Business growth has been a widely interesting topic among researchers throughout the years. Most research has emphasised growth as an outcome that considers different measures to growth, whereas the outcome of growth that reflects upon managing challenges when growing and growth as a process that refers to how firms adapt internally whilst growing have been much more neglected. As an organisation grows, human capital has been suggested as one of the most critical aspects to manage when firms need to develop knowledge, competencies, and skills beyond what already exists within the organisation. Small firms in comparison to their larger counterparts seldom have specific departments to manage human resources, which leaves room for interesting areas to understand how small firms can manage processes to develop human resources beyond those already existing as firms grow. As small firms grow and encounter various challenges in need of management, absorptive capacity considers means for managers to address growth challenges by realising the value of new and external knowledge to produce dynamic capabilities, which in turn enable firms to align resources to the changing environment of a growing organisation. Previous research highlights the need to develop a practical understanding of internal processes that managers apply when managing a wider range of competencies. The purpose of this study serves to create an understanding of how small firms that encounter growth challenges can manage human resources to develop necessary skills and competencies beyond existing means as organisations grow. To develop this understanding, this study develops a conceptual framework based upon human capital, absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities with the guiding research question: How can small firms manage human resources when growing? Through a qualitative study with data collected through semi-structured interviews, this study concludes that small firms can manage human resources through various processes, in which organisational culture should serve as a foundation throughout the entire process of managing human resources. This study also concludes that as organisations grow, it is important to be aware of and question current processes to efficiently address challenges in changing environments. Furthermore, this study considers the importance of being an attractive firm and to manage human resources through means of defining a market to attract and acquire human resources when growing. With previous research highlighting the need to develop a more practical understanding of processes that managers utilise when managing a growing organisation, this study contributes to existing literature by emphasising the role of the manager throughout the process of managing human resources. The study also provides practical reasonings for small firms to remain efficient and survive in a market dominated by competition of larger organisations with financial resources to outcompete smaller and less established firms.

Background: The dramatic increase of the popularity of social media has affected in a large extent how SMEs reach and engage with their target customers to promote their products or services and to brand their firms. How SMEs incorporate social media for better business growth has gained huge attention from both academic and industrial sectors. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the aspects that are incorporated by SMEs when implementing social media in order to gain knowledge how SMEs could incorporate those factors when implementing social media. Research questions: What are those aspects that SMEs are incorporating to implement social media? Methodology: This study adopts six semi-structured interviews with six case organizations to identify and evaluate the aspects that are incorporated by SMEs to implement social media in the context of Sweden. Three small size and three medium-size firms in Växjö, Sweden who use social media for business purposes have been selected. Conclusion: The findings of this research identified and evaluated several aspects that are incorporated by all SMEs to implement social media in the context of Sweden: decision making about platform(s) and their deploying; governance responsibility; value metrics; accessibility; risk management; online community followers growing; content creation and updating; incentive strategy; monitoring social media sites; comments utilizing for future development; message processing rules; customer feedback timelines and report creating and sharing. The result shows the new approach of social media implementation which brought by Culnan, McHugh, and Zubillaga (2010) can help the researchers to identify and evaluate the aspects that SMEs are incorporating to implement social media, and chose to acquire knowledge that they can take advantage of from those aspects to incorporate and reinforce their social media implementation. Equally by putting into practice these aspects SMEs foster their growth in a number of ways such as customer relations, external and internal communication and several other ways.

El objetivo principal de la presente tesis es aplicar técnicas de valorización con información que permitan determinar el valor de la empresa financiera S.A. la cual se fusionó absorbiendo a la entidad financiera Caja provincia en el año 2015 y sus implicancias para el mejoramiento y crecimiento competitivo entre empresas del mismo rubro además del crecimiento patrimonial .El método que fue aplicado en el presente trabajo es de matematización y diseño de Investigación - Acción, además de mostrar este diseño se utilizaron instrumentos que son las técnicas de valorización, entrevista al gerente de finanzas de la Financiera S.A., cuestionario a trabajadores de cada área de la Financiera S.A. con las cuales se obtuvo importantes informaciones necesarias para el desarrollo del trabajo de investigación, la fusión por absorción de la Financiera S.A. y caja Provincia significó que Caja Provincia entregó sus activos y pasivos para repotenciar a la empresa Financiera S.A. ocasionando inmediatamente un aumento patrimonial y un mayor capital de trabajo que le ha permitido ir creciendo de manera progresiva, en el trabajo de campo efectuado se observa que la fusión que se realizó de la Financiera S.A. absorbiendo a Caja provincia, según se muestra en los resultados de las técnicas aplicadas efectivamente está dando resultados positivos en el transcurso del tiempo por cuanto el valor de la empresa está creciendo y continuará creciendo significativamente. El resultado de la investigación demuestra que se ha cumplido con la hipótesis: Las técnicas de valorización permiten medir el crecimiento empresarial en un proceso de fusión de las empresas Financiera S.A. y Caja Provincia buscando el crecimiento a través de la obtención de activos estratégicos y mejorando su plan de trabajo para el periodo 2016-2018. Por último la Financiera S.A. al fusionarse, podrá competir en el mercado financiero con entidades de alto nivel, lo que la hará más atractiva al público que se encuentre buscando nuevas opciones donde colocar o invertir su dinero. The main objective of this thesis is to apply valuation technics with information that will allow us determine the value of Financiera S.A. which merged by absorption with the financial entity known as Caja Provincia in the year 2015 and its implications for the betterment and competitive growth between companies of the same category as well as their patrimonial growth. The method applied in the present paper is the mathematizing technique and the design of research – action. In addition to this design, valuation technics and interviews to the financial manager of Financiera S.A. as well as to the workers of every area of the financial department were used. This provided us with important information to the development of this research. The merger by absorption of Financiera S.A. and Caja Provincia meant that Caja Provincia gave its assets and liabilities to the company Financiera S.A. in order to potentiate it and consequently this action translated in an increase in the patrimony and the working capital which has allowed its progressive growth. In the field work done we can observe that the merger made by Financiera S.A. absorbing Caja Provincia, according to the results of the applied technics has, effectively, been giving positive results in the period of time lapsed and we can see that reflected in the company’s sustained growth. The result of the research shows that the hypothesis has been proved: the valuation techniques allow us measure the company’s growth during a merger process such as the one that Financiera S.A. and Caja Provincia underwent, in their search to improve themselves by acquiring strategic assets and upgrading their working plan for the period 2016-2018. Finally, after this merger, Financiera S.A. will be able to compete in the financial market with other entities of high profile, which in case will make it a more attractive option to the public’s eye and people who might be looking for new options or places to invest their money or savings.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:44:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 711269 bytes, checksum: 6a0b0e21a7248b86bf8d8a4d86ad48ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-04-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The study concerns the analysis of productive development policies in Brazil using, based on theory neochumpeterianas and evolutionary. To this demonstrates the importance of innovation, competition and regulation for the formulation of a path of business growth for domestic industries, identifying innovative strategies that further this growth and the possible trajectories that such growth might adopt. As an illustration of the impact of innovation, the study verifies the phytotherapy industry as possible to be bolstered by innovation policies in Brazil and the development of the sector could boost national growth. Innovation is the development of new products, services, techniques or improving existing production methods, the adaptation of technologies developed successful. The introduction of innovation increases competition and hence profits, leading to business growth. The phytotherapy has the potential to be the technological paradigm that will lead Brazil to approach the world technological frontier and thus enable the development of Brazil, with increased income and employment through the strengthening of the domestic industry. / O estudo refere-se à análise das políticas de desenvolvimento produtivo no Brasil usando por base as teorias neochumpeterianas e evolucionárias. Para tal demonstra-se a importância da inovação, da concorrência e da regulação para a formulação de uma trajetória de crescimento empresarial para as indústrias nacionais, identificando estratégias inovativas que favoreçam esse crescimento bem como as possíveis trajetórias que esse crescimento pode adotar. Como exemplificação dos impactos da inovação, o estudo verifica a fitoterapia como possível setor industrial a ser beneficiado pelas políticas de inovação no Brasil e como o desenvolvimento do setor pode impulsionar o crescimento nacional. Inovação é o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, serviços, melhoramento de técnicas ou de métodos de produção existentes, da adaptação de tecnologias desenvolvidas bem sucedidas. A introdução da inovação aumenta a concorrência e consequentemente os lucros, levando ao crescimento das empresas. A fitoterapia tem potencial para ser o paradigma tecnológico que levará o Brasil a aproximar-se da fronteira tecnológica mundial e consequentemente viabilizar o desenvolvimento brasileiro, com aumento da renda e do emprego através do fortalecimento da indústria nacional.

The Intshona Group of Companies operates in South Africa as a hybrid agribusiness combining entrepreneurial principles with a philosophy of social upliftment in Africa. This research views Intshona through the lens of social entrepreneurship theory, a hybrid research field with a dominant theme being the need for growth and scaling of impact, but which is seen as fragmented, containing ambiguities and lagging practice. In this research, a case study of Intshona is developed based on questionnaires and interviews with the organisation’s management, a concerned NGO, social beneficiaries as well as employees. The result is a two-way flow of knowledge integrating elements of existing social enterprise theory with Intshona’s business practices, building on a generic model of entrepreneurship and culminating in a business model for growth in a social enterprise. The research delivers strategic directives for Intshona for its future growth, presents a case study for addition to the body of knowledge on social entrepreneurship and concludes with suggestions for further research to continue developing theory.

Small businesses make up about 90% of all business entities and employ about 60% of the total workforce, yet 50% of small businesses fail within their first 5 years. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how SBOs use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable. The sample population were 3 small retail business owners in a large-sized county in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area who employed fewer than 19 people and have successfully used product diversification strategies to remain sustainable beyond 5 years. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and company document reviews. Data analysis entailed using an alphabetic coding process to identify the frequency and importance of themes. Grounded in the conceptual framework of the model of market orientation, this study revealed 4 themes that could help small business owners use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable: customer-centric decision-making, market-trend orientation, resource orientation, and complementary products and services. The implications for positive social change include the potential to give small business owners a decision-making framework to achieve sustainability and growth, which would contribute to healthy economic conditions through consumerism, higher employment rates, and a reduction in poverty. The findings of this study could benefit local, small businesses and communities.

Inefficient operations management practices have proven to be the main cause of failure in the administration of any business empire. Operations managers are held in the apex of leadership in companies and by standards, the outcome of their management are expected to lead to the growth and success of the company. With the mismanagement of finances and human capital, it would be difficult for the company to achieve growth and success to meet the objectives of the company. The main purpose of this research was to do an exploratory study on the impacts of Operations Management on the growth of business, with a focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, specifically a hotel. The study aimed to identify why the concept “Operations Management” is important to the growth of businesses.The objective was to contribute knowledge to the field of finance and the business world.The population of this study comprised of 30 staffof LasVegas Hotels and Resort Abuja, Nigeria. The study employed the use of primary data using structured questionnaires open–ended and close – ended. The 30 questionnaires that were administered were all returned. The study employed the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in the analysis of the data. The study found that operational controls, financial prudence, are the specific operations management skills that are responsible for the growth and the success of the company. Hence, operations management is fundamental to the growth and success of a business. The study concluded that operations management contributes to the growth of businesses in Nigeria.The study recommended that the operations management team should carry staff along in the day - to - day running of the business so that the staff can have sense of belonging. / <p>The major challenge with this research was time constraint. I started two weeks behind schedule, with the guide and encouragement from my supervisor, I was able to finish up successfully.</p>

Solicitud de envio manuscrito de artículo científico / El presente estudio de tesis titulado: “La presión tributaria y su influencia en la gestión financiera de las empresas comerciales del Régimen General, del Centro de Lima, en el año 2018.” Busca determinar si la presión tributaria tiene influencia en la gestión financiera de las empresas más comunes del país. El Capítulo I, Marco Teórico, se recopiló información existente sobre el tema, y se analizan conceptos de presión tributaria, cargas laborales y la influencia en la gestión financiera de empresas comerciales; se realizó una comparación entre la presión tributaria existente en Perú y otros países de Latinoamérica. El Capítulo II, trata el Plan de investigación, y describe la problemática, se presentan los problemas, principal y específicos, el objetivo principal y objetivos específicos; además de la hipótesis. Por otro lado, en el Capítulo III, se explican los instrumentos utilizados, la población y muestra. El capítulo IV, muestra y da a conocer los resultados de los estudios cualitativos, a través de entrevistas a profundidad realizadas a dos especialistas tributarios y financieros. En los estudios cuantitativos, se muestra los resultados de las encuestas a 20 empresas comerciales del Centro de Lima; por último, se desarrolla un caso práctico de una empresa del sector. En el Capítulo V se analizan los resultados y las entrevistas a profundidad, además del análisis estadístico de las encuestas y el caso práctico. Al final de la investigación se dan a conocer las conclusiones y recomendaciones, redactadas en función a los análisis realizados en los capítulos anteriores. / This study entitled: "Tax pressure and its influence on the financial management of commercial enterprises of the General Regime, at the Center of Lima, in 2018." It looks for determine whether the tax pressure has an influence on the financial management of common companies in the country of Peru. Chapter I, collects existing information on the subject, and concepts of tax pressure, workloads and the influence on the financial management of commercial enterprises are analyzed; A comparison was made between the tax pressure in Peru and other Latin American countries. Chapter II, deals with the Research Plan, and describes the problem, presents the main and specific problems, the main objective and specific objectives; in addition to the hypothesis. On the other hand, in Chapter III, the instruments used, the used population and the sample are explained. Chapter IV, show and publicize the results of qualitative studies, through in-depth interviews with two tax and financial specialists. In the quantitative studies, the results of the surveys of 20 commercial companies of the Center of Lima are shown; Finally, an study case of a company in the sector is developed. Chapter V analyzes the results and in-depth interviews, as well as the statistical analysis of the surveys and the study case. At the end of the investigation, the conclusions and recommendations are written according to the analyzes carried out in the previous chapters are made known. / Tesis

The focus of this study is to examine the factors that lead to growth in small firms in a Least Developed Country (LDC). The research is based on the manufacturing sector in Ghana. The main objectives of the research are to identify the key variables that lead to small firms' growth and to ascertain the critical barriers that impede growth. A research model which is developed out of an initial exploratory research and existing literature focuses on how the characteristics of the owner/manager, the characteristics of the firm and the business strategy variables interact to affect growth in employment. In addition factors that are perceived to have constrained the growth of the small firms during the study period are ascertained and discussed. To properly test the hypotheses developed a face to face interview survey involving 122 owner/managers of small manufacturing firms is conducted. This resulted in a range of variables that allowed for the construction of a comprehensive multivariate model of small firm growth. A resulting regression model provides about 68 percent of the explanation for the growth of the small firms sampled. It also indicates that the owner/manager characteristics variables offer the most powerful explanation to small firm growth. We find that the owner/manager's growth aspiration is the most influential factor in achieving growth. The other owner/manager characteristics variables that have positive influence on growth are level of education, prior industry experience and entrepreneurial family background. Owner/managers with local experience and/or with other business interests are less likely to achieve faster growth. Foreign owned/managed firms grow faster. Younger and smaller firms appear to grow faster. While firms with multiple ownerships tend to grow at a slower rate than firms owned and managed by one person. Business planning, marketing and export have positive and significant impacts on growth. Other business strategies such as innovations and staff training also have direct relationships with growth but not significant. Some of the main constraining factors to growth are cost of borrowing, lack of access to credit, high cost of inputs, lack of trust within the business community, high bureaucracy, late payments and lack of efficient support system. While the external environment plays important role in small firm growth and development, the behaviours, response and strategies pursued by individual owner/manager are significant factors that determine the rate at which a firm will grow.

Problem: In bid to stay competitive in the industry, SMEs have to apply several  formal marketing techniques which will help them edge past their competitors regardless of the many operational challenges they are facing. Moreover, through the first questionnaire the authors realized that if the case company could appreciate the use of marketing techniques in the market, it would gain more market share hence realizing organic growth. However this entirely depends on the leadership and management teams which also have to be innovative in the market place which will eventually create value for the customers who tend to be loyal and as such purchase the service or product repeatedly. In addition, the management and leadership teams should seek cultural integration and talent which will enable the SMEs to achieve their vision hence survival in the business. Purpose: The issue under investigation during this research will be “the effect of differential pricing and promotion on the growth of SMEs which offer standardized services.” This research will add to the existing knowledge relevant to the SMEs in line with the marketing activities and growth. In addition, this research will help Snowhite Dry Cleaners in particular, to achieve growth if the managerial implications are put into consideration as highlighted in this thesis. For the authors, this thesis is a pre-requisite to the award of a masters‟ degree in marketing with a major in business administration once successfully completed. Method: An inductive approach has been used through out this thesis while we adopted a case study design. In order to fulfill the purpose of this thesis, three unstructured questionnaires were sent to the director of operations of the case company. Theories: The theoretical areas  that were used in this thesis consisted of theories regarding; Competitive strategy,  Pricing of services,  Promotion of services,  Services marketing management, Business growth, Marketing management etc Conclusions: The authors came to a conclusion that promotion strategies induce trial of product or service hence organic growth in the long-run. They also impact on customer choice of product or service and service provider which leads to increased demand hence organic growth. As well, value-adding promotions for services increase the demand and market share arising from less competitor activity due to fear of adverse price wars. In addition, promotions increase perceived customer value which results into repeated purchases of a product or service hence organic growth. However, value-increasing promotions are recommended for product firms otherwise they will have a negative impact on sales save for objectives like margin reduction or tarnishing the competitors‟ image. Notably, if value adding promotions are run for a long time, they risk becoming obsolete to the customers who seek value on a daily basis. In addition, differential pricing has no effect on sales growth for a service firms which offer standardized services  like laundry but rather, it is likely to have a positive impact on firms which sell tangible products as a primary objective and treating the services offered as peripheral.