The importance of addressing the topic of sustainable development has been widely acknowledged, and the researchers call for future studies that would develop new perspectives on integrating sustainability in the business context. Currently, most of such studies focus on large companies, whereas it has been shown that the impact of SMEs on the economy, the society and the environment is also significant. The present work aims at exploring the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate sustainability (CS) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Nordic countries. Adopting a qualitative dominant mixed research method, the following objectives are achieved: using content analysis, we analyse the activities disclosed by SMEs and describe their type and focus. Further, the multiple case study of 13 SMEs operating in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland allows exploration of the process of CSR integration in companies in more detail. Using the abductive approach to analysis and systematically combining the existing approaches to analysing CSR integration with the empirical findings, we are able to distinguish several specifics of SMEs. Namely, the process of CSR integration in SMEs may be different due to increased role of the top management commitment and the varying degree of externally formalising CSR and CS through obtaining certifications. This allows us to design suggestions for the updated model of CSR integration, which would reflect these specifics of SMEs. The present work contributes to current research by exploring CSR and CS integration in the context of SMEs, which have been previously identified as research gaps. We develop suggestions for modifying an existing framework for analysing CSR integration that combines the focus on specific business operations and the stages that a company can undergo in implementing CSR. The developed model could be used as a practical tool for analysing the company and the potential areas that would lead to CSR integration on a more strategic level. The qualitative nature of the present work and supporting the theoretical reflections with quotes from SME managers and owners provides opportunities for naturalistic generalisations and gaining insights on what activities could be implemented in companies. We acknowledge that our work has several limitations. The qualitative nature of the study does not allow statistical generalisation; thus, further research is recommended to enhance the findings and test the developed model in different context and using different methods, as well as targeting not only managers and owners whose responsibilities are related to strategy and sustainability, but also employees from other functions. Quantitative and qualitative studies of SMEs in the analysed region conducted by native speakers are also recommended.

Through our smartphones, the access to information is higher than ever before. Social media has revolutionized the communication landscape in how we share information and communicate to each other. Social media has significantly impacted marketing communication, therefore organizations in B2B are exploring and trying to identify ways in how to make a profitable use of social media. Despite this interest, there seems to be insufficient understanding of how to properly manage social media in the B2B context. Furthermore, branding and brand equity through social media communication creates opportunities such as deeper customer relationship, collaboration and reduce the information necessary for a purchase decision. Currently there is a gap in the theoretical understanding of how brand equity can be enhanced through social media. The purpose of this research is to explore and describe how brand equity can be enhanced through social media marketing within B2B for SME. This research aims to understand how small and medium-sized enterprises can utilize social media in the best way possible. The research adopted a qualitative exploratory descriptive approach. The collection of data was conducted through six semi-structured interview. The sample selection for the qualitative interviews were conducted on project managers and purchase managers. The result of this research gave new insights to the customer-based brand equity model in the B2B context and how customer-based brand equity can be applied in social media marketing. This resulted in a brand equity model for B2B social media marketing, where the steps have a dependency to each other. Thus, enhancing brand equity in social media demands an identification of the social media benefits, establishing a marketing plan, how to reach your target audience, utilize experience of others, communicating about technical innovation and change through the supply chain. / Genom användandet av smartphones är tillgången till information högre än någonsin tidigare. Sociala medier har revolutionerat kommunikationslandskapet i hur vi delar information och kommunicerar med varandra. Sociala medier har påverkat marknadsföringskommunikationen vilket har resulterat till att företag utforskar olika sätt för hur sociala medier kan nyttjas på ett fördelaktigt sätt. Trots detta, föreligger en otillräcklig kunskap om hur sociala medier kan användas inom B2B. Vidare skapar branding och brand equity via sociala medier möjligheter för en djupare kundrelation, samarbete samt att en minskad informationsinsamling inför ett köpbeslut. För närvarande visar forskningen en kunskapslucka vad gäller hur brand equity kan utvecklas genom sociala medier. Syftet med studien var att utforska hur brand equity kan utvecklas genom marknadsföring av sociala medier inom B2B för SME. Studien syftar till att ge en ökad förståelse för hur små och medelstora företag kan utnyttja sociala medier på bästa möjliga sätt. Studien antog en kvalitativ utforskande beskrivande ansats. Data samlades in genom sex semi-strukturerande intervjuer. De kvalitativa intervjuerna har i huvudsak genomförts med projektledare och inköpschefer. Resultatet av denna forskning gav nya insikter till den kundbaserade brand equity modellen inom B2B och hur den kundbaserade brand equity modellen kan tillämpas i ett sociala medier perspektiv. Detta resulterade i en brand equity modell för B2B inom marknadsföring för sociala media, där stegen är beroende av varandra. Däremot, en utveckling av brand equity inom sociala medier kräver en identifikation av fördelarna med sociala medier, ett upprättande av en marknadsplan, en plan för att nå sin målgrupp, ett användande av andras erfarenheter samt en kommunikation om teknisk innovation och förändring inom försörjningskedjan.

Background: Supplier integration is becoming increasingly important due to the increased globalisation in the business world nowadays. Today’s focal firm does not operate independently, but as a part of its supply chain which competes with other supply chains in the market. The number of the focal SMEs in Europe comprises 99% of companies operating throughout the continent. However, the vast majority of the existing literature is investigating supplier integration from MNEs’ perspectives. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to generate a new supplier integration theory for SMEs. The study aims to compare how SMEs and MNEs conduct supplier integration, spotting the similarities and differences in their approaches and finding out the reasons behind these varying approaches. Method: We choose a relativist ontology and a constructionist epistemology. Within the boundaries of these research assumptions, we follow an inductive multiple case study approach with exploratory characteristics. The case study consists out of 12 cases, six out of the plant engineering industry and six from the mechanical engineering industry. Each industry is represented by three SMEs and three MNEs. Our findings are gathered through coded and categorised interview transcripts, based on which a critical comparative discussion is done. Conclusion: Through our study we find size and industry related differences in conducting supplier integration. Next to obvious circumstances such as limited resources, we identify personal contact, trust creation and industry specifics as main drivers for variation in supplier integration approaches. Furthermore, we conclude that SMEs fit in particular cases better into the reviewed supplier integration literature, since their focus in relationships leads to a more sustainable interest into the partner’s economic well-being. Finally, our findings show mimetic behaviour in SMEs adopting MNEs’ managerial approaches, characterised by classification, evaluation and strategizing.

A literatura especializada em aglomerados de pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) aponta que a realização de ações conjuntas entre empresas pode gerar vantagens competitivas, auxiliar na obtenção de especialistas em competências específicas, além de outros benefícios. Nesse sentido, estudos nessa área têm identificado aspectos importantes envolvendo temas como tipologia, governança, estágios evolutivos, eficiência coletiva, economias externas, cooperação, competição. Esses estudos, no entanto, não realizam uma análise comparativa a respeito da interferência de determinados fatores em um desempenho de sucesso de empresas de aglomerados de PMEs de base tecnológica. Com o objetivo de identificar os principais que podem interferir significativamente no desempenho desse tipo de aglomerado foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos envolvendo empresas de três aglomerados de PMEs de base tecnológica brasileiros do interior do Estado de São Paulo, situados em importantes pólos tecnológicos localizados nas cidades de Campinas, São Carlos e São José dos Campos. Inicialmente foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico sobre os fatores que influenciam um desempenho de PMEs em aglomerados de empresas de um modo geral. Com base nesses dados foi elaborado um roteiro de pesquisa para ser aplicado nas entrevistas realizadas nas empresas. Os dados coletados em campo foram analisados com o auxílio do software Qualitative Solutions and Research que possibilita a inserção e análise de dados qualitativos. Com base nos resultados obtidos, identificou-se um grupo de 5 fatores principais que interferem no desempenho das empresas dos aglomerados estudados. Foi analisada também a incidência de cada um desses fatores em cada um desses aglomerados, destacando-se: o perfil, a gestão e o ambiente das empresas dos aglomerados. / The literature specialized in clusters of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shows that, when companies take joint actions, they may gain competitive advantages, besides other benefits. Studies in clusters have identified important aspects involving themes such as typology, governance, evolutionary stages, collective efficiency, external economies, cooperation, and competition. These studies, however, do not carry out a comparative analysis regarding the interference of certain factors in the success of technology-based clusters, considered to be a particular type of companies\' agglomeration. With the objective of identifying the main success factors that can interfere significantly in the development of this kind of cluster, a study of multiple cases was carried out, involving three clusters in the interior of the State of São Paulo, situated in important technology parks located in the cities of Campinas, São Carlos and São José dos Campos. Initially, a bibliographical review on the important success factors of clusters in general was carried out. Based on this data, a research framework was established in order to be applied in the interviews conducted in the companies. The data collected were analyzed with the aid of the software Qualitative Solutions and Research, which enables the insertion and analysis of qualitative data. Based on the results obtained, a group of 5 success factors was identified; the incidence of each of these factors was also analyzed in each of the clusters studied, showing that the factors company profile and management were the most important.

As pequenas e médias empresas desempenham um papel importante para a economia dos países, seja pela geração de empregos ou por sua participação no Produto Interno Bruto. No entanto, esse grupo de empresas enfrenta uma série de dificuldades quanto à obtenção de recursos para alavancar o seu crescimento e financiar seus projetos de longo prazo. Uma das alternativas é o acesso ao mercado de capitais, opção que deve ser incentivada e facilitada pelas instituições interessadas. Apesar da relevância do tema é possível observar a escassez de pesquisas relacionadas ao assunto, portanto, este trabalho pretende apresentar um referencial que possa colaborar com o crescimento e desenvolvimento da pequena e média empresa e com novas pesquisas nesta área. A pesquisa é quantitativa de caráter exploratória, não probabilística. Os meios de obtenção dos dados são: bibliográfico e pesquisa de campo, através de um questionário enviado para um grupo de gestores de pequenas e médias empresas emergentes. Os resultados sugerem que esses gestores possuem conhecimento sobre diferentes fontes de financiamento, sobre mercado de capitais e Governança Corporativa. As empresas pesquisadas são de capital fechado e a maioria não pretende abrir o capital. Dentre as que pretendem abrir o capital ou não desconsideram essa possibilidade, os resultados apontam que elas estão se preparando para futuro acesso ao mercado de ações, mas os seus gestores apontam os custos, principalmente os relacionados ao processo de IPO como principal barreira. Os resultados sugerem vários fatores que podem colaborar com as PMEs, como incentivos fiscais aos investidores e presença de um assessor. Indicam também que esse grupo de empresas em crescimento pretende prosseguir com suas estratégias de crescimento, aplicando os recursos obtidos em tecnologia, inovação e busca de novos mercados. O trabalho possui aplicabilidades práticas por trazer informações que podem sem utilizadas por gestores que desejam buscar novas formas de financiamento para seus projetos e colaborar com o aprimoramento do segmento da bolsa voltado para pequenas empresas com potencial de crescimento. / Small and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in the countries\' economy either by generation of employment or for their share in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, this group of companies face a range of difficulties related to obtaining financial resources to leverage growth and to finance long-term projects as well. To have access to capital market is one possible alternative, which needs to be encouraged and facilitated by interested agencies. Despite the relevance of this issue we can observe a few studies related to this subject. Therefore, this work aims to present a framework that can collaborate with the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises, in addition to encourage further researchs in this field. This is an exploratory study with a quantitative approach, non-probabilistic. The means used to obtain the data were bibliographic andfield research by way of a structured questionnaire which was sent out to an emerging enterprises\' group of managers. The findings suggest that the managers have knowledge on different sources of financing, as well as, capital market and Corporate Governance. The researched firms are privately-held companies and most of them don\'t intend to open up their capital. Among those firms which intend to open up their capital or not disregard this possibility, the results point out that these firms have been getting ready for a possible initial public offering in the future, but their managers consider the costs, mainly those related to the IPO process, the main barrier. The results also suggest that many factors can contribute with SMEs, such as tax incentives to investors and assistance from an advisor. The findings indicate that this group of growing firms intend to proceed with their growth strategies, applying resources in technology, innovation, and new markets. The work has practical applicabilities, the results can be used by managers who wish to access new sources of financing and cooperate with the improvement of the stock market segment for small and medium-sized businesses with potential growth.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento empreendedor de proprietários de pequenas e médias empresas de software de forma a identificar os comportamentos e ações que podem melhorar o seu desempenho organizacional. O estudo foi realizado em uma rede de revendas de uma empresa nacional de software de gestão empresarial integrada (Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP), que tem mais de 100 empresas representantes no país. Essas revendas têm empresários com comportamentos distintos entre si, com grande diferença nos resultados finais e no seu desempenho individual. Este trabalho está baseado em uma revisão teórica sobre o comportamento empreendedor, o desempenho organizacional, pequenas e médias empresas do setor de tecnologia e empreendedorismo, visando maior compreensão acerca desses temas. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo, com aplicação de uma pesquisa quantitativa com os proprietários dessas empresas, por meio de um questionário estruturado e validado com base na literatura, que foi disponibilizado online para autopreenchimento. Os resultados obtidos indicam que os comportamentos empreendedores de autorrealização, planejamento, inovação, além do constructo agressividade empresarial, são de maior significância para um maior desempenho organizacional, bem como algumas das características sociodemográficas de seus proprietários, como tempo de empresa entre 5 e 15 anos e dentro da faixa etária entre 26 e 45 anos. O estudo apresenta propostas de treinamento, recrutamento e de gestão para os proprietários das revendas e para os gestores da empresa estudada, de forma a fortalecer alguns dos comportamentos empreendedores dos proprietários das revendas, em busca do aumento do seu desempenho organizacional. Esses resultados se aplicam apenas a esta pesquisa, pois a amostra não é probabilística e, portanto, não podem ser generalizados. / The present study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial behavior of owners of small and medium-sized enterprises software in order to identify behaviors and actions that can improve their organizational performance. The study was conducted in a resales network of a national company of Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP software, which has more than 100 companies representing the country. These resellers have entrepreneurs with different behaviors, with great difference in the final results and their individual performance. The work is based on a theoretical review about entrepreneurial behavior, organizational performance, small and medium-sized companies in the technology and entrepreneurship industry, aiming more understanding of these topics. A descriptive study was carried out, with the application of a quantitative survey with the owners of these companies, through a structured and validated questionnaire based on the literature, which was made available online. The results obtained indicate that the entrepreneurial behaviors of self-realization, planning, innovation, in addition to the entrepreneurial aggressiveness construct, are of greater significance for greater organizational performance, As well as some of the sociodemographic characteristics of its owners, such as company time between 5 and 15 years and within the age range between 26 and 45 years. The study presents proposals for training, recruitment and management for the owners of the resellers and for the managers of the company studied, in order to strengthen some of the entrepreneurial behaviors of the owners of the resellers, in search of the increase of their organizational performance. These results apply just for this research, because the sample is not probabilistic and cannot be generalized.

Atualmente têm-se valorizado o aproveitamento das características das aglomerações, como os arranjos produtivos locais - APLs e a necessidade de cooperação entre as empresas. Neste contexto, a avaliação de desempenho em relação a um referencial externo e a identificação de melhores práticas, como proposto pelo benchmarking, pode ser de grande valia. Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento de um sistema de informações para benchmarking com acesso via web e sua aplicação piloto. O trabalho de campo contou com a participação de 29 empresas de até médio porte, que fazem parte dos APLs de Ibitinga (confecções de bordados) e de Jaú (calçados femininos). A partir desta aplicação, discute-se a viabilidade operacional de tal sistema, os estímulos e resultados para as empresas usuárias e as relações de tal sistema com os agentes de governança dos APLs. A avaliação do processo de implementação, realizada essencialmente por meio de observações da pesquisadora (de caráter qualitativo), aponta para a necessidade de um mecanismo que possibilite a adesão e participação de um número elevado de empresas em um curto espaço de tempo ou com participação vinculada a outras iniciativas, a fim de que uma base robusta de dados seja criada, eliminando a principal razão para que as empresas percam o estímulo em participar. Outras alternativas de abordagem também são discutidas a fim de melhorar os benefícios deste sistema para empresas e para a governança, como a formação de grupos de empresas (mesmo de setores diferentes) interessados em trocar experiências em uma determinada área ou mesmo a troca de experiência entre instituições de governança. / Nowadays, the clustering approach and the development of joint actions have gained acceptance. In this scenario, performance assessment against an external reference and the identification of best practices, as proposed by benchmarking, can be very useful. This study presents the development of a web-based benchmarking information system and its pilot application. The fieldwork was developed with the participation of 29 small and medium-sized companies from the clusters of Ibitinga (garment for use in the house) and Jaú (female shoes). The objective is to discuss the operational viability of such system, the incentives and results for the users and the relationship of this system with the cluster governing agents. The assessment of the implementation (of qualitative features), points to the need of an organization that enables a high number of companies to participate in a short period of time, like binding the participation to other initiatives, in order to create a strong database, removing the main reason for the incentive missing. Other approaches are discussed aiming to increase the benefits to the companies and to the governing, e.g. experience exchange by groups of firms (even from different industrial sectors) interested in a specific area or by governing institutions.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento empreendedor de proprietários de pequenas e médias empresas de software de forma a identificar os comportamentos e ações que podem melhorar o seu desempenho organizacional. O estudo foi realizado em uma rede de revendas de uma empresa nacional de software de gestão empresarial integrada (Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP), que tem mais de 100 empresas representantes no país. Essas revendas têm empresários com comportamentos distintos entre si, com grande diferença nos resultados finais e no seu desempenho individual. Este trabalho está baseado em uma revisão teórica sobre o comportamento empreendedor, o desempenho organizacional, pequenas e médias empresas do setor de tecnologia e empreendedorismo, visando maior compreensão acerca desses temas. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo, com aplicação de uma pesquisa quantitativa com os proprietários dessas empresas, por meio de um questionário estruturado e validado com base na literatura, que foi disponibilizado online para autopreenchimento. Os resultados obtidos indicam que os comportamentos empreendedores de autorrealização, planejamento, inovação, além do constructo agressividade empresarial, são de maior significância para um maior desempenho organizacional, bem como algumas das características sociodemográficas de seus proprietários, como tempo de empresa entre 5 e 15 anos e dentro da faixa etária entre 26 e 45 anos. O estudo apresenta propostas de treinamento, recrutamento e de gestão para os proprietários das revendas e para os gestores da empresa estudada, de forma a fortalecer alguns dos comportamentos empreendedores dos proprietários das revendas, em busca do aumento do seu desempenho organizacional. Esses resultados se aplicam apenas a esta pesquisa, pois a amostra não é probabilística e, portanto, não podem ser generalizados. / The present study aims to analyze the entrepreneurial behavior of owners of small and medium-sized enterprises software in order to identify behaviors and actions that can improve their organizational performance. The study was conducted in a resales network of a national company of Enterprise Resource Planning - ERP software, which has more than 100 companies representing the country. These resellers have entrepreneurs with different behaviors, with great difference in the final results and their individual performance. The work is based on a theoretical review about entrepreneurial behavior, organizational performance, small and medium-sized companies in the technology and entrepreneurship industry, aiming more understanding of these topics. A descriptive study was carried out, with the application of a quantitative survey with the owners of these companies, through a structured and validated questionnaire based on the literature, which was made available online. The results obtained indicate that the entrepreneurial behaviors of self-realization, planning, innovation, in addition to the entrepreneurial aggressiveness construct, are of greater significance for greater organizational performance, As well as some of the sociodemographic characteristics of its owners, such as company time between 5 and 15 years and within the age range between 26 and 45 years. The study presents proposals for training, recruitment and management for the owners of the resellers and for the managers of the company studied, in order to strengthen some of the entrepreneurial behaviors of the owners of the resellers, in search of the increase of their organizational performance. These results apply just for this research, because the sample is not probabilistic and cannot be generalized.

High-growth firms in Czechia: geographical and sectoral specifics Abstract This theses focuses on high-growth firms in Czechia, defined as firms with a predetermined year-on-year increase in turnover between years 2012 and 2015. First part is about putting high-growth firms to the context of selected theories of regional development and it also discuss factors of the firm's growth. Further the high-growth firms are analyzed with an emphasis on spatial, sectoral and other specifics. A part focused on revealing specific factors of business growth uwing qualitative methods is also included. The analysis shows that high- growth firms in Czechia are concentrated to metropolitan areas, and whole one third of them are based in Prague. High growth firms are concentrated to the manufacturing and retail and wholesale sectors. The work has suggested that individual companies may have different growth factors and and there is no one specific strategy for a successful firm growth. Keywords: High-growth firms, gazelles, economic geography, small and medium-sized enterprises

Les repreneurs non familiaux deviennent de plus en plus importants pour diverses raisons.Tout d’abord, les estimations indiquent qu’un nombre croissant de fondateurs de petites et moyennes entreprises sont en voie de quitter leurs entreprises. Ensuite, et de façon concommitante, un nombre croissant de repreneurs familiaux se désintéressent ou ne disposent pas de l’aptitude nécessaire pour reprendre l’entreprise familiale. En conséquence, il se développe un marché de l’investisseur constitué des repreneurs non familiaux potentiels, en situation de sélectionner l’entreprise qui rencontre le mieux leurs attentes. D’autre part, la nature de la composition des actifs de la firme a changé et les actifs immatériels représentent à présent l’un des aspects les plus déterminants dans le succès de la majorité des entreprises. Il est communément accepté que ces actifs sont principalement responsables de la valeur de l’entreprise et de sa croissance dans de nombreuses industries. Cependant, l’étude du lien entre ces actifs et la transmission de PME hors du cercle familiale a été négligée jusqu’à présent.L’objectif de cette étude est d’apporter un éclairage sur la pertinence perçue des actifs immatériels dans le cadre du processus de transmission de PME, et ce de la perspective du repreneur n’appartenant pas au cercle familial. Au sein de ce processus, l’accent est mis sur la phase de préparation, lors de laquelle les repreneurs non familiaux potentiels recherchent et analysent les firmes cibles prometteuses.Sur base d’une démarche scientifique reposant sur des approches mixtes, déployées de façon séquentielle, la présente recherche consiste en une enquête quantitative, administrée en ligne, et impliquant des associations de commerce allemandes ainsi qu’une série d’entretiens qualitatifs menés avec des repreneurs non familiaux de PME allemandes.Les résultats apportent une nouvelle perspective sur la transmission d’entreprise, plus spécifiquement au regard des processus de sélection utilisés par les repreneurs non familiaux. Ainsi, cette étude contribue au développement de la littérature de plusieurs manières. Tout d’abord, une approche alternative de traiter de la transmission de PME en adoptant la perspective des repreneurs non familiaux est proposée, en tenant compte de leur modusoperandi. Ensuite, la vue traditionnelle de la transmission d’entreprise est élargie en considérant les actifs immatériels comme étant des éléments décisifs dans la phase de préparation. Enfin, ces résultats sont résumés dans un cadre qui fournit un aperçu sur les actifs immatériels dans le cadre de la sélection d’entreprise.Au regard du nombre croissant de PME en attente de transmission vers de nouveaux propriétaires, il est fondamental de comprendre la pertinence des actifs immatériels dans la dynamique de la transmission d’entreprise (et en particulier, dans la transmission non familiale). Ceci peut ainsi supporter les professionnels (par exemple, propriétaires, repreneurs potentiels, conseillers) et faciliter le développement de mesures adéquates pour améliorer la qualité de la transmission d’entreprise. / Non-family successors are becoming more and more important because of different reasons. Firstly, forecasts show that an increasing number of founders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are waiting to leave their firms. Secondly, at the same time an increasing number of family successors are uninterested in or ill-suited to company succession. Consequently, it can be talked about as an investor market bringing prospective non-family successors in a position to select the company that best matches their expectations.On the other hand, the nature of a firm's asset composition has changed and intangible assets are now seen to represent one of the crucial aspects determining company success in most companies. It is generally acknowledged that these assets are chiefly responsible for company value and growth in most industries. However, the link between them and non-family succession in SMEs has so far been neglected.The aim of this study is to shed light on the perceived relevance of intangible assets in the SME succession process from the non-family successor perspective. In the process, the focus is on the preparation stage where prospective non-family successors seek and analyse promising target firms.Acquired on the basis of a sequential mixed methods approach, the present body of research material consists of a quantitative web-survey involving German trade associations and a series of qualitative interviews conducted with non-family successors of German SMEs.The findings provide a new perspective on company succession, specifically in regard to selection processes used by non-family successors, and thus this study contributes to the literature in several ways. Firstly, an alternative approach to dealing with company succession in SMEs by adopting the perspective of non-family successors is proposed, taking their modus operandi into account. Secondly, the traditional view of company succession is enlarged by considering intangible assets as being the decisive elements in the preparation stage. Finally, the findings are summarised by proposing a framework which provides insights into critical intangible assets in terms of company selection.Given the increasing number of SMEs waiting to be transferred to new owners, an understanding of the relevance of intangible assets is fundamental to our understanding of the dynamics of company succession (and non-family succession in particular). This in turn may also help practitioners (e.g., incumbents, prospective successors and advisors) to facilitate the proposal of suitable measures to improve the quality of company succession.