The effective integration of technological innovation is vital to the success of small businesses and can catapult growth and profitability. Some business managers and supervisors, however, may not have a firm understanding of strategies for integrating technological innovations in businesses; this lack of knowledge may result in employee frustration and costly roadblocks to achieving business objectives. This case study was conducted to identify the strategies used by business managers and supervisors to integrate technological innovations in small businesses. Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation and Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation served as the conceptual framework. Ten business managers and supervisors from Castries, St. Lucia, participated in semistructured interviews. Participants who were selected using purposive sampling worked in a small business in St. Lucia for atleast 5 years, were part of senior management, and used strategies for integrating technological innovations in a small business. Two of the themes that emerged from data analysis were integration challenges relating to technological innovation complexity, and technology cost regarding hardware, upgrades and software procurement. Findings from this study may contribute to positive social change by providing business managers and supervisors insight about strategies and innovative solutions they can use to develop better business practices, increase tax revenues, and employment opportunities, improve profitability, and boost the economy.

L’objectif de cette thèse consiste à identifier l’existence de liens potentiels entre d’une part, l’innovation et la performance de l’entreprise, et entre l’innovation et la pérennité de l’entreprise, d’autre part. L’intégration d’innovations organisationnelles et/ou technologiques est considérée aujourd’hui comme un élément essentiel à la performance et à la pérennité de l’entreprise. Cette double importance accordée à l’innovation en tant qu’élément clé de succès et de survie des entreprises nous a amené à poser cette problématique de recherche qui se décline en trois variables explicatives qui guident notre recherche empirique. Cette dernière est effectuée à travers trois études de cas dans le secteur des télécommunications mobiles. A partir d’une analyse qualitative des données recueillies et d’un retour sur les théories, les principaux résultats nous ont permis de constater que l’innovation semble avoir davantage contribué à la pérennité qu’à la performance des firmes étudiées. Ce différentiel est principalement du aux éléments contextuels ainsi qu’à l’exploitation et à la valorisation des apports potentiels de l’innovation. / The objective of this thesis is to identify the existence of potential links between innovation and business performance on the one hand, and innovation and sustainability of the company on the other. The use of organizational innovations and / or technology is now considered critical to the performance and the sustainability of the business. This research work studies the importance of innovation as a key element to success and business survival, while involving the three variables throughout our empirical research. The latter is performed through three case studies in the mobile telecommunications sector. Performing a qualitative analysis of the collected data and based on the theories, we found that innovation seems to have higher contribution to the sustainability than to the performance of the studied firms. This lag is mainly due to contextual elements as well as to the approach towards the potential contribution of innovation.

Problem Discussion: The world population is increasing at a rate that the current food production capacity would not be able to sustain. In Sweden, only a small portion of the land area is used for cultivation and there is a high percentage of imports of food. Halland region is located in the southern part of Sweden has its arable land decreased between 2010 to 2020. This adds to the uncertainty of food production in the future in the region and in Sweden in general. Hydroponics combines food production and technology by using minimal space and resources. It is a technique of growing plants in water with nutrients. Despite being utilized in many countries around the world, hydroponics technology has not been widely adopted in the Halland region of Sweden. Purpose: This thesis aims to analyze the functional weaknesses of the hydroponics industry in the region Halland by utilizing the technological innovation systems (TIS) framework. By analyzing the functional dynamics of actors, networks, and institutions, this thesis aims to explore the weaknesses within the functions, which can be a basis for innovation policies for the necessary stakeholders for the further diffusion of the industry in the Halland region. Methodology: An in-depth qualitative case study was utilized in this study with a deductive approach. Authors have used the framework from Beregk (2008) to analyse the functional weakness of the TIS. And tested whether the theory stands true for a regional setting with little to no actor-network dynamics. A semi-structured interview using mostly video conferencing was done to collect data from respondents representing different actors within the technological innovations systems (TIS) framework. Analysis: The data collected from the semi-structured interviews were analyzed using coding software and exported into an Excel sheet for ease of synthesizing the information. The primary data along with secondary sources was used to analyse the functional weaknesses. The data collected were assigned to each function to identify the patterns and come up with findings and conclusions. Findings and Conclusions: An examination of the data reveals that, despite limited actor-network dynamics in the context, notable weaknesses have emerged within the Technology and Innovation System (TIS). These findings can serve as valuable insights for policymakers seeking to facilitate the wider adoption of this technology. This includes an insufficient development of knowledge within the region. Additionally, entrepreneurs face challenges in securing funding beyond the initial stages, which often leads them to employ trial-and-error approaches. This approach, while valuable for learning, 2 consumes significant time and capital resources, compounding uncertainty. Fortunately, being part of the European Union (EU) provides a distinct advantage for the region, as it enables a smooth flow of information and resources from EU counterparts. While the existing theory holds true within this context, there remains scope for further research. Further research for a distinct diffusion system analysis and greater clarity on defining the development of external positivity for an infant industry.

市區型公共自行車系統（YouBike）在台北市的發展如何可能？本研究採用行動者網絡理論（Actor-Network Theory）的分析取徑，透過追隨網絡裡人與非人行動者的實作軌跡，攤開YouBike自民國98年至今將近7年的網絡鋪陳，並重新檢視YouBike網絡發生轉變的三個關鍵時刻：技術移轉、重新組裝與創造市場。首先，地方政府作為早期關鍵行動者，藉由一連串的轉譯（translate）工作將全球性的問題化作台北市的問題，從而位移（displace）市場、政府與業界的力量，讓YouBike成為問題的唯一解方。而後信義區試營運時期，捷安特重新配置他方（台北市早期河濱與他國）的公共自行車技術要件，展現出技術自由連結（free association）的特性。最後本文主張，民國101年擴大營運後YouBike所經歷的劇烈轉折，乃因其以專業／業餘市場區分，取代了自行車市場既有的通勤／休閒定位，甚至影響到一般販賣低階車款的自行車零售商。從移轉他方知識，到成為全球公共自行車系統典範之一，YouBike案例亦讓我們看見台灣以代工起家的技術能力創新之可能。 / How is it possible to set up an urban public system such as YouBike in Taipei? According to actor-network theory, I expose the extending passage of YouBike network since 2009, exploring the trajectories of human and non-human actors involved in the process. I highlight three significant moments of the YouBike development: technology transferring, elements reassembling, and market creating. First, by way of translating the global concern to a local debate and mobilizing triple forces of market, government, and industries, as an important translator, Taipei city government advocated the YouBike as the only solution. Second, the Giant Bicycle applied the experience of public bicycle system learning from the abroad and the operation of riverside bike rental system in Taipei to the trial run of YouBike in Xinyi district. It shows a “free association” of technology. Finally, this study argues a dramatic transition of YouBike happened when the system expanded after 2012. YouBike network creates a new market based on professional and amateur bikers that change a traditional idea assuming the YouBiker’s motivation are only for commuting and recreation. Furthermore, this change even decreases sales of low-end bikes. In the making of YouBike, we see how Giant Bicycle is able to transfer abroad knowledge and becomes a paradigm in the global public bicycle business. It has been forecasted the potential of technological innovation in Taiwan (a country starts from OEM).

The concept of BIM is nascent but evolving rapidly, thus, its deployment has become the latest shibboleth amongst both academics and practitioners in the construction sector in the recent couple of years. Due to construction clients buy-in of the BIM concept, the entire industry is encouraged to pursue a vision of changing work practices in line with the BIM ideas. Also, existing research recognises that the implementation of BIM affects all areas of the construction process from design of the building, through the organisation of projects, to the way in which the construction process is executed and how the finished product is maintained. The problem however is that, existing research in technology utilisation in general, and BIM literature in particular, has offered limited help to practitioners trying to implement BIM, for focusing predominantly, on technology-centric views. Not surprisingly therefore, the current BIM literature emphasises on topics such as capability maturity models and anticipated outcomes of BIM rollouts. Rarely does the extant literature offer practitioners a cohesive approach to BIM implementation. Such technology-centric views inevitably represent a serious barrier to utilising the inscribed capabilities of BIM. This research therefore is predicated on the need to strengthen BIM implementation theory through monitoring and analysing its implementation in practice. Thus, the focus of this thesis is to carry out a sociotechnical systems (STS) analysis of BIM implementation in construction organisations. The concept of STS accommodates the dualism of the inscribed functions of BIM technologies and the contextual issues in the organisations and allows for the analysis of their interactive combination in producing the anticipated effect from BIM appropriation. An interpretive research methodology is adopted to study practitioners through a change process, involving the implementation of BIM in their work contexts. The study is based on constructivist ontological interpretations of participants. The study adopts an abductive research approach which ensures a back-and-forth movement between research sites and the theoretical phenomenon, effectively comparing the empirical findings with the existing theories and to eventually generate a new theoretical understanding and knowledge regarding the phenomenon under investigation. A two-stage process is also formulated for the empirical data collection - comprising: 1) initial exploratory study to help establish the framework for analysing BIM implementation in the construction context; and 2) case studies approach to provide a context for formulating novel understanding and validation of theory regarding BIM implementation in construction organisations. The analysis and interpretation of the empirical work follows the qualitative content analysis technique to observe and reflect on the results. The findings have shown that BIM implementation demands a complete breakaway from the status quo. Contrary to the prevailing understanding of a top-down approach to BIM utilisation, the study revealed that different organisations with plethora of visions, expectations and skills combine with artefacts to form or transform BIM practices. The rollout and appropriation of BIM occurs when organisations shape sociotechnical systems of institutions, processes and technologies to support certain practices over others. The study also showed that BIM implementation endures in a causal chain of influences as different project organisations with their localised BIM ambitions and expectations combine to develop holistic BIM-enabled project visions. Thus, distributed responsibilities on holistic BIM protocols among the different levels of influences are instituted and enforced under binding contractual obligations. The study has illuminated the centrality of both the technical challenges and sociological factors in shaping BIM deployment in construction. It is also one of the few studies that have produced accounts of BIM deployment that is strongly mediated by the institutional contexts of construction organisations. However, it is acknowledged that the focus of the research on qualitative interpretive enquiry does not have the hard and fast view of generalising from specific cases to broader population/contexts. Thus, it is suggested that further quantitative studies, using much larger data sample of BIM-enabled construction organisations could provide an interesting point of comparison to the conclusions derived from the research findings.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) refers to any form of communication that can only be achieved through the use of a computer. This includes such diverse means as e-mail, MXit, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Many of these forms of communication have become extremely popular within the past few years. Research internationally has shown that adolescents rapidly adopt new technologies, but there is very little research on how this process is impacting South African adolescents. This leaves parents, educators and academics without adequate information about the advantages and dangers of adolescent CMC use. The aim of the study was to investigate the views of adolescents around the topic of CMC. The central research question related to adolescents‟ views of the impact of CMC on their lives. Sub questions related to the reasons behind the popularity of CMC, the advantages of CMC use, the effect of CMC use on language, schoolwork and relationships, the dangers of using CMC and the use of CMC for bullying. The study was of qualitative design and was guided by a constructivist theoretical framework. A qualitative design was chosen because it was felt that qualitative methodology is most suited to investigating the subjective experiences of participants, and thus answering the research questions. Two focus groups participated and three semi-structured interviews were conducted with grade 11 learners from a Cape Town private school. Focus groups were used because this was felt to be an effective means to gather the opinions of multiple participants at once. Individual interviews were used as a means to supplement the focus groups and thus increase the trustworthiness of the study. A semi-structured approach was chosen for the interviews because this allowed the researcher to probe specific areas of interest and thus gather further data on these areas. The focus groups and interviews were audio recorded and the recordings transcribed. Content analysis was performed on the transcriptions. After several rounds of coding, the codes that occurred most often within and across the focus groups and interviews formed the basis for thematic analysis. Several central themes around CMC use emerged from this analysis. The most central of these related to the importance the participants placed on ease of use, and the speed at which CMC can satisfy their desires. Further issues related to how CMC can have both positive and negative effects on relationships and the various dangers of CMC use. Something that recurred throughout the analysis was the idea that a CMC can, in a sense, form a semi-permeable barrier between users. These barriers allow a user to control their communications with others, typically allowing users to express whatever they wish to express while restricting possible negative effects of their communication. A model of adolescent CMC use was created that was based on these findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie (Computer-Mediated Communication of CMC) verwys na enige vorm van kommunikasie wat slegs met behulp van rekenaargebruik kan plaasvind. Dit omvat „n verskeidenheid metodes soos e-pos, MXit, Facebook, MySpace en Twitter. Vele sulke kommunikasiemiddele het oor die afgelope aantal jare uiters gewild geraak. Navorsing op internasionale vlak het getoon dat nuwe tegnologie snel deur adolessente aangeneem word, maar weinig navorsing is nog onderneem oor hoedanige impak hierdie proses op Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente het. Dit beteken dat ouers, opvoeders en akademici onvoldoende inligting oor die voordele en gevare van adolessente se gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie het. Die doel van die studie was om die uitkyk van adolessente in verband met die gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie te ondersoek. Die sentrale navorsingsvraagstuk het verband gehou met adolessente se opinies oor die impak van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie op hul lewens. Ondergeskikte vrae het verband gehou met redes vir die gewildheid van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie, die voordele van die gebruik daarvan, die effek van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie op taalgebruik, skoolwerk en verhoudings, die gevare van die gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie en die gebruik daarvan om ander te treiter. Die studie het van „n kwalitatiewe ontwerp gebruik gemaak en het binne „n konstruktiwistiese teoretiese raamwerk plaasgevind. Die kwalitatiewe ontwerp is gekies omdat die kwalitatiewe metodologie as die mees geskikte metodologie vir die ondersoek van subjektiewe ervarings van deelnemers, en dus vir die beantwoording van die navorsingsvrae, beskou is. Twee fokusgroepe het aan die ondersoek deelgeneem en drie semigestruktureerde onderhoude is met graad 11 leerders van „n private skool in Kaapstad gevoer. Fokusgroepe is gebruik omdat dit as „n doeltreffende metode vir die onmiddellike verkryging van die menings van „n verskeidenheid deelnemers beskou is. Indiwiduele onderhoude is gevoer om die fokusgroepe aan te vul en die betroubaarheid van die studie te verhoog. „n Semi-gestruktureerde benadering is vir die onderhoude gekies omdat dit die navorser in staat gestel het om areas van spesifieke belang meer deurdringend te ondersoek en daardeur verdere inligting oor hierdie areas in te samel. Die fokusgroepe en onderhoude is op band opgeneem en die opnames is getranskribeer. Inhoudsontleding van die transkripsies is uitgevoer. Na verskeie rondtes kodering, is die kodes wat met die grootste reëlmaat binne en oor die fokusgroepe en onderhoude heen voorgekom het, as basis vir tematiese ontleding gebruik. Verskeie sentrale temas rondom die gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie het uit hierdie ontleding na vore gekom. Die mees sentrale hiervan het verband gehou met die belangrikheid van gebruiksgemak vir deelnemers en die snelheid waarmee rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie verlangens tevrede stel. Verdere kwessies het verband gehou met hoe rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie „n positiewe sowel as „n negatiewe effek op verhoudings kan hê en met die onderskeie gevare van die gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie. „n Idee wat by herhaling gedurende die ontleding na vore getree het, was dat rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie op „n manier „n semi-deurdringbare versperring tussen gebruikers daarvan vorm. Hierdie versperring laat die gebruiker toe om beheer oor kommunikasie met ander uit te oefen; dit laat tipies toe dat gebruikers uitdrukking gee aan enigiets wat hulle wil oordra terwyl dit terselfdertyd moontlik is om „n moontlike negatiewe uitwerking van die kommunikasie te bekamp. „n Model van adolessente se gebruik van rekenaar-bemiddelde kommunikasie is op die grondslag van hierdie bevindings gesk

受新公共管理思潮影響，政府組織部門近年積極向企業私部門學習 創新改革，惟創新範圍與方式廣泛，且隨組織結構及需求不同而有所差 異。就組織經營管理內涵而言，創新的引用涵括了管理創新與技術創新， 主要目的乃在回應外在環境變遷及需求，並藉由資源的重新整合與運作 ，以提升組織內部整合及外部生存之有效運作，亦即達成整體組織效能 之有效發揮。 本研究以臺北市立圖書館為研究主體，以服務之館員為實證對象 ，同時以組織創新、組織效能及人口統計資料為研究變項，歸納研究架 構，旨在探討： 一、臺北市立圖書館館員對組織創新認知程度 二、臺北市立圖書館館員對組織效能認知程度 三、臺北市立圖書館不同背景之館員對組織創新認知差異情形 四、臺北市立圖書館不同背景之館員對組織效能認知差異情形 五、臺北市立圖書館組織創新與組織的相關性 本研究採用問卷調查法蒐集資料，經篩取有效樣本265份，並以SPSS for Windows 12.0統計軟體進行資料分析，研究結果發現： 一、不同年齡館員對組織創新、組織效能認知程度具顯著差異。 二、不同服務年資館員對組織創新、組織效能認知程度具顯著差異。 三、不同工作職位館員對組織創新程度具顯著差異，但對組織效能則無 顯著差異。 四、圖書館組織創新各構面與組織效能各構面具有顯著相關。 關鍵字：組織創新、技術創新、管理創新、組織效能 / Under the impact of the new public management ideas, government departments have been actively learning innovative reforms from the private sector in recent years. But the scope and ways of innovation are broad and multiple and they vary when the organizational structures and needs have changed. As for the content of the operational management of an organization, innovative applications cover managerial and technological innovation. The main purpose is to respond to a changed external environment and its needs. Organizations increase their internal integration and external survival and achieve higher organizational efficiency through the renewed integration and operation of resources. This study mainly focuses on the Taipei City Library and makes its librarians as the empirical objects. At the same time, organizational innovation, effectiveness and demographic information are used as variables and the research structure is summarized to example: 1.The level of cognition over organizational innovation of the librarians of the Taipei City Library. 2.The level of cognition over organizational effectiveness of the librarians of the Taipei City Library. 3.The different cognition over organizational innovation among the librarians of the Taipei City Library. 4.The different cognition over organizational effectiveness among the librarians of the Taipei City Library. 5.The connection between the organizational innovation and effectiveness of the Taipei City Library. This study has used a questionnaire to collect information, which includes 265 valid samples selected from a poll and has been analyzed by the statistics software SPSS for Windows 12.0. The study has found: 1.Librarians of different ages have significantly different cognition over organizational innovation and effectiveness. 2.Librarians of different seniorities have significantly different cognition over organizational innovation and effectiveness. 3.Librarians of different positions have significantly different cognition over organizational innovation but not significantly different cognition over organizational effectiveness. 4.Library’s organizational innovative dimensions and effective dimensions are significantly correlation. Keywords: Organizational innovation; technological innovation; managerial innovation; organizational effectiveness

Les légumineuses sont souvent considérées comme des cultures clés pour une agriculture durable. Dans ce cadre, elles sont souvent cultivées en association avec les céréales et présentent de nombreux avantages d'ordres agronomique, environnemental et socio-économique. Cependant, malgré ces nombreux avantages, leur part dans l'agriculture européenne est encore très limitée. Dans la région Midi-Pyrénées (sud-ouest de la France), la superficie occupée par les légumineuses ne représente que 1 à 3% de la superficie totale cultivée, traduisant la réticence des agriculteurs à cultiver ce type de culture. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de la thèse étaient de: i) identifier les principales contraintes pour la production de légumineuses dans la région Midi-Pyrénées, ii) identifier les principaux leviers techniques et socio-économiques (exprimés sous forme de scénarios) afin de promouvoir les légumineuses dans les systèmes de cultures actuels et iii) évaluer, en utilisant la chaîne de modélisation APES-FSSIM-indicateurs, les impacts de ces scénarios en calculant des indicateurs socio-économiques et environnementaux au niveau de trois exploitations représentatives (FT1, FT2 et FT3) de la diversité observée au niveau de la zone d'étude.L'identification des principales contraintes a été basée sur la bibliographie et les dires d'experts locaux. Ces contraintes traduisent la sensibilité des légumineuses aux types de sols et de climat, les compétences techniques demandées pour cultiver convenablement des légumineuses, la compétitivité économique des légumineuse par rapport aux autres cultures et à l'actuel prix et rendement des légumineuses et surtout leurs variabilité inter-annuelle. Pour promouvoir les légumineuses, des scénarios alternatifs ont été définis et comparés à la situation actuelle (scénario de référence). Les scénarios alternatifs, se différencie par rapport au scénario de référence par les paramètres suivantes: l'introduction de nouvelles rotations à base de légumineuses dans les systèmes de culture actuels (Stec.innov), l'octroie d'une prime spécifique aux légumineuses (Spremium), l'augmentation du prix de vente ( Sprice) et du rendement (Syield) des légumineuses, la réduction de la variabilité du prix (Sprice.var) et du rendement (Syield.var) des légumineuses et enfin, la combinaison de tous ces paramètres dans un seul scénario (Scomb). Tous les scénarios ont été simulés et comparés en utilisant la chaîne de modèles APES-FSSIM-indicateurs. Cette chaine de modèles a permis de calculer des indicateurs environnementaux et socio-économiques.Les résultats ont montré que, contrairement aux attentes, l'introduction de nouvelles rotations et la réduction de la variabilité des rendements ou des prix (Stec.innov, Sprice.var et Syield.var) n'entrainent pas l'augmentation de la superficie des légumineuses. Toutefois, une augmentation de la superficie des légumineuses a été observée pour les scénarios Spremium, Sprice, Syield et Scomb. Le scénario combiné (Scomb) a été jugé comme le plus efficace, montrant une augmentation importante de la superficie des légumineuses, soit 34 ha, 32 ha et 7 ha respectivement pour FT2, FT3 et FT1. Ce changement a entrainé également une modification significative au niveau des valeurs des indicateurs socio-économiques et environnementaux. L'augmentation de la superficie des légumineuses et la variation des indicateurs économiques et environnementaux dépendent des caractéristiques structurelles des exploitations, de la part de la surface irriguable, des systèmes de culture présents et des types de sol au niveau de chaque exploitation.Les résultats de cette étude montrent que l'application d'une nouvelle politique pour promouvoir les légumineuses, peut conduire, selon les stratégies de production adoptées par les agriculteurs afin de maximiser leurs revenus, à plusieurs changements économiques et environnementaux. Ces stratégies se traduisent principalement par la modification des superficies allouées / Grain legumes are generally considered as key crops for sustainable agriculture. They offer many agronomic, environmental and socio-economic benefits when grown in succession with cereals. Although grain legumes have many advantages, their share in European agriculture is still very limited. In the Midi-Pyrénées region (south-west of France), their area varies from 1 to 3% of the total cultivated area, moreover farmers show little interest in growing grain legumes on their farms. In this context, the objectives of the thesis were to; i) identify the main constraints for grain legume production in the Midi-Pyrénées region, ii) identify key technical and socio-economic levers (expressed as scenarios) to promote grain legumes in current cropping systems and iii) assess, by using the APES-FSSIM-Indicators modelling chain, the impacts of these scenarios on the socio-economic and environmental behaviours of three representative arable farm types (FT1, FT2 and FT3) of the Midi-Pyrénées region.The main constraints have been identified based on bibliography and in consultation with local experts. These constraints are derived from the grain legumes sensitivity to: soils and climatic conditions, farmer technical skill and expertise for sowing and harvesting the grain legumes, economic competitiveness in comparison with cereals and their yield and market prices amounts and fluctuations. From the above statement, the alternative scenarios, in comparison to the current situation (reference scenario) have been identified to promote grain legumes. They included, the introduction of new grain legumes rotations in current cropping systems of the region (Stec.innov), provision of more premiums to grain legumes (Spremium), increase in sale price (Sprice) and yield (Syield) of grain legumes, reduction in price (Sprice.var) and yield (Syield.var) variability of grain legumes, and combination of all these components (Scomb). All scenarios have been assessed with quantitative environmental and socio-economic indicators and are calculated with the APES-FSSIM-Indicators modeling chain.Results show that, contrary to expectation, the introduction of new legumes rotations or the reduction of yield or price variability (Stec.innov, Sprice.var and Syield.var) did not increase the grain legumes area. However, an increase in grain legumes area was observed for Spremium, Sprice, Syield and Scomb. The combined scenario (Scomb) was found to be most efficient, showing an important increase in grain legumes area by 34 ha, 32 ha and 7 ha respectively for FT2, FT3 and FT1 with a significant change in socio-economic and environmental indicators for all three farm types. The increase in grain legumes area and modification in economic and environmental indicators depend on the farm characteristics and can be explained by the differences in irrigable area between irrigated crops (i.e. maize, peas and soybean), cropping pattern, soil types and climatic conditions (rainfed and irrigation) on the three farms types.The results obtained from this study show that the modification of policies or the inclusion of new technologies, may lead to several economic and environmental changes, which reveal the adaptation strategies adopted by farmers in order to optimize their farm income. These strategies are mainly implemented by modifying the areas allocated to different crops on different soil types and by changes of management practices. The grain legumes area can be increased on Midi-Pyrénées farming system by the combination of slightly increase in premium, sale price and crop yield of the grain legumes. This methodology can easily be adapted to other regions of France and also EU for identifying the main developmental conditions for grain legumes production provided the skilled experts are properly selected and sufficient data are available for parameterization of the modeling chain.

O trabalho submete a teste a hipótese de que o direito concorrencial brasileiro não possui hoje grau de sofisticação institucional adequado para lidar com arranjos cooperativos interempresariais utilizados por empresas a fim de desenvolver, implantar e difundir inovações tecnológicas. O critério da sofisticação institucional empregado para tanto consiste na verificação da implementação deliberada e estratégica de mudanças institucionais pelo Estado para prover vantagens institucionais comparativas para as empresas nele baseadas, em termos de maior segurança jurídica e menores custos de compliance. A fim de identificar os fatores relevantes para tal análise são empregados conceitos teóricos das linhas de pesquisa conhecidas como Nova Economia Institucional (NEI) e Variedades de Capitalismo (VdC), bem como uma análise empírica comparativa da política concorrencial aplicável a tais arranjos cooperativos nos Estados Unidos e no Brasil. / This work tests the hypothesis that the Brazilian competition law has not today an appropriate degree of institutional sophistication to deal with interfirm cooperative arrangements employed by companies to develop, deploy and disseminate technological innovations. The criterion of institutional sophistication hereby employed consists on the verification of the deliberate and strategic implementation of institutional changes by the State in order to provide comparative institutional advantages for the companies based therein, in terms of more legal certainty and lower compliance costs. In order to identify the relevant factors for such analysis, theoretical concepts from New Institutional Economics (NIE) and Varieties of Capitalism (VoC) literatures are employed, as well as a comparative empirical analysis of the competition policy applicable to such cooperative arrangements in the United States and Brazil.

Esta dissertação verificou as possibilidades de transferência de tecnologia do Departamento de Física e Matemática, da Faculdade de Medicina e da Faculdade de Odontologia, instalados no campus da Universidade de São Paulo em Ribeirão Preto, para o setor de equipamentos médicos hospitalares e odontológicos – EMHO. O método utilizado foi o estudo de multicasos, em que se pesquisou as unidades universitárias citadas, além de cinco empresas da região da mesma cidade que integram o referido setor. O foco da pesquisa recaiu sobre as entidades universitárias, mas também foram obtidas informações junto ao meio empresarial para que se pudesse extrair uma amostra do pensamento dessa classe quanto à universidade, no que se refere à transferência de tecnologia. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade, tanto com os pesquisadores da USP quanto com os executivos das empresas. Concluiu-se que existem possibilidades de transferência de tecnologia das unidades universitárias pesquisadas para o setor de EMHO, contudo, existem muitos ajustes a serem efetuados, devido à grande quantidade de barreiras encontradas na cooperação universidade-empresa. Todavia, também foram observados diversos facilitadores no processo de interação entre a academia e as empresas desse setor; devem ser reforçados os facilitadores já existentes e implementada grande parte daqueles que foram sugeridos, no intuito de aumentar as possibilidades de realização do processo de transferência de tecnologia. / This thesis has verified the possibilities of technology transfer from the Department of Physics and Mathematics, the Medical School and the Dentistry School, located in the campus of USP in Ribeirão Preto, to the medical, hospital and odontologic equipment industry. The method applied was the multicase study, in which the university units were studied, as well as five companies in the vicinity of the same city which take part in the forementioned industry. The focus of the research laid in the university entities, but information was also obtained from the business environment, in order to extract a sample of the thought of this class, concerning the university with reference to technology transfer. The data was collected by means of in-depth interviews, with the researchers from USP, as well as with the companies executives. The conclusion was that there are possibilities of technology transfer from the studied university unities to the medical, hospital and odontologic equipment industry; however, there are a lot of adjustments to be made, due to the great quantity of barriers found in the university-industry cooperation. Nevertheless, a great number of facilitating factors were observed in the interaction process between academy and the companies of this industry; the existing facilitating factors should be reinforced and a great part of those ones which were suggested should be implemented, in order to increase the possibilities of carrying out the process of technology transfer.