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No / SMEs create employment, wealth and a potential for future growth. In Palestine they can also mean survival and freedom. In Palestine they are not a choice but a necessity for sustainable development. But by their nature SMEs are vulnerable in a business environment characterized by uncertainty. To give the managers of SMEs in Palestine a realistic chance of success they need training to enable them to meet the challenge of running their enterprises effectively. Drawing on original research undertaken within Palestine this book explores how the challenge is being met (and considers how it might be even more successfully met) by enabling and empowering the owners and managers of these pioneering businesses.

No / In most countries, statistics show that 99% of businesses are classified as ?small businesses?. In the UK alone, 99.8% of businesses employ less than 250 staff and these companies contribute more than a half of the UK's turnover. This new textbook goes where other strategic management texts have not and focuses on these small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), rather than focussing on large corporations and the actions of their CEOs. The authors consider how managers of small firms perceive the processes associated with strategic management, what decisions and actions they adopt to ensure competitive advantage, how business strategies are formulated and implemented in SMEs, and what the strategic role of entrepreneurship within small businesses is. They also discuss how SMEs should act for maximum competitive advantage, and consider the ?gap? between ideal theory and practice. This unique textbook will be essential for students on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Enterprise modules at undergraduate and Masters level, and will also be useful on core modules in Strategy, Business Policy and Strategic Management at all levels.

The aim of the dissertation is to reveal the features of the territorial organization of the business support system in Lithuania in 1998 – 2008. The object of the research is the territorial structure of the business support system, its elements, features of its formation and performance. This study is one of the first, in which a geographer attempts to look at the dynamic and multi-component business support system in the territorial aspect, invoking the results of the previous studies, the experience of the scientists and the methods of interdisciplinary research, it reveals the possibly existing connections between the territorial business support system and nuances of development of national economic, which are directly related to sustainable territorial development. The structure of the study is based on the aim and the objectives of the study: the overview of researches, in this part one can find the overview of studies on the dissertation topic published in Lithuania and abroad according to three interdisciplinary directions, the methodology of the study, in this part, the methodology of the study – the methodological aspects of research of the systems and its participants and common methodological aspects of research, the results of the research, in this part, the results of the research are presented revealing the formal principles of business support system, some aspects of business support in foreign countries, the territorial organization of business support... [to full text] / Disertacijos tikslas – atskleisti verslo skatinimo sistemos teritorinės organizacijos ypatumus Lietuvoje 1998 – 2008 m. Tyrimo objektas – teritorinė verslo paramos sistemos struktūra, jos elementai, formavimosi ir veikimo ypatumai. Šis darbas – mėginimas geografo akimis pažvelgti į dinamišką ir daugiakomponentę verslo paramos sistemą teritoriniu aspektu ir pasitelkus ankstesnių tyrimų rezultatus, mokslininkų patirtį bei tarpdisciplininius tyrimų būdus įžvelgti galimas teritorinės verslo paramos sistemos sąsajas su šalies ūkio vystymosi niuansais, kurie betarpiškai susiję ir su tvariu teritorijų vystymusi. Darbas sudarytas iš trijų pagrindinių dalių: tyrimų apžvalgos, kurioje aprašyti disertacijos tema Lietuvoje ir užsienyje atlikti tyrimai pagal tris tarpdisciplinines kryptis, darbo metodologijos, kurioje pateikiama darbo metodologija - sistemos ir jos dalyvių tyrimų metodologijos aspektai ir bendrieji tyrimo metodologijos aspektai, tyrimų rezultatų, kur pateikiami gautieji tyrimų rezultatai, atskleidžiantys formaliuosius verslo skatinimo sistemos principus, kai kuriuos užsienio šalių verslo skatinimo patirties aspektus, verslo skatinimo sistemos teritorinę organizaciją Lietuvoje, pagrindines teritorinės verslo skatinimo sistemos sąsaja su ūkio vystymosi tendencijomis. Lietuvoje taikoma aibė verslo paramos priemonių, tačiau paramos priemonių visuma neveikia kaip vientisa sistema. Veikiančios verslo skatinimo sistemos sukūrimas šalyje svarbi prielaida sėkmingam smulkaus ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

No description available.

Disertacijos tikslas – atskleisti verslo skatinimo sistemos teritorinės organizacijos ypatumus Lietuvoje 1998 – 2008 m. Tyrimo objektas – teritorinė verslo paramos sistemos struktūra, jos elementai, formavimosi ir veikimo ypatumai. Šis darbas – mėginimas geografo akimis pažvelgti į dinamišką ir daugiakomponentę verslo paramos sistemą teritoriniu aspektu ir pasitelkus ankstesnių tyrimų rezultatus, mokslininkų patirtį bei tarpdisciplininius tyrimų būdus įžvelgti galimas teritorinės verslo paramos sistemos sąsajas su šalies ūkio vystymosi niuansais, kurie betarpiškai susiję ir su tvariu teritorijų vystymusi. Darbas sudarytas iš trijų pagrindinių dalių: tyrimų apžvalgos, kurioje aprašyti disertacijos tema Lietuvoje ir užsienyje atlikti tyrimai pagal tris tarpdisciplinines kryptis, darbo metodologijos, kurioje pateikiama darbo metodologija - sistemos ir jos dalyvių tyrimų metodologijos aspektai ir bendrieji tyrimo metodologijos aspektai, tyrimų rezultatų, kur pateikiami gautieji tyrimų rezultatai, atskleidžiantys formaliuosius verslo skatinimo sistemos principus, kai kuriuos užsienio šalių verslo skatinimo patirties aspektus, verslo skatinimo sistemos teritorinę organizaciją Lietuvoje, pagrindines teritorinės verslo skatinimo sistemos sąsaja su ūkio vystymosi tendencijomis. Lietuvoje taikoma aibė verslo paramos priemonių, tačiau paramos priemonių visuma neveikia kaip vientisa sistema. Veikiančios verslo skatinimo sistemos sukūrimas šalyje svarbi prielaida sėkmingam smulkaus ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the dissertation is to reveal the features of the territorial organization of the business support system in Lithuania in 1998 – 2008. The object of the research is the territorial structure of the business support system, its elements, features of its formation and performance. This study is one of the first, in which a geographer attempts to look at the dynamic and multi-component business support system in the territorial aspect, invoking the results of the previous studies, the experience of the scientists and the methods of interdisciplinary research, it reveals the possibly existing connections between the territorial business support system and nuances of development of national economic, which are directly related to sustainable territorial development. The structure of the study is based on the aim and the objectives of the study: the overview of researches, in this part one can find the overview of studies on the dissertation topic published in Lithuania and abroad according to three interdisciplinary directions, the methodology of the study, in this part, the methodology of the study – the methodological aspects of research of the systems and its participants and common methodological aspects of research, the results of the research, in this part, the results of the research are presented revealing the formal principles of business support system, some aspects of business support in foreign countries, the territorial organization of business support... [to full text]

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 1996. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The development of small to medium enterprises (SME's) has various advantages for a country's economy, inter alia the creation of job opportunities. South African SME's are expected to realise these advantages, as set out in the national strategy for SME's. The turbulent national and international environment offers unique challenges to SME' s, but could also be the cause of them not meeting expectations. One possible way to secure dynamic behaviour of SME's in such a turbulent environment is to stimulate creativity. The question arises whether South African SME's are creative, and what can be done to promote their creativity. This study therefore focuses on two issues, namely creativity and SME' s. Creativity is discussed on the basis of existing theories and definitions. The primary aim of the discussion is to identify elements which can explain creativity in SME's. The following four elements are discussed: • characteristics of creative persons; • creative processes; • an environment which can support creativity; and • manifestations of creativity. The second issue under discussion framework of D'Amboise and Muldoney is SME's. An adapted (1984) was used as basis to discuss characteristics of 8ME owners, 8ME behaviour practices, and how 8ME's interact with the task environment. Conclusions regarding 8ME owners and 8ME behaviour patterns indicate that an entrepreneurial approach is conducive to creativity, and that 8ME's that interact dynamically with the environment tend to be creative. These conclusions are then integrated. Characteristics of 8ME owners, 8ME behaviour practices, creative processes, and manifestations of creativity are discussed. It was not possible to provide a list of manifestations, and therefore only an instrument for identification and classification is provided. Evaluation is subjective, which supports findings in the literature that objective evaluation is probably not possible. The integrated 8ME profile is an adapted conceptual model which serves as basis for the empirical research. This model suggests that there could be associations between characteristics of 8ME owners and 8ME behaviour practices, and manifestations of creativity. It was decided on a questionnaire for data collecting, because it is inter alia less expensive, and less time consuming for 8ME owners to complete. Questionnaires were forwarded to 3310 addresses, and 342 usable questionnaires were returned. Telephone inquiries confirmed that the low response could not be attributed to either the study or the questionnaire, but rather to factors unique to 8ME's, such as owners' limited time. After the descriptive statistics were reported, a stepwise logistic regression for binary dependant variables (creativity) and multiway analysis for categorical and ordinal explanatory variables were executed in an explorative way, in order to identify possible predictors of creativity. These predictors were then compared with the descriptive statistics to establish possible deficiencies. The most important deficiency is that the present profile of SME owners is not in equilibrium with predictors, and is therefore regarded as the most important reason why SME's are not creative. There is greater equilibrium between SME behaviour factors and predictors, but this is neutralised by non-creative SME owners. Internal (SME's) and external interventions which can create an environment conducive to creativity in SME's, are finally discussed. This approach can be visualised as an iceberg, which implies that manifestations of creativity are only perceptible if the imperceptible phase has a sound basis. This development approach is not an instant, but rather a long term process. If, however, deliberate efforts are not made to promote creativity in SME's, they will not be able to meet expectations, which could have serious consequences for the economy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit word algemeen aanvaar dat die ontwikkeling van klein- en mediumgroot ondernemings (KMO's) verskeie voordele vir 'n land se ekonomie kan inhou, onder andere die skep van werksgeleenthede. In Suid-Afrika word dit van KMO's verwag om hierdie voordele te realiseer, soos in die nasionale strategie vir KMO's uiteengesit. Die omgewing, wat nasionaal en internasionaal turbulent is, bied egter unieke uitdagings aan KMO's, maar kan veroorsaak dat hulle nie aan verwagtinge kan voldoen nie. Een moontlike manier om dinamiese optredes van KMO's in so 'n omgewing te verseker, is stimulering van kreatiwiteit. Die vraag ontstaan of KMO's in Suid-Afrika kreatief is, en op watter aspekte klem gelê moet word om kreatiwiteit te bevorder. Hierdie studie het daarom twee fokuspunte, naamlik kreatiwiteit en KMO's. Kreatiwiteit is bespreek aan die hand van bestaande teoriee en definisies. Die primêre doel van die bespreking was om elemente te identifiseer wat kreatiwiteit in KMO's kan help verklaar. Die volgende vier elemente is bespreek: • eienskappe van 'n kreatiewe persoon; • kreatiewe prosesse; • 'n omgewing wat kreatiwiteit kan bevorder; • manifestasies van kreatiwiteit. KMO's was as tweede fokuspunt bespreek. 'n Aangepaste raamwerk van D'Amboise en Muldoney (1984) is as basis gebruik om eienskappe van KMO-eienaars, KMO-gedragspraktyke, en KMO's se interaksie met die taakomgewing te bespreek. Gevolgtrekkings oor KMO-eienaars en KMO-gedragspraktyke het daarop gedui dat 'n entrepreneuriese benadering bevorderlik is vir kreatiwiteit, en dat KMO's wat dinamies in interaksie is met hul taakomgewing is meer geneig tot kreatiwiteit. Gevolgtrekkings betreffende bogenoemde fokuspunte is daarna in 'n KMO-profiel geintegreer. Eienskappe van KMO-eienaars, KMO-gedragspraktyke, kreatiewe prosesse, en manifestasies van kreatiwiteit is bespreek. Ten opsigte van laasgenoemde was die voorsiening van 'n lys nie moontlik nie, en is slegs 'n instrument vir identifisering en klassifisering voorsien. Die beoordeling is subjektief, maar in die literatuur is aangedui dat objektiewe beoordeling waarskynlik nie moontlik is nie. Die geintegreerde KMO-profiel is omskep in 'n konseptuele model wat as basis dien vir 'n empiriese ondersoek. Hierdie model dui moontlike assosiasies tussen eienskappe van KMO-eienaars en -gedragspraktyke, en manifestasies van kreatiwiteit aan. Daar is besluit om die vraelysmetode te gebruik om data in te samel, omdat dit onder andere goedkoper sou wees, en tydsgewys meer prakties vir KMO-eienaars om in te vul. Vraelyste is na 3310 adresse gestuur, en 342 bruikbare vraelyste is teruggekry. Tydens die data-insamelingsproses is deur telefoniese navrae vasgestel dat die lae respons nie aan die studie of vraelys toeskryfbaar was nie, maar eerder aan faktore eie aan KMO's, soos KMO-eienaars se beperkte tyd. Nadat die beskrywende statistieke gerapporteer is, is stapsgewyse logistiese regressie vir binêre afhanklike veranderlikes (kreatiwiteit) en meerrigtingtabel-analise vir kategoriese en ordinale verklarende veranderlikes op 'n eksploratiewe wyse uitgevoer om moontlike voorspellers van kreatiwiteit te identifiseer. Hierdie voorspellers is daarna met die beskrywende statistieke vergelyk om moontlike leemtes te bepaal. Die belangrikste leemte is dat die huidige profiel van KMO-eienaars nie in ewewig is met voorspellers nie, en daarom as die belangrikste rede beskou word waarom KMO's nie kreatief is nie. Daar is 'n groter mate van ewewig tussen KMO-gedragsfaktore en voorspellers, maar dit word deur nie-kreatiewe KMO-eienaars geneutraliseer. Intervensies op interne (KMO's) en eksterne gebiede wat 'n positiewe omgewing kan skep vir kreatiwiteit in KMO's, is laastens bespreek. Hierdie benadering word as 'n ysberg gevisualiseer, wat impliseer dat manifestasies van kreatiwiteit slegs sigbaar is indien 'n gesonde basis in die onsigbare fase gelê is. Hierdie ontwikkeling kan egter nie eensklaps geskied nie, maar is eerder langtermyn van aard. Indien daar egter nie 'n daadwerklike poging aangewend word om kreatiwiteit in KMO's te bevorder nie, sal hulle nie aan die verwagtinge kan voldoen nie, wat nadelige gevolge vir die ekonomie inhou.

Dans un contexte économique mondialisé, hyperconcurrentiel, en situation de crise, les entreprises initient des stratégies collectives (Astley et Fombrun, 1983). Les stratégies collectives (Le Roy, 2006) caractérisent des relations horizontales de grand nombre, au sein desquelles des concurrents créent une structure fédérative de coordination. Elles s’observent particulièrement sur des secteurs où évoluent de nombreuses PME, ces entreprises restant plus vulnérables aux forces de l’environnement et devant lier leur destin pour survivre. L’étude de cas du syndicat de vignerons du Pic Saint-Loup, qui a conduit à réaliser quarante-cinq entretiens semi-directifs, combinés à de l’observation directe confortée par une position de professionnel du secteur, a mis en lumière un certain nombre de résultats. D’une part, des déterminants psychologiques influent sur la capacité des dirigeants à s’impliquer dans des stratégies collectives. D’autre part, des groupes d’acteurs, dont les instigateurs de la stratégie, occupent une place centrale au sein du réseau de dirigeants et en retirent une performance économique supérieure. Enfin, concernant les modalités, principalement la gestion du paradoxe par le dirigeant impliqué dans la stratégie collective, l’analyse des phases de concurrence et de collaboration met en évidence une discontinuité des flux qui engendre un processus d’alternance de fonctions. / In a globalized economy and crisis context, companies initiate collective strategies (Astley and Fombrun, 1983). Collective strategies (Le Roy, 2006) characterize horizontal relationships of large numbers, in which competitors create a federal structure of coordination. They occur particularly on sectors where many SMEs operate, these companies remain vulnerable to environmental forces and need linking their destiny to survive. The case study of Pic Saint-Loup winegrowers Union, which led to realize forty-five semi-structured interviews, combined with direct observation supported by a professional position in the industry, highlighted some number of results. On the one hand, psychological determinants affect the ability of managers to engage in collective strategies. On the other hand, stakeholder groups, including the instigators of the strategy, make superior economic performance out of this central position within the manager network. Finally, the management paradox by the manager involved in collective strategy analyzes, show analysis phases of competition and collaboration and highlights a discontinuity of flow which generates an alternating functions process.

As interações e transbordamentos de conhecimento (spillovers) são elementos essenciais nos processos de aprendizagem, geração de inovações e competitividade da empresa. Para as pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs), esses elementos adquirem importância devido às dificuldades competitivas que lhes são características. Surge então a necessidade de verificar como as PMEs aprendem e adquirem novas competências e novos conhecimentos e de conhecer quais os elementos relevantes para esses processos. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é descrever e analisar as interações e transbordamentos de conhecimentos chaves, que conduzem as PMEs a processos de aprendizagem. Para alcançar esse objetivo foram estudadas PMEs que participam e participaram de programas de apoio à competitividade. As atividades de inovação e exportação, atividades estratégicas para a competitividade de grandes empresas, transnacionais e cadeias globais, ajudaram na escolha dos programas de apoio investigados: incubadoras de base tecnológica e consórcios de exportação. Os objetivos desses programas que delimitaram o estudo foram aumentar a competitividade de empreendimentos inovadores para o desenvolvimento de produtos igualmente inovadores, no caso das incubadoras, e aumentar a competitividade das PMEs e sua participação em mercados externos, no caso dos consórcios de exportação. Dessa forma, a pesquisa foi delimitada as PMEs inseridas no CIETEC, a maior incubadora de base tecnológica do Brasil; as PMEs que participam do Programa Setorial Integrado . PSI, e dos consórcios de exportação, programas da APEX-Brasil. Foi feita ainda uma última delimitação, se escolheram dois casos representativos desses programas, em um mesmo setor e que já apresentassem resultados para análise, o PSI Calçados de Jaú e o consórcio de exportação APEMEBI-Brazon de Birigui. O estudo é uma abordagem qualitativa com aplicação direta de questionários desenvolvidos especialmente para cada tipo de empresa pesquisada, incubada e consorciada. Também foram realizadas entrevistas com diretores de entidades públicas e de apoio, pesquisadores e professores de universidades, centros de pesquisa e institutos de ensino. Os resultados do trabalho apontam que o CIETEC, o PSI Calçados e o consórcio de exportação promovem interações chaves para os processos de aprendizagem, geração e difusão de novos conhecimentos nas PMEs. No caso de empresas incubadas ressalta-se a importância da interação Universidade-Empresa para o desenvolvimento de produtos inovadores, e a capacitação tecnológica das PMEs. No caso do PSI e do consórcio de exportação, observa-se que as interações com clientes e fornecedores (principalmente internacionais) capacita tecnologicamente e prepara as PMEs para exportar. Os resultados da pesquisa também mostram que os transbordamentos de conhecimento são elementos essenciais, nos processos de aprendizagem das PMEs, devido a que possibilitam o acesso a conhecimentos externos. Finalmente, se conclui que os transbordamentos de conhecimento e as interações das PMEs com outros agentes podem ser definidos como elementos dinamizadores nos processos de aprendizagem dessas empresas, especialmente quando inseridos em ambientes nos quais há possibilidades aumentadas de inetrações e existem conhecimentos inerentes ao local. / The interactions and spillovers of knowledge are essential elements in the learning process for the generation of innovations and the competitiveness of firms. Those factors acquire a great importance for Small and Medium Enterprises . SME.s, because of the competitive difficulties which characterize them. Then arises the need to verify how SME.s learn and acquire new skills and knowledge; and what are the relevant elements to these processes. The main purpose of the thesis was to describe and analyze the key interactions and spillovers of knowledge that leading to the learning process of SME.s. To achieve this goal, SME.s involved in support programs to competitiveness were studied. The activities of innovation and export, strategic activities for competitiveness of large enterprises, transnational and global chains, helped in the choice of the researched support programs: technology-based incubators and consortia exports. The goals of these programs that delimited the study were: to increase the competitiveness of innovative entrepreneurships to the development of innovative products, in the case of incubators; and increasing the competitiveness of SME.s and their participation in the foreign markets, in the case of consortia export. Thus the search was bounded to the SME.s included in the CIETEC, the largest technology based incubator of Brazil; the SME.s participating in the Integrated Sector Program - ISP, and the export consortia, which are programs of APEX-Brazil. It was also made a final demarcation; from those programs in the same sector, two representative cases were chosen, which already produced results for the analysis: the ISP footwear of Jaú and consortium of export APEMEBI of Birigui. This work is a qualitative approach with direct application of questionnaires developed especially for each type of surveyed companies: incubated and consortium. There were also conducted interviews with directors of public agencies and support, researchers and professors of universities, teaching and research institutions. The main results of the work indicate that the CIETEC, the ISP footwear, and export consortia promote key interactions to the process of learning, generation and dissemination of the new knowledge in SME.s. In the case of incubated companies it is emphasized the importance of university-industry interaction to the development of innovative products, and technology training of SME.s. In the case of ISP and the consortia export, it was observed that the interactions with customers and suppliers (mainly international) train technologically the SME.s and prepare them to export. The results of the research indicate too that the spillovers of knowledge are essential elements to the process of learning of SME.s because possibility to access to external knowledge. Finally, the spillovers of knowledge and interactions of SME.s with others agents can be defined as dynamical elements in learning processes of these companies, especially when placed in environments in which there are increased possibilities of interactions and the are knowledge inherent to the local.

Este trabalho aborda a gestão do desenvolvimento de produtos e a inovação tecnológica, amplamente aceitos como um meio de assegurar sobrevivência aos negócios. Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica identificando os diferentes fatores que os influenciam. Descreve-se uma pesquisa, aplicada em 2004, que avaliou as metodologias de desenvolvimento de produtos utilizadas em pequenas e médias empresas industriais (PME\'s), em uma região específica do estado de São Paulo, pertencentes ao setor metal-mecânico da economia brasileira e que adotou como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário, dividido por assuntos, projetado e aplicado em entrevistas presenciais em uma amostra de 32 empresas. Este trabalho propõe e ordena um conjunto de diretrizes de apoio ao esforço de inovação tecnológica em PME\'s industriais, evidenciadas em uma ferramenta para o diagnóstico do estágio de amadurecimento, que se fundamentada na categorização das empresas pesquisadas, segundo os fatores de inovação tecnológica abordados por diversos autores. O método foi validado pela análise da implantação de diretrizes, em épocas distintas, em três empresas participantes da pesquisa. / This work approaches the product development management and technological innovation, widely seen as way of ensuring business survival. It was held a bibliographic review about the different factors that influence them. The work reports a research, applied in 2004, that evaluated product development methodologies used on industrial small and medium enterprises (SME\'s), in a specific region on the state of Sao Paulo. All of these SME\'s belong to the metal-mechanics sector of the Brazilian economy. The research adopted a questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. This questionnaire was divided in subjects, and was developed and applied in personal meetings in a sample of 32 enterprises. This work propounds and orders a support guidelines to the effort of technological innovation in industrial SME\'s, evidenced in a tool for the diagnosis of the mature degree, based on the classification of the studied companies, according to factors of technological innovation from the approach of different authors. The method was validated by the analysis of the guidelines implantation, at distinct periods of time, in three participant companies of the research.