The diploma thesis focuses on the design of an investment portfolio for a hedge fund, which is focused on investments in technology companies. The selection of individual companies is based on a fundamental analysis and the statute of the hedge fund.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Collaborative strategies such as strategic alliances are being adopted by small and large companies to gain a competitive advantage in a fast changing global and local business environment. Companies are recognising the value of achieving their business goals through mutually beneficial strategic alliances. Strategic alliances provide a more flexible, non-permanent means through collaborative engagement between companies to attain complementary services, skills, products and resources. This study aimed to contribute to an understanding of the nature of strategic alliances between large and small companies within the information technology (IT) sector in South Africa and to highlight the particular dynamics, challenges and success factors from the perspective of these companies. The research question posed was: "What are the success factors that impact on the sustainability of strategic alliances between large and small companies within the IT industry in South Africa?" In this study, a strategic alliance was defined as a "co-operative arrangement between two or more local and / or global firms that invest in a collaborative effort to achieve their individual and mutual goals and positively impact their competitive positioning". Limited research had been conducted on strategic alliances in South Africa in general and no research was available on the IT sector. This exploratory research study was conducted to provide an overview of the dynamics and issues related to strategic alliances keeping the respective contexts of small and large companies in mind. This study contributes to an understanding of the respective contributions of small and large companies in complementing their respective strengths and experiences to achieve business objectives. This area of study supports government policies and initiatives in promoting the collaboration between large and small companies in developing the economy and the small business sector in particular. Within a dynamic and fast-growing information communications technology (ICT) sector, there are increasing opportunities for strategic alliances between small and large companies within the IT sub-sector. A qualitative, inductive research approach was used to determine the kind of alliances that existed, test the themes identified in the literature review in relation to the South African context and identify new insights based on the experiences of respondents engaged in strategic alliance relationships. This approach supported the assumption that the circumstances explored are complex and dynamic and require flexibility both in the approach and methods used. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were used as the instrument or method of data collection. An interviewer guide was developed to direct the interview. Themes and key factors identified through the literature review provided input into the structure and content of the interviews. Three small and three large companies from the IT sector were interviewed as part of this study. The number of employees was used as the primary indicator of company size using the guidelines provided by the DTI. Research results indicated that the main motivations for engaging in strategic alliances included risk sharing, access to new markets, expanded product service offerings, complementary skills and learning, funding support and enhancing competitive positioning. The primary motivator that all respondents identified was 'collaborative bidding for business'. Forty-three percent of alliances of the small and large companies interviewed were with small companies. Small companies indicated a wider range of alliances and included partnering with micro enterprises to large multinationals in their alliance formations. Strategic alliances were monitored and measured by all respondents. Quantitative measures were used most frequently and included measures such as profitability, delivery to project deadlines, meeting service levels and delivery to baseline commitments made in the solutions submitted to clients. Qualitative measures were identified but applied in a less structured way. Challenges identified by small and large companies included achieving an understanding of the culture and needs of small and large companies, managing the financial challenges, relationship management and dealing with co-opetition where competitors are incorporated into the strategic alliance. Respondents all indicated that the value of strategic alliances outweigh the cost of establishing and managing strategic alliances particularly between small and large companies. The success factors identified were largely similar between small and large companies. The highest ranked factors identified by small companies were partner selection and benefit analysis whereas leadership and strategy were the main priority factors for large companies. It is recommended that further research be conducted into measuring and monitoring methods that assists in monitoring the effectiveness of alliances and to develop the capacity of strategic alliance managers in managing the complex of relationships between alliance members, alliance delivery performance and client demands and influences on the strategic alliance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klein en groot maatskappye gebruik toenemend samewerkingstrategiee soos strategiese alliansies om 'n kompeterende voorsprong te verkry in 'n vinnig veranderende globale en plaaslike besigheidsomgewing. Maatskappye besef die waarde daarvan om hulle besigheidsdoelwitte te bereik deur wedersydse voordelige strategiese alliansies. Strategiese alliansies verskaf 'n buigsamer, nie-permanente metode, deur middel van samewerking tussen maatskappye, waarmee bykomende dienste, vaardighede, produkte en hulpbronne verkry kan word. Hierdie studie beoog om by te dra tot die begrip van die aard van strategiese alliansies tussen groot en klein maatskappye in die Informasie Tegnologiesektor (IT-sektor) in Suid-Afrika en om die spesifieke dinamika, uitdagings en suksesfaktore vanuit die perspektief van hierdie maatskappye te belig. Die navorsingsvraag is: "Wat is die suksesfaktore wat 'n impak het op die volhoubaarheid van strategiese alliansies tussen groot en klein maatskappye in die IT-bedryf in Suid-Afrika?" In hierdie studie word 'n strategiese alliansie gedefinieer as 'n "samewerkingsooreenkoms tussen twee of meer plaaslike en / of globale maatskappye wat bele in 'n samewerkingspoging om hulle individuele en gesamentlike doelwitte te bereik en wat 'n positiewe uitwerking het op hulle kompeterende posisionering." Beperkte navorsing is al gedoen oor strategiese alliansies in Suid-Afrika in die algemeen en geen navorsing was beskikbaar oor die IT-bedryf nie. Hierdie ondersoekende navorsingstudie is gedoen om 'n verkennende oorsig te verskaf van die dinamika en kwessies verwant aan strategiese alliansies, spesifiek binne die konteks van onderskeidelik klein en groot maatskappye. Hierdie studie dra by tot 'n begrip van die onderskeie bydraes van klein en groot maatskappye in soverre hulle onderskeie sterk punte en ervarings mekaar komplementeer om besigheidsdoelwitte te bereik. Die navorsingsveld ondersteun ook die regering se beleid en inisiatiewe om samewerking tussen groot en klein maatskappye te bevorder en daardeur die ekonomie, spesifiek die kleinsakesektor, te ontwikkel. Binne 'n dinamiese en snelgroeiende Informasie- en Kommunikasiesektor (IKT-sektor), is daar toenemend geleenthede vir strategiese alliansies tussen klein en groot maatskappye binne die IT-subsektor. 'n Kwalitatiewe, inleidende navorsingsbenadering is gebruik om die tipe alliansies wat bestaan te bepaal, die geidentifiseerde temas uit 'n literatuurstudie, toegespits op die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie, te toets en nuwe insigte, gebaseer op die ervarings van die respondente in strategiese alliansieverhoudings, te identifiseer. Hierdie benadering het die aanname bevestig dat die omstandighede wat ondersoek is, kompleks en dinamies is, en buigsaamheid in beide die benadering en metodiek, vereis. Gedeeltelik gestruktureerde, persoonlike onderhoude is gebruik as die navorsingsinstrument of -metode van dataversameling. 'n Vraelys is opgestel as riglyn vir die onderhoude. Die temas en kernfaktore, wat geidentifiseer is uit die literatuuroorsig, het insette vir die struktuur en inhoud van die onderhoude verskaf. Drie klein en drie groot maatskappye in die IT-bedryf is as deel van hierdie studie nagevors. Die getal werknemers is gebruik as die belangrikste bepaler van die maatskappy se grootte volgens die riglyne verskaf deur die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid (DHN). Die navorsingsresultate het aangedui dat die belangrikste beweegredes vir die sluit van strategiese alliansies die volgende is: gedeelde risiko's, toegang tot nuwe markte, uitgebreide produk- / diensaanbiedings, aanvullende vaardighede en opleiding, steun vir befondsing en die bevordering van kompeterende posisionering. Die belangrikste beweegrede wat alle respondente geidentifiseer het, was "gesamentlike tender vir besigheid" . Drie-en-veertig persent van die alliansies van die klein en groot maatskappye wat ondersoek is, was met klein maatskappye. Klein maatskappye het 'n wyer verskeidenheid van alliansies, insluitend vennootskappe van mikro-ondernemings tot groot multinasionale maatskappye, in hulle alliansievormings, ingesluit. Strategiese alliansies is deur alle respondente gemonitor en gemeet. Kwantitatiewe meetinstrumente is die meeste gebruik en het maatstawwe bevat soos winsgewendheid, lewering binne die projek se spertye, die nakom van diensvlakvereistes en die nakom van die aanvanklike ooreenkoms in die oplossings voorgehou aan die kliente. Kwalitatiewe meetinstrumente is ook geidentifiseer, maar minder gestruktureerd toegepas. Die volgende uitdagings is deur beide klein en groot maatskappye geidentifiseer: om'n begrip te vorm van die kultuur en behoeftes van klein en groot maatskappye, bestuur van die finansiele uitdagings, verhoudingsbestuur en die hantering van kooptering waar mededingers in die strategiese alliansie ingesluit is. Al die respondente het aangedui dat die waarde van strategiese alliansies die koste verbonde aan die sluit en bestuur van strategiese alliansies oortref, veral tussen klein en groot maatskappye. Die suksesfaktore wat geidentifiseer is, was hoofsaaklik dieselfde by klein en groot maatskappye. Die faktore wat die meeste waardeer is deur die klein maatskappye, was die keuse van vennote en voordele-analises, terwyl leierskap en strategie die twee hooffaktore vir die groot maatskappye was. Daar word aanbeveel dat verdere navorsing gedoen word oor meetinstrurnente en moniteringmetodes wat kan help om die effektiwiteit van alliansies te monitor. Die kapasiteit van strategiese alliansiebestuurders om die verskeidenheid van verhoudings tussen alliansielede, alliansie-diensleweringvermoens en klientvereistes en invloede op die strategiese alliansie, te bestuur, moet ook ontwikkel word.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:25:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ricardo Presz Palmaka.pdf: 1143013 bytes, checksum: c432292cad770577bf08db44878294e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-15 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Classifying things in groups is basic to study differences between these things; it is a way to store data and retrieve information. This happens in biology, the area of study where the classification of organisms is unquestionable important. Inspired by biology, Organizational Ecology theory has been concerned with the classification of organizations too. Much of the organizational research relies primarily on a firm classification which separates them by type of industry they belong to or by the type of product they offer to certain markets (HANNAN, HSU, 2005). This is not a surprise, since these are the criteria adopted by the official statistics in the classifications of economic activities, both nationally and internationally. Grouping companies by products they offer is also a commonly used way to target potential customers in marketing strategies, to create more effective sales processes, communication or promotion actions, for example. This kind of classification, however, is not always adequate, especially from an organizational point of view. It brings the risk of putting together different companies within a group: a large multinational company could share the same economic activity of a small business and both, although so different, be classified into a common group, since they offer the same types of products or services. The main goal of this dissertation is, using the concept of organizational form proposed by the Organizational Ecology, identify different groups in the software market. Similarly to the gene in biology, the organizational form serves as a set of instructions for the creation and conduction of collective action within the organization. This paper sought to show that within a group of software companies it possible to classify them according to their organizational form, taking into consideration not only their activities, but other attributes that form a company. To identify those attributes, the definitions of the form in Organizational Ecology were used, with a survey of 100 Information Technology companies, which generated five groups of companies, using objective characteristics of the organizational forms. / Classificar coisas é a base para que seja possível estudar as diferenças entre estas coisas; é uma forma de armazenar dados e permitir as buscas pelas informações. Assim ocorre na biologia, área de estudo em que a classificação de organismos é de indiscutível importância. Inspirada na biologia, a teoria de Ecologia Organizacional tem se preocupado com a classificação de organizações. Muitas das pesquisas sobre organizações utilizam predominantemente uma classificação de empresas que as distingue por tipo de indústria as quais pertencem ou pelo tipo de produto que oferecem a determinados mercados (HANNAN; HSU, 2005). Isso não é surpreendente, visto que estes são critérios adotados pelas estatísticas oficiais nas classificações das atividades econômicas, tanto em nível nacional quanto internacional. A classificação por produto supõe que em um grupo existam empresas homogêneas e é comumente usada para segmentação de potenciais clientes nas áreas de marketing das empresas para criar ações mais efetivas de vendas, comunicação ou promoção, por exemplo. Esta classificação, entretanto, não é adequada, sobretudo do ponto de vista organizacional. Corre-se o risco de juntar empresas diferentes entre si dentro de um mesmo grupo: uma grande empresa multinacional pode compartilhar a mesma atividade econômica de uma microempresa e as duas, tão diferentes entre si, serem classificadas dentro de um grupo comum, pois oferecem os mesmos tipos de produtos ou serviços. O principal objetivo desta dissertação é, usando o conceito de forma organizacional proposto pela Ecologia Organizacional, identificar os segmentos de empresas de serviços de informática. Analogamente ao gene na biologia, a forma organizacional funciona como um conjunto de instruções para criação e condução das ações coletivas no âmbito da organização. O trabalho procurou mostrar que dentro de um grupo de empresas de software é possível classificá-las de acordo com a sua forma organizacional, levando em consideração não apenas suas atividades, mas outros atributos que dão forma a uma empresa. Para a identificação desses atributos foram utilizadas as definições de forma na Ecologia Organizacional em uma pesquisa em 100 empresas de Tecnologia da Informação, em que foram encontrados cinco grupos de empresas, usando características objetivas de forma organizacional.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When the government of national unity took over control of South Africa in 1994, their primary aims were to address the legacy of apartheid and bring democracy to all of their people. The legacy of the previous political dispensation, which favoured the minority, was to be eradicated. The aim of this new government was to make sure that all South Africans enjoy equality and receive equitable rewards from all economic activities. However, in order for this to be possible the new government was forced to introduce policies and legislation to facilitate that transformation. The Reconstruction and Development Programme, the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy, the Black Economic Empowerment Act and various sectoral charters are but a few that were introduced to facilitate change. Based on the literature review, it is evident that, although policies and procedures have been introduced, the process of implementation is far too complex to see change happen overnight. The study targets the Information, Communication and Technology (lCT) sector. This sector of industry is considered by the South African government as an integral component of ensuring economic prosperity and it is therefore an interesting topic for investigation. This sector was previously dominated by White South Africans. The aim of the study is to investigate the extent of economic transformation and black economic empowerment in the sector. There is also an interest to establish whether technical ICT skills and knowledge have filtered down adequately to previously disadvantaged individuals (PDls). The extent of transformation in the ICT sector is what the study aims to capture. The data collection process was conducted within a qualitative and quantitative research framework. The author plans to use an interpretive approach for the analysis of the findings. The data collected for the study were by means of structured questionnaires; however, the last section consisted of open-ended questions. The sample selected for this study was middle management officials, many of them highly skilled and working in a technical environment at these companies. The responses to the questionnaires reflected a diverse and seemingly ambiguous understanding of the ICT. Based on these perceptions, there is a clear indication that many of the respondents have a narrow view of what transformation for the sector really means. The answers to the questionnaires were analysed to test the hypothesis. According to the research findings, it appears that transformation of the ICT sector has not taken place successfully. The study concludes with recommendations for the ICT sector and a brief conclusion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toe die regering van nasionale eenheid in 1994 beheer oor Suid-Afrika geneem het, was sy hoofdoel om die nalatenskap van Apartheid aan te spreek en 'n demokratiese bestel vir die land en al sy mense te vestig. Die nalatenskap van die gewese politieke bestel, wat die minderheid bevoordeel het, sou uitgewis word. Die doel van hierdie nuwe regering was om te verseker dat aile Suid-Afrikaners gelyk behandel word en billike voordeel uit aile ekonomiese bedrywighede trek. Om dit egter moontlik te maak, is die nuwe regering gedwing om beleide en wetgewing in te stel om te verseker dat transformasie plaasvind. Die Heropbou- en Ontwikkelingsprogram, die Ekonomiese Groei en Herverdelingstrategie en verskeie sektorale handveste is maar enkele wat ingestel is om verandering te weeg te bring. Gebaseer op die letterkundige oorsig, is dit voor die hand liggend dat, hoewel daar beleide en prosedures ingestel is, die proses van toepassing geheel en al te ingewikkeld is om verandering oornag te sien gebeur. Hierdie studie is gerig op 'n spesifieke segment ekonomiese bydrae tot die ekonomie, die Informasie, Kommunikasie en Tegnologiese (lKT) sektor. Die sektor van die nywerheid word deur die regering as 'n integrale komponent beskou ten einde ekonomiese welvaart te waarborg en is derhalwe 'n interessante onderwerp om van naderby te bekyk. Die heersende opvatting is dat hierdie sektor voorheen deur blanke Suid-Afrikaners oorheers is, veral wat betref tegniese vaardighede en tegnologiese kennis. Die doel van die studie is om die omvang van ekonomiese transformasie en Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging binne hierdie sektor te ondersoek. Daar is ook intense belangstelling om te probeer vasstel of voorheen benadeeldes enigsins voordeel getrek het uit die bestaande tegniese IKT-vaardighede en kennis. Die navorsing oor mense se persepsie van die IKT-sektor is wat die studie beplan om vas te vang. Die inligtingsinsamelingsproses is binne 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe raamwerk uitgevoer - die rede hiervoor was dat die navorser beplan het om 'n interpreterende benadering vir die analise van die bevindinge toe te pas. Inligting is deur middel van vraelyste versamel, maar die laaste afdeling het uit half onbepaalde vrae bestaan. Die monster wat vir hierdie studie gekies is, was middelvlakbestuurslede in diens van die IKT-ondernemings - vele van hulle was hoogs opgelei en het in 'n tegniese omgewing by hierdie ondernemings gewerk. Die reaksies op die vraelyste dui oorweldigend daarop dat daar 'n diverse en oenskynlike dubbelsinnige begrip van die IKT is. Gebaseer ap hierdie persepsies, is dit heel duidelik dat talle van die respondente 'n eng siening het oor wat transformasie werklik vir die sektor beteken. Die antwoorde op die vermelde vraelyste is geanaliseer om die hipotese te toets. Volgens die navorsingsbevindinge wil dit voorkom of transformasie van die IKT -sektor nie suksesvol plaasgevind het nie. Die studie sluit af met aanbevelings aan die IKT-sektor rakende transformasie-suksesse en dit word gevolg deur 'n kort slotwoord.

<p>In most business sectors environmental programs focus on direct, production-related environmental impacts. The design and development of products with reduced environmental impact is considered more difficult. The opposite applies in the environmental technology sector. The business model of environmental technology companies focuses on delivering solutions that contribute to improving the environmental performance of their customers. Products and services delivered by this sector have prominent environmental profiles. However, companies in this sector may not necessarily set and implement environmental goals for their own activities and manufacturing processes, and may not clearly distinguish between production and product related environmental aspects.</p><p>This thesis presents results of an online survey of environmental technology companies listed by the Swedish Environmental Technology Council (Swentec). The survey found that depending on the subsector, only between 21% and 45% of companies provide information about their environmental work on their website.</p><p>Environmental impacts of a company may be product and/or production related. The survey found that these dimensions are treated differently, and are not always clearly differentiated in environmental tools and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000 series, the Reporting Guidelines for UK Business, the GRI and The Swedish Annual Accounts (ÅRL). There are also differences in the ways that information about production and product related environmental impacts are considered within the environmental technology industry. Some companies clearly distinguish between product and activity related environmental issues, while others are unclear about the distinction between their products and their activities in environmental policies and management. While some companies in the sector limit the environmental information they disseminate to the environmental benefits of their products, others explicitly articulate that the predominantly product related environmental profiles in the sector drive them to additionally minimise environmental impacts of their own activities.</p><p>This thesis proposes environmental aspects of products and production as bases for corporate environmental profiles, corporate greening, and for defining ‘green’ and ‘green-green’ business, and concludes that companies within the environmental industry should be expected to be green-green business. This thesis concludes that companies within the environmental technology sector should increase their use of both production and product related environmental profile information in their presentations on their own websites and at platforms such as Swentec. Furthermore, the thesis shows that the use of the term ‘process’ within environmental technology sector to describe both the companies’ own operations and their products can create ambiguities in understanding. Companies that deliver ‘processes’ as products should avoid ambiguity by describing their own operations with terms such as ‘production processes’, ‘production’, ‘manufacturing process’, ‘operation’ or ‘activity’.</p> / <p>Ett företags miljöpåverkan kan vara kopplad till tillverkningsprocesser och till produkter. Miljöprogram inom de flesta industrisektorer är inriktade på direkta, produktionsrelaterade miljöaspekter. Däremot anses design och utveckling av produkter med minskad miljöpåverkan svårare. Inom miljötekniksektorn gäller det motsatta. Miljöteknikföretag erbjuder produkter och tjänster med framträdande miljöprofil och levererar lösningar som bidrar till förbättrad miljöprestanda hos deras kunder. Det betyder inte nödvändigtvis att dessa företag arbetar med miljömässiga mål för egna aktiviteter och tillverkningsprocesser, dvs. att dessa företag gör distinktion mellan tillverknings- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter.</p><p> </p><p>Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen är att öka förståelse av och insikt i miljöengagemang och miljöprofil inom miljöteknikföretag. Studien innehåller en onlineundersökning av miljöarbetet inom företag som är listade av Sveriges miljöteknikråd, Swentec i dess nätverk för den svenska miljöteknik­ sektorn. Studien visar att, beroende på undersektor, mellan 21 % och 45 % av företagen i undersökta miljöteknikområden har lagt ut information om sitt miljöarbete på företagets hemsida. Information om produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöfrågor varierar. Det finns företag som tydligt skiljer mellan produktorienterade miljöfrågor och miljöfrågor som berör deras tillverkningsprocesser och aktiviteter. Andra företag gör ingen tydlig åtskillnad mellan dessa frågor i sina miljöpolicydokument och miljöprogram. Vissa företag i branschen begränsar sin miljöinformation till miljömässiga fördelar med deras produkter. Det finns dock företag som tydligt uttalar att sektorns produktrelaterade miljöprofil är en drivkraft för att minimera miljöpåverkan från sin egen verksamhet.</p><p>I studien framkommer också att produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter behandlas på olika sätt, och är inte alltid tydligt differentierade i olika miljöverktyg och riktlinjer, som i ISO 14000 serien, Rapporteringsriktlinjer för UK Business, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) och i den svenska årsredovisningslagen (ÅRL).</p><p> </p><p>Produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter föreslås som dimensioner i ett företags miljöprofil och i beskrivning av företagets miljövänlighet. Det samma gäller som grund för definition av ’gröna’ och ’grön-gröna’ företag. En viktig ståndpunkt i denna avhandling är att företag inom miljötekniksektorn bör vara ’grön-gröna’ företag och att dessa företag bör öka användningen av informationen om produktions- och produktrelaterad miljöprofil, både på sina egna hemsidor och i sina presentationer inom nätverk som Swentec. Dessutom visar studien att användningen av begreppet "process" inom miljöteknikföretag för såväl den egna verksamheten som för sina produkter i vissa fall är otydlig. För att undvika denna oklarhet bör företag med ’processer’ som egna produkter, beskriva företagens egna verksamheter med begrepp som ’produktionsprocess’, ’produktion’, ’tillverkningsprocess’, ’aktiviteter’ eller liknande.</p>

In most business sectors environmental programs focus on direct, production-related environmental impacts. The design and development of products with reduced environmental impact is considered more difficult. The opposite applies in the environmental technology sector. The business model of environmental technology companies focuses on delivering solutions that contribute to improving the environmental performance of their customers. Products and services delivered by this sector have prominent environmental profiles. However, companies in this sector may not necessarily set and implement environmental goals for their own activities and manufacturing processes, and may not clearly distinguish between production and product related environmental aspects. This thesis presents results of an online survey of environmental technology companies listed by the Swedish Environmental Technology Council (Swentec). The survey found that depending on the subsector, only between 21% and 45% of companies provide information about their environmental work on their website. Environmental impacts of a company may be product and/or production related. The survey found that these dimensions are treated differently, and are not always clearly differentiated in environmental tools and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000 series, the Reporting Guidelines for UK Business, the GRI and The Swedish Annual Accounts (ÅRL). There are also differences in the ways that information about production and product related environmental impacts are considered within the environmental technology industry. Some companies clearly distinguish between product and activity related environmental issues, while others are unclear about the distinction between their products and their activities in environmental policies and management. While some companies in the sector limit the environmental information they disseminate to the environmental benefits of their products, others explicitly articulate that the predominantly product related environmental profiles in the sector drive them to additionally minimise environmental impacts of their own activities. This thesis proposes environmental aspects of products and production as bases for corporate environmental profiles, corporate greening, and for defining ‘green’ and ‘green-green’ business, and concludes that companies within the environmental industry should be expected to be green-green business. This thesis concludes that companies within the environmental technology sector should increase their use of both production and product related environmental profile information in their presentations on their own websites and at platforms such as Swentec. Furthermore, the thesis shows that the use of the term ‘process’ within environmental technology sector to describe both the companies’ own operations and their products can create ambiguities in understanding. Companies that deliver ‘processes’ as products should avoid ambiguity by describing their own operations with terms such as ‘production processes’, ‘production’, ‘manufacturing process’, ‘operation’ or ‘activity’. / Ett företags miljöpåverkan kan vara kopplad till tillverkningsprocesser och till produkter. Miljöprogram inom de flesta industrisektorer är inriktade på direkta, produktionsrelaterade miljöaspekter. Däremot anses design och utveckling av produkter med minskad miljöpåverkan svårare. Inom miljötekniksektorn gäller det motsatta. Miljöteknikföretag erbjuder produkter och tjänster med framträdande miljöprofil och levererar lösningar som bidrar till förbättrad miljöprestanda hos deras kunder. Det betyder inte nödvändigtvis att dessa företag arbetar med miljömässiga mål för egna aktiviteter och tillverkningsprocesser, dvs. att dessa företag gör distinktion mellan tillverknings- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter.   Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen är att öka förståelse av och insikt i miljöengagemang och miljöprofil inom miljöteknikföretag. Studien innehåller en onlineundersökning av miljöarbetet inom företag som är listade av Sveriges miljöteknikråd, Swentec i dess nätverk för den svenska miljöteknik­ sektorn. Studien visar att, beroende på undersektor, mellan 21 % och 45 % av företagen i undersökta miljöteknikområden har lagt ut information om sitt miljöarbete på företagets hemsida. Information om produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöfrågor varierar. Det finns företag som tydligt skiljer mellan produktorienterade miljöfrågor och miljöfrågor som berör deras tillverkningsprocesser och aktiviteter. Andra företag gör ingen tydlig åtskillnad mellan dessa frågor i sina miljöpolicydokument och miljöprogram. Vissa företag i branschen begränsar sin miljöinformation till miljömässiga fördelar med deras produkter. Det finns dock företag som tydligt uttalar att sektorns produktrelaterade miljöprofil är en drivkraft för att minimera miljöpåverkan från sin egen verksamhet. I studien framkommer också att produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter behandlas på olika sätt, och är inte alltid tydligt differentierade i olika miljöverktyg och riktlinjer, som i ISO 14000 serien, Rapporteringsriktlinjer för UK Business, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) och i den svenska årsredovisningslagen (ÅRL).   Produktions- och produktrelaterade miljöaspekter föreslås som dimensioner i ett företags miljöprofil och i beskrivning av företagets miljövänlighet. Det samma gäller som grund för definition av ’gröna’ och ’grön-gröna’ företag. En viktig ståndpunkt i denna avhandling är att företag inom miljötekniksektorn bör vara ’grön-gröna’ företag och att dessa företag bör öka användningen av informationen om produktions- och produktrelaterad miljöprofil, både på sina egna hemsidor och i sina presentationer inom nätverk som Swentec. Dessutom visar studien att användningen av begreppet "process" inom miljöteknikföretag för såväl den egna verksamheten som för sina produkter i vissa fall är otydlig. För att undvika denna oklarhet bör företag med ’processer’ som egna produkter, beskriva företagens egna verksamheter med begrepp som ’produktionsprocess’, ’produktion’, ’tillverkningsprocess’, ’aktiviteter’ eller liknande.

[ES] La presente Tesis Doctoral, desarrollada a modo de compendio de cuatro publicaciones, tiene como objeto el valor de las marcas del sector de las nuevas tecnologías y la sostenibilidad de las empresas propietarias de dichas marcas. En las dos primeras publicaciones se desarrollan modelos matemáticos de estimación del valor de marca, utilizando únicamente la información económico-financiera de las empresas. En la tercera publicación se analiza el grado de similitud de los rankings de sostenibilidad de acceso abierto más importantes que han aparecido en la última década, para determinar si incorporan de facto las marcas mejor valoradas del sector tecnológico. Y, por último, en la cuarta publicación se desarrollan modelos matemáticos que explican diferentes tipos de resultados de las empresas en función de la transparencia en materia de sostenibilidad de las compañías propietarias de las marcas. En las cuatro publicaciones presentadas, la muestra es común y está formada por un total de trece marcas del sector tecnológico: Accenture, Apple, Cisco, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Samsung, SAP y Sony. Estas marcas son las mejor valoradas del sector de la tecnología en el periodo 2000-2018 según los rankings internacionales de valoración de marcas (Interbrand, Brand Finance y Millward Brown), y han permanecido en el Top-100 de al menos dos de dichos rankings en dicho periodo. Las conclusiones generales de nuestra investigación permiten confirmar que la información económico-financiera es importante para explicar el valor de las marcas de las empresas tecnológicas. Concretamente, únicamente con el resultado neto de las empresas se explica cerca del 60% del valor de marca proporcionado por los rankings internacionales. Si al resultado neto, se añade la cotización bursátil de las empresas propietarias de las marcas, se llega a explicar el 80% del valor de las marcas. Y si, por último, se añaden un conjunto de variables económico-financieras, el valor de marca se aproxima al 90%. De estos resultados, se puede deducir que la proporción restante del valor de marca, entre el 10% y el 40%, (en función de las variables que se incluyan en los modelos), es explicada por la fortaleza de la marca. Esta Tesis también evidencia, tanto las diferencias significativas entre las valoraciones de marca proporcionadas por las consultoras de valoración de marcas, como las diferencias entre las valoraciones de sostenibilidad proporcionadas por los rankings de RSC de acceso abierto, y al mismo tiempo, las diferencias entre ambos tipos de valoraciones; ya que, las empresas con las marcas más reconocidas mundialmente, no son las que mayor conciencia socio-ambiental tienen. Por último, se observa que las grandes empresas son más transparentes en términos de sostenibilidad, pero esta transparencia apenas se relaciona con otros resultados económicos como el incremento de los activos, de los ingresos, el apalancamiento, el ROE o el ROA. Además, se muestra que los tres pilares de la RSC son utilizados por las consultoras para determinar el valor de marca, mientras que los rankings de RSC solo utilizan la transparencia en los aspectos sociales y ambientales. / [CA] La present Tesi Doctoral, desenvolupada com un compendi de quatre publicacions, té com a objecte el valor de les marques del sector de les noves tecnologies i la sostenibilitat de les empreses propietàries d'aquestes marques. En les dos primeres publicacions es desenvolupen models matemàtics d'estimació del valor de marca, utilitzant únicament la informació económico-financera de les empreses. En la tercera publicació s'analitza el grau de similitud dels rànquings de sostenibilitat d'accés obert més importants que han aparegut en l'última dècada, per a determinar si incorporen de facto les marques millors valorades del sector tecnològic. I, finalment, en la quarta publicació es desevolupen models matemàtics que expliquen diferents tipus de resultats de les empreses en funció de la transparència en matèria de sostenibilitat de les companyies propietàries de les marques. En les quatre publicacions presentades, la mostra és comú i està formada per un total de tretze marques del sector tecnològic: Accenture, Apple, Cisco, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Samsung, SAP i Sony. Aquestes marques són les millor valorades del sector de la tecnologia en el període 2000-2018 segons els rànquings internacionals de valoració de marques (Interbrand, Brand Finance i Millward Brown), i han estat al Top-100 en almenys dos d'aquestos rànquins en eixe període. Les conclusions generals de la nostra investigació permeten confirmar que la informació económico-financera és important per explicar el valor de les marques de les empreses tecnològiques. Concretament, sols amb el resultat net de les empreses s'explica prop del 60% del valor de marca proporcionat pels rànquings internacionals. Si al resultat net, s'afig la cotització borsària de les empreses propietàries de les marques, s'arriba a explicar el 80% del valor de les marques. I si, finalment, s'afigen un conjunt de variables económico-financeres, el valor de marca s'aproxima al 90%. D'aquestos resultats, es pot deduir que la proporció restant del valor de marca, entre el 10% i el 40%, (en funció de les variables que s'incloguen en als models), és explicada per la fortalesa de la marca. Aquesta Tesi també evidencia, tant les diferències significatives entre les valoracions de marca proporcionades per les consultores de valoració de marques, com les diferències entre les valoracions de sostenibilitat proporcionades pels rànquings de RSC d'accés obert, i al mateix temps, les diferències entre ambdós tipus de valoracions; ja que, les empreses amb les marques més reconegudes mundialment, no són les que major consciència socioambiental tenen. Finalment, s'observa que les grans empreses són més transparents en termes de sostenibilitat, però aquesta transparència només es relaciona amb altres resultats econòmics com l'increment dels actius, dels ingressos, l'apalacament, el ROE o el ROA. A més, es mostra que els tres pilars de la RSC són utilitzats per les consultores per determinar el valor de marca, mentre que els rànquings de RSC només utilitzen la transparència en els aspectes socials i ambientals. / [EN] This PhD Thesis, developed as a compendium of four publications, aims at the value of brands in the new technology sector and the sustainability of the companies that own these brands. In the first two publications, mathematical models for estimating brand value are developed, using only the economic-financial information of the companies. The third publication analyzes the degree of similarity of the most important open access sustainability rankings that have emerged in the last decade, to determine if they incorporate de facto the best valued brands in the technology sector. And finally, in the fourth publication, mathematical models are developed to explain different types of business results based on transparency in terms of sustainability of the companies that own the brands. In the four publications presented, the sample is common and consists of a total of thirteen brands in the technology sector: Accenture, Apple, Cisco, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Samsung, SAP and Sony. These brands are the best valued in the technology sector in the 2000-2018 period according to the international brand valuation rankings (Interbrand, Brand Finance and Millward Brown), and have remained in the Top-100 of at least two of these rankings in that period. The general conclusions of our research allow us to confirm that economic-financial information is important to explain the value of the brands of technology companies. Specifically, 60% of the brand value is explained by the net results of the companies, this percentage rises up to 80% when the stock price of the company is added to the net results as explanatory variable of the brand values. Finally, the brand value is explained nearby to 90% when a set of economic-financial variables are added. From these results, it can be deduced that the remaining proportion of the brand value, between 10% and 40%, (depending on the variables included in the models), is explained by the strength of the brand. This thesis also evidences, both the significant differences between the brand valuations provided by the brand valuation consultancy agencies, but also the differences between the sustainability valuations provided by the open access CSR rankings; in addition, the thesis shows the existing differences between these two types of valuations. Thus, companies with the most recognized brands worldwide are not the ones with the highest socio-environmental awareness. Finally, it is observed that large companies are more transparent in terms of sustainability, but this transparency is hardly related to other economic results such as the increase in assets, income, leverage, ROE or ROA. In addition, it is shown that the three pillars of the RSC are employed by the consultancy agencies to determine the brand value, while the CSR rankings only provide transparency in social and environmental aspects. / Alcaide González, MÁ. (2020). Modelos de valoración de marcas del sector tecnológico y la responsabilidad social corporativa [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/139141 / TESIS

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.