The research is focusing on small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the German Medical Technology (MedTech) industry and investigates the antecedents and the effects of organizational capabilities on their strategy regarding international ventures. Although there is various research in the field of strategy, internationalisation and SMEs, the impact of existing research in the specific field of German Medtech SMEs is relatively poor while theoretical and empirical findings obtained in another particular institutional context are not yet applicable in other countries or industries. As a consequence, a systematic review of the literature has been conducted. An initial conceptual model was developed, in which significant findings regards country, industry and firm-specific aspects could be identified. The philosophical stand of the researcher and his ontological view as a post-positivist allows both, a qualitative and a quantitative approach. By applying a mixed method approach a focus group discussion provided in depth-knowledge in order to sharpen the initial model. Antecedents, as well as the most important factors related to strategy, were emphasized and further important aspects that focus on capabilities were revealed. With these results, constructs and relationships were modeled and quantitative data from a survey with more than 60 German MedTech SMEs were collected and assessed. This approach led to the finding that factors such as ́market potential ́, ́physical capital ́, ́medical regulations ́ and ́product competitive-ness ́ have the highest influence on the firm ́s strategic approach. ́Organizational learning ́ and ́coordination mechanism ́ have particularly an impact on strategy development, whereas relationship capabilities mediating effect on the strategy-competitive advantage relationship. Firm size and firm ́s experience in international ventures influence a firm ́s internationalisation. The results will serve as a strategic input for SME’s in the German MedTech industry. This research provided a contribution to knowledge that is relevant from an academic as well as from an economic point of view. The findings should help academics, MedTech SMEs, and governmental institutions to understand the decisive factors for internationalisation and the importance to develop specific organizational capabilities in this context. This understanding contributes towards a sound development of German MedTech SMEs in their future internationalisation.

The main objectives of this thesis are to examine and estimate the determinants of domestic investment (public and private) in the Libyan manufacturing sector, and to investigate the impact of domestic investment on the Libyan economy. It adds to the growing literature on the issue of economic growth and econometrics by drawing attention to several issues hitherto little considered in the existing literature. In particular, the thesis blends various aspects of economic growth with models of investment to explain and define the main factors which affect domestic investment, and how domestic investment drives economic growth in the Libyan economy. It is important to recognise that economic growth has become an important aim for all countries in the world; especially less developed countries, which require greater economic efforts to be able to deal with the current international economic climate and the challenges of globalisation: domestic investment is an exemplary element to stimulate economic growth to achieve this target. The main objective of the Libyan government has been the industrialization of Libya, principally through import substitution. Various import restrictions in the form of licensing, quotas and tariffs have provided several sub-sectors of manufacturing with a high level of protection from foreign competition. The government benefits from high levels of financial return in terms of oil revenues, and the consequent easy availability of imported raw materials and capital goods. Despite government support for investment designed to encourage import substitution and export-oriented production, Libya has continued to experience low levels of investment in the domestic manufacturing sector. The stimulus to undertake this study was a desire to explore the most important determinants of fixed investment in Libya's manufacturing sector. This study aims to identify determinants of domestic investment in both the public and private manufacturing sectors in the Libyan economy during the period 1962-2008. Furthermore, this study aimed to identify the impact of domestic investment as a determinant of growth in the Libyan economy during the period 1962-2008. Cobb- Douglas Function was used to analyze the relationship between real per-capita GDP and its most important determinants. Properties of time series of the model variables have been analyzed by using several tests for determining the integration level of each time series separately. By using the Johansen-Juselius cointegration method, the results showed that private investment is strongly and adversely affected in the longer term by changes that take place in domestic public investment in the manufacturing sector, which shows the competition factor between the private and public sectors. The results of these tests revealed an equilibrium relationship between domestic investment in the private manufacturing sector and its determinants in the long and short-run. Also, the results showed the significance of the impact of annual appropriations for the manufacturing sector and imports of machinery & capital goods on domestic investment in the public manufacturing sector, the results of these tests revealed an equilibrium relationship between domestic investment in the public manufacturing sector and its determinants in the long and short-run. Moreover, the results showed the significance of the impact of investment on per-capita GDP; the results of tests revealed an equilibrium relationship between per-capita GDP and its determinants in the long and short-run. The study concludes that the elasticity of per capita GDP to changes in domestic investment is greater than the elasticity of the labour force, which appeared inelastic in the short and long-term. According to the information available, the study and approach adopted have never been undertaken before for Libya, and therefore might contribute toward advancing knowledge and enhancing investment policy, and its implementation by government and private manufacturing enterprises in Libya and other developing countries.

This exploratory research considers the difficulties that are associated with understanding market knowledge in a micro firm. The majority of micro firms gain their rewards from mutual beneficial exchange with their customers. The focus of this mutual exchange is often the product that is the basis of their business. The gaining of new customers is often difficult and requires a considerable degree of effort. The standard business approach is to apply cognitive rationality to this task. Some businesses succeed with this approach, but it is possible that other approaches might reveal a greater understanding of the small business situation. Research suggests that small business owners/managers develop tacit utilitarian, cognitively immediate and undetachable knowledge. In a developing business this is contingent with the entrepreneurial task. It can usefully be conjectured that this task is related to the introduction of new business areas. The entrepreneurial task can be seen as involving a qualitative introduction of new business into a market that has not existed before. The situational interplay of these two factors is investigated using a phenomenological research method and deep analysis of a small number of interviews. This research has found evidence that the development of market knowledge in a micro business can result from a leap into a new engagement. The possible grounding for such a leap is explored in the light of the philosophy of Heidegger. Heidegger's philosophy is noted for the exploration of being and time. He adopted hermeneutic and phenomenological approaches to discuss the leap into the grounding question of being. This leap into a new engagement requires a break from the content but not the methods of small business understanding and can be enabled by the developing attunement of the business owner. This is a different method of investigating the nature of market development in the small business. It is expected that this work will be found to be of value when undertaking further research in this business situation.

The aim of this research is to investigate the influencing factors of price and product policy interdependencies on a standarsided marketing mix management approach within the German foundry industry. The analysis of knowlege of marketing mix management and its processes show that these, despite their benefits, are lacking and have not yet reached marketers' acceptance despite their proven usefulness (Kotler 2009). Scientific discussion is still far from reaching a common agreement on a theoretical model for the management of price and product interdependencies within a standardised marketing mix management approach. Based on a literature review of past empirical work, the author derived factors influencing standardised marketing mix management, discussed their applicability in the case of the German foundry industry and developed a model for standardising the marketing mix management and its price and product policy interdependencies.

Das lógicas vigentes de produção e consumo mais recorrentes no sistema da moda, emergem problemáticas ambientais e sociais de escala mundial. Ao longo da sua evolução, a produção têxtil, uma das atividades humanas mais antigas e elementares, tornou-se uma importante responsável pelo consumo em grande escala e uso indevido de recursos naturais e, associada aos valores de consumo da sociedade urbano-industrial, a sazonalidade da moda é mais um agravante. Fruto de uma visão de mundo fragmentada, intrínseca ao paradigma moderno, o design têxtil e de moda, assim como outras áreas do conhecimento, se desenvolveram orientados a sustentar um padrão de desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico compatíveis com estas lógicas, de forma que no Brasil, importantes saberes sobre processos tecnológicos e o uso de matérias-primas inerentes a nossa cultura popular foram levados a um processo de desuso e esquecimento. Saberes estes intimamente associados à biodiversidade e tidos como de extrema importância dentro das políticas nacionais e internacionais de desenvolvimento ambiental e social. Neste contexto, este trabalho se desenvolveu com o objetivo de propor uma coleção de fios, produzidos a partir de fibras de paina, da espécie nativa Chorisia speciosa, e de técnicas têxteis artesanais, associando à criação as pesquisas teórica e experimental. O método que delineamos para o desenvolvimento da coleção de fios abrange: i) pesquisa teórico-conceitual, em que foram levantados os principais conhecimentos sobre as matérias primas e técnicas no âmbito da cultura têxtil popular brasileira e as principais tendências de moda e consumo no Brasil e no mundo; ii) pesquisa técnico-experimental, fase da pesquisa em que foi testada a viabilidade técnica de transformar as fibras de paina e diferentes misturas destas com fibras de algodão e lã em um fio, bem como o seu tingimento, utilizando as técnicas artesanais pesquisadas na etapa anterior; iii) desenvolvimento da coleção de fios propriamente dita. A partir dos dados obtidos na pesquisa, foi identificado que o vasto conhecimento popular a cerca das técnicas têxteis demonstra imenso potencial ao incorporá-lo no processo criativo têxtil. Além disso, a pesquisa técnico-experimental apontou a viabilidade de fiação da paina com misturas de algodão e lã, bem como o seu tingimento natural. Por meio deste trabalho foi possível então ratificar a importância e potencial de aliar a pesquisa científica à criação de moda tanto para o desenvolvimento de um novo material, como na proposição de formas distintas de produção e consumo de moda. As tendências de moda pesquisadas demonstraram que uma parcela da sociedade vive na atualidade uma intensa e acelerada redefinição de conceitos, valores e estilo de vida que contrariam a configuração do mercado de moda e a lógica de consumo predominante inerente a este, e se projetam gradativamente em transformações nos comportamentos de consumo e consequentemente no mercado e economia. Assim, elas apenas reafirmam a valia da presente pesquisa para o mercado de moda e a propensão deste à aceitação de produtos como o que propusemos aqui. / Social and environmental issues have emerged in global scale from the prevailing logics of production and consumption recurrent in the fashion system. The textile production, one of the oldest elementary human activities, has become a major factor in large scale consumption and in the misuse of natural resources throughout its evolution. Another aggravating factor is the urban-industrial society consumption values and the seasonality of fashion. As a result of a fragmented worldview, intrinsic to the modern paradigm, the textile and fashion design as well as other areas of knowledge - have been developed towards the sustainability of economic and technological development patterns compatible to these logics. In Brazil, important knowledge about technological processes and the use of raw materials, inherent in our popular culture, feel in disuse and oblivion. This knowledge is closely associated with biodiversity and taken with paramount importance for national and international environmental and social development policies. In this context, this work was developed aiming to propose a yarn collection produced with kapok fibers - from the native specie Chorisia speciosa - and textile craft techniques, linking creation to theoretical and experimental research. The outlined method for the development of the yarn collection includes: i) theoretical and conceptual research, in which we analyzed the main knowledge on raw materials and techniques in Brazilian popular textile culture and main fashion and consumption trends in Brazil and the world, ii) technical and experimental research, the phase in which we tested the technical feasibility of kapok fibers transformation and different mixtures of these fibers with cotton and wool on a yarn, as well as its dyeing, using the handmade techniques surveyed in the previous step, iii) development of yarn collection. From the data obtained in the research, we identified that the vast popular knowledge on technical textiles have immense potential to be incorporated in creative textile process. In addition, technical experimental research demonstrated the feasibility of kapok spinning with mixtures of cotton and wool, as well as its natural dyeing. Throughout the work, it was possible to confirm the potential importance of linking scientific research to fashion creation for both the development of new material and for proposing different forms of fashion production and consumption. Fashion trend research showed that part of the society is experiencing an intense and accelerated redefinition of concepts, values and lifestyle that contradicts the fashion market configuration and its consumer logic. Results of this process have gradually been projected as changes in consumer behavior, and consequently, in the market and the economy. Therefore, they reaffirm this research value for the fashion market and its propensity to accept the proposed products.

Family businesses are the backbone of the German economy (Otten-Pappas, 2015). The word ‘family’ makes these companies distinct and indicates their influence on other parts of life. My interest stems from the fact that I was the only child of a business family. For 15 years, I was in charge of the business, contributing to its strong performance. Nevertheless, having achieved all this, I am not proud of myself and feel somehow detached in not having lived my own life. The purpose of this analytic autoethnographic study is to explore, portray and deepen understanding of the situation of growing up in a business family and what influences this has on the business, the family and the individual. The research was carried out within an analytic autoethnographic framework, reflecting the desire to make sense of my experience and to give this phenomenon a name in an ‘academic way’. The abductive nature of this study is due to the fact that I draw on theories which have not previously been brought together under the umbrella of describing and portraying the situation in a family business. This research argues that the phenomenon of ‘subtle coerced succession', which is exercised by parents to groom the natural successor for taking over the family business, exists and has a strong influence on the generational interaction. Being aware of the fact of being born in a business family may imply while being the natural successor brings a lot of stress to the individuals involved. Realising this influence on succession might reduce the number of family businesses not making it to the third generation or beyond. My contribution to knowledge is that ‘subtle coerced succession’ has various impacts on the identity development of children born into family businesses and being the natural successor by birth. This study advances the development of theory by demonstrating how theoretical frames borrowed from other research fields – the total institution, the double-bind, gender and symbolic interactionism – fit together to explain the phenomenon of the ‘subtle coerced succession’ in family businesses.

Aim: This research attempts to understand the interrelation between strategy, performance measurement and management systems (PMMS) and human behaviour. Literature and the researcher’s experience suggest that PMMS most of the time do not deliver the expected results. In the specific case the focus is on a medium-sized company in Sweden which has experienced operational troubles with respect to delivery, which in turn has impacted financial performance. The research proposes a toolbox approach to introduce and align strategy, performance management and behavioural aspects. Methodology: The research enquires about how existing performance measurement and management is influencing the behaviour of employees and managers of this organization. The actions taken during the management of the crisis and the results which were achieved are described. The method and methodology are based on constructivism in order to obtain information about the impact of the strategy, performance measurement and management systems and behaviour. Literature research provided significant conceptual frameworks for both the implementation of strategy and consequent measurement and management systems as well as human behaviour in an organizational environment, summarized in a revised conceptual framework deduced from previous research. This research brings these two fields together to examine the interrelation of both within the researched organization. The researcher is part of the system and also influences the participants and this cannot be separated from each other. The research is less concerned with a wider validity due to the uniqueness of the case. The work might be used as reference for researchers and practitioners to compare their specific situation and derive ideas how to approach them. Based on the findings, previous research is validated, and a process introduced which enables the organization to align strategy, performance measurement and management systems and behaviour. To obtain the primary data the research uses a semi structured interviewing method of both individual and focus groups interviews. The primary data is the thematically coded with NVIVO. Results: Literature suggests that the introduction of PMMS and addressing behavioural aspects are widely separate issues. In introducing new PMMS, literature often refers to “creating buy-in” or “engaging” employees but does not advise on how to address behavioural aspects. Behavioural research deals with the motivation of employees but mostly cannot establish a link between performance management and measurement systems and behaviour. In this specific research, it was found that there is validity of motivational theory with regard to human behaviour, which strongly influences the performance measurement and management of the company. The impact of motivators may have opposite effects than expected because in this specific case the PMMS of the corporate office for the local unit did not change but nevertheless financial performance improved significantly. Contribution to knowledge: A conception framework was derived from literature attempting to interrelate Strategy, PMMS and behaviour. The primary research confirmed this framework and partially validated previous research and theories. Based on the findings from literature a revised conceptual framework is proposed to link behaviour to PMMS.

This research aims to investigate the effects of creolisation (in a manifestation of cultural change, cultural mixing and ethnicity) on consumer behaviour and fashion supply chain management in a Thai retailing context. In this study, creolisation is the process of cultural crossover that appears when local culture has been influenced and integrated with foreign culture. This doctoral study develops a theoretical and conceptual framework that addresses the main question of how creolisation impacts on Thai fashion consumers, retailers and their supply chain. Based on reviewing literature, there is lack of studies exploring the relationship between creolisation, consumer behaviour and fashion supply chain management in Thailand. It is expected that the study will complete this gap by providing the empirical findings to the literature. The study was based on the scientific realism position with a deductive (Thai fashion consumers) and an inductive (Thai fashion retailers and their supply chain) approach to gain a detailed understanding of their relationships. This also relates to mixed methods approach, including the three main methods used. Quantitative questionnaire surveys were conducted with Thai fashion consumers, whereas qualitative interviews and document analysis were used to collect the data from Thai fashion retailers and manufacturers. In terms of data analysis, the data from questionnaire survey were analysed by descriptive statistics and multiple-regression analysis, whereas the interviews data and document analysis were analysed by directed content analysis. In particular, the literature review and the findings from qualitative interviews were used to construct hypotheses to be tested in the quantitative analysis. Overall findings were integrated in the interpretation stage based on the suggested conceptual framework. Furthermore, the triangulation approach was considered to validate the research findings on the relationship between creolisation, Thai fashion consumer behaviour and Thai fashion supply chain management. The study contributes to the extant literature by providing not only new insights into its deficiencies, but also developing a suggested conceptual framework to inform practice. In particular, Thai fashion retailers may have interest in the suggested conceptual framework and apply it in order to enhance an understanding of the relationship between creolisation, consumer behaviour and supply chain management. Moreover, the findings could contribute to the responsiveness strategy in fashion supply chain management. In terms of research methodology, the study also contributes to a methodological foundation of supply chain management research. There is the using of mixed methods approach which integrates a quantitative method and qualitative method in order to investigate the effects of creolisation on consumer behaviour and fashion supply chain management in Thailand.

The implementation of environmental management accounting (EMA) in Mittelstand companies is an uncharted area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the ways, benefits, and disadvantages of implementing EMA in such companies. The choice of the approach and method depended on the following reasons: As the observed phenomena took place inside a company and depended on the attitudes of its members, an interpretivist and qualitative research approach was used that regarded a company as a socially constructed entity. The research was executed with a top-down deductive method starting with a literary review (on Mittelstand-like companies using EMA), and leading to hypotheses concerning the research aim. These assumptions were tested in a qualitative case study using a German Mittelstand company from the printing industry. To this end, the study used the company’s files, personal notes from management meetings, and interviews with experts from the focal company offering the deepest insight in the focal company. The analysis found two different results. Mittelstand companies will have trouble with implementing EMA. However, after having done this, they will only experience benefits and no disadvantages. During the EMA implementation there will probably be delays due to lacking expertise, conservative attitudes, and disturbed channels of information among the staff. However, these obstacles can be overcome with external experts guiding the EMA implementation, and with financial resources to pay them. EMA will then enable a Mittelstand company to track the flows of hazardous and harmless physical entities alike and its associated environmental and conventional costs. With this information the strategic management accounting (SMA) will be able to reduce these costs, to develop eco-friendly products, and to increase its resource efficiency, profits and competitiveness. In a Mittelstand company EMA should therefore be placed at the interface of proper accounting and SMA. FCA, ABC, flow cost accounting, input/output analysis, and EBSC seem to be the optimal methods to track and analyse a company’s physical flows and its related conventional and environmental costs. The former cost type depends on the quantities of the resources, with the latter one depending on the production of waste, the excessive use of water, wood, fuel, electric energy, hazardous chemicals and the process they are used in. To capture these costs it is best to use a set of primary metrics (reflecting the quantities of the resources) and secondary metrics (focussing on the flows and dangers of these resources). Measuring environmental costs of hazardous substances is difficult, since the production processes they are used in depend on chancy circumstances like accidents. Instead, it is also possible to use an EMA that only calculates the amounts of wood, water, waste, fuel, and electric energy needed for the use of hazardous substances. After multiplying these costs with a numerical and empirically obtained factor, the related environmental costs can now be measured both accurately and easily. Such a simplified EMA seems to be a promising method for Mittelstand companies with low technical skills.

This research project, which is limited to German SMEs, deals with the development of a holistic early warning system (EWS) integrating both a quality management system (QMS) and controlling (CO). Most of the concepts designed to identify company risks/crises are focused either on quantitative (operative) or qualitative (strategic) factors. Several authors point out the need for a more holistic approach including both quantitative and qualitative factors. This research, therefore, sought to explore controlling and quality management tools for EWSs in the food production industry, which are appropriate for recognizing risk factors of company failure, outlined by interview and literature review. Concepts and relations were generated with the help of turnaround-, controlling-, and quality management-experts and then confirmed/refined and analyzed by considering how they can be implemented in practice through the application of case study research. This research makes a contribution in the following areas: identification of requirements for an EWS; the exploration of appropriate QM and CO tools for EWS; the proposal of a holistic approach. The EWS, developed during this work, enables companies in the food production industry to tailor the framework for the specific needs of the company. Such a comprehensive, systematic approach (CO + QM) is currently unknown, both in research and also practice. Therefore, the work represents a new, innovative and implementable practical model.