A natureza e a magnitude das respostas morfogênicas em plantas forrageiras variam com a disponibilidade de fatores climáticos de crescimento e com as metas de manejo utilizadas, modificando as características estruturais do dossel forrageiro. Nesse cenário, intensidades de desfolhação determinam alterações de forma e função nas plantas forrageiras que, por sua vez, definem e caracterizam estratégias de crescimento e perenização e a resistência das plantas ao pastejo. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e caracterizar as respostas morfogênicas e as características morfológicas do amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) submetido a intensidades de pastejo sob lotação contínua de janeiro de 2013 a março de 2014. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro níveis de intensidade de pastejo (severo - S, moderado - M, leniente - L, e muito leniente - ML) representados pelas alturas de pasto de 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm, e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 210 m2) segundo um delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com 4 repetições. Foram identificados dez estágios de desenvolvimento das folhas de amendoim forrageiro que foram utilizados como referência para a realização das avaliações das respostas morfogênicas. Os folíolos apresentaram simetria dentro dos pares, não havendo a necessidade de mensuração dos quatro folíolos, apenas de um dos folíolos de cada par. A relação relativamente estável entre comprimento e largura dos folíolos permitiu que a área foliar fosse calculada de forma direta desde que um fator de correção (0,71) para a forma elíptica dos folíolos fosse utilizado. Estratégias distintas de crescimento foram utilizadas pelo amendoim forrageiro ao longo do ano. Estas foram caracterizadas por uma relação inversa entre as variáveis indicadoras de tamanho das plantas (comprimento do estolão, comprimento médio entre nós, entre pontos de crescimento e de enraizamento) e aquelas indicadoras de número de indivíduos (densidade de estolões, de nós, de pontos de crescimento e de pontos de enraizamento), com as maiores diferenças registradas nos pastos submetidos aos tratamentos L e VL. De forma geral, o aumento nas variáveis indicadoras de tamanho esteve associado com a diminuição daquelas indicadoras de número de indivíduos. Essa relação parece descrever um processo de segmentação das plantas caracterizado pela formação de unidades menores e autônomas durante o outono que voltam a aumentar de tamanho durante a primavera e verão. Esse processo viabiliza a reprodução clonal das plantas e contribui para a persistência da espécie na área. Pastos submetidos aos tratamentos S e M apresentaram maior taxa de aparecimento de folhas, menor filocrono e menor tamanho final de folhas que pastos submetidos aos tratamentos L e ML. Esse padrão de crescimento resultou em valores relativamente estáveis de IAF para as intensidades de pastejo. O IAF dos pastos variou apenas com a época do ano, refletindo a estacionalidade natural de crescimento das plantas. O amendoim forrageiro apresenta elevada plasticidade fenotípica e capacidade de adaptação ao pastejo, mas é preciso evitar estresses que possam interromper o processo de segmentação durante o outono, uma vez que isso poderia interferir com a perenização das plantas e favorecer o início de processo de degradação da área. / The nature and the magnitude of morphogenetic responses of forage plants vary with the availability of climatic growth factors and with management targets, modifying sward structural characteristics. In this context, defoliation intensity determines changes in plant form and function, which, in turn, define and characterise growth and perennation mechanisms and plant resistance to grazing. The objective of this study was to describe and characterise morphogenetic responses and morphological characteristics of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) subjected to grazing intensities under continuous stocking from January 2013 to March 2014. Treatments corresponded to four levels of grazing intensity (severe - S, moderate - M, lenient - L, and very lenient - VL) represented by the sward management heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and were allocated to experimental units (210 m2 paddocks) according to a complete randomised block design with four replications. Ten stages of leaf development were identified and used as reference for evaluations of plant morphogenetic responses. Leaflets were symmetrical within pairs, indicating the possibility of measuring leaf expansion in just one leaflet of each pair. The relatively stable leaflet length:width ratio allowed direct calculations of leaf area since a correction factor (0.71) for the elliptical form of the leaflets was used. Forage peanut used different growth mechanisms throughout the year. These were characterised by an inverse relationship between plant size (stolon length, internode length, distance between growing points and between rooting points) and plant number (stolon density, node density, growing point density and rooting point density), with greater differences recorded on swards subjected to treatments L and VL. In general, the increase in plant size was associated with a reduction in plant number. This relationship seems to describe a plant segmentation process that results in small autonomous units during autumn, that increase again in size during spring and summer. This process ensures plant clonal reproduction and favours persistence. Swards subjected to treatments S and M showed higher rates if leaf appearance, smaller phyllochron and smaller leaves than swards subjected to treatments L and VL. This resulted in LAI values relatively stable across treatments. LAI values varied only with season of the year, reflecting the seasonality of plant growth. Forage peanut is highly phenotypically plasticand adaptated to grazing, but stresses may interrupt the segmentation process during autumn, and this may interfere with plant perennation and favour the beginning of a degradation process.

本論文主要是探討思科公司如何成功的利用其成長策略一併購，未達成公司的成長目標。首先，簡要介紹思科公司創辦以來輝煌的經營績效。接著，我們探討其所處的產業環境以及公司發展目標的沿革、變遷。再來，我們嘗試瞭解其成長策略的運用和搭配的財務策略，諸如：資本形成、付款工具、企業風險等。借著分析其長期的財務統計資料，讓我們得以驗證思科策略的成功。我們也試圖分析決定其策略的箇中原委，進而深究移植思科成功經驗的可行性。 / Abstract This is the case study to investigate how Cisco has being successful to utilize strategies of mergers and acquisition for his corporate growth. It has structure breakdown to kernel to catch the truth. Starting from briefing about his amazing operation records during recent years, then we try to figure out what kinds of growth strategies which Cisco have applied in products planning and resources allocation to overcome undetermined business environments. It is mergers and acquisition strategies to fulfill his dream. We are interested in his motivations to choose such an external growth way and investigate how does Cisco make deals in mergers and acquisition. Then we get into how his financial strategies to support mergers and acquisition from the aspect of capital formation. We applied Pecking Order Theory to overview Cisco's financial strategies. We are also interested in the reason why stock swap is so popular in mergers and acquisition in high technical industry. We evaluated mergers and acquisition performance with financial indexes from company-wise point of view. Finally we concluded his successful formula and constraints applied in business in Taiwan.

Bakgrund: Varje år utses, av Dagens Industri, cirka 1000 företag till gasellföretag vilket motsvarar färre än 0,5 % av alla svenska aktiebolag.  Dessa företag uppfyller vissa kriterier där tillväxt är den viktigaste. Gasellföretagens tillväxt är viktig för Sverige då de både bidrar ekonomiskt och står för många nya arbetstillfällen. Dock är det få företag i Sverige som har kunskapen att växa. För att ett företag ska kunna uppnå tillväxt ligger det i grunden en tillväxtstrategi som måste implementeras inom organisationen på bästa sätt. Vilka tillväxtstrategier använder gasellföretag och hur implementerar de dem? Syfte: Beskriva gasellföretagens utformning och implementering av strategier samt förklara deras tillväxt genom att identifiera tillväxtfaktorer. Genomförande: Studien är av kvalitativ art och baserad på intervjuer med fyra fallföretag. Slutsats: Vi har utifrån vår fallstudie identifierat vilka tillväxtstrategier och ekonomiska styrsystem som gasellföretag använder. Vi har även identifierat och sammanställt sju faktorer, varav sex interna och den sjunde är den externa situationen företaget befinner sig i. Tillsammans är faktorerna av högsta vikt för ett företags tillväxt. Slutsatsen presenteras i en modell framtagen av oss. / Background: Every year an average of 1000 companies, which stands for less than 0,5 % of all Swedish incorporated companies, are appointed the Gazelle reward from Dagens Industri. These companies live up to certain criteria’s where growth is the most important one and they are of great importance to Sweden since they contribute both economically and work opportunity wise. There are few businesses that possess the competence to grow. To be able to reach positive growth a company needs a strategy, which is implemented throughout the organization in a good manner. What strategies do gazelle companies use and how do they implement them? Purpose: Describe gazelle companies’ strategies and the implementation of those. Also explain their growth by identifying growth factors. Completion: This a qualitative case study based upon interviews with fourcompanies. Results: We have from our case study identified what growth strategies and management control systems gazelle companies’ use. We have also identified seven factors, of which six are internal and the seventh represent the external situation the company experiences. Together they are of great importance for a company’s growth. The results are presented in a model developed by us.

Cost and benefits of high individual growth rates are likely to vary across different environments leading to geographic differentiation in growth strategies. In ectotherms, habitats constrained by short growing seasons favour rapid growth and development leading to adaptive latitudinal clines in these traits. Geographic variation in growth strategies should be influenced by physiological variation as well as environmental factors, however many of these mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In my thesis, I studied hormonal correlates of growth strategies, and compensatory responses to phenological variation and environmental stress in anuran tadpoles. I tested the hypotheses that fast growing high latitude common frog Rana temporaria tadpoles have higher growth hormone (GH) expression, and low stress hormone (CORT) elevation in response to predator stress. I found no relationship between GH expression and latitude, but CORT response decreased with latitude after 24 hours of predator exposure. Lower CORT response at high latitude can be adaptive as it may enable the tadpoles to maintain high growth in time constrained habitats. I also found that breeding phenology affected latitudinal variation in growth, development and anti-predator strategies. Northern R. temporaria tadpoles were phenotypically more similar to southern tadpoles when breeding occurred early, suggesting that part of the latitudinal variation is plastic and affected by yearly variation in phenology. When time stress was manipulated by delaying hatching, tadpoles were able to compensate by increasing their development and growth during the larval stage, decreasing the cost of the delayed development. In the final study, I found that northern tadpoles showed stronger compensatory growth during the larval stage than southern tadpoles after being delayed by low food, however, temperature manipulation did not induce differences in the compensatory responses. In general, my results highlight the roles of both environmental and genetic variation in determining individual growth strategies. / Felaktigt tryckt som Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 735

A natureza e a magnitude das respostas morfogênicas em plantas forrageiras variam com a disponibilidade de fatores climáticos de crescimento e com as metas de manejo utilizadas, modificando as características estruturais do dossel forrageiro. Nesse cenário, intensidades de desfolhação determinam alterações de forma e função nas plantas forrageiras que, por sua vez, definem e caracterizam estratégias de crescimento e perenização e a resistência das plantas ao pastejo. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e caracterizar as respostas morfogênicas e as características morfológicas do amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) submetido a intensidades de pastejo sob lotação contínua de janeiro de 2013 a março de 2014. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro níveis de intensidade de pastejo (severo - S, moderado - M, leniente - L, e muito leniente - ML) representados pelas alturas de pasto de 5, 10, 15 e 20 cm, e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 210 m2) segundo um delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com 4 repetições. Foram identificados dez estágios de desenvolvimento das folhas de amendoim forrageiro que foram utilizados como referência para a realização das avaliações das respostas morfogênicas. Os folíolos apresentaram simetria dentro dos pares, não havendo a necessidade de mensuração dos quatro folíolos, apenas de um dos folíolos de cada par. A relação relativamente estável entre comprimento e largura dos folíolos permitiu que a área foliar fosse calculada de forma direta desde que um fator de correção (0,71) para a forma elíptica dos folíolos fosse utilizado. Estratégias distintas de crescimento foram utilizadas pelo amendoim forrageiro ao longo do ano. Estas foram caracterizadas por uma relação inversa entre as variáveis indicadoras de tamanho das plantas (comprimento do estolão, comprimento médio entre nós, entre pontos de crescimento e de enraizamento) e aquelas indicadoras de número de indivíduos (densidade de estolões, de nós, de pontos de crescimento e de pontos de enraizamento), com as maiores diferenças registradas nos pastos submetidos aos tratamentos L e VL. De forma geral, o aumento nas variáveis indicadoras de tamanho esteve associado com a diminuição daquelas indicadoras de número de indivíduos. Essa relação parece descrever um processo de segmentação das plantas caracterizado pela formação de unidades menores e autônomas durante o outono que voltam a aumentar de tamanho durante a primavera e verão. Esse processo viabiliza a reprodução clonal das plantas e contribui para a persistência da espécie na área. Pastos submetidos aos tratamentos S e M apresentaram maior taxa de aparecimento de folhas, menor filocrono e menor tamanho final de folhas que pastos submetidos aos tratamentos L e ML. Esse padrão de crescimento resultou em valores relativamente estáveis de IAF para as intensidades de pastejo. O IAF dos pastos variou apenas com a época do ano, refletindo a estacionalidade natural de crescimento das plantas. O amendoim forrageiro apresenta elevada plasticidade fenotípica e capacidade de adaptação ao pastejo, mas é preciso evitar estresses que possam interromper o processo de segmentação durante o outono, uma vez que isso poderia interferir com a perenização das plantas e favorecer o início de processo de degradação da área. / The nature and the magnitude of morphogenetic responses of forage plants vary with the availability of climatic growth factors and with management targets, modifying sward structural characteristics. In this context, defoliation intensity determines changes in plant form and function, which, in turn, define and characterise growth and perennation mechanisms and plant resistance to grazing. The objective of this study was to describe and characterise morphogenetic responses and morphological characteristics of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte) subjected to grazing intensities under continuous stocking from January 2013 to March 2014. Treatments corresponded to four levels of grazing intensity (severe - S, moderate - M, lenient - L, and very lenient - VL) represented by the sward management heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm, and were allocated to experimental units (210 m2 paddocks) according to a complete randomised block design with four replications. Ten stages of leaf development were identified and used as reference for evaluations of plant morphogenetic responses. Leaflets were symmetrical within pairs, indicating the possibility of measuring leaf expansion in just one leaflet of each pair. The relatively stable leaflet length:width ratio allowed direct calculations of leaf area since a correction factor (0.71) for the elliptical form of the leaflets was used. Forage peanut used different growth mechanisms throughout the year. These were characterised by an inverse relationship between plant size (stolon length, internode length, distance between growing points and between rooting points) and plant number (stolon density, node density, growing point density and rooting point density), with greater differences recorded on swards subjected to treatments L and VL. In general, the increase in plant size was associated with a reduction in plant number. This relationship seems to describe a plant segmentation process that results in small autonomous units during autumn, that increase again in size during spring and summer. This process ensures plant clonal reproduction and favours persistence. Swards subjected to treatments S and M showed higher rates if leaf appearance, smaller phyllochron and smaller leaves than swards subjected to treatments L and VL. This resulted in LAI values relatively stable across treatments. LAI values varied only with season of the year, reflecting the seasonality of plant growth. Forage peanut is highly phenotypically plasticand adaptated to grazing, but stresses may interrupt the segmentation process during autumn, and this may interfere with plant perennation and favour the beginning of a degradation process.

Nas décadas de 50 e 60, muitas empresas norte-americanas iniciaram um processo intensivo de diversificação de negócios, principalmente não relacionada, devido à disponibilidade de capital e forte regulação antitruste, atingindo seu ápice no final da década de 60 e gerando o surgimento de conglomerados corporativos gigantes. Nos anos 70, após muitas diversificações mal sucedidas e desinvestimentos, Rumelt (1974) creditou à diversificação relacionada melhores resultados que a não relacionada. Iniciou-se a tendência de retorno à especialização, no entanto se carecia de um modelo que descrevesse como otimizar as diversificações não relacionadas, muitas vezes importantes do ponto de vista estratégico, o que foi contemplado no modelo de Roberts e Berry (1985). Estes autores desenvolveram a caracterização das diferentes alternativas de crescimento bem como em que situações cada qual é recomendada, propondo a seleção de modalidades estratégicas ótimas de crescimento e entrada em novos negócios segundo o grau de novidade e familiaridade com tecnologias e mercados, contemplando assim as escolhas mais indicadas para as diversificações com diferentes graus de relacionamento, incluindo Desenvolvimentos Internos de Produtos e Mercados, Aquisições, Licenciamentos, Internal Ventures, Joint-Ventures, Venture Capital e Educational acquisitions, cada qual mais indicada em função dos fatores críticos da seleção, ou seja, o nível de recursos disponíveis, competências e conhecimento disponíveis nas dimensões de tecnologia e mercado, retorno e prazo de retorno, risco envolvido, aderência estratégica, grau de diversificação almejado e envolvimento gerencial da empresa mãe. No entanto, embora desde então venha sendo recomendado na literatura, os próprios autores recomendaram que o modelo fosse validado em pesquisas de maior abrangência de episódios e em diferentes contextos industriais, já que realizaram o estudo acessando 14 episódios em uma empresa americana com diversificação de negócios. Assim, o objetivo principal do estudo é analisar a validade do modelo proposto por Roberts&Berry, em um universo mais abrangente de pesquisa, para isso realiza-se uma pesquisa utilizando o estudo de casos da Odebrecht Química, com histórico de grande crescimento e diversificação e pertencente à indústria petroquímica brasileira, que representa 8,0 % do PIB industrial do Brasil. São analisados 30 episódios de crescimento e diversificação em profundidade. Identificam-se e caracterizam-se as modalidades de crescimento e entrada em novos negócios da empresa-caso nos últimos vinte anos; verifica-se a adequação destas ao modelo; identificam-se os fatores determinantes da seleção, e identificam-se os fatores críticos determinantes do desempenho destas escolhas. Foram utilizadas entrevistas em profundidade e questionários semiestruturados para a coleta de dados primários e análise documental para a obtenção de dados secundários. Como resultados da pesquisa, verifica-se que os episódios analisados apresentaram forte aderência à matriz de familiaridade de Roberts & Berry, sendo que 87 % dos bem sucedidos se encontravam na modalidade sugerida pela matriz e 100 % dos mal sucedidos se constituíam em modalidades não recomendáveis em face da familiaridade apresentada no momento da seleção. De forma a validar o modelo, acessaram-se os constructos teóricos implícitos na matriz - fatores motivadores da seleção e fatores determinantes do desempenho - com os dados empíricos dos episódios, com o que se conclui pela validade do modelo no setor industrial. Adicionalmente, como refinamento do modelo, propôs-se o enquadramento de novas modalidades não contempladas no modelo original, como fusões e aquisições com integração vertical para trás. Finalmente, analisa-se o caso de parcerias tecnológicas, sugerindo-se o provável enquadramento no modelo, a ser verificado em pesquisas subsequentes. Contribui-se tanto do ponto de vista teórico, trazendo novas evidências sobre a decisão estratégica em empresas de enfoque tecnológico, como do ponto de vista prático, através da avaliação de um modelo de grande interesse empresarial. / In the fifties and the sixties, several American companies started an intensive business diversification process, mainly of the unrelated diversification, in order to face the new environment characterized by capital abundance and strengthen of antitrust regulation issues. This has generated the emerging of giant corporate conglomerates. In the seventies, after a lot of non-profitable diversifications and consequents divestitures episodes, Rumelt (1974) noticed that the companies which had adopted related diversification showed better profit results than those which had adopted the unrelated diversification, and these facts generated a new trend towards the specialization. However, there was a lack of a prescriptive model dealing with the unrelated diversification very important many times for reaching the strategic and long term goals- the one that could describe the best conditions necessary to adopt and optimize the results of these kinds of growth strategies. It was contemplated in the Roberts and Berry (1985) model. These authors presented the characterization of the alternative growth strategies including Internal Product Developments, Internal Market Developments, Acquisitions, Licensings, Internal Ventures, Joint Ventures, Venture Capital and Educational Acquisitions. as well as the optimum situations for selecting each one, according to the relative degree of existing newness and familiarity with technologies and markets, and also depending on the critical selection factors, such as the level of available resources, the abilities and knowledge available in the technology and market dimensions, financial returns over invested capital and break-even time, involved risks, strategic fit, degree of diversification and corporate involvement of the parent company. Although this model has been recommended in the literature since then, its own authors had suggested that it was validated in different industrial contexts and by assessing a wider array of episodes they studied 14 episodes in a diversified American company. Thus, the main aim of the study is to analyze the validity of the Roberts and Berry model in a wider research extension, assessing the empirical data obtained through a case study of a big and diversified Brazilian company, Odebrecht Química, leader in the petrochemical sector, which represents 8% of Brazilian industrial GDP. It analyzes in depth 30 growth and diversification episodes occured in the last 20 years, carrying out the episodes descriptions and characterizations, verifying the adequacy to the model, describing the critical factors for selecting the entry strategies and finally considering the influence of these factors in the performance levels reached. In-depth interviews and a semi-structured questionnaire were used for collecting primary data and document analysis was used for obtaining secondary data. The findings show that empirical data fitted very well to the familiarity matrix, reaching 87 % adherence to the model in the succesful episodes located in regions recommended by the matrix, and 100 % adherence in the incompatible episodes - located in diverse regions recomended by the matrix. In order to validate the theoretical model, the constructs were accessed, as the determinant factors for selecting the strategy and the critical factors of performance. The results allow the conclusion by the validity of the model in the sector analyzed. Additionally, as possible refinements suggested for the model, the inclusion and positioning in the model of the merger strategies and acquisitions with up-stream vertical integration strategies are provided. Finally, a framework to technological partnership strategies is proposed, to be verified in subsequent researches. This study aims to contribute on one hand, from the theoretical point of view, bringing new evidences in the theory of strategic management of technology, as well as from the practical point of view, through the evaluation of a tool for supporting better strategic decisions.

The problem of the present study was to determine training professionals' perceptions of their awareness of and involvement in the integration of training in the firm's business strategies and the impact of training on the firm's competitiveness. The analysis of data obtained from the online survey of 111 participants who were training professionals employed in small, medium, and large firms across three different industries - service, retailing, and manufacturing - revealed that more than 50% of the participants indicated that they either had some understanding of or understood in depth the integration of training in their firms' business strategies. And more than 50% of the participants reported moderate, high, or very high involvement in the integration of training in their firms' business strategies. Moreover, the majority of the participants rated the impact of training on measures of their firms' competitiveness moderate, high, or very high. In addition, the participants were most frequently based on their communication with colleagues and management team regarding their perceptual judgment of the impact of training on all measures of their firms' competitiveness. There was a statistically significant relationship between the participants' firm sizes and the extent to which training contributed to three of the measures of their firms' innovation. Finally, the results indicated a statistically significant positive relationship, r(98) = .576, p < .01, between training professionals' perceived involvement in the integration of training in their firms' business strategies and the impact of training on their firms' competitiveness.

Den svenska vård-och omsorgsmarknaden har sedan dess avreglering för ca 20 år sedan utvecklats. Från att ha varit ett offentligt monopol har vi nu istället en starkt konkurrensutsatt marknad. Konkurrensfördelar som tillväxtstrategi kan nu vara avgörande för ett bolags framgång. Genom en närmast unik möjlighet att ta del av bolagsdata från ett av Sveriges största vård- och omsorgskoncerner har denna studie undersökt huruvida organiska eller oorganiska tillväxtstrategier lämpar sig bäst för vård- och omsorgsbolag som ämnar öka sin omsättning på ett kapitalmässigt effektivt sätt. Datat som tillhandahölls sträckte sig över fem år och innefattade 56 bolag. Studien genomfördes i form av två analyser. En kvantitativ regressionsanalys för att ta fram ett jämförelsetal motsvarande omsättning per krona spenderad i organiska investeringar och en delvis kvantitativ analys för att ta fram ett jämförelsetal motsvarande omsättning per krona spenderad i oorganiska investeringar. Analyserna visade sammanlagt att oorganiska tillväxtstrategier enligt datat är mer kapitalmässigt effektiva med avseende till omsättningstillväxt än organiska tillväxtstrategier. Studien tog dock bland annat inte hänsyn till potentiella synergieffekter från förvärv eller riskprofilen förknippad med de olika strategierna. Det framgick även från datat att investeringar i personal är positivt korrelerad med omsättningstillväxt, medan det inte gick att påvisa en korrelation mellan omsättningstillväxt och investeringar i IT eller generella investeringar. / The Swedish welfare industry has since its deregulation 20 years ago evolved. What was previously a publicly owned monopoly is now a competitive market. Competitive advantages such as growth strategies is now a key for a company’s success. Through an almost unique opportunity to use data from one of Sweden’s largest welfare groups this study has investigated whether organic or inorganic growth strategies is best suited for welfare companies looking to increase their total revenue in an, in terms of capital, effective way. The data provided spanned over five years and included data from 56 companies. The study was conducted as two separate analyses. A quantitative regression analysis was made to calculate a comparison number corresponding to revenue per SEK spent on organic investments. The second, in part quantitative analysis aimed to create a corresponding number for inorganic investments. The conclusion from the analyses was that according to the data, the inorganic growth strategies outperformed the organic growth strategies. The study did however not consider the potential synergy effects from acquisitions or the risk profile associated with the strategies. The study also revealed that according to the data investments in staff is positively correlated with revenue growth, but a correlation between revenue growth and both investments in IT and general investments could not be proven.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:25:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marcia Amorim Santos.pdf: 2784839 bytes, checksum: 737841f79a10611fa48fdd45afbc767c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-31 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Innovation can be a variable in order to increase growth and business performance. Therefore, many companies proactive to constant market changes, to access complementary assets, satisfy customers and pursue growth and sustainable competitive advantage are practicing open innovation, which is a new paradigm that uses techniques and tools to develop a network of collaborative innovation. According to the assumptions of open innovation, companies can seek and develop resources for enterprises in innovation, internally or externally, regardless of their location; in addition, they can use internal and external paths for its commercialization, considering the value capture and generation. Thus, open innovation has become the cornerstone for this study that sought to identify strategies for innovation and growth applied by Brazilian companies in the metallurgical sector in order to identify it (open innovation) as a factor that contributes to growth. To that end, we have adopted a strategy of exploratory and qualitative research. For data collection, in-depth interviews were used with executives from six companies in the metallurgical sector in Brazil. It was concluded that companies in the Brazilian metallurgical sector adopt open innovation for prospecting radical innovations and exploitation of incremental innovations that include partnerships with customers and universities, internal R & D and strategic alliances with national and international companies, projected on their growth strategies for product development and business diversification, with internal and external mechanisms. It is worth noting that these companies do not adopt the approach in its fullness, not taking advantage of the various possibilities for the search and acquisition of resources, and especially their forms of marketing, thus not getting more benefits with this approach and limiting its growth. One can also show that the market conditions and the strategic profile of the companies influence the strategic choices regarding the adoption of more open and flexible strategies for business opportunities. / A inovação pode ser uma variável para incrementar o crescimento e o desempenho empresarial. Por isso, muitas empresas proativas às mudanças constantes do mercado, para acessar os ativos complementares, satisfazer os clientes e buscar o crescimento e a vantagem competitiva sustentável, estão praticando a inovação aberta, que é um novo paradigma que utiliza técnicas e ferramentas para o desenvolvimento de uma rede de inovação colaborativa. Segundo os pressupostos da inovação aberta, as empresas podem buscar e desenvolver os recursos para os empreendimentos em inovação interna ou externamente, independentemente de sua localização; além disso, podem utilizar caminhos internos e externos para a sua comercialização, tendo em vista a captura e geração de valor. Dessa forma, a inovação aberta tornou-se a pedra angular para este estudo, que buscou identificar as estratégias de inovação e de crescimento praticadas pelas empresas do setor metalúrgico brasileiro a fim de identificá-la (inovação aberta) como fator que contribui para o crescimento. Para tanto, foi adotada uma estratégia de pesquisa exploratória e qualitativa. Para a coleta de dados, foram utilizadas entrevistas em profundidade com executivos de seis empresas do setor metalúrgico brasileiro. Concluiu-se que as empresas do setor metalúrgico brasileiro adotam a inovação aberta para a prospecção de inovações radicais e exploração de inovações incrementais, que abarcam parcerias com clientes e universidades, P&D interno e alianças estratégicas com empresas nacionais e internacionais, projetadas em suas estratégias de crescimento de desenvolvimento de produtos e de diversificação dos negócios, com mecanismos internos e externos. Cabe destacar que essas empresas não adotam a abordagem em sua plenitude, deixando de aproveitar as diversas possibilidades para a busca e aquisição de recursos, e principalmente suas formas de comercialização, deixando, portanto, de obter maiores benefícios com essa abordagem e limitando seu crescimento. Pôde-se evidenciar também que as condições do mercado e do perfil estratégico das empresas influenciam as escolhas estratégicas quanto à adoção de estratégias mais flexíveis e abertas às oportunidades de negócios.

Some small businesses have slower growth as they age and have limited strategies to maximize profit, productivity, and job creation. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the strategies small business managers use to capitalize on growth opportunities. Area small business managers and support program stakeholders could gain new knowledge to develop effective support for mature small businesses. Twenty managers participated in this case study. These managers were from small businesses operating in the state of Florida for more than 5 years with less than 500 employees. The data collection approach included purposeful sampling and semistructured interviews with open-ended questions. In addition, literature on small business growth of policies and procedures was reviewed. The general systems theory conceptual framework was the guide for this study. The thematic approach was used to have the data analyzed using word frequency, text search, and coding. The themes emerging from this study were growth decisions and internal environment, growth decisions and external environment, using alternative growth strategies, heterogeneous growth strategy processes, consulting, researching, and planning growth, accessing support for growth strategies, and overcoming challenges with success attributes. These findings could assist area professional practitioners learn more about the decision making process used by small business managers including the indicators used to measure growth and identify growth opportunities. The findings could also contribute to continued job creation and economic growth of the local community.