conhecida no âmbito tributário como Simples Nacional ou 'Super Simples'. O estudo objetiva analisar a relevância do tratamento tributário diferenciado como forma de estimular o desenvolvimento desse segmento na economia nacional. Adotei como percurso metodológico para o estudo a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, complementado por um estudo de caso realizado em empresa de pequeno porte na cidade de Belém. Verifica-se que a implementação do modelo Simples Nacional ainda está em fase de experimentações, não sendo possível ainda perceber vantagens significativas no desenvolvimento das microempresas e empresas de pequeno porte, contudo, é possível que se avance no sentido de minimizar as situações de informalidade. Conclui-se que mesmo com o tratamento tributário diferenciado aplicado as microempresas e empresas de pequeno porte, o Simples Nacional expressa vantagens e desvantagens para este setor produtivo.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T21:42:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CRIS.pdf: 1013051 bytes, checksum: 3e45bcc2aa69b0190aa91ccb18518163 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-18 / First objective of this study is to contribute to the specialized debate and its effort to point out ways to help family business ensuring continuityfrom the secondgeneration of leaders. Although inaccurate andoutdated, statistics show 70 por cento of family business succumbing before reachingthe second generationand, on average, only 15% survive tothe third generation. Successionis the most focused subjectforexperts. However, there are indications, although studiesmultiplyevery year, there is a relativestagnation in thetheoreticalfield. During the last yearsthere has been aslight increase inparticipation ofwomenin positions of family businesses CEO which, historically,influenced bypatriarchal culture, elect theirheirsas successors. This study, therefore, was guided by the general objective of identifying elements of the succession process that will allow a deeper understand of the apparent shift that is occurring in family businesses, evidenced by theslight increase in thecontroltransfer to women, which, in principle, contraries thepatriarchal tradition. Specifically, this study was guidedby the following objectives: i)examinethe practicesof a businessfamily that having openedthe succession processin their own company, is in preparationfora daughterto take overthe business in place of the father/founder; ii) under the light of the accumulated theoretical knowledge and practices of this business family, gather knowledge that will enable the formulation of hypothesis(s) that may contribute to the probation of the problems treated in this study. This isanexploratory researchthat employsthe followingmethods: qualitativemonographic/case study anddialectical. The unit of analysisisafamily ownedcompany basedin the ABCPaulistaregionfor 30 yearswhichis in processof preparing theheiress to take commandin placeof the father/founder. Evidences show that the succession decision was strategically made in order to ensure that the family estate remains controlled by the founder, as professed by the patriarchal patrimonialism model deep-rooted in Brazilian society. / Este estudo tem como finalidade primeira contribuir com o debate especializado que enfrenta o desafio de apontar caminhos que auxiliem as empresas familiares a garantirem a própria continuidade a partir da segunda geração de dirigentes. Embora imprecisas e desatualizadas, as estatísticas mostram que 70% dos negócios familiares sucumbem ao alcançarem a segunda geração e, em média, apenas 15% conseguem sobreviver até a terceira geração. A sucessão constitui o tema de maior atenção dos especialistas. Entretanto, há indicações de que, embora as pesquisas se multipliquem a cada ano, existe uma relativa estagnação teórica do campo. Nos últimos anos observa-se um discreto aumento de participação de mulheres em cargos de presidência das empresas familiares que, historicamente,influenciadas pela cultura patriarcal,elegem seus filhos herdeiros como sucessores. Este estudo, portanto, foi orientado pelo objetivo geral de identificar elementos do processo sucessório que permitam o aprofundamento da aparente mudança que está ocorrendo nas empresas familiares, evidenciada pelo discreto aumento do repasse do comando às mulheres, o que, a princípio, contraria a tradição patriarcal. De modo específico, este estudo foi orientado pelos seguintes objetivos: i) analisar a práxis de determinada família empresária que, tendo inaugurado o processo sucessório em sua empresa, encontra-se em fase de preparação de uma filha para assumir o comando do negócio no lugar do pai/fundador; ii) à luz do conhecimento teórico acumulado e da práxis da família empresária investigada reunir um conhecimento que permita a formulação de hipóteses que contribuam com o aprofundamento da problemática tratada neste estudo. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter exploratório que emprega os seguintes métodos: qualitativo, monográfico/estudo de caso e dialético. A unidade de análise é a família proprietária de uma empresa sediada na região do ABC Paulista há 30 anosque se encontra em fase de preparação de uma filha (herdeira) para assumir o comando no lugar do pai/fundador. Existem evidências de que a decisão sucessória foi tomada estrategicamente com afinalidade de garantir que o patrimônio familiar continue sendo controlado pelo fundador, conforme preconiza o modelo de patrimonialismo patriarcal que se faz presente na sociedade brasileira.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:53:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1228003 bytes, checksum: ecee90ab4abb959d946fe2e48d182219 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This thesis evaluates the use of production planning and control (PCP) in a sample of five small business apparel clothing based in Fortaleza. This is a descriptive and exploratory character. The research was done in small businesses, in accordance with the criteria of similarity of the productive process and organizational structure as well as the willingness to respond with any information necessary for the preparation of the work. Collecting information and data provided through structured interviews, questionnaires, covering topics related to the object of study. The results showed that: a) the companies structure their production system formally, using a "mix" of techniques involving those related to JIT and MRP system, strategically tailored to their realities; b) as regards the commercial area, the studied organizations are required to produce various collections during the year, each absorbs a portfolio of products with differentiated participation in the composition of production, considering color, size, accessories, and other, resulting from fluctuations in demand generated by natural aspects such as seasons, fashion trends and competitive actions that work directly or indirectly in setting up a business strategy that has the CFP a technique of rare importance in competitive reality, interfering so in production scheduling; c) companies use the faction and outsourcing in some stages of the production process, in order to meet the demand, in fact, there are large interference in production scheduling. Finally, the garment segment has specific features that require a robust PCP that can adjust to the characteristics of the sector, the lack of this technique generates consequences in bulk or in the diversification of products. The companies studied, although using the CFP system, some already computerized, not yet freed from manual control planning and production scheduling. / Esta dissertação avalia a utilização do Planejamento e Controle de Produção (PCP) em uma amostra de cinco pequenas empresas de confecções de vestuário sediadas em Fortaleza. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de caráter descritivo e exploratório. A pesquisa foi feita em empresas de pequeno porte, segundo os critérios de similaridade do processo produtivo e estrutura organizacional, bem como a disponibilidade em responder as informações necessárias para a confecção do trabalho. A coleta de informações e dados deu-se através de entrevistas estruturadas, mediante a aplicação de questionário, abordando temas relacionados ao objeto de estudo. Os resultados demonstraram que: a) as empresas estruturam o seu sistema de produção formalmente, utilizando um mix de técnicas envolvendo aquelas relacionadas ao sistema JIT e MRP, estrategicamente adaptadas às suas realidades internas; b) no que se refere ao atendimento à área comercial, as organizações estudadas são obrigadas a produzir várias coleções durante o ano, cada uma absorve um portfólio de produtos com diferenciada participação na composição dos lotes de fabricação, considerando cor, tamanho, acessórios, e outros, resultante das oscilações da demanda gerada por aspectos naturais, como estações do ano, tendências da moda e ações da concorrência que atuam direta e indiretamente na configuração de uma estratégia comercial que tem no PCP uma técnica de rara importância na realidade competitiva, interferindo assim na programação da produção; c) as empresas utilizam a facção e a terceirização em algumas etapas do processo de produção, para atender à demanda, com efeito, há grande interferência na programação da produção. Por fim, o segmento do vestuário possui especificidades que exigem um PCP robusto que possa se ajustar às características do setor, a inexistência desta técnica gera consequências no volume ou na diversificação dos produtos. Nas empresas estudadas, embora utilizem o sistema de PCP, algumas já informatizadas, ainda não se libertaram do controle manual do planejamento e da programação da produção.

Thesis (MTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. / The potential for the sex tourism industry to become legalised in South Africa with the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup is an issue which has raised much controversy and is now at the top of the agenda for debate within government, the business sector and civil society. The study investigates perceptions of students at a Further Education & Training College towards the sex tourism industry, together with selected components of that industry. The study is undertaken to better understand student's perceptions of the sex tourism industry. In order to achieve this, the researcher set out to better understand the sex tourism industry as a whole; as well as to investigate selected socio-cultural impacts that the sex tourism industry can have upon society in order to explore the positive and negative impacts that sex tourism can have upon the youth. In terms of South African legislation, prostitution is illegal under the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, and the study examines current calls for the sex tourism industry to be legalised or decriminalised in light ofthe forthcoming 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The study further examines life orientation for learners and sex education for sex workers. Life orientation is examined as it may have an effect on students' perceptions towards the sex tourism industry. The training of tourism and hospitality staff is seen as a vehicle for combating one of the components ofthe sex tourism industry, namely, child sex tourism and, thus, it is necessary to examine a number ofits other components. The study briefly touches on life orientation, as a key element in ensuring that learners become competent members of society, and as a tool which assists in providing them with essential life skills. Sex education is seen as necessary for both learners and sex workers in order to enable them to comprehend their rights and choices in life. For the purposes ofthe empirical study, the researcher makes use of first year tourism students at an FET College to gain insight into a student's perspective of the sex tourism industry. The iv researcher makes use of students in order to obtain a varied perspective as the students hail from different walks oflife and have diverse views and opinions. Entry into prostitution comes as a result of one or more of a number of contributing factors such as poverty and human trafficking. The contributing factors are researched and are explained in the literature review. The need to conduct the study emanates from the fact that the sex industry forms a large part of the tourism industry and it is a growing industry in South Africa. The research focuses on two areas: the students' perceptions of the sex tourism industry and the social impacts that the sex tourism industry can have upon society. The research methodology includes a literature search followed by the data collection for the empirical survey. The data collection procedure is explained in detail in the relevant chapter. A combination of the qualitative and quantitative approaches are followed for the· empirical survey. Such an approach is also known as a ''triangulative approach". The empirical survey together with the ensuing statistical analysis are conducted in collaboration with the CPUT registered statistician. The responses to the questionnaire are statistically analysed by the statistician, after which the results are described and interpreted by the researcher. The study finds that the majority of students do not want the sex tourism industry to become legalised and perceive the sex industry as immoral. The social impacts of the sex tourism industry can be harmful to society and the study found that the majority ofstudents understood the impact the industry can have and the role that education plays in reducing a few ofthese selected impacts. Finally, a set ofrecommendations and a number ofconcluding remarks are made. A comprehensive bibliography is included.

Avec les orientations prises en 2002 par la Commission Bancaire de l’Afrique Centrale (COBAC) en vue de développer les activités microfinancières, le métier de la microfinance s’est transformé dans sa forme organisationnelle (en passant de l’informel au formel) mais aussi dans sa relation avec son environnement. L’observation du terrain met en lumière que cette perspective est largement déterminée par la coopération entre les très petites entreprises (TPE) et les établissements de microfinance (EMF) dont les pratiques managériales sont soumises à l’épreuve de la réglementation. A ce titre, la réglementation conditionne les pratiques des acteurs, et donc devrait contribuer au développement du marché et assurer la pérennité des EMF et TPE à travers leur coopération. Par rapport à ce qui précède, quels enseignements peut-on tirer de l’expérience gabonaise afin de générer une meilleure compréhension du problème de l’impact de la réglementation sur les acteurs du marché de la microfinance? Ce travail révèle qu’en environnement institutionnalisé, les EMF sont partagés entre deux attitudes : financière ou sociale. Il fait apparaître que plusieurs TPE, porteuses de projets, n’arrivent pas à bénéficier de l’offre du marché microfinancier. Ce paradoxe nous amène alors à interroger les différents comportements que la réglementation du marché de la microfinance traduit et induit. Nous avançons que ces comportements, de même que leur interaction, agissent sur la coordination des acteurs, c'est-à-dire sur la manière dont les EMF et les TPE sont gérés, ainsi que sur la coopération EMF/TPE. Ce travail participe ainsi à une meilleure compréhension du marché de la microfinance au Gabon. / With the direction taken in 2002 by the Banking Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) to develop microfinance activities, the business of microfinance has turned in its organizational form (moving from informal to formal), but also its relationship to its environment. Our field observation shows that this perspective is largely determined by the cooperation between the very small enterprises (VSE) and microfinance institutions (MFIs) whose management practices are put to the test of regulations. As such, the regulation affects the behavior of actors and thus should contribute to market development and the sustainability of MFIs and VSE through their cooperation. Compared to the above, what lessons can be learned from the Gabonese experience to generate a better understanding of the problem of the impact of regulation on the market of microfinance? We show that in an institutionalized environment, EMF have two options: a financial attitude and a social attitude. We show that many small businesses, with projects, are unable to benefit from the offer of the microfinance market. This paradox then leads us to question the different behaviors that the regulation of the microfinance market translated and induced. We induce that these behaviors as well as their interaction affect the internal organization of tasks (coordination) of the actors, that is to say on how EMF and VSE are managed, as well as the cooperation between EMF and VSE. This work opens up new areas of understanding of the microfinance market in Gabon.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:53:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SergioLP_DISSERT.pdf: 3492648 bytes, checksum: 87b7013e07146805fd1e0cec42fb8477 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-27 / Small businesses are experiencing growth scenario in emerging countries by the prospect of economic development, these countries, including Brazil, have a booming economy before the world crisis in the last five years, especially with the participation of small and medium enterprises. These factors generate increased competition and the need to expand market share through management actions in the quest for acquiring new customers. Moreover, these changes increase the need to properly use the information and organizational performance. Some national and international studies show the existence of peculiarities in small organizations, especially in environments of family management. Such particularities raise a scenario with several organizational deficiencies regarding the evaluation of their performance. In some cases, when there are static systems, traditional and focused only on the financial perspective, especially short term. Alternatively, the tools encourage strategic planning and observance of medium and long term, in many ways, whether financial, internal processes, customers, suppliers, and innovation, among others. Therefore, this study aims to identify and analyze the applicability of the system performance evaluation with emphasis on strategic and BSC - Balanced Scorecard. Regarding the research method, is classified as exploratory, with the participation of 25 companies, whose research was conducted between 2012 and 2013. Therefore, the research included the construction process and a structured questionnaire on practices and interest for the use of strategic tools, with emphasis on the Balanced Scorecard. Whose main result presented a high degree of interest in the applicability of the BSC by most of the participating institutions. Furthermore, It was observed the growing interest in using the Balanced Scorecard when it increases the company size, regardless of the area of market action. Participating companies have shown an outline of the strategic objectives and the establishment of indicators for assessing the performance due to their correlations with the BSC / As pequenas empresas est?o vivenciando um cen?rio de crescimento nos pa?ses emergentes, mediante essa perspectiva de desenvolvimento econ?mico, esses pa?ses, incluindo o Brasil, apresentam uma economia em expans?o perante o cen?rio de crise mundial nesses ?ltimos 5 anos, em especial com a participa??o das pequenas e m?dias empresas. Tais fatores geram aumento de concorr?ncia e a necessidade de ampliar a participa??o de mercado por meio de a??es gerenciais na busca pela conquista de novos clientes. Al?m disto, estas mudan?as aumentam a necessidade de usar adequadamente a informa??o e o desempenho organizacional. Alguns estudos nacionais e internacionais apresentam a exist?ncia de particularidades nas pequenas organiza??es, especialmente, em ambientes de gest?o familiar. Tais particularidades suscitam um cen?rio organizacional com diversas defici?ncias acerca da avalia??o de seu desempenho. Em alguns casos, quando existem, s?o sistemas est?ticos, tradicionais e focados apenas na ?tica financeira, principalmente de curto prazo. Alternativamente, as ferramentas estrat?gicas incentivam o planejamento e a observ?ncia de m?dio e longo prazo, em diversos aspectos, sejam financeiros, processos internos, clientes, fornecedores, inova??o e, dentre outros. Portanto, este estudo tem o prop?sito de identificar e analisar a aplicabilidade do sistema de avalia??o de desempenho com ?nfase estrat?gica e o BSC - Balanced Scorecard. Quanto ao m?todo de pesquisa, ? classificada como pesquisa explorat?ria, com a participa??o de 25 empresas, cuja investiga??o foi realizada entre 2012 e 2013. Para tanto, a pesquisa contemplou o processo de constru??o e aplica??o de question?rio estruturado sobre as pr?ticas utilizadas e interesse para a utiliza??o de ferramentas estrat?gicas, com ?nfase no Balanced Scorecard. Cujo resultado principal apresentou-se um alto grau de interesse na aplicabilidade do BSC pela maioria das institui??es participantes. Al?m disto, observou-se o crescente do interesse de usar o Balanced Scorecard ? medida que o porte da empresa aumenta, independente da ?rea de atua??o no mercado. As empresas participantes mostraram ter um delineamento dos objetivos estrat?gicos e estabelecimento de indicadores para avalia??o de desempenho com suas devidas correla??es com o BSC

Mestre em Administração / Esta dissertação de mestrado procurou compreender o conceito de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa, denominada neste estudo por CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility - com o objetivo de esclarecer as dimensões que esta categoria organizacional assume nos dias atuais, a partir de uma abordagem ética fundamentada na teoria da Business Ethics. Também foi estudado o conceito mercadológico de Sistema de Identidade de Marca, com o objetivo de investigar as dimensões desta categoria que se relacionam com a responsabilidade social corporativa. A partir do referencial teórico foi realizado um estudo de caso com o objetivo de levantar, descrever e analisar como o corpo gerencial de nível médio da ACS (Algar Call Center Service S/A) estabelece a relação entre a gestão da Responsabilidade SocialCorporativa na perspectiva da business ethics e a gestão do Sistema de Identidade de Marca. As evidências foram coletadas por meio de observações, análises de documentos e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, sendo utilizada a abordagem qualitativa. A análise dos dados utilizou como técnica analítica a descrição geral do caso seguida da análise das proposições teóricas, verificando-se a relação das dimensões das categorias de análise com as práticas gerenciais relatadas e observadas no contexto empresarial. Como resultado da pesquisa parece possível afirmar que o alinhamento do sistema de gestão da CSR e da identidade de marca possa auxiliar na tomada de decisão mercadológica por uma proposta de valor que integre benefícios de valor econômico e de valor social à marca. Esta integração dos dois sistemas de gestão estabelece associações genuínas e ricas em significado estético e ético com a marca. Uma identidade de marca fundamentada em valores sociais poderá fortalecer o relacionamento com os stakeholders e promover o respeito à diversidade cultural, características emergentes da gestão empresarial no século XXI.

Este estudo tem por objetivos analisar as variáveis do Ambiente Organizacional Externo, à luz das Teorias da Organização Industrial e da Visão Baseada em Recursos, reconhecidas pelo dirigente como adequadas à administração estratégica da pequena empresa. As relações das Pequenas Empresas com o Ambiente Organizacional Externo (EOE) é menos investigada proporcionalmente do que os aspectos do dirigente e da estrutura dessas empresas. Não são encontrados portanto estudos sobre pequenas empresas industriais, de comércio e de serviços e suas relações com seu Ambiente Organizacional Externo principalmente no meio científico, com o enfoque dado nessa pesquisa. Por Ambiente Organizacional Externo compreende-se o entorno externo imediato da organização, composto por fatores como clientes, concorrentes, fornecedores, marcos legais, regulatórios e variáveis macroeconômicas. Esses fatores são abordados com diferentes enfoques pelas duas teorias de referência nessa pesquisa. A compreensão do EOE pode significar para as PE sobrevivência e competitividade tanto quanto as decisões internas do dirigente com respeito a custos e gestão de empregados. Para aprofundamento desses aspectos 154 pequenas empresas dos setores de indústria, comércio e serviços das regiões de São Carlos-SP e de Ribeirão Preto-SP, no Estado de São Paulo, foram objeto de levantamento de dados. A pesquisa é de natureza quantitativa, utilizando-se das 37 questões do instrumento \"Diagnóstico Empresarial\" do Programa ALI - Agente Local de Inovação do Sebrae (Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas). Constatou-se a não relevância para o dirigente dos fatores: da missão e da visão, do registro de informações e para a variável clientes. Já para os fatores gestão dos empregados e fornecedores os resultados da relevância para o dirigente não foram conclusivos. Para o fator exigências legais e marcos regulatórios constatou-se que há relevância para o dirigente. Os resultados apontam para necessidade de complementos qualitativos de investigação mas sinalizam que, para essa amostra, os dirigentes não \"percebem e não dão atenção\" a fatores muitas vezes julgados como essenciais para sobrevivência e competitividade das pequenas empresas, como clientes, fornecedores e registro de informações. / This study aims at analysing the variables of the External Organizational Environment (EOE) in the light of the Theory of the Industrial Organization and Theory of the Resource-Based View, acknowledged by the owner as suitable for the strategic administration of the small business (SB). The relations between Small Businesses and the External Organizational Environment is less investigated when comparing with the managers aspects and the businesses structure. Therefore, there are not studies, on small industrial, commerce or service businesses and their relations with the External Organizational Environment, and even less in the scientific field, that would focus on the issues the present research brings. For External Organizational Environment one understands the immediate external surroundings of the organization, composed by factors as customers, competitors, providers, legal and regulatory marks, macroeconomic variables These factors are approached with different foci by two the referential theories of this research. Understanding the External Organizational Environment can mean for the SB survival and competitivity as much as the internal decisions of the owner regarding costs and the management of collaborators. In order to deepen this perspectives, one took as the data base for this investigation 154 small businesses of industry, commerce and service sectors around the regions of São Carlos - SP and Ribeirão Preto - SP, in the State of São Paulo. The investigation is of quantitative nature, using the 37 questions of the instrument \"Business Diagnosis\" of the pro Programme ALI Local Agent of Innovation from Sebrae. It was confirmed the non relevance for the Owner of the practices of mission and of vision; it was confirmed the non relevance for the Owner of the practice of information registry; it was confirmed the non relevance for the Owner for the variable costumers. As for the factors management of collaborators and providers the relevance results for the Management were not conclusive; for the factor legal demands and regulatory marks it was found that there is relevance for the Owner. The results point to the necessity of qualitative complements of investigation. But they signal that, for this sample, the Owners do not notice and do not pay attention to factors many times considered as essential for the survival and the competitiveness of the small business, factors such as costumers, providers and registration of information.