This study aims to elucidate firm and performance attributes of a population of small, elite firms that assume prominent positions in their respective technological spaces and product markets. More specifically, this study addresses the role and impact of industrial agglomeration on the location and performance characteristics of serial innovator firms. The dissertation was conceived as a collection of three distinct but related essays. The first essay on the geographical location of firms with high levels of innovative prowess i.e. serial innovator firms vis-à-vis technology clusters and research universities indicates that these firms are not necessarily located in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) with higher average levels of industry clustering than non-serial innovator firms of similar size. Serial innovator firms and their less innovative counterparts appear to have the same need and capacity to absorb knowledge spillovers in technology clusters. Further analysis, however, revealed that serial innovator firms in the Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology and IT hardware industries are located in MSA's with significantly higher levels of regional specialization than non-serial innovator firms in that industry which suggests an asymmetric need for knowledge spillovers by these firms. Furthermore, serial innovator firms seem to be located in MSA's with a significantly higher number of research universities than a non-serial innovator firm although differences across industries can be noted. This again indicates an asymmetric use and need for academic knowledge spillovers and pecuniary advantages offered by these institutions. The analysis in the second essay reveals that serial innovator firms located in MSAs (Metropolitan Statistical Areas) with elevated levels of industrial clustering announce significantly more new products than their counterparts located in MSA areas with low levels of industrial clustering. However, no differences in the pace of technological progress of the technologies developed by serial innovator firms located in technology clusters and those outside of clusters was found. Finally, the research reported in the third essay indicates that the level of industrial agglomeration has a positive impact on the export performance of serial innovator firms and that these firms benefit proportionately more from technology clusters than non-serial innovator firms.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 375-391). / Microfiche. / 2 v. (xix, 391 leaves, bound) ill. 29 cm

This study seeks to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly growing field of International Entrepreneurship by investigating the process of internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Bell, McNaughton, Young & Crick, (2003) emphasized the need for researchers to re-conceptualize their thinking on the internationalization process of smaller firms. While there has been substantial research done on the small business internationalization and how the participation of these firms in the global economy has fuelled economic growth in a number of countries (Audretsch & Thurik, 2003; Acs, Randall Morck, Shraver & Yeung, 1997; Storey, 1994; Alam & Pacher, 2003), there is tangible evidence that SMEs in Australia are not keeping up with global trends. Studies conducted on Australian firms allude to the following reasons for their constrained presence in international markets: (i) geographic and psychic distance; (ii) costs disadvantage; (iii) overdependence on inward FDI from large foreign multinationals; (iv) a history of inward-looking and narrowly focussed economic development policies of the Australian government. These factors had the combined effect of imbalanced economic growth which was particularly detrimental to the small business sector (Australian Trade Commission, 2002; Maitland & Nicholas, 2002; Alam & Pacher, 2003). Despite the identified obstacles, some Australian SMEs have succeeded in penetrating international markets. This study involved a preliminary qualitative investigation of selected Australian SMEs and their unique internationalization process. Evidence from the case study based investigation will indicate that the respondent firms have leveraged on entrepreneurial qualities to overcome the obstacles and enhance their success in international markets. As such, the internationalization process for these selected firms is seen as an extension of and integral to their entrepreneurial behaviour. Using the lenses provided by relevant facets of the entrepreneurship, internationalization and strategy scholarly fields, this exploratory qualitative study, while building the foundation for further empirical research into the internationalization process of SMEs, can serve as a guide to researchers for ascertaining future directions in this emergent field. The findings from the study are intended to contribute to a body of knowledge encompassing the cross-border operations of SMEs. The research also has value from a practical perspective as Australian SMEs can draw from this body of knowledge as they pursue opportunities internationally.

In the current literature on productivity and economic growth, many studies have explored the relationship between information and communications technology (ICT) and growth. In these studies, ICT capital stock is treated as an individual input in the production process that contributes to output growth. In fact, ICT is found to be a key driver of productivity growth in the developed economies. However, few empirical studies deal with China which has in recent years become one of the world's largest ICT markets and production centres. The lack of empirical work in this field contrasts sharply with the wealth of literature which presents background and descriptive studies of China's high technology sectors that include the telecommunications, the computer and the Internet sectors. This dissertation attempts to fill the void in the literature by examining the role of ICT in China's economy over the past two decades. It aims to develop a framework which emphasizes ICT as a production factor and apply it to interpret China's economic growth. The dissertation contributes to the empirical literature by focusing on the following core aspects underlying the linkage between ICT and economic growth. First, it attempts to estimate the size of China's ICT capital stock using the perpetual inventory method. Second, based on such estimates, the dissertation measures the contribution of ICT to China's economic growth by means of a production function model that segregates ICT from all other forms of capital. Third, the dissertation examines the impact of ICT on technical efficiency in China's regions by applying a stochastic frontier model. Lastly, the dissertation looks at the demand aspect of the ICT industry by estimating and projecting demand for ICT services, namely, the telecommunications and computer markets in China. According to this study, ICT capital is found to be a positive driver for the Chinese economy, and is responsible for about 25% of the country's economic growth, although the percentage varies at different periods. ICT capital is also found to have a positive and significant impact on technical efficiency in the Chinese regions. However, the disparity between the coastal and inland regions in terms of technical efficiency scores is found to be very wide, due to the bulk of ICT investment going into the municipal cities and coastal provinces. It is also found that China may be facing the beginning of a period of strong productivity growth driven by increased investment in ICT, especially innovative investment. Furthermore, projections of demand show that the majority of Chinese citizens will have access to a fixed-line telephone or the mobile phone in five years from now, while about half of the Chinese population is expected to use the computer by 2010.

Originally presented as the author's thesis: Universität zu Kiel, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Breznitz, Dan; Committee Member: Bowman, Kirk; Committee Member: Taylor, Zak.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, March, 2010. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo analisar comparativamente oito indicadores estruturais das indústrias brasileiras de alta e baixa tecnologia entre 1996 e 2011. Os oito indicadores estruturais são: margem de custos de operação, margem de custos de matérias-primas, margem de custos de trabalho, margem de custos de produção, produtividade do trabalho, margem líquida de excedente, margem de lucro da produção e mark-up. Para a divisão dos setores em alta ou baixa tecnologia foi utilizada a classificação proposta pela Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE). Para os dados da análise foi utilizada a Pesquisa Industrial Anual do IBGE. Inicialmente é retomado um breve histórico da evolução industrial no Brasil. Após é feita uma análise de estudos semelhantes. Na parte seguinte é feita uma explicação da metodologia utilizada na pesquisa. Em seguida é realizada uma análise de dados complementares para a análise dos indicadores estruturais. No capítulo seguinte é analisado efetivamente os indicadores estruturais, comparando os grupos de alta e baixa tecnologia e também a análise individual dos setores que formam cada grupo tecnológico. Por fim, resume-se os resultados encontrados no último capítulo. / This dissertation aims to analyze comparatively eight structural indicators of brazilian industries of high and low technology between 1996 and 2011. The eight structural indicators are: margin of operating costs, margin costs of raw materials , labor cost margin, margin production costs, labor productivity, net margin of surplus, profit margin of production and mark-up. To the division of sectors in high or low technology was used the classification proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For the data analysis was used the Annual Industrial Survey of IBGE. Initially was resumed a brief history of industrial development in Brazil. After is performed a review of similar studies. The next part was an explanation of the methodology used in the research. Then is performed an analysis of additional data for the analysis of structural indicators. The next chapter is effectively analyzed the structural indicators, comparing the groups of high and low technology and also the individual analysis of the sectors that form each technology group. Finally, it summarizes the results in the last chapter.

As pequenas empresas vêm ganhando destaque no contexto econômico brasileiro dado o importante papel que desempenham. Dentre estas empresas, destacam-se as pequenas empresas de base tecnológica (PEBTs), as quais são caracterizadas por focalizar a estratégia competitiva na inovação, participar ativamente das mudanças tecnológicas e atuar como fornecedores em diferentes cadeias produtivas. O processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP) representa o conjunto de atividades pela qual as informações sobre o mercado são transformadas em requisitos de produto. É um processo complexo e com um elevado grau de incertezas. Grande parte da literatura sobre o tema está relacionada com o contexto das grandes empresas, entretanto, uma série de particularidades torna a realidade das pequenas empresas bastante diferente. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é explorar as particularidades do PDP das PEBTs. Foi conduzido um levantamento dos fatores críticos de sucesso de PEBTs através de uma pesquisa qualitativa. Na sequência, foi realizado um mapeamento de artigos publicados em periódicos internacionais, entre os anos de 2002 e 2011, sobre a velocidade do PDP. Por fim, foi efetuado um estudo quantitativo para identificar associações entre as melhores práticas de gestão e os problemas mais frequentes encontrado no PDP destas empresas. / Small businesses are gaining prominence in the brazilian economic context given the important role they play. Among these firms, there are the small high technology companies, which are characterized by the competitive strategy focused on innovation, by the actively participation in technological changes and as suppliers in different production chains. The new product development (NPD) is a set of activities in which information about the market are transformed into product requirements. It is a complex process with a high degree of uncertainty. Most part of the literature on the topic is related to the large companies context, however, a variety of particularities makes the reality of small firms quite different. Therefore, the aim of this work is to explore the particularities of the NPD small high technology firms. It was conducted a survey of critical success factors through qualitative research. Further, a research mapping the articles published in international journals, between the years of 2002 and 2011, about the speed of the NPD. Finally, a quantitative study was conducted to identify associations between best management practices and most common problems found in the NPD of these companies.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo analisar comparativamente oito indicadores estruturais das indústrias brasileiras de alta e baixa tecnologia entre 1996 e 2011. Os oito indicadores estruturais são: margem de custos de operação, margem de custos de matérias-primas, margem de custos de trabalho, margem de custos de produção, produtividade do trabalho, margem líquida de excedente, margem de lucro da produção e mark-up. Para a divisão dos setores em alta ou baixa tecnologia foi utilizada a classificação proposta pela Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE). Para os dados da análise foi utilizada a Pesquisa Industrial Anual do IBGE. Inicialmente é retomado um breve histórico da evolução industrial no Brasil. Após é feita uma análise de estudos semelhantes. Na parte seguinte é feita uma explicação da metodologia utilizada na pesquisa. Em seguida é realizada uma análise de dados complementares para a análise dos indicadores estruturais. No capítulo seguinte é analisado efetivamente os indicadores estruturais, comparando os grupos de alta e baixa tecnologia e também a análise individual dos setores que formam cada grupo tecnológico. Por fim, resume-se os resultados encontrados no último capítulo. / This dissertation aims to analyze comparatively eight structural indicators of brazilian industries of high and low technology between 1996 and 2011. The eight structural indicators are: margin of operating costs, margin costs of raw materials , labor cost margin, margin production costs, labor productivity, net margin of surplus, profit margin of production and mark-up. To the division of sectors in high or low technology was used the classification proposed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For the data analysis was used the Annual Industrial Survey of IBGE. Initially was resumed a brief history of industrial development in Brazil. After is performed a review of similar studies. The next part was an explanation of the methodology used in the research. Then is performed an analysis of additional data for the analysis of structural indicators. The next chapter is effectively analyzed the structural indicators, comparing the groups of high and low technology and also the individual analysis of the sectors that form each technology group. Finally, it summarizes the results in the last chapter.