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.

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.

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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.

INNOFACTURE - innovative manufacturing development

In the scope of this diploma thesis the optical properties of organic multilayers and mixed layers were investigated by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry und infrared spectroscopy. The samples were prepared by organic molecular beam deposition in high vacuum on hydrogen passivated Silicon(111) substrates. The structures consist either of N,N-Di(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N`-diphenyl-benzidine (a-NPD) and tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq3) or 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc). The optical response of the multilayers consisting of Alq3 and a-NPD could be modelled using the isotropic dielectric functions of single layers assuming sharp interfaces. The planar structure of PTCDA and the CuPc molecules and their orientation in the stack lead to an overlapping of the p-orbitals strongly influencing the optical properties and the orientation of the molecules. It was found that in multilayers as well as in mixed layers the CuPc molecules adopt the orientation of PTCDA molecules with the molecular plane parallel to the substrate. The multilayers were described using the anisotropic dielectric functions of the constituents including intermixing and roughness at the interfaces. The deviation between the simulation and the experiment suggests an electronic interaction due to coupling between the p-orbitals of CuPc and PTCDA at the interfaces. The simulation of the mixed layers reveals a change in line shape of the Q-band of CuPc. Beside ellipsometry and infrared spectroscopy techniques like x-ray reflectometry and AFM were used for investigations. Additionally in this diploma thesis a special sample holder and manipulator was designed with which in-situ-ellipsometry measurements in ultra high vacuum can be performed. / Im Rahmen dieser Diplomarbeit wurden die optischen Eigenschaften von organischen Multilayern und Mischschichten untersucht. Die Schichtstrukturen wurden im Hochvakuum nach dem Verfahren der organischen Molekularstrahldeposition (OMBD) auf H-passivierten Silizium(111)-Substraten hergestellt. Die optische Charakterisierung erfolgte mit dem Verfahren der spektroskopischen Ellipsometrie und der Infrarotspektroskopie. Dabei wurden zwei verschiedene Materialienpaarungen untersucht, die zum einen aus den organischen Substanzen Aluminium 8-Hydroxichinolat (Alq3) und N,N'-Di(1-naphthyl)-N,N'-diphenylbenzidin (a-NPD) und zum anderen aus Perylentetracarbonsäuredianhydrid (PTCDA) und Kupferphthalocyanin (CuPc) bestanden. Das optische Verhalten der Multilayer und der Mischschichten bestehend aus Alq3 und a-NPD konnte mit den isotropen dielektrischen Funktionen der Einzelschichten simuliert werden. In den PTCDA/CuPc-Schichtsystemen führt die planare Struktur der Moleküle zu einer starken Überlappung der p-Orbitale, was einen großen Einfluss auf die optischen Eigenschaften und die Orientierung der Moleküle hat. Es wurde festgestellt, dass sowohl in den Multilayern als auch in den Mischschichten die CuPc-Moleküle die Anordnung der PTCDA-Moleküle annehmen. Die Multilayer wurden unter Verwendung der anisotropen dielektrischen Funktionen der beteiligten Materialien und unter Berücksichtigung von Grenzflächenrauhigkeit simuliert. Die Unterschiede zwischen Experiment und Modell sind auf eine Kopplung zwischen den p-Orbitalen zurückzuführen. Die Simulationen der Mischschichten zeigten eine Veränderung der Linienform des Q-Bandes von CuPc. Als Untersuchungsmethoden kamen neben der Ellipsometrie und der Infrarotspektroskopie auch die Röntgen-Reflektometrie und das AFM zum Einsatz. Darüber hinaus wurde in dieser Arbeit eine Messeinrichtung aufgebaut, mit der in-situ-Ellipsometriecharakterisierung von Proben im Ultrahochvakuum möglich ist.

Companies are pressured by dynamic markets and the increase of innovation speed, technology change and shortening of product life cycles. They need to attend to customer demands and ever-changing environmental conditions, policies and regulations set by governments and institutions in order to stay relevant on the market and be allowed to operate. Innovation has therefore become a must and the innovation processes are a central part of companies’ operations. Futures studies is presented as a systematic way of studying the future that can contribute to a better understanding of the needed direction of innovations. The aim of the study is to investigate how futures studies can be embodied in the innovation process of manufacturing companies in the industry of rail and road vehicles. The structure of an innovation process within the industry of rail and road vehicles is summarized to consist of three different phases: the fuzzy-front-end, the development and the maintenance. The innovation process is further divided by the components of the product and during the entire process there are decision points to evaluate the projects. The organizational aspects which are considered to have the most influence on the innovation process concern the company environment and internal knowledge sharing. Futures studies are moderately performed at different stages of the innovation process and levels of the organization, mainly at corporate level and in the fuzzy-front-end. The people involved in these activities are solely employees from the company in question and the main issue found regarding the activities of futures studies is that the results of the foresight are not communicated properly across the company. Two ways in which futures studies can be embodied in the innovation process are identified to create more high-quality ideas and to tune the product during the process according to the future market, with a third way ensuring alignment with corporate level.  A recommendation is presented consisting of a scenario workshop which enables for futures studies to be embodied in the innovation process of manufacturing companies. Activities and pointers for prior, during and after the workshop are presented. The results of the workshop will further be embodied in the innovation process in three different ways, in the beginning, alongside and as a basis for the corporate strategy.

This thesis deals with the right-wing extremism in Federal Republic of Germany, particulary in the Free State of Saxony. The opening part presents the history of the right-wing extremism in the territory of former German Democratic Republic. The following part summarizes briefly the developement of rigth-wing extremism after the german unification. Main attention is focused on the currant course of events. One part is devoted to the strongest and most successfull extreme right-wing political party Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD), especially to its election results. The thesis further monitors the development of the NPDs political strategy and the enforcing of this strategy in to practice. A special attention is paid to the concept of National befreite Zone (nationally liberated zone). Next parts of the text describe the rapidly growing right-wing extremist subculture. The penetration of right- wing extremism into the areas of sport, music and fashion is proved on several concrete examples. There is a separate chapter devoted to the criminal activities commited by right-wing extremists. It also deals with the legislation which is aimed against the expressions of the right-wing extremism.

Bakgrund: En stor del av Sveriges företag är idag små företag och allt fler kunder efterfrågar hållbara innovationer. Dock saknas det forskning gällande just småföretag och hållbarhet inom ny produktutveckling (NPD). Därmed fokuserar denna studie på hur små företag kan utveckla hållbara innovationer och vilka framgångsfaktorer och hinder som de finns genom NPD-processen. Syfte: Syftet är att identifiera framgångsfaktorer och hinder för att små företag ska lyckas utveckla en hållbar innovation. Avgränsning: Begreppet "innovation" avser produktinnovationer på den befintliga marknaden. Termen "hållbarhet" är avgränsad till miljömässig hållbarhet. Den hållbara innovationen betraktas vidare genom NPD. Studien är avgränsad till små företag. Metod: Studien utgår från två olika perspektiv, ett kund- och ett företagsperspektiv. Kundperspektivet undersöks genom en kvantitativ enkätmetodik och företagsperspektivet undersöks genom en kvalitativ intervjumetodik. Studien är vidare baserad på en explorativ fallstudie som genomförts genom ett abduktivt angreppssätt. Resultat och Slutsats: Studiens resultat och slutsats visar att framgångsfaktorerna när små företag utvecklar hållbara innovationer är kundinvolvering, hållbara produktattribut, transparent arbete och organisatorisk struktur och integration. De hinder som studien påvisat är finansiering, produkttester, marknadsfaktorer samt organisatorisk samordning. Bidrag: Hållbara produktattribut i utvecklingen av nya innovationer i små företag bör användas som en framgångsfaktor och kommuniceras. Hinder i produkttestning när små företag utvecklar hållbara innovationer lyfts fram i studien, som inte finns i någon större utsträckning i litteraturen. Studien har bidragit till en checklista med ledande framgångsfaktorer och hinder. Dessa kan små företag ta hänsyn till vid utveckling av hållbara innovationer. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Det skulle vara intressant att se fler studier som undersöker NPD-processen inom små företag. Vidare uppmuntras det till att studera hållbarhetsaspekter gällande innovationer samt NPD-processer djupare.

This study aims to explore how integrating Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) capabilities into the new fashion product development process can foster sustainability. The aspects that triggered this research are that the fashion sector has a detrimental impact on the environment and there is limited attention on the role of PLM in fostering sustainability. To address the research aim, a qualitative research approach with abductive reasoning was adopted, owing to the explorative nature of the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with seven fashion brands having origins in England, Spain, Germany, and Italy. A convenience sampling method was employed to select fashion brands for data collection. Interview data were analysed thematically by applying the dynamic capability theory as the theoretical lens. The study findings revealed that integrating PLM into new product development can foster sustainability in four key ways: digital coordination for co-creation, sustainable raw material selection and lifecycle assessment within PLM, minimisation of waste, and development of innovative approaches. Digital coordination through co-creation platforms and real-time communications helps overcome traditional barriers to collaboration, such as miscommunication and slowness of feedback, creating more aligned operations. The PLM systems’ material selection options directly impact sustainability because they support designers in making smart choices from the outset. LCAs embedded within PLM systems can also help with decision-making by measuring the impact of products upon the environment from their conception to disposal. Fashion brands can make informed decisions about material selection, and design impacts far earlier in the product-development process than was previously possible through embedding lifecycle assessment (LCA) data. Additionally, resistance to change was identified as a threatening force to the effective implementation of PLM tools. The study recommended that fashion brands incorporate their sustainability goals into PLM and invest in training programs to educate employees on using PLM tools to foster sustainability.