Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T17:04:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 27 / Nenhuma / As redes de cooperação surgiram em resposta às exigências do ambiente competitivo e têm se mostrado uma alternativa viável para a sobrevivência e o crescimento de Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs). A expansão das redes tem gerado questionamentos sobre como elas podem ser gerenciadas. Embora haja necessidade de se aprofundar o conhecimento sobre a gestão de redes são poucas as pesquisas sobre esse tema. Assim, a presente dissertação trata do tema gestão de redes de cooperação empresariais. O objetivo principal é propor um modelo de avaliação da gestão capaz de apoiar o desenvolvimento das redes que operam por meio da metodologia do programa Redes de Cooperação do Estado do RS. Para tanto, adotou-se o método denominado design research. O método constituído por cinco passos (consciência do problema, sugestão, desenvolvimento, avaliação e conclusão) possibilita a construção e avaliação de um modelo. O primeiro passo do design research, consciência do problema, é a identificação da necessidade de um modelo de gest / The cooperation networks emerged in response to the competitive environment and have proven a viable alternative to the survivor and growth of small and medium enterprises. The expansion of networks has generated questions about how could them be managed. Although there is need of deepen the knowledge about networks management, there are few researches about this subject. So the present dissertation theme treats the management of cooperation network business. The main objective is to propose a model for the evaluation of management, capable of supporting the network development of those which operate by the methodology of the program Redes de Cooperação do Estado do RS (Cooperation Networks from the RS State). To this, the method called “design research” had been adopted. The method is composed by five steps (awareness of the problem, suggestion, development, evaluation and conclusion) that makes possible a construction and evaluation of a model. The first step of design research, awareness of the problem,

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T18:39:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 19 / Nenhuma / A presente dissertação enfoca a posição competitiva de empresas exportadoras do Rio Grande do Sul, sendo uma replicação da pesquisa de Hermann Simon (1996) sobre pequenas e médias empresas alemãs de sucesso no mercado internacional, a qual originou o livro As Campeãs Ocultas. Realizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva quantitativa, na forma de survey, da qual participaram trinta e nove empresas de diversos segmentos de atividade. Avaliou-se a percepção estratégica dessas empresas sob três ângulos distintos: meta e visão, elementos do ambiente interno e elementos do ambiente externo. Utilizou-se esse modelo que avalia as empresas alemãs, devido ao sucesso desse país no mercado internacional. Os resultados indicam que a internacionalização das empresas é baixa, tendo menos do que 30% de suas receitas oriundas das exportações; apresentam uma participação média de 30,3% no mercado local, o que permite que 61,5% delas exerçam influência no mercado local. Buscam a vantagem competitiva através da qualidade e tradição. As e / The present study focuses on the strategic thinking of exporting companies established on Rio Grande do Sul, and is the replication of Hermann Simon’s (1996) research about the German midsize successful companies. This research originated the book known as The Hidden Champions. It was developed a descriptive quantitative research in the form of survey was done with thirty-nine companies from various segments of activity. This research evaluated the strategic perception of companies within different views: goals and vision, elements of the external environment and elements of the internal environment. The model selected assesses the German companies, because of the success this country has on the international market. The results indicate that the internationalization of companies, is low with less than 30% of its revenue from exports, have an average local market share of 30.3%, and this allows 61.5% of them have some kind of influence on the local market. It was also observed differences in the strategies

Depuis une trentaine d'années, en même temps que l'accélération de la mondialisation, on assiste au Sud comme au Nord à l'affirmation de l'espace local comme espace de référence pertinent pour l'action et la réflexion économiques. Et cette affirmation s'accompagne de l'émergence d'une autre approche du développement, approche territorialisée aux termes de laquelle le développement est le fait d'une multiplicité d'acteurs organisés en réseaux - formels et informels - et entretenant entre eux des relations intenses et économiquement fécondes. La question que nous aborderons dans ce rapport porte sur la relation entre PME et territoire - au sens .local du mot - et les implications de cette relation en matière de développement des régions. / Since around thirty years, at the same time as the acceleration of the globalization, we are witnessing in the South as in the North to the affirmation of the local space as the relevant reference space for the economic action and reflection. And this assertion is accompanied by the emergence of another approach of the development: territorialized approach under which development is the fact a multiplicity of actors organized in networks - formal and informal- and maintaining between the them intense and economically fertile relationships. The question we address in this report focuses on the relationship between SMEs and territory - at the local sense of the word - and the implications of this relationship in terms of regional development

D. Tech. (Business, Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Management Sciences): Vaal University of Technology / Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the stronghold of economies and societies worldwide. In Zimbabwe, as in any other country, there is a realisation that SMEs are innovative, flexible and require low startup capital. There is an increased interest in pursuing SMEs as a poverty reduction strategy and as a roadmap to higher living standards. SMEs in Zimbabwe are divided into two sectors, namely the service and the manufacturing sector. SME manufacturers encompass almost every facet of the local economy, such as food processing, toiletry production, the garment, leather and rubber industry, metal fabrication, furniture manufacturing, construction and art. Most research that has been done on the influence of employee perception of equity (EPE), organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) on organisational commitment (OC) and turnover intention (ITS) has been on large organisations and little attention has been paid to SMEs. Studies on employee perception of equity and organisational citizenship behaviour has not filtered down to SMEs in developing countries. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the influence of OCB, EPE and OC on ITS in Zimbabwe’s SME sector. It also sought to ascertain the kind of relationships between OCB and OC, EPE with OC, OCB with ITS, EPE with ITS and finally OC with ITS. This study sought to determine whether there are any group differences with regard to SMEs employees perceptions on OCB, EPE, OC and ITS according to gender, age and industry type. A quantitative research method was used. Structured questionnaires were distributed to SMEs in five major cities. The data were collected from SME employees. The findings of this study show that there is a significantly positive influence of OCB on OC in the Zimbabwean SMEs. There is a significant strong positive influence of EPE on OC. There is also significant positive relationship between employees’ OCBs and their OC in Zimbabwe’s SME sector. There is a strong positive significant relationship of EPE with ITS and there is a strong positive relationship between employees OCBs and employees’ ITS in Zimbabwean SMEs. Finally, the results reveal that gender, marital status and industry type of the respondent influence OCBs, EPE, OC and their ITS in the Zimbabwean SMEs. Given that today’s business environments for SMEs are characterised by high levels of competition, lack of finance and uncertainty, it is recommended that SME managers should adopt good and proper management styles so that they can make good decisions. Scanning the environment is also necessary for competitive advantage not only for SMEs but also for large firms.

The aim of this study is to compare implementation, impact and sustainability of educational projects in small and medium enterprises which are funded by the European Social Fund. The results of the analysis should give us an answer to the question whether the financial support is used effectively and contributes to the fulfilment of its objectives or the potential of these funds remains untapped. The theoretical part deals with the current situation analysis of training and development of employees in SMEs, different methods of measuring the effectiveness of company training as well as the opportunities of training promotion in SMEs with support of the ESF. The practical part is focused on comparing the implementation of educational projects funded by the Operational Programme Prague -- Adaptability and Operational Programme Human Resources and Employment in chosen SMEs. These companies are compared with enterprises that fund their educational programmes with their own resources and with respect to differences resulting from their size measured by number of employees. This comparison enables us to assess the effectiveness of the use of public funds in this area.

The future survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is inextricably linked to their implementation of e-commerce systems. The lack of e-commerce strategies among SME business owners has contributed to a low level of e-commerce adoption by SMEs. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that Nigerian SME business owners used to implement e-commerce systems. The population consisted of retail SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria, that have functional e-commerce systems. The conceptual framework supporting the study was dynamic capabilities framework. Data for the study were derived from semistructured interviews of 4 SME business owners/managers and documentation from the case companies. Data analysis entailed coding of the interview transcripts and analysis of documentary data to identify themes. Member checking and triangulation ensured the credibility of the study. The main themes that emerged from data analysis include service delivery strategies, dynamic marketing strategies, and learning and adaptation. The implications for social change include the potential to contribute to increased wealth creation opportunities for the business owners, their employees, and the local communities in Nigeria.

Critical success factors that contribute to project success in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have received insufficient attention in research. Guided by the goal-setting conceptual framework, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the human resource management (HRM) strategies used by owners of SMEs to achieve project success. Five owners of SMEs in St. Lucia participated in the research by contributing their experiences in using HRM strategies to achieve project success. Data were collected from SME owners using semistructured interviews, and from observations and analysis of company records. Data were manually analyzed using Yin's 5 phases. Five themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the data obtained from the interviews, observations, and company records: (a) financial rewards, (b) team meetings and briefings, (c) training and staff enhancement, (d) retention and loyalty, and (e) work-life balance. The HRM strategies used by the participants to achieve project success have implications for social change because project success can lead to the sustainability of SMEs, thereby creating employment and improving the quality of life for citizens who benefit from the successful infrastructural and social projects that owners of SMEs undertake.

Work-life balance is a dominant discourse in contemporary Western society. It has been built on a language of large organizations, hence has not been widely considered in relation to the small-medium enterprise sector. As a consequence, scant research has been conducted on the experiences of immigrant entrepreneurs and work-life balance within the small-medium enterprise sector in New Zealand, a country largely populated with migrants and small businesses which account for 96 per cent of the total enterprises. This study aims to fill this gap by firstly exploring the interpretations of the concept of work-life balance by Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs and, secondly, the main challenges they face in achieving work-life balance. This is done by drawing on literatures including those on work-life balance, small-medium enterprises, and immigrant entrepreneurship theories. Primary research was conducted using a critical interpretive approach where the researcher is an insider to the study. This philosophical and methodological approach makes it possible to give a minority group a voice to effect social change and gain further research attention. Fifteen Chinese business owners, chosen from a variety of industries within the Auckland region, participated in this study. A qualitative methodological technique and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data for the case study on these entrepreneurs. The results indicate that the majority do not enjoy a sense of work-life balance because they take on filial obligations important for their own culture. They need to work hard to generate financial profit for the benefit of family. About half of them work more than 60 hours per week and three works longer than 70 hours weekly. The motivation for them to work in this way is to provide their family with desirable housing and to enable their children to meet higher education goals. This study challenges the applicability of the work-life balance discourse among the immigrant entrepreneurs who perceive the concept differently based on their cultural values. The results emphasise the need for business case studies from Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs and research attention on contemporary human resource topics to be given to minority groups.

<p>This thesis applies the dynamic capabilities framework to identify and examine the dynamic capabilities creating sustainable competitive advantage in the context of a developing economy. The attempt to explain sustainable competitive advantage by reacting to environmental changes has at all times been a highly discussed topic for research. The globalized and unstable environment often found in developing areas increases the need for more dynamic models when analyzing how to gain competitive advantage. To meet this demand, the dynamic capability framework introduces a very promising effort to better understand superior enterprise performance over time.</p><p> </p><p>This thesis intends to increase the understanding of the role of dynamic capabilities and analyze the knowledge of successful entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises effectively can outperform competition in the unstable South African environment. More specific, the focus is mainly on strategic decisions and the empirical study consists of qualitative case studies of four successful entrepreneurs. This data is collected through semi-structured interviews in Cape Town. The strategic decisions are first analyzed within each case – applying selected parts of an existing framework – and thereafter a cross-sectional analysis is done in order to find both the similarities and differences between entrepreneurs. The findings suggest that all entrepreneurs in the analysis have the characteristics and skills to create dynamic capabilities within the process of sensing, seizing and reconfiguring opportunities. Furthermore, three main factors – maintaining a consistent long-term vision, placing the customer need in focus, and using the competence and resources wisely – are identified as features, which made these four entrepreneurs successful and helped them sustain the superior firm performance over time. In addition, these three factors must be adaptable to rapid and unexpected changes. Overall the findings suggest that when analyzing competitive advantage, the sensing, shaping and reconfiguration of opportunities must be seen as constant.  Lastly, the complete process containing different fundamental classes of dynamic capabilities should not be separated.</p><p> </p><p>The study demonstrates the relevance of the dynamic capabilities approach in identifying competitive advantage, which is based on the firm’s dynamic capabilities. The fact that small and medium enterprises are important for the economic growth in developing countries makes this study an important field for research.</p>

This thesis applies the dynamic capabilities framework to identify and examine the dynamic capabilities creating sustainable competitive advantage in the context of a developing economy. The attempt to explain sustainable competitive advantage by reacting to environmental changes has at all times been a highly discussed topic for research. The globalized and unstable environment often found in developing areas increases the need for more dynamic models when analyzing how to gain competitive advantage. To meet this demand, the dynamic capability framework introduces a very promising effort to better understand superior enterprise performance over time.   This thesis intends to increase the understanding of the role of dynamic capabilities and analyze the knowledge of successful entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises effectively can outperform competition in the unstable South African environment. More specific, the focus is mainly on strategic decisions and the empirical study consists of qualitative case studies of four successful entrepreneurs. This data is collected through semi-structured interviews in Cape Town. The strategic decisions are first analyzed within each case – applying selected parts of an existing framework – and thereafter a cross-sectional analysis is done in order to find both the similarities and differences between entrepreneurs. The findings suggest that all entrepreneurs in the analysis have the characteristics and skills to create dynamic capabilities within the process of sensing, seizing and reconfiguring opportunities. Furthermore, three main factors – maintaining a consistent long-term vision, placing the customer need in focus, and using the competence and resources wisely – are identified as features, which made these four entrepreneurs successful and helped them sustain the superior firm performance over time. In addition, these three factors must be adaptable to rapid and unexpected changes. Overall the findings suggest that when analyzing competitive advantage, the sensing, shaping and reconfiguration of opportunities must be seen as constant.  Lastly, the complete process containing different fundamental classes of dynamic capabilities should not be separated.   The study demonstrates the relevance of the dynamic capabilities approach in identifying competitive advantage, which is based on the firm’s dynamic capabilities. The fact that small and medium enterprises are important for the economic growth in developing countries makes this study an important field for research.