Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Master of Technology: Quality in the Faculty of Engineering At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / New Product Development (NPD) is a complicated process that determines success or failure of any company engaging in product development processes. Over the past years, due to the current highly competitive market environment, poor management skills, lack of innovation and customer concern, many companies are struggling to develop new products while simultaneously maintaining high quality of each of these new products. Various studies described that quality management is critical to prolong the life cycle of new products. Thus, this study focused on the key success factors of NPD and integrated quality management strategies into NPD process. This study was conducted at a local plastic packaging and load securing company in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research approaches was conducted. Both management (n1=5) the staff members (n2=24) who are involved in the NPD process were selected as samples. A semi-structured questionnaire and several interviews (in-depth and focused group) were utilised for data collection. A statistical programme (SPSS V20) was employed to generate descriptive statistical results and test the reliability of all the variables. The study results identified that the key quality determinants of the NPD process were are NPD reviews, verifications and validations. In addition, for the NPD process to be successful, the company should focus on the development of the NPD strategy, availability of skills and resources including NPD competence, product quality, empowered multidisciplinary teams and effective risk management. Based on the research findings, this study recommends that the company should have more focuses on the areas of customer dissatisfaction, product quality, and prototype planning in their NPD processes.

This research studies the competencies of International Development (ID) project managers from their perspectives, taking into consideration the contextual factors and the challenges that they face when managing ID projects. The study adopts a constructionist ontological viewpoint and an interpretivist epistemological philosophical assumption. The nature of the research is exploratory with an inductive approach, using qualitative research method. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with experienced project managers in International Development projects. Template analysis strategy was used to analyse the data. The findings show that contextual factors have a significant influence on the challenges that ID project managers face when managing projects. Contextual factors are operating environment, large network of stakeholders and intangible goals of ID projects. Five challenges were identified as the results of the context, namely stakeholder management challenge, beneficiary needs analysis challenge, the challenge of balancing strategic and operational views, capacity building and training challenge and sustainable funding challenge. To overcome these challenges, seven ID project manager competencies were identified management skills, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, stakeholder engagement skills, capacity building skills, and change management skills. These competencies are found to be interrelated and complementary. While the role and responsibilities of ID project managers were also uncovered during the research, the findings on contextual factors, challenges and competencies help to better understand the ID project manager role and responsibilities. This study makes the contributions from both theoretical and practical point of view. With regards to theoretical contribution, our findings expanded on ID project manager competencies as well as relating them to the context and challenges in ID projects. The role and responsibilities of ID project manager is another theoretical contribution in this study. From a practical point of view, this thesis’s findings would be useful for various organizations who deliver ID projects, particularly human resources management. In addition, it can act as knowledge sharing with ID project managers and help in designing and enhancing educational programmes in ID project management. Overall, this could result in better delivery and overcoming the challenges of International Development projects.

Um dos grandes desafios das empresas para maximizarem sua capacidade de inovação, necessidade preemente nos dias atuais, é o desenvolvimento de mecanismos que proporcionem a obtenção da complementaridade de competências entre duas ou mais empresas (MOFFAT; GERWIN; MEISTER, 1997). Entre estes mecanismos encontram-se as alianças estratégicas para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, fenômeno relativamente recente e que já pode ser considerado como tendência nas decisões de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D). O foco do presente trabalho é a análise destas alianças estratégicas, através do estudo da teoria já existente, fazendo surgir reflexões importantes e gerando novas contribuições. O escopo do estudo é, sem dúvida, a questão organizacional, em uma visão macro, permitindo uma análise sistêmica do fenômeno. Muitos trabalhos trazem separadamente temas acerca das alianças estratégicas para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Surge com isso, como conseqüência, a oportunidade de estruturação desses elementos, aparentemente dispersos, em uma síntese teórica ou estrutura conceitual, o que possibilita uma compreensão mais profunda do tema. Além disso, é feita uma organização e estudo das variáveis existentes no fenômeno para contribuir com as decisões acerca da forma organizacional mais adequada às alianças / One of the great challenges of the companies to maximize its capability of innovation, an urgent necessity in current days, is the development of mechanisms that allow the complementing of competences between two or more companies (MOFFAT; GERWIN; MEISTER, 1997). One of these mechanisms is the strategic alliances for new product development, a relatively recent phenomenon and one that already can be considered as a trend in research and development (R&D) decisions. The focus of the present work is the analysis of these strategic alliances, through the study of the existing theory, causing important reflections to emerge and generating new contributions. The scope of the study is, with no doubt, the organizational problem, in a macro viewpoint, which makes possible a systemic analysis of the phenomenon. Many papers separately bring subjects concerning the strategic alliances for new product development. That brings the opportunity to structure these elements, apparently dispersed, in a theoretical synthesis or conceptual structure, which makes possible a deeper understanding of the subject. Moreover, the existing variables in the phenomenon are studied and organized, so that this contributes to arrive at the decisions concerning the most suitable organizational format for the alliances.

O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a agilidade nas contratações de projetos de pesquisa no âmbito do Programa de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). A pesquisa foi motivada pela demora na contratação de alguns projetos e pelo insucesso na contratação de outros, com o concorrente acúmulo de recursos a serem investidos. O primeiro objetivo específico foi a identificação das restrições do programa de P&D da ANEEL e seleção daquelas que afetam a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O segundo objetivo é a proposição de alternativas para aumentar a agilidade na contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas que correspondem aos objetivos específicos e são apresentadas em dois artigos. A primeira procurou investigar as variáveis do problema. A segunda etapa procurou propor alternativas para agilizar o processo de contratação de projetos de pesquisa das empresas. Na primeira etapa foi aplicado método para lidar com problemas sociais complexos ao longo de reuniões específicas. Uma das reuniões foi realizada com especialistas em pesquisa e outra com os envolvidos no programa de pesquisa. As informações foram trabalhadas e validadas com os participantes. Para desenvolver a segunda etapa, foram realizados três estudos de caso em que foram realizadas entrevistas e o mapeamento dos processos de contratação de empresas de diferentes naturezas jurídicas. Os procedimentos buscaram investigar se existiam diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas, tendo como base de comparação uma configuração específica de projeto, investigar a motivação para tais diferenças e levantar alternativas para disseminar entre as empresas a agilidade nas contratações. Na primeira etapa, as restrições do programa de P&D foram identificadas e a maior parte delas está relacionada com a gestão interna das empresas. Em seguida, estão as restrições relacionadas a contratação de projetos, mais especificamente a questões de propriedade industrial e de equipamentos comprados ou produzidos pelo projeto. Na segunda etapa, foram confirmadas diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas. A padronização de procedimentos e as relações recorrentes foram identificadas como motivações para tais diferenças. Entre as alternativas encontradas na literatura para tratar as restrições constatadas na primeira etapa, a formação de relações de longo prazo parece beneficiar a celebração de contratos. A formação de comitês para ajustes nos contratos não foi alvo de questionamento na presente pesquisa, mas também pode ser uma alternativa para agilizar a celebração de contratos. A atribuição da propriedade dos resultados para a parceira que mais contribui é alvo de controvérsia por questões legais. A presente pesquisa contribuiu para o campo gerencial ao propor a criação de uma certificação de qualidade para disseminar a padronização de processos, sendo que a padronização não foi abordada na teoria revisada que trata sobre a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. Essa alternativa contribuiria para tratar as restrições encontradas na contratação de projetos entre as empresas e as executoras com benefícios que extrapolam o escopo da presente pesquisa, visto que as instituições de pesquisa envolvidas no programa de P&D ANEEL estão dentre as principais do sistema de pesquisa brasileiro. Propõe-se desenvolver novas pesquisas que evoluam o conhecimento sobre a agilidade de contratação ao investigar os perfis de contratações, os mecanismos de governança utilizados e as diferenças de agilidade obtidas. / The work´s objective was the investigation of research contracting agility in the context of R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector. The research was motivated by the delay on some projects contract negotiation and by others unsuccessful contracting process, while the funds to invest keep growing. The first specific objective was to discover which constraints of the R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector, which guidelines and instructions are established by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency – ANEEL, affects research projects contracting process. The second objective is the proposition of alternatives to increase contracting agility. The work had two main stages to address the specific objectives and they are presented in two papers. The first stage investigated problem´s topics. The second stage intended to propose alternatives to make the utilities contracting process more agile. The first stage has applied a method for handling complex societal problems. A discussion meeting involved research experts and other the utilities and academy. The information collected was summarized and then validated with the participants. At the second stage, three case studies were developed using interviews and process mapping with public, private and mixed utilities. The procedures applied intended to investigate if there was agility differences in utilities contracting processes, using as reference a specific project configuration, identify the motivation for the differences founded and raise alternatives to make all utilities contracting processes agile. The constraints were identified in the first stage and most of them are related with utilities management. In second place, there are constraints related with project contracting, especially issues about industrial property and equipments developed or bought in the project. At the second stage, contracting agility differences were found. Process standardization and recurrent relationships were identified as possible motivations for these differences. Among the alternatives found in the literature review to handle the constraints identified in the first stage, the long term relationships seems to make contracting easier. The development of committees to adapt contracts during evolution of the collaboration was not in the scope of the present research, but also can be an alternative to make contracting more agile. Share property rights according with technological contribution can be refused because of legal aspects. The present research evolve the management knowledge as it proposes a certification to promote process standardization, besides the standardization was not present in the reviewed theory about research project contracting. This alternative would contribute to handle constraints identified in the contracting experience, with benefits that will exceed the planned scope, as the research institutions in the ANEEL R&D program are among the most importants in the brazilian research system. New researches may expand the knowledge about contracting agility if they investigate contracting configuration, governance mechanisms used and the agility differences obtained.

Ho, Yun Chi Maggie. / "December 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-231). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; some appendixes also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.xviii / NOTATION --- p.xix / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Significance --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Objectives --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4 --- Conceptual framework of study --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Definition of terms --- p.10 / Chapter 2.3 --- Indigenous community and nature reserves --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Opportunities of cooperating with indigenous community in conservation --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5 --- Incorporating indigenous knowledge --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6 --- Sacred natural sites as traditional conserved areas --- p.21 / Chapter 2.7 --- Challenges --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- Erosion of traditions --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- Coordination between indigenous population and conservationists --- p.31 / Chapter 2.8 --- International trend --- p.33 / Chapter 2.9 --- Local experiences in nature conservation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Legislative framework --- p.36 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Types of Protected Areas (PAs) --- p.37 / Chapter 2.9.3 --- Community involvement --- p.41 / Chapter 2.9.4 --- Privately owned land. --- p.43 / Chapter 2.10 --- Summary --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.47 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research framework --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data collection --- p.48 / Chapter 3.4 --- Analytical approach --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Importance-performance analysis --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Participation level assessment --- p.53 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Background of Study Sites --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Background information on Long Valley --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Geographical settings --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Demographic information --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Cultural heritages --- p.63 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Agricultural history --- p.66 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Avifauna diversity --- p.67 / Chapter 4.3 --- Background information on Fung Yuen --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Geographical settings --- p.69 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Demographic information --- p.72 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Biodiversity --- p.73 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Roles of Stakeholders --- p.78 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction : --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2 --- Current management framework : --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Role of government --- p.81 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Role of NGOs --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Role of local community --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Role of private sector --- p.98 / Chapter 5.3 --- Summary --- p.99 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Community participation level assessment --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.102 / Chapter 6.2 --- Community participation on the two sites --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Long Valley --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Fung Yuen --- p.113 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Summary --- p.125 / Chapter 6.3 --- Motivation for participation --- p.126 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Long Valley --- p.126 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Fung Yuen --- p.128 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Summary --- p.129 / Chapter 6.4 --- Identifying participation level --- p.130 / Chapter 6.5 --- Suggestions for improvement --- p.134 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Structure --- p.135 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Conservation --- p.139 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- Ecotourism --- p.144 / Chapter 6.6 --- Summary --- p.147 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Performance of MA scheme --- p.150 / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction : --- p.150 / Chapter 7.2 --- Public perception --- p.150 / Chapter 7.3 --- NGOs´ة staffs --- p.160 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Involvement of locals --- p.162 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Management --- p.167 / Chapter 7.4 --- Summary --- p.172 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Sustainable ma framework --- p.175 / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.175 / Chapter 8.2 --- Current situation --- p.175 / Chapter 8.3 --- Challenges --- p.178 / Chapter 8.3.1 --- Interest of landlords --- p.178 / Chapter 8.3.2 --- Bureaucratic problem --- p.180 / Chapter 8.3.3 --- Inadequate institutional support --- p.183 / Chapter 8.3.4 --- Development pressure --- p.185 / Chapter 8.3.5 --- Absence of ecological baseline data --- p.187 / Chapter 8.3.6 --- Rapid change of personnel --- p.188 / Chapter 8.4 --- Opportunities --- p.189 / Chapter 8.4.1 --- Adaptive management --- p.189 / Chapter 8.4.2 --- Community participation --- p.191 / Chapter 8.4.3 --- Trust fund --- p.192 / Chapter 8.5 --- Summary and suggestions for improvement --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter 9 --- Conclusion --- p.199 / Chapter 9.1 --- Introduction --- p.199 / Chapter 9.2 --- Summary of findings --- p.200 / Chapter 9.2.1 --- Roles of stakeholders --- p.200 / Chapter 9.2.2 --- Community participation level --- p.202 / Chapter 9.2.3 --- Performance of MA --- p.204 / Chapter 9.2.4 --- Suggestions for improvement --- p.206 / Chapter 9.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.208 / Chapter 9.4 --- Suggestions for future study --- p.209 / Bibliography --- p.211 / Appendices --- p.232

The Diploma thesis deals with selection of appropriate methods and tools for planning research projects. The theoretical part focuses on the general theory and the specifics of individual approaches, models and project management tools. Analytical part on the selection of appropriate managemenet elements based on examining enterprise environment. The practical part on the creation of a methodology and its projection to the work with supporting software.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Town and Regional Planning in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology / Political independence for Zimbabwe in 1980 brought about fundamental socio-conomic changes which impacted on urbanisation trends in the country. For instance the removal of colonial influx control laws and regulations which had previously served to curtail ruralurban migration marked the beginning of a new developmental era characterised by rapid urbanisation. Political and economic downturns later experienced in the country in the last decade of the twentieth century and after resulted in massive de-industrialisation, company closures and high unemployment. These changes impacted significantly on the spatial structure of cities which had to firstly adapt to socio-political integration, and had to later focus on the basic challenges of providing shelter and alternative means of employment in a depressed economy. The physical and spatial manifestations of such changes included the rapid growth of informality, the collapse of urban infrastructure and the apparent disregard for the colonially styled urban development management frameworks. This research consequently evaluates the performance of current urban planning frameworks and practices in the face of such changing circumstances. This is against a backdrop of the apparent failure by urban planning to transform in line such development trends. The study explores the theoretical framework of rapid urbanisation, urban planning, and technological innovation in urban development management systems. The main focus of the study is on the transformation of planning practices and frameworks. Geo-spatial technology (GST) is mainly used as a demonstration and methodological tool for analysis and evaluation. The methodology is made up of two contrasting case studies based in the CBD of Harare (Zimbabwe‟s capital city) and Epworth (an informal settlement on the outskirts of Harare). The CBD case study measures the performance of planning frameworks within a formally planned set up whilst the Epworth case study demonstrates the (in)effectiveness of current planning practices to contemporary urban development challenges. The main findings of the research support the need to have mobile planning frameworks and tools that have the capacity to promptly respond to fast changing developmental trends. The other main finding highlights the positive relationship between impartial participation in planning and high level of success in achieving planning objectives.

O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a agilidade nas contratações de projetos de pesquisa no âmbito do Programa de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). A pesquisa foi motivada pela demora na contratação de alguns projetos e pelo insucesso na contratação de outros, com o concorrente acúmulo de recursos a serem investidos. O primeiro objetivo específico foi a identificação das restrições do programa de P&D da ANEEL e seleção daquelas que afetam a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O segundo objetivo é a proposição de alternativas para aumentar a agilidade na contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas que correspondem aos objetivos específicos e são apresentadas em dois artigos. A primeira procurou investigar as variáveis do problema. A segunda etapa procurou propor alternativas para agilizar o processo de contratação de projetos de pesquisa das empresas. Na primeira etapa foi aplicado método para lidar com problemas sociais complexos ao longo de reuniões específicas. Uma das reuniões foi realizada com especialistas em pesquisa e outra com os envolvidos no programa de pesquisa. As informações foram trabalhadas e validadas com os participantes. Para desenvolver a segunda etapa, foram realizados três estudos de caso em que foram realizadas entrevistas e o mapeamento dos processos de contratação de empresas de diferentes naturezas jurídicas. Os procedimentos buscaram investigar se existiam diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas, tendo como base de comparação uma configuração específica de projeto, investigar a motivação para tais diferenças e levantar alternativas para disseminar entre as empresas a agilidade nas contratações. Na primeira etapa, as restrições do programa de P&D foram identificadas e a maior parte delas está relacionada com a gestão interna das empresas. Em seguida, estão as restrições relacionadas a contratação de projetos, mais especificamente a questões de propriedade industrial e de equipamentos comprados ou produzidos pelo projeto. Na segunda etapa, foram confirmadas diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas. A padronização de procedimentos e as relações recorrentes foram identificadas como motivações para tais diferenças. Entre as alternativas encontradas na literatura para tratar as restrições constatadas na primeira etapa, a formação de relações de longo prazo parece beneficiar a celebração de contratos. A formação de comitês para ajustes nos contratos não foi alvo de questionamento na presente pesquisa, mas também pode ser uma alternativa para agilizar a celebração de contratos. A atribuição da propriedade dos resultados para a parceira que mais contribui é alvo de controvérsia por questões legais. A presente pesquisa contribuiu para o campo gerencial ao propor a criação de uma certificação de qualidade para disseminar a padronização de processos, sendo que a padronização não foi abordada na teoria revisada que trata sobre a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. Essa alternativa contribuiria para tratar as restrições encontradas na contratação de projetos entre as empresas e as executoras com benefícios que extrapolam o escopo da presente pesquisa, visto que as instituições de pesquisa envolvidas no programa de P&D ANEEL estão dentre as principais do sistema de pesquisa brasileiro. Propõe-se desenvolver novas pesquisas que evoluam o conhecimento sobre a agilidade de contratação ao investigar os perfis de contratações, os mecanismos de governança utilizados e as diferenças de agilidade obtidas. / The work´s objective was the investigation of research contracting agility in the context of R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector. The research was motivated by the delay on some projects contract negotiation and by others unsuccessful contracting process, while the funds to invest keep growing. The first specific objective was to discover which constraints of the R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector, which guidelines and instructions are established by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency – ANEEL, affects research projects contracting process. The second objective is the proposition of alternatives to increase contracting agility. The work had two main stages to address the specific objectives and they are presented in two papers. The first stage investigated problem´s topics. The second stage intended to propose alternatives to make the utilities contracting process more agile. The first stage has applied a method for handling complex societal problems. A discussion meeting involved research experts and other the utilities and academy. The information collected was summarized and then validated with the participants. At the second stage, three case studies were developed using interviews and process mapping with public, private and mixed utilities. The procedures applied intended to investigate if there was agility differences in utilities contracting processes, using as reference a specific project configuration, identify the motivation for the differences founded and raise alternatives to make all utilities contracting processes agile. The constraints were identified in the first stage and most of them are related with utilities management. In second place, there are constraints related with project contracting, especially issues about industrial property and equipments developed or bought in the project. At the second stage, contracting agility differences were found. Process standardization and recurrent relationships were identified as possible motivations for these differences. Among the alternatives found in the literature review to handle the constraints identified in the first stage, the long term relationships seems to make contracting easier. The development of committees to adapt contracts during evolution of the collaboration was not in the scope of the present research, but also can be an alternative to make contracting more agile. Share property rights according with technological contribution can be refused because of legal aspects. The present research evolve the management knowledge as it proposes a certification to promote process standardization, besides the standardization was not present in the reviewed theory about research project contracting. This alternative would contribute to handle constraints identified in the contracting experience, with benefits that will exceed the planned scope, as the research institutions in the ANEEL R&D program are among the most importants in the brazilian research system. New researches may expand the knowledge about contracting agility if they investigate contracting configuration, governance mechanisms used and the agility differences obtained.

Um dos grandes desafios das empresas para maximizarem sua capacidade de inovação, necessidade preemente nos dias atuais, é o desenvolvimento de mecanismos que proporcionem a obtenção da complementaridade de competências entre duas ou mais empresas (MOFFAT; GERWIN; MEISTER, 1997). Entre estes mecanismos encontram-se as alianças estratégicas para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos, fenômeno relativamente recente e que já pode ser considerado como tendência nas decisões de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D). O foco do presente trabalho é a análise destas alianças estratégicas, através do estudo da teoria já existente, fazendo surgir reflexões importantes e gerando novas contribuições. O escopo do estudo é, sem dúvida, a questão organizacional, em uma visão macro, permitindo uma análise sistêmica do fenômeno. Muitos trabalhos trazem separadamente temas acerca das alianças estratégicas para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Surge com isso, como conseqüência, a oportunidade de estruturação desses elementos, aparentemente dispersos, em uma síntese teórica ou estrutura conceitual, o que possibilita uma compreensão mais profunda do tema. Além disso, é feita uma organização e estudo das variáveis existentes no fenômeno para contribuir com as decisões acerca da forma organizacional mais adequada às alianças / One of the great challenges of the companies to maximize its capability of innovation, an urgent necessity in current days, is the development of mechanisms that allow the complementing of competences between two or more companies (MOFFAT; GERWIN; MEISTER, 1997). One of these mechanisms is the strategic alliances for new product development, a relatively recent phenomenon and one that already can be considered as a trend in research and development (R&D) decisions. The focus of the present work is the analysis of these strategic alliances, through the study of the existing theory, causing important reflections to emerge and generating new contributions. The scope of the study is, with no doubt, the organizational problem, in a macro viewpoint, which makes possible a systemic analysis of the phenomenon. Many papers separately bring subjects concerning the strategic alliances for new product development. That brings the opportunity to structure these elements, apparently dispersed, in a theoretical synthesis or conceptual structure, which makes possible a deeper understanding of the subject. Moreover, the existing variables in the phenomenon are studied and organized, so that this contributes to arrive at the decisions concerning the most suitable organizational format for the alliances.

O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a agilidade nas contratações de projetos de pesquisa no âmbito do Programa de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL). A pesquisa foi motivada pela demora na contratação de alguns projetos e pelo insucesso na contratação de outros, com o concorrente acúmulo de recursos a serem investidos. O primeiro objetivo específico foi a identificação das restrições do programa de P&D da ANEEL e seleção daquelas que afetam a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O segundo objetivo é a proposição de alternativas para aumentar a agilidade na contratação de projetos de pesquisa. O trabalho foi dividido em duas etapas que correspondem aos objetivos específicos e são apresentadas em dois artigos. A primeira procurou investigar as variáveis do problema. A segunda etapa procurou propor alternativas para agilizar o processo de contratação de projetos de pesquisa das empresas. Na primeira etapa foi aplicado método para lidar com problemas sociais complexos ao longo de reuniões específicas. Uma das reuniões foi realizada com especialistas em pesquisa e outra com os envolvidos no programa de pesquisa. As informações foram trabalhadas e validadas com os participantes. Para desenvolver a segunda etapa, foram realizados três estudos de caso em que foram realizadas entrevistas e o mapeamento dos processos de contratação de empresas de diferentes naturezas jurídicas. Os procedimentos buscaram investigar se existiam diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas, tendo como base de comparação uma configuração específica de projeto, investigar a motivação para tais diferenças e levantar alternativas para disseminar entre as empresas a agilidade nas contratações. Na primeira etapa, as restrições do programa de P&D foram identificadas e a maior parte delas está relacionada com a gestão interna das empresas. Em seguida, estão as restrições relacionadas a contratação de projetos, mais especificamente a questões de propriedade industrial e de equipamentos comprados ou produzidos pelo projeto. Na segunda etapa, foram confirmadas diferenças na agilidade de contratação entre as empresas. A padronização de procedimentos e as relações recorrentes foram identificadas como motivações para tais diferenças. Entre as alternativas encontradas na literatura para tratar as restrições constatadas na primeira etapa, a formação de relações de longo prazo parece beneficiar a celebração de contratos. A formação de comitês para ajustes nos contratos não foi alvo de questionamento na presente pesquisa, mas também pode ser uma alternativa para agilizar a celebração de contratos. A atribuição da propriedade dos resultados para a parceira que mais contribui é alvo de controvérsia por questões legais. A presente pesquisa contribuiu para o campo gerencial ao propor a criação de uma certificação de qualidade para disseminar a padronização de processos, sendo que a padronização não foi abordada na teoria revisada que trata sobre a contratação de projetos de pesquisa. Essa alternativa contribuiria para tratar as restrições encontradas na contratação de projetos entre as empresas e as executoras com benefícios que extrapolam o escopo da presente pesquisa, visto que as instituições de pesquisa envolvidas no programa de P&D ANEEL estão dentre as principais do sistema de pesquisa brasileiro. Propõe-se desenvolver novas pesquisas que evoluam o conhecimento sobre a agilidade de contratação ao investigar os perfis de contratações, os mecanismos de governança utilizados e as diferenças de agilidade obtidas. / The work´s objective was the investigation of research contracting agility in the context of R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector. The research was motivated by the delay on some projects contract negotiation and by others unsuccessful contracting process, while the funds to invest keep growing. The first specific objective was to discover which constraints of the R&D Program for the Brazilian Electric Energy Sector, which guidelines and instructions are established by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency – ANEEL, affects research projects contracting process. The second objective is the proposition of alternatives to increase contracting agility. The work had two main stages to address the specific objectives and they are presented in two papers. The first stage investigated problem´s topics. The second stage intended to propose alternatives to make the utilities contracting process more agile. The first stage has applied a method for handling complex societal problems. A discussion meeting involved research experts and other the utilities and academy. The information collected was summarized and then validated with the participants. At the second stage, three case studies were developed using interviews and process mapping with public, private and mixed utilities. The procedures applied intended to investigate if there was agility differences in utilities contracting processes, using as reference a specific project configuration, identify the motivation for the differences founded and raise alternatives to make all utilities contracting processes agile. The constraints were identified in the first stage and most of them are related with utilities management. In second place, there are constraints related with project contracting, especially issues about industrial property and equipments developed or bought in the project. At the second stage, contracting agility differences were found. Process standardization and recurrent relationships were identified as possible motivations for these differences. Among the alternatives found in the literature review to handle the constraints identified in the first stage, the long term relationships seems to make contracting easier. The development of committees to adapt contracts during evolution of the collaboration was not in the scope of the present research, but also can be an alternative to make contracting more agile. Share property rights according with technological contribution can be refused because of legal aspects. The present research evolve the management knowledge as it proposes a certification to promote process standardization, besides the standardization was not present in the reviewed theory about research project contracting. This alternative would contribute to handle constraints identified in the contracting experience, with benefits that will exceed the planned scope, as the research institutions in the ANEEL R&D program are among the most importants in the brazilian research system. New researches may expand the knowledge about contracting agility if they investigate contracting configuration, governance mechanisms used and the agility differences obtained.