Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissSMP.pdf: 1367258 bytes, checksum: 799e7285ff380d378bb38d3e626ef789 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-23 / The subject of this work is the product development management in small and medium sized technology-based firms in the sector of health care equipment production. The product development is critical for these firms and the management of this process affect the performance of it and consequently the competitiveness of these firms. The work has for objective to identify and to analyze the practices adopted by those firms and the main problems in the management of product development in small and medium sized technology-based firms of the State of São Paulo in the sector of health care equipment production, as well as the critical success factors in the management of the projects ahead developed. The diagnosis encloses the identification and analysis of practices of organization and the management adopted by the firms for this process and the main problems faced in the management of it, as well as the performance gotten for the firms in the product development. The field research enclosed a sample of 30 firms distributed among the cities of Campinas, Ribeirão Preto, Rio Claro, São Carlos, São José do Rio Preto and the metropolitan region of São Paulo. This work was developed by means of: 1. bibliographical research on the subject (Product Development Management and Management in small and medium sized technology-based firms); 2. Field research of the type survey (data-collecting) in small and medium sized technology-based firms through questionnaires applied in visit to the firms; 3. compilation and analysis of the data. In general, it was observed that the firms searched in its majority exports to other markets, the most use the platform concept, in general, the firms invest between 5 and 10% of invoicing in R&D, most of firms developed 5 new products in the last 5 years. For the considered products of success for the firms, joined the critical success factors had been: the activities of pre-product development well had been carried through, focus on the requirements of the consumers; integration among firms departments for creation and selection of new ideas and the head of the project was able to motivate the team. / O tema abordado por esta dissertação é a Gestão do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produto (PDP) em Empresas de Base Tecnológica (EBT s) de Pequeno e Médio Porte (PMP) do setor de equipamentos médico-hospitalares (EMH). O desenvolvimento de produto é crítico para essas empresas e a gestão deste processo condiciona o desempenho do mesmo e, conseqüentemente, a competitividade dessas empresas. A dissertação tem por objetivo geral identificar e analisar as práticas adotadas e os principais problemas na gestão do PDP em EBT s de PMP do Estado de São Paulo no setor de equipamentos médico-hospitalares, bem como os fatores críticos de sucesso na gestão dos projetos desenvolvidos. O diagnóstico abrange a identificação e análise das práticas de organização e gerenciamento adotadas pelas empresas para este processo e os principais problemas enfrentados no gerenciamento, bem como o desempenho obtido pelas empresas no desenvolvimento de produtos. A pesquisa de campo abrangeu uma amostra de 30 empresas distribuídas pelos municípios de Campinas, Ribeirão Preto, Rio Claro, São Carlos, São José do Rio Preto, e da região metropolitana de São Paulo. A pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de: 1. pesquisa bibliográfica sobre o tema (Gestão do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos e de EBT s), 2. pesquisa de campo do tipo survey (levantamento de dados) nas EBT s por meio de questionários aplicados em visita às empresas; 3. compilação e análise dos dados. De modo geral, observou-se que as EBT´s pesquisadas em sua maioria exportam para outros mercados, utilizam o conceito de projeto plataforma, um terço das empresas investem entre 5 e 10% do faturamento em P&D e quase metade desenvolveram e lançaram pelo menos 5 novos produtos nos últimos 5 anos. Para os produtos considerados de sucesso pelas empresas, os fatores críticos de sucesso destacados na gestão do PDP são: realização das atividades de pré - desenvolvimento, foco nas necessidades dos clientes e no mercado alvo, integração das diversas áreas nas atividades de geração e seleção de idéias e motivação pelo líder do projeto das pessoas da equipe do projeto do novo produto.

In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine the evolution of corporate leverage of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 1994 to 2016. Analysis of the data set is organized around a sample of 126 listed companies across twelve sub-sector industries, namely, Banks, Financial Services, Life Insurance, Fixed Line Telecommunications, Nonlife Insurance, Health Care Equipment and Services, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Media, Technology Hardware and Equipment, Software and Computer Services, Electronic and Electrical Equipment and Support Services. 621 delisted companies were also briefly analysed to eliminate survivorship bias. Results of multiple regressions using two primary leverage measures and six commonly used determinants of capital structure were varied. Tangibility and growth were negatively related to debt while cost of debt was positively related to debt. Firm size, profitability and corporate tax rate yielded a varied relationship with corporate leverage. Only the growth capital structure determinant showed statistical significance. The overall findings indicate a rise in corporate leverage that coincides in tandem with major local and international economic events.