O presente trabalho propõe-se analisar a industrialização do Brasil no contexto de mudanças econômicas e políticas no primeiro governo de Getúlio Vargas, de 1930 até 1945. Na literatura de economia brasileira com relação ao surgimento da indústria no Brasil, duas visões se contrapõem: de um lado, a industrialização como subproduto da intervenção do governo no setor cafeeiro; de outro, a industrialização intencionalmente promovida pelo governo. Com base em uma análise de equilíbrio em um jogo dinâmico de informação imperfeita, é evidenciada a racionalidade da criação de instituições para o desenvolvimento industrial na década de 1930. Este resultado de equilíbrio mostra as mudanças pela qual o Brasil passou a partir da década de 1930, com mudanças da estrutura tributária, educacional, financeira e relações de trabalho, ou seja, essa mudança institucional gerou campo fértil para o surgimento do processo de industrialização que caracterizou o primeiro governo Vargas e também mostra a intencionalidade desse governo, quando se observa a transformação do sistema tributário, de tal modo a ficar imune das oscilações econômicas externas e também as mudanças educacionais, que passou a incentivar o ensino primário, secundário e técnico profissionalizante, medidas essas feitas para atender o novo panorama econômico brasileiro. Outro ponto que corrobora o resultado do equilíbrio de Nash perfeito em subjogos é a perda da importância do setor cafeeiro no período que engloba o século XIX até o final do primeiro governo Vargas, onde as evidências mostram que os cafeicultores tinham, antes e durante a década de 1930, tendências a diversificarem investimentos por conta da perda da renda com o setor cafeicultor. / This study proposes to examine the industrialization of Brazil in the context of economic and political changes in the first government of Getulio Vargas, from 1930 until 1945. In the literature of the Brazilian economy with the coming of industry in Brazil, two visions are in opposition: on one hand, industrialization as a byproduct of government intervention in the coffee sector, on the other, deliberately promoted industrialization by the government. Based on an analysis of equilibrium in a dynamic game of imperfect information, rationality is evident from the creation of institutions for industrial development in the 1930s. The result shows the changes of equilibrium in which Brazil went from the 1930s, with changes in the tax structure, educational, financial and labor relations, that institutional change created fertile ground for the rise of industrialization that characterized the first Vargas government and also shows the intention of this government, when one observes the transformation of the tax system, so be immune to external economic fluctuations and also educational changes, which came to encourage the primary, secondary and technical vocational, measures designed to meet the new economic landscape of Brazil. Another point that confirms the outcome of the Nash equilibrium is perfect in subgame the loss of the importance of the coffee sector in the period that includes the nineteenth century until the end of the first Vargas government, where the evidence shows that farmers had, since the decade of 1930, to diversify investment trends due to the loss of income to the grower industry.

La creazione delle aziende a conduzione familiare è stato una alternativa per migliorare il reddito, la qualità della vita e l'autonomia degli agricoltori nel quadro dello sviluppo rurale. Questa categoria è stata evidenziata in diverse politiche pubbliche per le aziende a conduzione familiare, per cui li è un contesto dinamico per le loro azioni. In questo senso, è essenziale identificare quali sono le attività economiche, le relazioni sociali e le dinamiche di questi imprese familiari rurali a confermare le loro pratiche innovative e il loro rapporto con l’ambiente istituzionale. Questa analisi aggiunge la comprensione dei processi di sviluppo rurale e dei suoi attori e le indicazioni fornite dalle politiche pubbliche. Considerando che le istituzioni e la loro disposizione organizzativa caratterizzano lo sfondo, le proposizioni teoriche a questo studio capito i principi del Nuovo Economia Istituzionale e Evolutionary Economics, così come nuovi approcci per affrontare le innovazioni in agricoltura e lo sviluppo rurale. Lo scopo era quello di identificare i processi di innovazione e le interazioni effettuate sulle dinamiche del contesto istituzionale in cui si trovano questi sviluppi. In particolare, l'obiettivo è stato quello di caratterizzare le aziende a conduzione familiare, individuare i profili di questi in relazione ai processi di innovazione attuate e di identificare l'effetto delle interazioni con l'ambiente istituzionale e organizzativo. Questa ricerca è stata condotta su aziende familiari nelle regioni di Consigli dello Sviluppo Regionale (Corede) Serra, Vale do Caí e Vale do Rio Pardo, nel Rio Grande do Sul (Brasile), e nelle regioni Molise e Emilia Romagna (Italia), per un totale di 27 aziende familiari in casi studio. La ricerca si è basata su metodi qualitativi, utilizzando l'analisi dei contenuti, e quantitativa, utilizzando tecniche di analisi multivariata dei dati, in particolare, la cluster analysis. I risultati hanno mostrato l'esistenza di quattro profili di aziende familiari in termini di processi di innovazione e di 13 categorie di interazioni. Un cross-analisi è stata effettuata per analizzare i profili di innovazione e categorie di interazioni, al fine di verificare possibili relazioni alle innovazioni implementate. I processi di innovazione sono svolte da aziende familiari intervistati da strategie imprenditoriali. Queste strategie sono basate su processi cooperativi, rapporto con l'ambiente esterno, da processi implementati modo più indipendente ed autonomo, interne alla struttura del settore agricolo, ma soprattutto una forma ibrida, dalla combinazione di entrambi. C'è un ambiente istituzionale e una disposizione organizzativa favorevole in tutte le regioni. Tuttavia, ciascuno è presentato in modo caratteristico, e infatti, risulta che per la definizione dei profili innovazione delle aziende familiari, l'ambito geografico non è definito come un condizionale dominante. Pertanto, la disposizione organizzativa contribuisce alle interazioni accadere, ma soprattutto, è l'ambiente istituzionale formale e informale, che comprende gli elementi principali che portano alla realizzazione di processi di innovazione e eseguite interazione. / A criação de agroindústrias familiares tem sido uma alternativa para a melhoria da renda, da qualidade de vida e de autonomia dos agricultores no âmbito do desenvolvimento rural. Esta categoria tem sido evidenciada em diferentes políticas públicas para a agricultura familiar; portanto, há um contexto dinâmico para a sua atuação. Neste sentido, há a necessidade de identificar quais são as atividades econômicas, as relações sociais e as dinâmicas destes empreendimentos rurais familiares, para evidenciar as suas práticas inovadoras e como estas se relacionam com o seu ambiente institucional. Esta análise agrega uma compreensão sobre os processos de desenvolvimento rural e seus atores, e os direcionamentos dados pelas políticas públicas. Considerando que o contexto é caracterizado pelas instituições e seu arranjo organizacional, as proposições teóricas para a realização deste estudo compreenderam os princípios da Nova Economia Institucional e da Economia Evolucionária, bem como novas abordagens para tratar das inovações no âmbito da agricultura e do desenvolvimento rural. O objetivo foi o de identificar os processos de inovação e as interações realizadas diante das dinâmicas do ambiente institucional em que estes empreendimentos se situam. Especificamente, buscou-se: caracterizar as agroindústrias familiares, identificar os perfis destas em relação aos processos de inovação implementados e identificar as interações efetivadas com o ambiente institucional e organizacional. Esta pesquisa foi realizada em agroindústrias familiares nas regiões dos Conselhos Regionais de Desenvolvimento (Corede) Serra, Vale do Caí e Vale do Rio Pardo, no Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil), e nas regiões de Molise e Emília Romanha (Itália), totalizando 27 estudos de casos. A pesquisa foi realizada com base em métodos qualitativos e quantitativos, por meio da análise de conteúdo e o emprego de técnicas multivariadas de análise de dados, especificamente a análise de agrupamento. Os resultados demonstraram a existência de quatro perfis de agroindústrias familiares em função dos processos de inovação e 13 categorias de interações realizadas. Foi feito um cruzamento para analisar os perfis de inovação com as categorias de interações, no intuito de verificar potenciais relações com as inovações implementadas. Os processos de inovação são realizados nas agroindústrias familiares pesquisadas a partir de estratégias empreendedoras. Essas estratégias são baseadas em processos cooperativos, de relacionamento com o ambiente externo, processos implementados de maneira mais independente e autônoma, internos à estrutura das agroindústrias, mas principalmente por uma forma híbrida, a partir da combinação de ambos. Há um ambiente institucional e um arranjo organizacional favorável em todas as regiões. Contudo, cada uma apresenta-se de maneira distintiva e, de fato, verifica-se que, para a definição dos perfis de inovação das agroindústrias familiares, o âmbito geográfico não se define como uma condicional preponderante. Portanto, o arranjo organizacional contribui para que as interações aconteçam; mas, sobretudo, é o ambiente institucional formal e informal que comporta os principais elementos que direcionam para a efetivação dos processos de inovação e de interação realizados. / The creation of family farms is an alternative to improve the income, quality of life and autonomy for the farmers within the framework of rural development. This category has been evidenced in different public policies for family farms, so there is a dynamic context for its actions. In this sense, it is essential to identify what are the economic activities, social relationships and the dynamics of these rural family enterprises to confirm their innovative practices and how they relate to their institutional environment. This analysis adds an understanding of rural development processes and its actors, and the directions given by public policies. Whereas the institutions and their organizational arrangement characterize the background, the theoretical propositions to this study comprise the principles of New Institutional Economics and Evolutionary Economics, as well as new approaches to deal with innovations in agriculture and rural development. The aim was to identify innovation processes and interactions performed on the dynamics of the institutional environment in which these developments are located. Specifically, the objective was to characterize the family farms, identify the profiles of these in relation to implemented innovation processes and identify the effect of interactions with the institutional and organizational environment. This research was conducted on family farms in the regions of Regional Development Councils (Corede) Serra, Vale do Caí and Vale do Rio Pardo, in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and in the regions of Molise and Emilia Romagna (Italy), totaling 27 case studies in family farms . The research was based on qualitative methods, using content analysis, and quantitative methods, using multivariate techniques of data analysis, specifically, cluster analysis. The results showed the existence of four profiles of family farms in terms of innovation processes and 13 categories of interactions. Cross-analysis was conducted in order to analyze innovation profiles with categories of interactions, in order to verify potential relations to the implemented innovations. Innovation processes are carried out by family farms surveyed from entrepreneurial strategies. These strategies are based on cooperative processes, relationship with the external environment, processes implemented in an independent and autonomous manner, internal to the structure of agricultural industries, but mainly a hybrid form, through a combination of both. There is an institutional environment and a favorable organizational arrangement in all regions. However, each is presented in a distinctive way, and in fact, it appears that for the definition of innovation profiles of family farms, the geographical scope is not defined as a dominant conditional. Therefore, the organizational arrangement helps the interactions to happen, but above all, it is the formal and informal institutional environment that includes the main elements that lead to the realization of innovation processes and performed interaction.

O presente trabalho propõe-se analisar a industrialização do Brasil no contexto de mudanças econômicas e políticas no primeiro governo de Getúlio Vargas, de 1930 até 1945. Na literatura de economia brasileira com relação ao surgimento da indústria no Brasil, duas visões se contrapõem: de um lado, a industrialização como subproduto da intervenção do governo no setor cafeeiro; de outro, a industrialização intencionalmente promovida pelo governo. Com base em uma análise de equilíbrio em um jogo dinâmico de informação imperfeita, é evidenciada a racionalidade da criação de instituições para o desenvolvimento industrial na década de 1930. Este resultado de equilíbrio mostra as mudanças pela qual o Brasil passou a partir da década de 1930, com mudanças da estrutura tributária, educacional, financeira e relações de trabalho, ou seja, essa mudança institucional gerou campo fértil para o surgimento do processo de industrialização que caracterizou o primeiro governo Vargas e também mostra a intencionalidade desse governo, quando se observa a transformação do sistema tributário, de tal modo a ficar imune das oscilações econômicas externas e também as mudanças educacionais, que passou a incentivar o ensino primário, secundário e técnico profissionalizante, medidas essas feitas para atender o novo panorama econômico brasileiro. Outro ponto que corrobora o resultado do equilíbrio de Nash perfeito em subjogos é a perda da importância do setor cafeeiro no período que engloba o século XIX até o final do primeiro governo Vargas, onde as evidências mostram que os cafeicultores tinham, antes e durante a década de 1930, tendências a diversificarem investimentos por conta da perda da renda com o setor cafeicultor. / This study proposes to examine the industrialization of Brazil in the context of economic and political changes in the first government of Getulio Vargas, from 1930 until 1945. In the literature of the Brazilian economy with the coming of industry in Brazil, two visions are in opposition: on one hand, industrialization as a byproduct of government intervention in the coffee sector, on the other, deliberately promoted industrialization by the government. Based on an analysis of equilibrium in a dynamic game of imperfect information, rationality is evident from the creation of institutions for industrial development in the 1930s. The result shows the changes of equilibrium in which Brazil went from the 1930s, with changes in the tax structure, educational, financial and labor relations, that institutional change created fertile ground for the rise of industrialization that characterized the first Vargas government and also shows the intention of this government, when one observes the transformation of the tax system, so be immune to external economic fluctuations and also educational changes, which came to encourage the primary, secondary and technical vocational, measures designed to meet the new economic landscape of Brazil. Another point that confirms the outcome of the Nash equilibrium is perfect in subgame the loss of the importance of the coffee sector in the period that includes the nineteenth century until the end of the first Vargas government, where the evidence shows that farmers had, since the decade of 1930, to diversify investment trends due to the loss of income to the grower industry.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T18:33:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosane M H de Souza.pdf: 613287 bytes, checksum: 5610aa0d85a94445685754fb8cfe21b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-25 / This paper investigates the influence of institutional and organizational environment in cooperative farms producing milk Far West Region of Santa Catarina. To this end, this paper begins with a review of the literature, with an approach on the New Institutional Economics (NIE), highlighting the importance of institutional and organizational environment, the cooperative company and its new positioning. Approach is complemented with competitiveness on the subject, institutions, organizations and technology. Passing the focus of the Rural Development and the milk production chain. Later highlights are based on this theoretical perspective, that the development does not only depend on available resources. Social norms, laws, customs and beliefs of a society interfere in the decisions of economic agents and how they use their assets. These decisions determine the direction that society follows in terms of economic and social development. The identification of the properties was made from lists of socio-cooperative active in dairy farming, provided by the Cooperative A and Cooperative B. 175 properties were surveyed in nine counties. This dissertation presents a broader understanding of the relationships between production units and the institutional and organizational environment, which is present in the process of development of rural areas. Thus, the main influences identified in relation to the institutional environment has direct access to credit and indirect training courses and information. The latter occurs in partnership with the organizational environment, by mobilizing cooperatives and agents integrated support and service entities. / Este trabalho aborda a influência do ambiente institucional e organizacional nas propriedades rurais cooperativistas produtora de leite da Região Extremo-Oeste catarinense. Para tanto, esta dissertação inicia com uma revisão da literatura, apresentando uma abordagem sobre a Nova Economia Institucional (NEI), destacando a importância do ambiente institucional e organizacional, a empresa cooperativa e seu novo posicionamento. Complementam-se com abordagem sobre o tema competitividade, instituições, organizações e tecnologia. Passando pelo enfoque do Desenvolvimento Rural e a Cadeia Produtiva do Leite. Posteriormente destaca-se com base nesta perspectiva teórica, que o desenvolvimento não depende apenas da existência de recursos. Normas sociais, leis costumes e crenças comuns de uma sociedade interferem nas decisões dos agentes econômicos e na forma como eles utilizam seus ativos. Tais decisões determinam os rumos que a sociedade segue em termos de desenvolvimento econômico e social. A identificação das propriedades foi feita a partir de listas de sócio-cooperado ativo na atividade leiteira, fornecida pela Cooperativa A e Cooperativa B. Foram entrevistadas 175 propriedades em nove municípios. Esta dissertação apresenta um entendimento mais amplo das relações entre as unidades produtivas e o ambiente institucional e organizacional, as quais estão presentes no processo de desenvolvimento do meio rural. Assim, as principais influências identificadas com relação ao ambiente institucional foi acesso direto a crédito e indireto a cursos de formação e informação. Esse último ocorre em parceria com o ambiente organizacional, através da mobilização das cooperativas e dos agentes integrados a entidades de apoio e serviço.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de découvrir si l’environnement institutionnel affecte la performance agricole dans le cas du Cambodge et comment le premier influe sur la dernière. Pour répondre à cet objectif, trois hypothèses sont formulées : (1) l’environnement institutionnel joue un rôle important dans la protection des droits de propriété foncière ; (2) les droits de propriété foncière sécurisés augmentent la productivité agricole par la stimulation des incitations d’investissement des agriculteurs ; (3) les droits de propriété foncière sécurisés accroissent la productivité agricole par la facilitation de l’accès au crédit formel. Méthodologiquement, la recherche est basée sur les différentes théories de la Nouvelle Economie Institutionnelle, qui expliquent que les institutions déterminent la structure des incitations des acteurs économiques dans une société. Spécifiquement, les institutions politiques déterminent les institutions économiques, c’est-à-dire les droits de propriété, qui à leur tour affectent la performance économique en général et la performance agricole en particulier. La recherche est également basée sur les données venant de diverses sources, telles que des agences gouvernementales, des instituts de recherche locaux, des organisations non-gouvernementales et des organisations internationales, qui sont susceptibles de servir de base pour des analyses empiriques. En outre, le cas de l’Afrique subsaharienne est également étudié à titre de comparaison. Le résultat de la thèse confirme fortement les deux premières hypothèses, mais peu la dernière. Le résultat indique que l’impact de l’environnement institutionnel sur la productivité agricole via la protection des droits de propriété foncière est lié au contexte particulier parce qu’il devrait être complété par un environnement économique favorable, tel que l’infrastructure physique et la technologie agricole améliorées et les institutions du marché développées. De plus, on apprend que les résultats désirés ne sont pas obtenus si les institutions formelles (c’est-à-dire, l’enregistrement formel des terres) sont imposées via l’approche top-down dans les régions où les institutions informelles existantes sont fortement encastrées. / The purpose of this dissertation is to find out if the institutional environment affects agricultural performance in the case of Cambodia and how the former exerts an influence on the latter. To respond to this purpose, three hypotheses are formulated: (1) the institutional environment plays an important role in protecting property rights in land; (2) secure property rights in land increase agricultural productivity through the stimulation of farmers’ investment incentives; (3) secure property rights in land raise agricultural productivity through the facilitation of access to formal credit. Methodologically, the research is based on different theories of New Institutional Economics, which explain that institutions determine the incentive structure of economic actors in society. Specifically, political institutions shape economic institutions, i.e. property rights, which in turn affect economic performance in general and agricultural performance in particular. The research is also based on the data from various sources, such as government agencies, local research institutes, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations, which can serve as a basis for empirical analyses. In addition, the case of Sub-Saharan Africa is also studied for comparison. The result of the dissertation confirms strongly the first two hypotheses but slightly the last one. The result indicates that the impact of institutional environment on agricultural productivity through the protection of property rights in land is context-specific because it should be complemented by a favorable economic environment, such as improved physical infrastructure and agricultural technology and developed market institutions. Furthermore, it is learned that, in developing countries, the desired outcomes will not be obtained if formal institutions (i.e., formal land registration) are imposed through a top-down approach in areas where the existing informal institutions are strongly embedded.

This thesis concentrates on the case of Russian economy and assessment of its dependence on oil. Russia is often cited as an example of country suffering from resource curse as its natural wealth forms significant share of country's exports and revenues. Thesis will first concentrate on factors determining current state of Russian economy. Presence of the symptoms of Dutch disease in the Russian economy will be studied using the Vector error correction model (VECM) applied on the real effective exchange rate of country (REER). Thesis will also contain an assessment of Russian institutional environment to check for other symptoms of resource curse theory. Analysis of latest federal budget will be used to evaluate the sustainability of Russian federal finances. The thesis is concluded by discussion of results and possible paths of future development of Russian economy.

Cette thèse, en portant une attention particulière sur les entreprises familiales turques et par l'utilisation d'une approche fondée sur la théorie de l'agence, a pour objectif de mettre en lumière les implications du capital familial sur la performance, la distribution de dividendes et les avoirs étrangers. Elle étudie premièrement en s'appuyant sur une méta-analyse, la relation entre l'impact net du capital familial sur la performance de l'entreprise et l'effet de modérateurs sur cette relation. Ensuite, elle examine si, en Turquie, le capital familial comble ou profite des lacunes institutionnelles et étudie comment les entreprises familiales diminuent les préoccupations relatives à l'expropriation des actionnaires minoritaires. Enfin, elle explore comment dans le cas turc, les investisseurs étrangers perçoivent le capital familial et les pratiques de gouvernance appliquées par les entreprises familiales pour éliminer les préoccupations de ces investisseurs concernant l'expropriation de leurs droits. Les principaux résultats de cette thèse démontrent que l'impact du capital familial sur la performance des entreprises est positif mais faible. Le niveau de développement des institutions formelles du pays dans lequel les entreprises familiales opèrent, modère la relation entre le capital familial et la performance des entreprises. En Turquie, un niveau modéré de détention du capital par la famille est bénéfique car la performance comptable atteint un pic à ce niveau de détention et les investisseurs valorisent un tel niveau de détention du capital par la famille. En outre, lorsque les familles détiennent un niveau substantiel de droits de vote et participent activement au management de l'entreprise, le versement de dividendes se réduit et la gouvernance familiale profite des lacunes institutionnelles pour exproprier les autres actionnaires de leurs droits. Enfin, en Turquie, le recours effectif par les entreprises familiales à des pratiques de gouvernance diminue les inquiétudes des investisseurs étrangers concernant l'opportunisme de la famille. / Using insights mainly from agency theory, this dissertation intends to shed light on performance, dividend payout and foreign holdings' implications of family involvement in firm with an emphasis on Turkish family firms. The dissertation first investigates the net effect of family involvement on firm performance and the effect of moderators on that relationship by conducting a meta-analysis. It then shifts the focus on Turkey to examine whether family governance fills or abuses institutional gaps and look into how family firms alleviate concerns of expropriation of minority shareholders. Finally, it investigates how foreign investors perceive family involvement in firm and firm-level governance practices of family firms to mitigate investors' expropriation concerns in Turkey. The main findings of this dissertation show that the impact of family participation on firm performance is positive but modest. The development level of formal institutions in countries in which family firms operate moderates the relationship between family involvement and firm performance. In Turkey, moderate levels of family involvement in ownership are beneficial since accounting profitability reaches a peak at these levels and foreign investors value these levels of family participation in firm. On the other hand, when families have substantial voting rights and actively participate in management, dividend payouts reduce and family governance abuses institutional voids by expropriating other shareholders. Additionally, the effective use of firm-level governance practices by family firms mitigates foreign investors' concerns about family opportunism in Turkey.

Влияние институциональной среды на эффективность российских публичных акционерных компаний. Целью исследования является определение влияния факторов институциональной среды на эффективность российских публичных акционерных компаний. Предмет исследования - институциональная среда российской экономики. Объект исследования - компании, включенные в индекс Московской Биржи. В работе изучена научная и теоретическая литература по вопросам роли институциональной среды в развитии экономики и общества, проанализировано развитие российской институциональной среды и происхождение собственности в исторической ретроспективе, проанализировано влияние государственного участия и прочих факторов на эффективность зарубежных и российских компаний, разработана эмпирическая модель оценки влияния факторов на эффективность компаний и сформулированы рекомендации по итогам проведённого эмпирического и теоретического исследования. По итогам исследования были сделаны выводы о том, что наиболее значимыми переменными собственности в объяснении эффективности котируемых компаний являются бинарная переменная государственно-олигархического происхождения собственности, а также доля акций в свободном обращении. Также был сделан вывод о том, что абсолютные и ранговые значения доли государства и концентрации собственности оказывают незначительное влияние на зависимые переменные. / The impact of the institutional environment on the efficiency of Russian public joint-stock companies. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of institutional environment factors on the efficiency of Russian public joint-stock companies. The subject of the study is the institutional environment of the Russian economy. The object of the study is companies included in the index of the Moscow Exchange. This paper studied the scientific and theoretical literature on the role of institutional environment in the development of economy and society, analysed the development of the Russian institutional environment and the origin of ownership in historical perspective, analyzes the impact of government participation and other factors on the efficiency of foreign and Russian companies, developed an empirical model of the impact factors on the performance of companies and make recommendations on the results of empirical and theoretical research.

Manufacturing performance measures the extent to which the manufacturing plant has built capabilities like low cost, high quality, delivery, and flexibility. The importance of identifying drivers of these capabilities has been underscored by many scholars although limited evidence exists so far regarding this issue. The available evidence is also primarily based on data obtained from manufacturing firms operating in developed and emerging economies and not from firms in developing economies. This study, therefore, bridges this gap by exploring key internal and external drivers of manufacturing performance taking evidence from the manufacturing sector of a developing economy - Ethiopia. A quant-emphasis mixed method approach was used along with cross-sectional survey design to gather data and answer the research questions in the study. The unit of analysis is the manufacturing plant, and hence primary data was collected using multidimensional questionnaires at plant level from 197 medium and large scale firms from Addis Ababa and its periphery. Secondary data was obtained from census reports, the country’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), and report on the performance of the Ethiopian economy, which were analyzed qualitatively and the implications to manufacturing performance drawn in the study. A series of scale checks and analyses were made to test unidimensionality, reliability, and validity of measures and then structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze hypothesized relationships. The main finding is that environmental dynamism significantly influences competitive priorities and firm’s strategic orientation, which in turn significantly influence manufacturing decisions. Structural and infrastructural manufacturing decisions eventually significantly influence manufacturing performance when firms place increased emphasis on quality or delivery. The competitive priorities also significantly influence external learning capability of the manufacturing plant, although the influence of strategic orientation on this variable was not significant even at the 0.1 level except in the delivery priority model. Both the competitive priorities and strategic orientation, however, play little role in guiding leadership practices of manufacturing managers. The study further indicates that government support directly influences manufacturing performance, though it does not significantly influence external learning capability. Based on the findings, it is suggested that manufacturing firms should give due attention to what is going on in their external environment and accordingly align their competitive priorities, strategic orientation, and investments in structural and infrastructural resources to enhance plant performance. They should exhaustively utilize the supports provided by government as well. / Business Management / DBL

Small businesses, particularly growing small businesses, are regarded by policy makers and academics alike as being important sources of wealth creation, employment generation and innovation. Yet, few small businesses grow. One potential way of explaining why so many businesses do not grow is through the notion of 'barriers'. Previous studies on barriers typically identify and predict what kinds of barriers affect business growth, rather than attempt to explain how or why this is the case, if indeed it is the case at all. This thesis aims to elaborate on our understanding of barriers to small business growth. Two qualitative inductive interview-based studies were conducted in St. Petersburg Russia; the first was conducted in 2003, the second in 2005. Using semi-structured interviews in the second study (the main study), 27 owner-managers of small businesses in Russia were asked if they had intentions to grow the business, how they grew their businesses or intended to do so, and what, if anything, interfered with this process. The purpose of the study was two-fold: first, its purpose was to examine barriers from the perspective of individual owner-managers, with an emphasis on the meaning of barriers and the context in which they are perceived, and second to explore and examine how or the ways in which perceived barriers may influence owner-managers’ growth intentions and behaviours. Data were analysed using template analysis mainly, drawing on interpretive phenomenological analysis and matrix analysis. Based on the accounts of owner-managers, barriers were found to work in different ways to shape intentions to grow or not to grow, and as well to shape intention realization. How this occurred depended partly on owner-managers’ perceptions of the institutional environment. Findings suggest that the relationship between barriers and small business growth is complex. It is, nevertheless, a relationship which purports to be a fruitful area of study, one in which future research might further our understanding of small business growth from a continuing examination of barriers, particularly in relation to intentions, in relation to how meaningful barriers are perceived to be, and in relation to the context in which they are perceived.