The adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is widely regarded as essential in contemporary organisational environments. Such technologies have substantial effects on an organisation’s productivity and competitiveness. However, the nature of the effects varies across types of organisation (small to large), by country-context (developed and developing countries) and with the type of ICT adopted. This thesis focuses primarily on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in a less-researched developing country context, the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with special reference to Oman. In terms of the ICT under investigation, recognising the emergence of more interactive forms of technology, this thesis focuses on social media applications. It is widely recognised that the adoption and use of these applications change the ways in which organisations conduct their activities and represent a critical business opportunity for SMEs. This opportunity will only be realised by SMEs if, and when, social media are adopted in their organisations. This therefore creates a requirement to understand the factors that influence SMEs in making the adoption decision. The research related to such factors is scarce, not least because the technologies are relatively new. By using the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, this study therefore attempted to understand the factors influencing the decision by SMEs to adopt social media. It employed a sequential, exploratory mixed method, where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were combined to meet the research objectives. In the first stage, a preliminary TOE model of 18 factors was developed from the analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 SMEs owner-managers in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. In the second stage, a survey involving 205 SMEs in Muscat was conducted to examine empirically the preliminary model. The survey data were analysed using logistic regression (LR). Of the factors examined, compatibility, observability, trialability, trust, image, perceived lack of managerial time, market scope, customer pressure and family and friends’ support were found to have significant influence on SMEs’ decisions to adopt social media. These findings have important implications and value for the research community, SMEs and policy makers (in particular, the Public Authority for SME Development (PASMED)) in terms of formulating improved strategies for social media adoption. The resulting research model proposed in this thesis can improve these stakeholders’ understandings of why some SMEs have chosen to adopt social media technologies, while other SMEs which face similar market conditions have not.

Questo studio vuole illustrare le possibilità di sviluppo dell’industria del venture capital nei mercati emergenti. Il venture capital rappresenta un’alternativa importante per le imprese emergenti dei paesi in via di sviluppo, contribuendo a rafforzare uno sviluppo integrato di tutto il sistema finanziario e dei suoi attori principali quali le istituzioni bancarie tradizionali, i fondi d’investimento ed il mercato dei capitali. L’obiettivo principale del progetto consiste nell’identificare gli attori principali, e gli investimenti target, così come le esperienze più significative, analizzando i fattori critici e mettendo a fuco azioni e programmi utili per attirare investitori di venture capital, accrescere la conoscenza di questi strumenti e superare i maggiori ostacoli al fine di massimizzare l’impatto che l’industria del venture capital può avere nel rafforzare la crescita industriale a livello paese. Il lavoro comprende alcune analisi empiriche nell’ambito dell’area arabo-mediterranea, svolte con l’obiettivo di facilitare partnership ed accrescere investimenti tra i paesi scelti ed i paesi europei. Commenti, spunti e proposte presentate nella parte finale del lavoro sono il frutto di un attento studio degli attori e fattori chiave che contraddistinguono le operazioni di venture capital. Le proposte ed i programmi suggeriti cercano di rispondere alle esigenze e necessità individuate nel corso delle analisi empiriche che sono state svolte trascorrendo lunghi periodi a contatto con gli imprenditori, investitori e funzionari locali. Le analisi empiriche sullo sviluppo dell’industria del venture capital a livello paese sono state svolte in: Giordania, Palestina, Egitto, Israele e Tunisia. / This research aims to verify development of venture capital in emerging markets. Venture capital represents an important alternative to emerging businesses in developing countries by increasing the strength of the entire financial system and its key players, from traditional banking institutions and investment funds, to stock market capital. The project’s main goal is to identify key actors, investment targets, and experiences as well as aiming at analyzing critical factors and conceptualizing related actions pertinent to becoming more competitive in attracting venture capital investors, developing know-how, overcoming barriers, and maximizing the impact venture capital industry may have on industrial growth. The project is focused on the Arab-Mediterranean region seeking to foster partnership and facilitate investment among European and Arab-Mediterranean countries. The comments, ideas, and proposals presented in the final part of the work come from a careful study of the key issues and players exemplified by the operation of venture capital. The findings are also the result of observations made at the end of country-level empirical analyses where much time has been spent in contact with entrepreneurs, investors, and local officials. Country Empirical Analyses on Venture Capital industry development are being carried out in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Tunis and Israel.

À travers des projets d’une échelle inégalée, les acteurs chinois contribuent à la transformation des villes africaines. Le développement urbain constitue un secteur émergent des relations sino-africaines.Combinant aide publique et capitaux privés, plusieurs catégories d’acteurs – instituts d’urbanisme, entreprises de construction, promoteurs privés – y conçoivent et construisent des projets de nature variée à différentes échelles : routes urbaines, résidences de logements, villes satellites,zones économiques spéciales conçues comme des villes nouvelles. Les productions urbaines chinoises en Afrique accélèrent la métropolisation des plus grandes villes du continent et densifient leurs espaces périurbains : elles contribuent à la formation d’une nouvelle strate urbaine. Les projets chinois accompagnent l’émergence des classes moyennes africaines en facilitant l’accession à un meilleur confort de vie. Parallèlement, l’exportation de pratiques chinoises d’urbanisme véhicule une image de réussite et participe au renforcement de la puissance chinoise. / Urban development has become a growing sector within China-Africa relations. The Chinese contribute to the urbanization process in Africa. By combining development aid and business, a number of Chinese stakeholders – urban planning and design institutes, construction firms, and real estate developers – design and build there, on various scales, a great variety of projects such as urban roads, housing estates, satellite-towns, special economic zones planned as new cities. Chinese urban development projects in Africa have sped up the metropolization processin the largest African cities by making suburban areas denser and denser. This has contributed to the development of a new urban stratum in Africa. Chinese projects have been boosting the rise of the African urban middle class by facilitating access to better standards of living. At the same time, the export of Chinese urban development practices conveys an image of success andallows China to strengthen its soft power. / 中国对非洲城市发展的贡献: 中国城市规划式对非洲城市化的影响城市发展已成为中非合作越来越重要的行业。中国对非洲城市化进程作出了贡献。众多中国城市建设专业机构(城市规划设计研究院，施工企业，房地产开发商)在非洲设计和建造各类的城市发展项目: 城市道路、住宅区、卫星城市和经济特区。中国在非洲城市发展项目对加快特大城市的大都市化和密集化作出了贡献。这些项目已经推动一些非洲城市开始产生新的城市阶层。在非洲的中国项目推动非洲中产阶层的崛起，帮助他们方便获得更好的生活条件。同时，中国城市规划设计的走出去传达中国城市发展的成功形象，有利于中国加强自己的软实力。关键词：中非合作，城市发展，城市发展实践，大都市化，城市阶层，房地产，全球化，软实力，援助，新兴国家和发展中国家。