Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-158). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-91). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-74). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (DBA)--Macquarie University, Graduate School of Management, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 267-292.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-126). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Management of Technology)--Vanderbilt University, May 2007. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The aim of this research was to investigate new product development practices for application to small businesses. Although larger companies, in general, have well-established practices from which smaller companies can benefit, product development in smaller businesses tends to be less formalised and less well described. Hence, this research is aimed at breaching this gap and addressing the need of the small business environment. The first few chapters of the study describe the investigation of product development in its general form. This provides an overview of what product development and the execution of the process in particular entails. Control mechanisms that are used to counter and manage unwanted behaviours that may occur during the process are also discussed. A generic product development process is then discussed in detail, based on research carried out on small- and medium-sized enterprises. The initial literature discussion in the first few chapters thus highlights the need to control and manage product development, and shows where pitfalls occur that could be detrimental to product success. This is followed by an investigation to establish the extent to which companies realise the impact the development process could have on product success. As the focus of this study revolves around small businesses that are growing, the use of phase review criteria as it pertains to companies with well-established product development practices was investigated, together with the role of product development in other business activities. The most important aim of this study was to develop a new product development framework that could be used in the small business environment. Seven key best practices were eventually identified, which are discussed in turn, together with their key underlying and component principles. The results are summarised and used to draw up the framework. The framework is summarised in a way that provides concise detail, which makes it useful even without any accompanying information. The last part of the study was aimed at validating the results of the framework. This was done by means of a survey and one-on-one interviews with a group of carefully selected participants who were involved in small businesses developments. The participants completed a questionnaire indicating the relevance of the framework for their enterprises. Useful information was obtained through this feedback and this yielded positive results. Having validated the framework for application in the small business environment, the thesis ends with the proposals for improving the framework.

CAPES / A atividade leiteira têm proporcionado uma possibilidade de rendimentos mesmo em áreas reduzidas, atraindo inúmeros agricultores que percebem nesta atividade melhores possibilidades que em outras. Assim, fundamentado no processo de mercantilização da produção familiar, diversificação dos meios de vida e influência das políticas públicas sanitárias, este estudo pretende caracterizar as estratégias de produção de queijo no município de Itapejara d‟Oestecom base na análise da trajetória de seis famílias entre 2005 e 2012 com base em cadastros e entrevistas que trazem à tona as expectativas e a noção de qualidade versus os resultados efetivamente alcançados pelos agricultores. A análise de um banco de dados constituído em levantamentos realizados pelo prof. Dr. Miguel A. Perondi em dois anos agrícolas, 2004/2005 e 2009/2010, junto a novas entrevistas realizadas em 2012 resultou nos estudos de caso discutidos e dados apresentados. Foram observadas as trajetórias das famílias, analisados dados referentes à renda agrícola, renda total, disponibilidade de mão de obra, índice de diversificação e buscou-se acompanhar as principais variáveis na trajetória da família ao longo dos anos. Evidenciaram-se também as disparidades encontradas na legislação brasileira, que pouco resgata da informalidade os agricultores produtores de queijo artesanais. Esse debate é analisado sob o foco da legislação brasileira e europeia na busca por delinear o melhor caminho para resgatar um eficiente sistema de controle de qualidade baseado na confiança e que permita a pequena produção artesanal atender o nicho do mercado local. Nos estudos de caso pode-se constatar in loco acerca da importância destinada ao fator da qualidade do leite na rotina diária, pois se trata de redes diretas de consumo, nas quais o vínculo produtor-consumidor é relevante. A confiança e responsabilidade estabelecida sobre a pessoa que produz é a principal garantia para consumo deste alimento no mercado local, mesmo sem inspeção oficial. Ao fim são apresentados os gargalos para o desenvolvimento da cadeia produtiva do leite, observando que os produtores desenvolvem redes sociais que absorvem sua produção baseados no crescimento da confiança do que se produz. Neste foco, alguns agricultores investem no processo de certificação via sistema inspeção e fiscalização municipal que formaliza o acesso ao mercado local, entretanto, muitos outros permanecem na informalidade reduzindo cada vez mais sua escala de produção. Percebe-se assim uma limitação legal para a pequena produção familiar, que impossibilita o ingresso ao mercado formal, desincentiva e desvaloriza a produção em cadeias curtas. / Milk production have provided a possibility of income even in smaller areas, attracting numerous agricultures who perceive in this activity better opportunities than others. Thus, based on the process of commodification of household production, diversification of livelihoods and influence public health policies, this study examines the strategies of cheese production in the municipality of Itapejara d'Oeste based on the analysis of the trajectory of six families between 2005 and 2012 based on records and interviews that bring to the fore the notion of quality and expectations versus actual results for farmers. By analyzing a database consisting of two agriculture years 2004/2005 and 2009/2010, realized by Prof. Dr. Miguel A. Perondi, with new interviews conducted in 2012 resulted in the case studies discussed and the data presented. Were observed trajectories of families, analyzing data related to farm income, total income, availability of labor, rate of diversification, seeking to highlight the variables in the path of the family throughout the years Showed up obstacles. Were observed trajectories of families highlighting the obstacles encountered in the Brazilian legislation, that few rescues the informal artisanal producers of cheese. This debate is analyzed under the focus of European and Brazilian legislation seeks to show the best way to rescue an efficient system of quality control based on trust and allowing small craft production meet the niche market place. At the study cases can be visualized in loco the importance given to the quality factors of milk e and dairy routine, because they are at direct consumer networks, where the producer-consumer relationship is relevant. The trust and responsibility established on the person who produces is the guarantee for a secure consumption of food at local market, even without official inspection. At the end are shown the bottlenecks for the development of the milk chain, noting that producers develop social networks that absorb their production based on growing confidence of what is produced. In this focus, some producers invest in municipal certification process that formalizes the local access market, however, many others remain in informality increasingly reducing their scale of production. You realize thus limiting law for small family farms, which prevents entry to the formal market, and cheapens and discourages production in short chains.