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This thesis concerns an investigation of the nature and meaning of speciality regional foods in the UK, by examining the products themselves as well as the producers who bring them to the marketplace. Speciality regional food production is making an increasingly important contribution to the economy and is pertinent to newly evolving policy objectives in the agrifood and rural sectors at both national and European Union levels. In spite of this, many uncertainties exist with respect to the properties of speciality regional foods and the characteristics and behaviour of the producers of these foods. In the literature review, territorial distinctiveness in foods is identified as comprising geophysical and human facets, these being influenced over time by macro-environmental forces such as trade and industrialisation. Territorial distinctiveness is also identified as comprising a range of end product qualities perceived by consumers. In terms of speciality regional food producers, the literature review identifies that such producers tend to be small or micro-sized firms incorporating some level of hand-crafted methods in their production processes. These characteristics imply complex behavioural tendencies, particularly in relation to the propensity of these producers to be market oriented. The weight of evidence suggests that small craft-based producers have characteristics and tendencies not conducive to market oriented behaviour. In the empirical study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 speciality regional food producers based in the north of England, with data analysis following a grounded theory approach. In terms of the nature and meaning of speciality regional foods, it was found that interviewees expressed varying levels of conviction regarding the existence of geophysical and human facets of territorial distinctiveness in their products. Furthermore, a variety of contrasting end product qualities were described. These variations and contrasts were explained with reference to the competitive contexts of the interviewees and the social history of the products respectively. In terms of speciality regional food producers it was found that contrary to expectations, these producers displayed a combination of highly market oriented, entrepreneurial and 'craft' dispositions, with a particular tendency emerging whereby strong evidence of marketorientation and entrepreneurship was partnered with a keen-ness amongst the interviewees to portray themselves as 'craftspersons'. This tendency was explained with reference to the competitive circumstances and prevailing market conditions in which interviewees found themselves. Overall, it is concluded that speciality regional foods have meaning .at an 'essential' as well as a 'projected' level, and that both need be taken into account for regional food policy initiatives to be effective. For speciality regional food producers, it is concluded that multiple tendencies and behaviours co-exist within these producers, and that it is the producers' prioritisation between these which determines the appropriateness of current policy support mechanisms.

Internationalisation has become part of the daily life of most small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in Europe. The internationalisation of enterprises is a dynamic phenomenon and is in this thesis studied as one specific example of change processes in the development of SMEs. Previous research on internationalisation has largely been explorative, most often without any modelling of causal relationships, and with insufficient definitions of concepts. The dominating dynamic models have been based on the assumption of un idirectional changes in small steps, and only cross sectional data have been used. The present research is one of the first where longitudinal date is available for studying the process of internationalisation. The data comes from a panel consisting of 1700 SMEs from 7 countries in Europe where each firm is observed 4 or 5 times in the period 1991-95. Around 47% ofthe enterprises in the panel exhibit development of their export quota which can be explained by an incremental change modeL. Importantly, an almost equally large proportion, 45% ofthe enterprises, exhibit fluctuations in their export quota which can not be explained by the incremental change models. Although variations have been found, the non-incremental change patterns are significantly represented in all countries, all size classes of enterprises and in all industry sectors; and can therefore be considered to be general features -- not patterns associated with specific sub groups of enterprises. The causal analyses of factors influencing export orientation were not able to identify a temporally stable regression model for export quota. The endogenous variable market extension has been found to be influenced by four composite measures: external interaction (+), available capacity (-), employment (+), and manager capabilities (+). Measured by growth in total sale, there is clear evidence that the non-regular change patterns of export quotas can not be regarded as indicators of failure. On the contrary, the results suggest that the non-regular change patterns identifY enterprises which successfully use adaptation and flexibility to their competitive advantage. An initial model was build on previous research where conceptualisation and relationships have mainly been tested with cross-sectional data. This model did not stand up to a test with longitudinal data. The discrepancy between cross sectional and longitudinal modelling indicates that there is a qualitative difference in what can be deduced from research based on one observation and multiple observations. The same conclusion can be derived from the fact that factor analyses as well as path analyses produced different results when the yearly data sets were analysed separately or concurrently.

Researchers and policy makers consider entrepreneurship to be a major source of economic development and competitiveness. Determinants of entrepreneurship have been studied at individual, regional and national levels. Even though research indicates that variation in the levels of entrepreneurship across regions within nations is greater than the national differences and that these differences persist over time (Bosma & Schutjen 2009, 2011; Fritsch & Mueller 2006; Sternberg 2004; Tamásy 2006), we still do not know the full range of regional level determinants of entrepreneurship. I drew from Wennekers’ (2006) framework and link two lines of research (international entrepreneurship and international management) to examine the effects of institutional, economic, technological and cultural contexts on entrepreneurship across within-country regions developed ten hypotheses regarding the relationship of institutional, economic, technological and cultural context to entrepreneurship. I tested these hypotheses within Europe using the regional classification scheme developed by the European Union. Data for the variables came from the European Values Survey, European Social Survey, Eurostat, World Bank, International Social Security Association, Eurobarometer and the Global Competitiveness Report. To test the hypothesized relationships, I use Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM 6.0.) The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between institutional trust, Long Term Orientation and entrepreneurship levels across regions. In conclusion, examination of region-level predictors of entrepreneurship must include different measures of entrepreneurship to provide more accurate understanding and to inform policy makers. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

L’évolution des stratégies de croissance des jeunes entreprises<p><p>La recherche sur la croissance des jeunes entreprises s’est fortement développée au cours des trente dernières années. La situation est particulièrement marquée en Europe où le nombre de jeunes entreprises en forte croissance est réduit alors qu’il est admis que ce type d’entreprises contribue à la création d’un nombre important d’emplois. La communauté scientifique reconnaît que la recherche actuellement disponible manque d’intégration, d’ancrage théorique et d’approches longitudinales. De ce fait, elle n’est pas en mesure d’expliquer comment et pourquoi les jeunes entreprises adoptent différentes stratégies de croissance et suivent des trajectoires hétérogènes. L’objectif de cette thèse est de produire un cadre analytique, aussi intégré et dynamique que possible, permettant de mieux comprendre le pourquoi et le comment de la croissance des jeunes entreprises. Pour faire face à ce défi, elle s’inscrit dans la foulée des travaux séminaux de Gartner et Marchesnay respectivement sur le cadre d’analyse de la création d’entreprise et le système de gestion des petites et moyennes entreprises. Elle adopte le paradigme épistémologique du réalisme critique et recourt essentiellement à la méthode des cas. L’approche générale se veut donc longitudinale, qualitative et exploratoire.<p><p>La recherche est développée en trois temps qui correspondent à autant de chapitres présentés sous forme d’articles scientifiques. Le chapitre 1 remonte aux sources de sept grandes approches de recherche qui ont été adoptées pour expliquer la croissance des jeunes entreprises. Il montre que, prise isolément, aucune d’entre elles ne peut expliquer la croissance mais il souligne également à quel point elles se répondent et se complètent. Le chapitre 2 propose une modélisation systémique qui capitalise sur l’approche configurationnelle telle que développée par Miller et Mintzberg et celle par les processus telle que développée par Van de Ven. Ces deux approches permettent en effet d’intégrer de nombreux acquis des recherches existantes. La modélisation développée suggère que les jeunes entreprises adoptent des configurations associées à différentes stratégies qui mettent en cohérence les éléments caractéristiques de la démarche entrepreneuriale (c’est-à-dire l’entrepreneur, les activités, les ressources, la structure organisationnelle et l’environnement) alors que ceux-ci évoluent sous l’influence de multiples processus. Le chapitre 3, rédigé en anglais, s’intéresse plus particulièrement au cas des jeunes entreprises de services informatiques. Il approfondit la modélisation proposée au chapitre 2 dans un contexte où les entreprises sont, entre autres, confrontées au choix de se développer en tant que sociétés de services et/ou ont l’opportunité de se redéployer vers le développement de logiciels. Sur le plan méthodologique, l’approche choisie consiste à développer une typologie de configurations stratégiques déduite des littératures académique et pratique puis à comparer les idéaux-types qui la compose aux configurations réellement adoptées par des entreprises.<p>La modélisation et la typologie sont testées et conceptuellement confirmées par plusieurs études de cas d’entreprises belges. L’ensemble confirme bien que le développement des jeunes entreprises passe bien par l’adoption de configurations successives, associables à différentes stratégies de croissance, sans que celles-ci et leurs séquences soient prédéterminées du fait de l’influence concomitante de plusieurs processus.<p><p>Bien qu’essentiellement conceptuelle, la thèse confirme le bien-fondé de l’adoption conjointe des approches par les configurations et par les processus pour la compréhension du phénomène complexe qu’est la croissance. Elle ouvre également une porte à de futurs travaux de validation quantitative. Au niveau de la pratique, elle permet d’envisager le développement d’outils d’aide à la décision pour les entrepreneurs afin de les sensibiliser aux conditions et implications de différentes stratégies de croissance.<p><p><p>The evolution of the growth strategies of young firms <p><p>Research on the growth of young firms has developed significantly over the last thirty years. The situation is particularly noteworthy in Europe, where there is only a limited number of young firms experiencing strong growth, even though it is widely recognised that this type of firm contributes to the creation of a substantial amount of jobs. The scientific community recognises that the currently available research is lacking in terms of integration, theoretical anchoring and longitudinal approaches. Consequently, it is not able to explain how and why young firms adopt different growth strategies and follow heterogeneous trajectories. The aim of this thesis is to create an analytical framework, which is as integrated and dynamic as possible, so as to make it possible to understand the why and the wherefore behind the growth of young firms. In order to respond to this challenge, the thesis follows in the footsteps of the seminal works of Gartner and Marchesnay respectively, on the conceptual framework for describing new venture creation and the management system of small and medium enterprises. It adopts the epistemological paradigm of ‘critical realism’ and makes use, essentially, of the case study method. The general approach is therefore intended to be longitudinal, qualitative and exploratory. <p><p>The research is developed in three stages, which correspond to the same number of chapters set out in the form of scientific papers. Chapter 1 goes back to the sources of the seven major research approaches that have been adopted in order to explain the growth of young firms. It demonstrates that, when considered in isolation, none of them can fully explain the growth of young firms, but it also highlights the extent to which they respond to, and complete, one another. Chapter 2 proposes a systemic model that capitalises on the configurational approach as developed by Miller and Mintzberg, as well as the process approach as developed by Van de Ven. Indeed, these two approaches make it possible to integrate a large number of elements that have already been established through existing research. The model suggests that young firms adopt configurations associated with different strategies that tie the key elements of the entrepreneurial phenomenon (namely the entrepreneur, the activities, the resources, the organisational structure and the environment), while these elements change under the influence of numerous processes. The third chapter, which has been written in English, places particular focus on young IT services firms. It takes a more in-depth look at the model proposed in chapter 2 in a context in which firms are, amongst other things, faced with the choice of developing as service firms and/or have the opportunity to turn their efforts and attention towards software development. From a methodological point of view, the chosen approach consists in the development of a typology of strategic configurations deduced from academic and practical literature and then to compare the ideal types with the configurations that have been actually adopted by the firms. <p>The model and typology are tested and conceptually confirmed by several case studies of Belgian companies. The overall findings serve to confirm the fact that the development of young firms is achieved through the adoption of successive configurations that are associated with different growth strategies, without these and their sequences being predetermined because of the influence of multiple simultaneous processes. <p><p>Although it is essentially conceptual in nature, the thesis confirms the relevance of the joint adoption of the configurational- and process-approaches in order to understand the complexity of the growth phenomenon. It also opens up the door to quantitative validation research work. In terms of its practical application, the thesis enables us to start the development of a toolbox that may help entrepreneurs in the decision-making process so as to raise their awareness regarding the conditions and implications of different growth strategies. <p> / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished