Independent financial advisers have to address different problems as they pro¬gress through the life cycle stages of their businesses. A number of researchers, however, are of the opinion that small business owners do not have the ability to manage the growth-related transitions effectively. It appears that additional guidance is needed to assist independent financial advisers with the survival and growth of their small businesses. Until now, only a small amount of research has been conducted in this area and no formal research study has proposed a marketing mix framework for these advisers, portraying the various factors threatening their survival and growth in their organisational life cycle, as well as the various marketing mix strategies that can be implemented to proactively manage the problems and help generate sales growth. The objective of this study was to propose such a framework to offer additional assistance for business survival and sales growth. This study was exploratory in nature and commenced with a comprehensive lit¬erature investigation to gain the necessary background to support the empirical part of the study. Different opinions and studies were presented and evaluated, which led to the identification of a general business life cycle model as well as a number of problems and marketing mix solutions that could potentially occur in each life cycle stage. These literature findings were then further investigated among independent financial advisers by means of telephone and personal interviews. Following the empirical findings, the recommended framework suggests that independent financial advisers may experience three types of problems in their businesses: critical problems, important problems and problems that only need consideration. Independent financial advisers can use four groups of recom¬mended marketing mix strategies to address these problems. There are also four groups of recommended marketing mix strategies that can assist these advisers to grow their sales (commission). These advisers would, however, need to ensure that they are aware of and understand the various environmental factors that can hinder the successful implementation of the marketing mix strategies. They also need to be able to use the recommended counterstrategies to address the environmental factors. Ultimately, the successful implementation of the recommended marketing mix strategies could then help independent financial advisers to grow their businesses and progress to a more advanced life cycle stage. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Marketing Management / DCom / Unrestricted

The purposes of this study are (1) an attempt to set up a standard of measurement whereby an investor can evaluate favorable or unfavorable sales growth of a particular company over a period of years, and (2) to provide a list of companies which have shown unusual ability to grow.

This thesis was written as part of a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Entrepreneurship for International Growth and International Marketing. Aligned with the nature of the degree, this study aims to share useful insights to managers and marketers whom are looking into innovating their business by adopting an inbound strategy. This thesis researches a modern topic within business: inbound marketing. It aims to comprehend how the implementation of an effective inbound strategy drives sales growth, by understanding the effects that inbound has over the B2B buying and selling process. The study considers the newly presented changes within the European general data protection regulation and emphasizes the relevance of an inbound strategy. An in-depth study of existing theories and exploratory primary data was conducted in order to attain these objectives. Due to restricted existence of scientific theories within the topic, this study developed an original cohesive relationship model integrating inbound marketing to the B2B buying and selling process. This model served as a theoretical framework for the conduction of this research. The exploratory research was characterized by interviewing a number of experts within the field. Those experts provided indispensable insights regarding the phenomenon in focus, which in combination with the theoretical framework allowed for the completion of this study’s analysis. The focus was to understand the impact that the implementation of an inbound strategy had over business and how such impact led to an increase in sales. The results indicate that when effectively implemented by suitable companies, an inbound marketing strategy is relevant in acquiring potential customers at the right stage of the buyer’s journey and therefore driving a noticeable increase in sales.

<p>Syfte: Målet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan FoU and företagsvinster. Författarnas förhoppningar är att resultaten från studien kommer att bidra med användbar information som både investerare och forsknings intensiva företag kan ta del av och utvärdera.</p><p>Metod: En kvantitativ infallsvinkel har valts att genomföra vår undersökning på. Data har erhållits genom företags årsredovisningar och statistik från börslistor. Slutligen har alla siffror sammanställts i Microsoft Excel and därefter analyserats i SPSS.</p><p>Resultat: Resultaten visar att det inte finns något samband mellan FoU och rörelseresultat. Däremot då rörelseresultat varierar kraftigt mellan olika industrier valde författarna att genomföra en branschanalys istället.</p>

Syfte: Målet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om det finns något samband mellan FoU and företagsvinster. Författarnas förhoppningar är att resultaten från studien kommer att bidra med användbar information som både investerare och forsknings intensiva företag kan ta del av och utvärdera. Metod: En kvantitativ infallsvinkel har valts att genomföra vår undersökning på. Data har erhållits genom företags årsredovisningar och statistik från börslistor. Slutligen har alla siffror sammanställts i Microsoft Excel and därefter analyserats i SPSS. Resultat: Resultaten visar att det inte finns något samband mellan FoU och rörelseresultat. Däremot då rörelseresultat varierar kraftigt mellan olika industrier valde författarna att genomföra en branschanalys istället.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka om det fanns en skillnad på omsättningstillväxten tre år före mot tre år efter en genomförd börsnotering. Urvalet bestod av företag noterade på Nasdaq OMX Stockholm mellan åren 2013–2017. Vidare studerades bolagsstorlek i relation till detta. Studien använde sig av en kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats. Hypoteser gällande omsättningstillväxten för urvalet utformades och testades sedan med ett Wilcoxon Sign Test. Statistiska testerna påvisade en skillnad i omsättningstillväxt på företagen i urvalet. Omsättningsutvecklingen över den undersökta perioden var negativ. Studien konstaterade därav en negativ skillnad i omsättningstillväxten före mot efter en notering för bolagen i urvalet. / The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a difference in sales growth three years before compared to three years after a stock exchange listing. The sample consisted of companies listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm between the years 2013-2017. Furthermore, company size in relation to this was also studied. The formulated hypotheses were tested using a Wilcoxon Sign Test. The statistical tests showed a difference in sales growth at the companies in the sample in general. The development of sales over the period examined was negative. The study therefore found a negative development in sales growth before versus after a listing for the companies in the sample. This was in order with previously conducted studies on the topic. Dividing the sample into company sizes led to sales growth before to after a stock exchange listing showing a significant difference in only smaller companies. This difference was shown to be negative.

The main purpose of this study is to enhance the analysis of the impact of R&amp;D expenditure on firms’ growth. This study adopts an OLS regression for a data sample of 46 firms listed on Nasdaq Stockholm for the 2006-2019 period. We present models with R&amp;D expenditure and R&amp;D intensity as the main mechanisms of firm growth, defined as sales growth in this study. Furthermore, firm size, firm age and sector belonging determining the R&amp;D and sales growth relationship are also investigated. We find that R&amp;D intensity has a statistically significant negative impact on firm growth, while R&amp;D expenditure does not show a statistically significant relationship to firm growth. Thus, the results of this paper suggest that devoting a higher proportion of your sales to R&amp;D activities does not translate into firm growth.

因有眾多實證研究支持若隨持有期不同，而能適時調整投資策略，便可獲取超額報酬，且月營收資訊具有相當程度的資訊內涵。因此，本研究延伸傳統動能策略的概念，而改以三種當月營收成長率做為篩選投資組合的條件，進而形成營收動能策略(sales momentum strategy)，研究主要目的為欲確認此策略於台灣股市之有效性，並同時印證『強者恆強』與『漲時重勢、跌時重質』觀念是否適用。再者，亦提供利用市場公開訊息建構投資組合之選擇，以協助彌補一般投資者無法與專業機構法人同步取得領先資訊之劣勢，進而改善投資績效。 本研究投資組合建構之方式為，於每月11日，上市公司月營收全數公布，並可自TEJ資料庫取得完整資料時，依照當月營收月增率、當月營收年增率及當月累計營收年增率等三項篩選條件，分別將所有上市公司進行排序，排序方式則區分為十等分(10%)及五等分(20%)兩種。其中，成長率排名前10%或20%的群體稱為贏家組合，排名後10%或20%的群體則稱為輸家組合。當贏、輸家組合篩選完成後，買入贏家組合，同時賣出輸家組合，即可產生一零成本營收動能策略投資組合。 綜合本研究各項實證分析的結果推斷，營收動能策略於台灣股市確實具有其效果，亦即台灣股市的投資人對於營收成長率訊息普遍存在反應不足現象，且印證營收宣告存在資訊內涵，惟各種投資組合績效將因篩選條件與持有期不同而產生差異。其中，尤以當月營收年增率為篩選條件，所建構之營收動能策略投資組合可獲得最佳的績效表現，且獲利並非來自於承擔市場系統性風險。此外，營收動能策略投資組合之元月效應並不明顯，而『強者恆強』與『漲時重勢、跌時重質』的觀念，則的確存在一定的參考價值。

Submitted by Juan Carlos Lin (jcarlos.lin@hotmail.com) on 2017-06-19T17:41:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 JUAN-LIN-MPA 19-06 v12.pdf: 3537844 bytes, checksum: d59a937c6cd2ed31a167e57989188c40 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Renata de Souza Nascimento (renata.souza@fgv.br) on 2017-06-19T17:57:22Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 JUAN-LIN-MPA 19-06 v12.pdf: 3537844 bytes, checksum: d59a937c6cd2ed31a167e57989188c40 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-19T20:03:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JUAN-LIN-MPA 19-06 v12.pdf: 3537844 bytes, checksum: d59a937c6cd2ed31a167e57989188c40 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-30 / The aim of this study is to examine the links between developed environmental innovations and its impact on the financial performance of Brazilian manufacturing industries. This affects how firms choose their technological resources in market competition, and slowly affects society’s sustainable development. It seeks answers to the question: Do Brazilian manufacturing firms that choose a green line of innovation perform financially different – compared to firms operating with conventional innovative strategies? Using multiple linear regression, from empirical data, it shows the impact of using innovative green technology on organizational financial results. The empirical evidence is based on the dataset gathered from 4545 Brazilian companies by Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) from the Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnologica (PINTEC) and the Pesquisa industrial Anual (PIA) survey. Brazilian firms which have developed one or more environmental or traditional innovations, evidencing its impact over material reduction(MR), energy reduction(ER) water reduction(WR) and environmental impact(waste and pollution) reduction(EIR). The data cover 3 years from 2011 to 2014 and focus on firms which have developed one or more innovations, showing its impact on WR, MT, ER and EIR and the effect on the Superior Financial Performance (SFP) of the firms. SFP is a composition of Superior Sales Growth(SSG) and Superior profitability(SP). Descriptive statistic and regression were perform with the intent to determinate first, the prevalence of each type of Green Innovation (GI), in the Brazilian manufacturing industry and second, how each affects financial performance. Result shows that only innovation related to WR have a positive relation with SSG (foreign controlled companies) but not in all manufacturing industry. Showing that most GI implemented by Brazilian manufacturing firm are inefficient. Other type of GI do not affect financial performance, in the manufacturing industry or in foreign controlled manufacturing companies. This study hopes to provide three contributions to academic literature. First, to deepen the existing knowledge of how environmental innovations are associated with financial performance. Second, to demonstrate how financial performance can be enhanced along successful innovation processes. Furthermore, the aim is to propose a practical contribution by giving a clearer roadmap of the sustainable technology choices, as well as bringing forth an environmental discussion about strategical choices. And last but not least, to confirm the importance of environmental technology, enabling a public and private united effort to further a sustainable development. / O objetivo deste estudo é examinar a relação entre inovações ambientais implementadas por empresas da indústria manufatureira brasileira e seus impactos em suas performances financeiras. Esse exame pode afetar a escolha de recursos tecnológicos durante a competição no mercado, impactando gradualmente o desenvolvimento sustentável da sociedade. Procura-se responder à pergunta: Empresas manufatureiras do Brasil que escolhem inovação verde performam de maneira diferente de empresas que operam com estratégias de inovação tradicional? Neste estudo é utilizada regressão linear múltipla com dados empíricos, para mostrar o impacto no resultado financeiro de uso de inovações tecnológicas verdes. A evidência empírica é baseada na análise de 4.545 empresas, cujos dados foram coletados pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), da Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnológica (PINTEC) e da Pesquisa Industrial Anual (PIA), bem como de empresas brasileiras que tenham desenvolvido uma ou mais inovações, evidenciando seu impacto em Redução de Material (MR), Redução de Energia (ER), Redução de Água (WR) e Redução de Impacto Ambiental (resíduo e poluição) (EIR). Os dados englobam os anos de 2011 a 2014, focando em empresas que tenham desenvolvido e implementado uma ou mais inovações, mostrando seu impacto em WR, MT, ER e EIR e seu efeito em sua Performance Financeira Superior (SFP). SFP é um construto do estudo, que é composto de Crescimento de Receita Superior (SSG) e Rentabilidade Superior (SP). Foi realizada a estatística descritiva e análise da regressão, com o intuito de determinar a predominância de cada tipo de Inovação Verde (GI) na indústria manufatureira brasileira e como isso afeta a performance financeira. O resultado mostra que apenas inovação relacionada a WR apresenta correlação positiva com SSG, mas apenas nas empresas de controle de capital estrangeiro, e não em toda a indústria manufatureira. Isso mostra que a maioria das GI implementadas na indústria manufatureira brasileira carecem de eficiência. Outros tipos de GI não afetam a performance financeira, seja na indústria manufatureira como todo ou apenas em empresas com controle de capital estrangeiro. Este estudo busca contribuir com a literatura acadêmica de três seguintes maneiras: Primeiro, aprofundar o conhecimento de como inovações ambientais são associadas com a performance financeira. Segundo, demonstrar como a performance financeira é melhorado por inovações sucedidas. Terceiro, buscar contribuir, de modo prático, com uma visão clara de escolha tecnológica sustentável, levando a discussão ambiental para um nível estratégico nas organizações. E, por último, confirmar a importância de tecnologias ambientais, permitindo o esforço único entre o público e privado, para aprofundar o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Bakgrund: CSR är ett omdiskuterat ämne som har blivit mer närvarande i dagens affärsvärld. Fler företag anammar CSR i deras verksamhetsstrategi men detta antas främst gälla för de större företagen. Det råder större okunskap om små och medelstora företagens CSR-arbete och den strategiska betydelsen av CSR för dem, speciellt för IT-företag som innehar en central roll i det svenska samhället.  Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att kartlägga huruvida CSR appliceras i verksamheten hos svenska små och medelstora IT-företag. Vidare består syftet av att analysera om det förekommer samband mellan CSR och den subjektiva samt finansiella prestationen, för att således få en djupare förståelse för dessa företagens CSR-arbete.  Metod: Studien har använt sig av en kvantitativ metod och med en deduktiv ansats. Studiens population består av 241 svenska små och medelstora IT-företag, varav 35 företag svarade på studiens enkätundersökning. Företagsinformation hämtades från databasen Amadeus och finansiella data om företagen blev inhämtad från årsredovisningar. Studien har använt sig av subjektiva såväl som objektiva mått. De statistiska dataanalysmodellerna som studien har använt sig av är bivariat analys, Friedmans ANOVA och PLS-SME.  Slutsats: Studien resultat visar att svenska små och medelstora IT-företag arbetar mest med de affärsmässiga dimensionerna som är den ekonomiska dimensionen och dimensionen om ansvar gentemot intressenterna, och få företag väljer att kommunicera ut deras arbete. Signifikanta samband hittades för både den ekonomiska och humanitära dimensionen i de två subjektiva prestationsmåtten. Studien bidrar med kunskap om små och medelstora IT-företagens CSR-arbete och den strategiska betydelsen av CSR för dem. / Background: CSR is a controversial topic that has become more present in today's business world. More companies are adopting CSR in their business strategy, but this is assumed to apply to larger companies mainly. There is greater ignorance about small and medium-si]ed companies' CSR work and the strategic importance of CSR for them, especially for IT companies that play a central role in Swedish society. Purpose: This study aims to map whether CSR is applied in the operations of Swedish small and medium-sized IT companies. Furthermore, the purpose consists of analyzing whether there is a connection between CSR and subjective and financial performance to gain a deeper understanding of these companies' CSR work. Methodology: This study has used a quantitative method and a deductive approach. The study population consists of 241 Swedish small and medium-sized IT companies, of which 35 companies responded to the study's survey. Company information was retrieved from the Amadeus database, and the companies' financial data was retrieved from annual reports. The study has used subjective as well as objective measures. The statistical data analysis model's bivariate analysis, Friedman's ANOVA, and PLS-SME were applied. Conclusion: The results show that Swedish small and medium-sized IT companies work primarily with business-like CSR, including the financial dimension and stakeholder dimensions, and few companies choose to communicate their work. Significant correlations were found for both the economic and philanthropic dimension in the two subjective performance measures. The study contributes knowledge about small and medium-sized IT companies' CSR work and the strategic importance of CSR for them.