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Background: SMEs directly influence the economic growth of the countries, however these companies are facing several challenging problems, among others, an increasingly competitive environment and financial limitations. Therefore, improving knowledge on the relation between the SMEs growth and different investments is of importance for SMEs decision makers and strategy developers.    Objectives: In this work the goal is to examine the relation between the SMEs growth and investments in tangible and intangible assets. The focus of the study is on Swedish SMEs from the industrial sector with the aim of examining the six hypotheses on the relation between different investment and growth parameters.  Methodology: 57 Swedish publicly listed SMEs are selected, and their financial data related to firm’s growth, i.e. KPIs such as Revenue and EBITDA growth, and investments, i.e. investments in tangible and intangible assets. Lastly, moderating variables, i.e. firm’s size and employee growth index, are collected from three well-known and precise databases. The secondary data is analyzed employing both fundamental and regression analyses.  Results: Analyses indicate that growth KPIs are in a positive relationship with the total investments in tangible and intangible assets. In particular, a clear relationship between the investments in tangible assets and Revenue growth is obtained while a strong relationship between the investments in intangible assets and EBITDA growth is achieved. The firm's age is found to be an important moderating parameter impacting the relationship between the growth and investment parameters, but the influence of the employee growth index is mainly reflected upon increased robustness, reliability and validity of the model, seen by improvement of the regression fitting.  Conclusions: Results suggest that statistically there is a positive relationship between the firm's growth and targeted investments, however the amount of investments and the division of investments between tangible and intangible assets cannot be easily based on the statistical analysis. Although much in line with the statistical analysis, some deviating trends of both independent and dependent variables could be identified through the fundamental analysis, making it a good complement to the regression analysis. With our results and answers to the research questions being in hand, it is our belief that investment decisions should be more carefully evaluated focusing on the firm's strategies, life cycle and growth stage, capacity, type, age and the organizational structure of the specific firm that stakeholders are managing.  Recommendations for future research: A suggestion for the future research is to expand the present analysis on data from more firms, including several other growth KPIs in the statistical analysis and include other categories of investments compared to that of the present study such as M&As and partnership investments. This will strengthen the arguments and conclusions presented in this study and contribute to future research within the field.

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Between the intangible and tangible is the realm in which this thesis investigation takes place. The material presented here in a roughly chronological progression represents an exploration over the course of a year. This organization of thoughts and images will illustrate the processes and discoveries which occurred during this exploration. In architecture, the realm of the intangible represents ideas. Ideas are catalysts for further study and ultimate action. It was the aim of this thesis to not simply let an idea exist without further action, but to explore the evolution of an idea to the point where it may ultimately manifest in built form. The realm of the tangible, in this case the physical object, is also not the emphasis of this thesis. It is simply part of the whole, not to be confused with some sort of final end result. The built object, when studied, helps inform the original idea. The emphasis of this thesis is on the area between the intangible and the tangible. This is where explorations take place, discoveries are made, and where transformations occur. In essence, this is where the multitude acts of design transform ideas into the realm of architecture. / Master of Architecture

Bakgrund och problem: Immateriella investeringar har ökat inom det svenska näringslivet och utgör en betydande del av landets totala investeringar. Fortsättningsvis är immateriella investeringar väsentliga för samhällets och företagens produktivitet samt konkurrenskraft. Utvecklingen av immateriella investeringar tyder på att betydelsen av immateriella investeringsbeslut ökat. Trots det uppmärksammas ämnesområdet inte av den nuvarande forskningen eller litteraturen i en större omfattning. Syfte: Syftet är att studien ska bidra till en djupare förståelse angående immateriella investeringar genom att generera kunskap inom ett område som inte tidigare uppmärksammats i en större omfattning. Uppsatsen avser att tillföra information i relation till den immateriella beslutsprocessen samt angående faktorer som anses utgöra en väsentlig påverkan på det immateriella investeringsbeslutet. Metod: Studien avser en kvalitativ flerfallsdesign där fyra företag har utgjort det empiriska underlaget. Vidare genomfördes intervjuerna på ett semi-strukturerat tillvägagångssätt för att erhålla information.Slutsats: De immateriella investeringarnas beslutsprocessen initieras genom en identifiering av problem och målsättning, om företaget har upplevt ett initialt dilemma. Därefter framställs olika investeringsalternativ som utvärderas utifrån väsentliga faktorer. Avslutningsvis genomförs det immateriella investeringsbeslutet av högre insatser i organisationen. Väsentliga faktorer vid det immateriella investeringsbeslutet är lönsamhet, ny teknologi, tillväxt och riskbedömning. Nyckelord: Immateriella investeringar, investeringsbeslut, beslutsunderlag, immateriell beslutsprocess / Background and problem: Intangible investments have increased in the Swedish business sector and constitute a significant part of the country's total investments. Intangible investments are essential for the society's productivity and companies competitiveness. The development of intangible investments indicates that the importance of intangible investment decisions has increased. Despite this, the subject area is not noticed by the current research or literature to a greater extent. Purpose: The purpose of this study is that it will contribute to a deeper understanding of intangible investments by generating knowledge in an area that has not previously been recognized to a greater extent. The paper intends to provide information in relation to the intangible decision-making process and regarding factors that are considered to have an impact on the intangible investment decision. Method: The thesis is based on a qualitative multi-case design in which four companies have constituted to the empirical basis. Furthermore, the interviews were conducted on a semi-structured approach to obtaining information.Conclusion: The decision-making process of the intangible investments is initiated through an identification of problems and goals, if the company has experienced a first dilemma. Then there are different investment options that are evaluated based on essential factors. Finally, the intangible investment decision is made by higher units in the organization. Key factors in the intangible investment decision are profitability, new technology, growth and risk assessment. Keywords: Intangible investments, investment decisions, decision basis, intangible decision process

A partir de 2004, a Contabilidade Pública brasileira está passando por uma série de modificações na busca da adequação normativa, inclusive, para tratamento dos ativos intangíveis. Desde os primeiros esforços para a convergência da Contabilidade Pública com os padrões internacionais, com a criação de um grupo de estudos específico para esta finalidade, até 2014, o processo de implantação das mudanças não havia ocorrido na prática, apesar de todo o esforço do CFC, STN e Secretaria Executiva do Ministério da Fazenda. Porém, em 2015, com a adequação do sistema e a publicação da Portaria nº 548, foi fixado um cronograma para adoção gradual dos procedimentos contábeis patrimoniais até 2021. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma série de apontamentos necessários ao tratamento contábil dos ativos intangíveis no setor público, dada sua obrigatoriedade a partir de 2019. Para tal foram revisados os aspectos normativos sobre ativos intangíveis que devem ser dispensados ao tratamento dos ativos intangíveis no setor público brasileiro. E os resultados obtidos foram que os maiores desafios a serem enfrentados pelos profissionais do setor público serão: (a) a busca pelo entendimento do conceito e definição do ativo; (b) a análise da incerteza e risco quanto à ocorrência dos benefícios econômicos futuros; (c) a verificação da relevância e confiabilidade da informação contábil; (d) a escolha de uma base de mensuração adequada; (e) a diferenciação entre os gastos com pesquisa e desenvolvimento; (f) a classificação e determinação da vida útil do ativo intangível, e; (g) avaliação de como aplicar estes procedimentos contábeis patrimoniais na área governamental. Tais desafios demandam capacitação dos funcionários, por meio do estudo da teoria contábil, das normas brasileiras e internacionais de contabilidade e das orientações específicas dos órgãos reguladores, e requerem apoio da gestão de cada instituição pública para que o tratamento se dê de acordo com as normativas e de forma efetiva. / Brazilian Public Accounting has undergone a series of modifications in search for normative adequation, including the treatment of intangible assets, since 2004. From the earliest efforts to bring Public Accounting to international standards, with the creation of a specific study group for this purpose, by 2014, the process of implementing changes had not taken place in practice, despite the whole effort of the CFC, STN and Executive Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance. However, in 2015, with the system adequation and the publication of Order No. 548, a schedule was established for the gradual adoption of accounting procedures until 2021.This study aimed to make a series of necessary notes on the accounting treatment of intangible assets in the public sector, given its mandatory start in 2019. The results obtained were that the greatest challenges to be faced by the professionals of the public sector are: (a) the quest for understanding the concept and the definition of the asset; (b) the analysis of the uncertainty and risks regarding the occurrence of future economic benefits; (c) the verification of the relevance and reliability of the accounting information; (d) the choice of an appropriate measurement basis; (e) the differentiation between research and development expenses; (f) the classification and determination on the lifespan of the intangible asset; and (g) evaluation of how to apply these accounting procedures in the government area. These challenges require the training of employees, through the study of the accounting theory, the Brazilian and international accounting standards and specific guidelines of regulatory agencies, and require support of each public institution’s management so that the treatment is effective and in accordance with the regulations.

The definition for a culture of innovation (COI) is the perception of a company that prioritizes the advancement of new ideas that create value across all operations. On the face of it that seems a precious attribute for any company to nurture and exploit, but measuring and valuing a culture of innovation has proven elusive for corporations. There is a tendency to break down innovation into R&D, patents granted, and new product development and while these are all significant components of innovation a cultural definition is more encompassing of the entirety of a company and the financial results should be reflected in the financial performance as a whole. The research for this dissertation utilizes the CoreBrand Index® (CBI) quantitative research database and fields for the first time an inquiry about 160 large public companies among engaged but impartial observers about their perceptions of the culture of innovation. The findings are then correlated to the cash flow multiple (CFM), which is a firm-wide financial variable. Analysis evaluates whether COI is more or less predictive of the CFM than historical attributes in the CBI. This dissertation verifies past research by the author and extends the study into new and expedient pathways to measure, value and manage intangible assets.

This thesis is concerned with accounting for the brand management function. Two distinct perspectives are taken: the first derives from aspects of organisational and behavioural accounting research, and the second concerns organisational implications of brand valuation. Both perspectives were initially approached by means of exploratory interviews and a literature review. Hypotheses pertaining to the first perspective were analysed via survey data collected in nine strongly-branded, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. Propositions concerned with the implications of brand valuation were developed and used as the basis for measuring attitudes to brand valuation. A questionnaire concerned with brand valuation attitudes was administered to senior-ranking officials in strongly-branded, FMCG companies. The final methodological phase, for both perspectives, involved a case study conducted in a strongly-branded, FMCG company. Significant findings arising from this study include: 1) Managers who see their company as being short-termist, hold more positive attitudes to brand valuation. 2) Marketing-orientated managers are more favourably disposed to brand valuation than accounting-orientated managers. 3) Organisational benefits arising from brand valuation are more strategically, than operationally, orientated. 4) Brand manager budget participation is significantly negatively-related to job-related tension, and positivelyrelated to trust in superior and attitude to reliance on accounting performance measures. 5) Budget participation is more effective in reducing jobrelated tension in situations of high, compared to low, task uncertainty situations. 6) Reliance on a brand manager's accounting performance is positively related to brand manager performance and motivation, and negatively associated with job-related tension.

A partir de 2004, a Contabilidade Pública brasileira está passando por uma série de modificações na busca da adequação normativa, inclusive, para tratamento dos ativos intangíveis. Desde os primeiros esforços para a convergência da Contabilidade Pública com os padrões internacionais, com a criação de um grupo de estudos específico para esta finalidade, até 2014, o processo de implantação das mudanças não havia ocorrido na prática, apesar de todo o esforço do CFC, STN e Secretaria Executiva do Ministério da Fazenda. Porém, em 2015, com a adequação do sistema e a publicação da Portaria nº 548, foi fixado um cronograma para adoção gradual dos procedimentos contábeis patrimoniais até 2021. Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma série de apontamentos necessários ao tratamento contábil dos ativos intangíveis no setor público, dada sua obrigatoriedade a partir de 2019. Para tal foram revisados os aspectos normativos sobre ativos intangíveis que devem ser dispensados ao tratamento dos ativos intangíveis no setor público brasileiro. E os resultados obtidos foram que os maiores desafios a serem enfrentados pelos profissionais do setor público serão: (a) a busca pelo entendimento do conceito e definição do ativo; (b) a análise da incerteza e risco quanto à ocorrência dos benefícios econômicos futuros; (c) a verificação da relevância e confiabilidade da informação contábil; (d) a escolha de uma base de mensuração adequada; (e) a diferenciação entre os gastos com pesquisa e desenvolvimento; (f) a classificação e determinação da vida útil do ativo intangível, e; (g) avaliação de como aplicar estes procedimentos contábeis patrimoniais na área governamental. Tais desafios demandam capacitação dos funcionários, por meio do estudo da teoria contábil, das normas brasileiras e internacionais de contabilidade e das orientações específicas dos órgãos reguladores, e requerem apoio da gestão de cada instituição pública para que o tratamento se dê de acordo com as normativas e de forma efetiva. / Brazilian Public Accounting has undergone a series of modifications in search for normative adequation, including the treatment of intangible assets, since 2004. From the earliest efforts to bring Public Accounting to international standards, with the creation of a specific study group for this purpose, by 2014, the process of implementing changes had not taken place in practice, despite the whole effort of the CFC, STN and Executive Secretariat of the Ministry of Finance. However, in 2015, with the system adequation and the publication of Order No. 548, a schedule was established for the gradual adoption of accounting procedures until 2021.This study aimed to make a series of necessary notes on the accounting treatment of intangible assets in the public sector, given its mandatory start in 2019. The results obtained were that the greatest challenges to be faced by the professionals of the public sector are: (a) the quest for understanding the concept and the definition of the asset; (b) the analysis of the uncertainty and risks regarding the occurrence of future economic benefits; (c) the verification of the relevance and reliability of the accounting information; (d) the choice of an appropriate measurement basis; (e) the differentiation between research and development expenses; (f) the classification and determination on the lifespan of the intangible asset; and (g) evaluation of how to apply these accounting procedures in the government area. These challenges require the training of employees, through the study of the accounting theory, the Brazilian and international accounting standards and specific guidelines of regulatory agencies, and require support of each public institution’s management so that the treatment is effective and in accordance with the regulations.

Ce mémoire a pour objectif d’étudier les liens entre les composantes de la rémunération intangible et le roulement volontaire dans le secteur des technologies de l’information et des communications (TIC) au Canada. À l’aide de de la théorie de l’échange social de Blau (1964) et de la théorie de la dépendance à l’égard des ressources de Balkin et Bannister (1994), puis suite à une revue de la littérature, ce mémoire propose deux hypothèses générales ainsi que sept sous-hypothèses. La première hypothèse générale stipule que la rémunération intangible est associée à un roulement volontaire plus faible. En ce qui concerne les sept sous-hypothèses, elles proviennent de cette première hypothèse générale. Il s’agit des sept composantes de rémunération intangible qui sont analysées dans le cadre de cette recherche, soient le nombre d’heures travaillées par semaine, en moyenne, la possibilité d’un horaire de travail à temps partiel, le nombre d’heures moyens dans la semaine normale de travail, la présence de semaine comprimée de travail, la présence d’un horaire d’été, la possibilité de télétravail et la présence de programmes de formation structurés. La seconde hypothèse générale indique que le nombre offert de pratiques de rémunération intangible est associé à un roulement volontaire plus faible. Les données de nature transversales utilisées dans cette étude proviennent d’entreprises œuvrant dans le secteur des TIC au Canada. En partenariat avec TECHNOcompétences, la collecte de données a été réalisée par la firme Normandin-Beaudry, et ce, de janvier à avril 2016. Cent vingt-cinq questionnaires ont été distribués à autant d’organisations. Ces questionnaires ont été complétés par les directeurs et directrices des ressources humaines des organisations. Dix de ces organisations n’ont rapporté aucune donnée en ce qui a trait au roulement volontaire. Ainsi, les données de 115 questionnaires ont été utilisées et analysées dans le cadre de cette étude. Les deux hypothèses générales de recherche sont infirmées. En effet, dans le cadre de la première hypothèse, aucune des sept sous-hypothèses (1a à 1g) n’ont pu être confirmées. L’ensemble des résultats n’étaient pas significatifs. Pour ce qui est de la deuxième hypothèse, la relation n’est pas significative, infirmant également l’Hypothèse 2. En conclusion, ce mémoire réitère l’importance pour les gestionnaires en ressources humaines et leurs organisations d’offrir des pratiques de rémunération intangible qui sont diversifiées et adaptées à la réalité de la main d’œuvre qui compose le marché du travail. Il vise également à rappeler la nécessité d’avoir une offre de rémunération globale complète, où la rémunération intangible et tangible sont complémentaires. / The purpose of this thesis is to study the links between the intangible reward and voluntary turnover components in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Canada. Using Blau’s social exchange theory (1964) and Balkin and Bannister’s resource dependance theory (1994), and the empirical-literature, this thesis proposes two general hypotheses as well as seven sub-hypotheses. The first general hypothesis suggests that intangible reward is associated with lower voluntary turnover. Regarding the seven sub-hypotheses, they come from this first general hypothesis. These are the seven components of intangible reward that are analyzed in this thesis, which are the number of hours worked per week, on average, the possibility of a part-time work schedule, the average number of hours in the normal work week, the presence of a compressed work week, the presence of a summer schedule, the possibility of teleworking and the presence of structured training programs. The second general hypothesis suggests that the number of intangible reward practices offered is associated with a lower voluntary turnover. The cross-sectional data used in this study come from companies operating in the ICT sector in Canada. In partnership with TECHNOcompétences, data collection was carried by Normandin Beaudry’s firm, from January to April 2016. One hundred twenty five surveys were distributed to as many organizations. These surveys were completed by human resources directors from these organizations. Ten of the organizations did not report any data regarding voluntary turnover. Thus, the data of 115 questionnaires were used and analyzed within the framework of this study. The two general research hypotheses are invalidated. Indeed, for the first hypothesis, none of the seven sub-hypotheses (1a to 1g) could be confirmed. The results were not significant. Regarding the second hypothesis, the relationship is not significant, also invalidating the Hypothesis 2. In conclusion, this thesis reiterates the importance for human resources managers and their organizations to offer diversified intangible reward practices that are adapted to the workforce reality that makes up the labor market. It also aims to recall the need to have a complete global compensation offer, where intangible and tangible rewards are complementary.