The small enterprise has become a major sphere of interest for policy makers and donors. Despite the institutional and policy support, these enterprises have fallen short of expectations. This study is intended to fill the gap by exploring the challenges and prospects of the entrepreneurs in the small enterprise in general and specifically rate the challenges across each sector in Mekelle and Adigrat, Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia. Generally, 154 samples of the small enterprise were selected using a stratified proportional random sampling technique, from which the required data were generated and analysed employing the descriptive and exploratory research design. In the first part, the characteristics and prospects of the entrepreneurs and the small enterprise are presented. The finding reveals that the gender of the entrepreneurs is dominated by and is in favour of male entrepreneurs when compared to that of their female counterparts. The majority of respondents lack the relevant experiences and operate as sole proprietors. Furthermore, business plan is found out to be used only to meet the requirements of the financial institutions. The result also revealed that small enterprises are operated mainly by the owners of the business themselves and hence their contributions to employment and income generation for others is very limited. Financial constraint is found out as a general challenge to entrepreneurs of the small enterprises. In addition, different constraints such as training, access to finance, market opportunities, policy and legal measures are examined and rated across different business types where each factors are found to affect small enterprises at a different rates. What is severe problem for one sector is found out to be not a problem when compared to other sectors. These imply that policies and support programs need to take in to account the heterogeneous nature of enterprises and entrepreneurs. Overall, the result discloses a high failure rate of the small enterprises in the study sites and one can conclude that there is a lack of innovation from the side of entrepreneurs and a weak support from the government and other supporting institutions. In view of these, the researcher recommends an innovative support schemes to ameliorate and accelerate the growth of the small enterprises. / Development Studies / D. Phil. (Development Studies)

本研究是針對原產業成長期創業差異化階段的探索性研究。原產業成長期創業可定義為：創業者或團隊離開原來的事業後，在原產業的成長期，獨立創立了一個新事業。例如，華碩、雅姿舞蹈社（亞力山大的前身）都屬於原產業成長期創業。 由於創業開始後，新事業要做出產品，然後才能產生後續績效，因此依照時間軸可以將創業理論分解為：初始因素→新產品→創業績效。現有創業理論對原產業成長期創業現象並沒有提供完整的解答，但已得出的部份結果可以引導我們對此現象進一步聚焦。第一，新事業策略層次的研究已發現，新事業產品的差異性和稀少性顯著影響新事業績效。由於上述因果關係的後段已解決，因此指導我們探索前段的問題：什麼初始因素產生差異性產品？即應該聚焦到產品差異化階段研究。第二，過去創業者層次的研究已發現，以相同產業「工作年數」代替的「產業特殊經驗」顯著影響創業績效的高低。因為經驗是實務的知識，因此這類研究結果顯示知識是一項初始因素，值得進一步研究創業者的初始知識。第三，奧地利經濟學者和一些創業學者指出，創業機會是影響創業成敗的一項初始因素，但迄今沒有學者清楚地描述出創業機會的樣子和它對績效的影響。這些文獻顯示應進一步探索初始創業機會和它對產品差異化的影響。文獻已顯示創業者知識和創業機會是解釋產品差異化的初始因素，但二者下層的因素仍未充分揭露出來。由於過去的創業研究沒有聚焦在差異化階段，仍存在許多未解開的問題，因此本研究聚焦在原產業成長期創業的主要產品差異化階段進行研究。 對於本研究聚焦的現象，本研究問題為：在原產業成長期創業的差異化階段，哪些知識和機會構念下層的因素透過差異化過程產生產品屬性與競爭優勢？本研究的目的為：經由對此現象進行深入的探索，揭露出影響產品差異化的知識與機會的深層原因，建立整合知識與機會解釋產品差異化及利潤的理論。 本研究採用Eisenhardt(1989)描述的探索性個案研究方法，從個案研究建立理論。本研究針對原產業成長期創業現象，聚焦在主要產品差異化過程。總分析單位是在主要產品線層次。本研究接觸到3家原產業成長期創業廠商，取得了3個成功個案和1個失敗個案資料。資料收集包含訪問二位以上創業團隊成員、競爭廠商中的管理者和收集產業次級資料。 本研究經由分析四個個案的主要產品線資料，得出以下命題與發現。 命題一：產品有價值的差異程度愈大、產品稀少程度愈大、產品需求強度愈大，則產品競爭優勢程度愈大。 命題Ⅱ：若創業者的產業內通用知識強度小，則有產品競爭劣勢。 本研究發現，原產業成長期的創業機會為產業環境中存在的一種情境結構，本研究定義並命名為「創業機會結構」，它由以下項目構成：(1) 存在上游差異性新要素；(2) 存在下游市場需求；(3) 存在有利的競爭情勢，包含(a)既有競爭廠商數量小，(b)既有競爭廠商利用程度小，(c)潛在競爭廠商延遲行動；(4)存在功能互補廠商。 創業者知識與創業機會對於產品差異化的影響關係如下： 命題二：在創業者的產業內通用知識強度大的條件下，若創業者有異質的知識，或產業環境中存在創業機會，或二者都存在，則新事業可推出差異性與稀少性的產品。 命題二A：在創業者的產業內通用知識強度大的條件下，若創業者僅有產業內通用知識，且產業環境中存在創業機會，則新事業可推出差異性與稀少性的產品。 命題二B：在創業者的產業內通用知識強度大的條件下，若創業者僅有產業內通用知識，且產業環境中不存在創業機會，則新事業不能推出差異性與稀少性的產品。 命題二C：在創業者的產業內通用知識強度大的條件下，若創業者有異質知識，且產業環境中存在創業機會，則新事業可推出差異性與稀少性產品。 命題二D：在創業者的產業內通用知識強度大的條件下，若創業者有異質知識，且產業環境中不存在創業機會，則新事業可推出差異性與稀少性產品。 創業者異質知識屬性對產品屬性的影響關係如下： 命題三A：異質知識有價值的差異程度愈大，則產品有價值的差異程度愈大。 命題三B：異質知識稀少程度愈大，則產品稀少程度愈大。 命題三C：異質知識難以模仿程度，正向調節產品競爭優勢程度與產品利潤間的正向關係。 命題三：創業者知識的有利程度愈大，則產品利潤愈大。 創業機會結構中各項目的屬性程度對產品屬性的影響關係如下： 命題四A：要素有價值的差異程度愈大，則產品有價值的差異程度愈大。 命題四B：整體市場需求強度愈大，則產品需求強度愈大。 命題四Ca：既有競爭者的數量愈小，則產品稀少程度愈大。 命題四Cb：既有競爭者資源利用程度負向調節，整體市場需求強度與產品需求強度的正向關係。 命題四Cc：潛在競爭者行動延遲程度，正向調節產品競爭優勢程度與產品利潤的正向關係。 命題四：創業機會結構的有利程度愈大，則產品利潤愈大。 本研究對創業理論的貢獻包含以下幾方面。主要貢獻包含：第一，建立了整合理論。本研究在原產業成長期創業情境對交集現象，建立了以創業者知識、創業機會解釋產品差異化與利潤的整合理論。本研究針對創業最核心的差異化階段，建立了整合理論，使創業理論有了核心。第二，發現了創業機會結構。本研究經由探索發現了創業機會結構，描述出了創業機會的樣子，並分析清楚了構成它的項目對差異化相關的產品屬性和競爭優勢的影響。第三，橋接了創業與策略，引導二個領域的學者對話。本研究運用策略理論觀引導分析資料與建立理論的過程，因此本研究橋接了創業與策略，引導二個領域的學者對話。次要貢獻包含：第一，釐清了產品層次的構念和構面。第二，本研究以資源基礎觀引導，釐清了創業者知識下層的概念，並分析清楚了它們對產品屬性和競爭優勢的影響。 本研究建立的理論有實務含義，可以使產業成長期的潛在創業者（既有企業管理者）的策略思考更有效，因此對企業實務界人士有價值。概括而言，本研究對實務人士的啟示如下：(1)創業者擁有夠強的產業內經營知識是能夠創業成功的基本條件；(2)在產業內通用知識強的條件下，若創業者有異質知識或外部存在創業機會能使差異化成功，因此值得投入創業；若創業沒有異質知識及外部不存在創業機會，則創業者不應投入創業(3)本研究提出的創業機會結構，可以協助潛在創業者在創業決策階段辯認是否存在創業機會，避免創業時沒有機會或利用的不是創業機會。 / Starting new businesses in the growth stage of an industry is a special type of entrepreneurship as identified in this study. The same industry-growth stage entrepreneurship is defined as the following: after an entrepreneur (or entrepreneurial team) leaves a prior business, he/she then founds a new venture in the same industry which his prior work is in and is in the growth stage. The cases of ASUS(?) and Alexander are examples. The life of a start-up, as depicted by entrepreneurial studies, can be decomposed as: initial factors→product→performance. Current entrepreneurship studies have offered some answers to this phenomenon. First, studies have shown that a product’s extent of differentiation and rarity can predict performance. These findings prompt us to explore the question of which initial factors producing differentiated products (i.e., focusing on the product differentiation stage). Second, previous studies have found that an entrepreneur’s industry experience or industry-specific experience (using the years of work as a proxy) significantly affects performance. Because experience is a kind of knowledge, these results point out that knowledge can be regarded as an initial factor and thus it highlights the importance of exploring an entrepreneur’s knowledge. Third, Austrian economists point out that entrepreneurial opportunity is an initial factor and it influences entrepreneurial success. Up to now no studies illustrates the shape of entrepreneurial opportunities and explain how it influences entrepreneurial performance. Thus further exploration of entrepreneurial opportunities and how they affect product differentiation is needed. Although we already known an entrepreneur’s knowledge and entrepreneurial opportunity are major initial factors, we have no knowledge of lower level factors. Because the researches have not focused on the product differentiation stage, this research will concentrate on the product differentiation stage. The research question of the study is: in the differentiation stage of the same industry-growth stage start-ups, what lower level factors of knowledge and opportunity produce product competitive advantages? The objective of the research is: by identifying the lower factors, entrepreneurs’ knowledge and opportunities can be integrated into theories of entrepreneurship to explain product differentiation and profits. This research adopted the exploring theory building case study proposed by Eisenhardt (1989). The level of analysis was the main product line of a start-up. The data of three firms, in the form of 3 successful cases and 1 failed case, were collected. In addition to secondary data, at least two executives, either were founding team members or high-level managers, were interviewed for gathering the primary data. Through data analysis enable us to offer the following propositions: Proposition 1: The higher the levels of the value of product differentiation, product rarity and product demand intensity, the higher the product competitive advantage. Proposition Ⅱ: The lower the level of an entrepreneur’s industry-specific knowledge, the lower the product competitive advantage. We discovered that entrepreneurial opportunity is a specific situational structure in an industry. We termed it ‘entrepreneurial opportunity structure’. It is composed of four items: (1) the existence of upstream differentiated and new factors; (2) the existence of downstream market demands; (3) the existence of favorable competitive situation, including few competitors, less extent of action by competitors, late actions by competitors and more availability of complementary firms. Relationships among entrepreneurs’ knowledge, entrepreneurial opportunity, and product differentiation are indicated below. Proposition 2: When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, higher level of heterogeneous knowledge or the existence of an entrepreneurial opportunity (or both) makes it possible to launch a differentiated and rare product. Proposition 2A: When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, industry-specific knowledge, coupled with the existence of an entrepreneurial opportunity, makes it possible to launch a differentiated and rare product. Proposition 2B: When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, industry-specific knowledge, coupled with the non-existence of an entrepreneurial opportunity, makes it impossible to launch a differentiated and rare product. Proposition 2C: When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, higher level of heterogeneous knowledge and the existence of an entrepreneurial opportunity makes it possible to launch a differentiated and rare product. Proposition 2D: When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, higher level of heterogeneous knowledge and the non-existence of an entrepreneurial opportunity makes it possible to launch a differentiated and rare product. The relationship between heterogeneous knowledge and product attributes are listed below: Proposition 3A: The higher the value of heterogeneous knowledge, the higher the valuable difference of a product. Proposition 3B: The higher the rarity of heterogeneous knowledge, the higher the rarity of a product. Proposition 3C: The level of difficulty of imitation of heterogeneous knowledge moderates the positive relationship between product competitive advantage and product profit. Proposition 3: The higher the usefulness of an entrepreneur’s knowledge, the higher the product profit. The relationships between attributes of entrepreneurial opportunity structure and product attributes are listed below: Proposition 4A: The higher the valuable difference of a factor, the higher the valuable difference of a product. Proposition 4B: The higher the market demand intensity, the higher the product demand intensity. Proposition 4Ca: The less the number of competitors, the higher the rarity of a product. Proposition 4Cb: The degree of exploitation of resource by competitors negatively moderates the positive relationship between the market demand intensity and product demand intensity. Proposition 4Cc: The extent of delayed actions by competitors positively moderates the positive relationship between product competitive advantage and product profit. Proposition 4: The higher the potential of profitability of entrepreneurial opportunity structure, the higher the product profit. The major contributions of the research to entrepreneurship theories include the following: First, we built a integrated theory including entrepreneurs’ knowledge and entrepreneurial opportunities to explain product differentiation and profit. Because differentiation is the core to entrepreneurship, our integrated theory emphasizes the core of the theory. Second, this research identified entrepreneurial opportunity structure, and illustrated that entrepreneurial opportunity structure influences product attributes and competitive advantage. Entrepreneurial opportunity structure reflects the shape of entrepreneurial opportunity. Third, this research bridged entrepreneurship and strategy strategies, making the conversion between the two streams of research possible. Fourth, we clarified the construct and dimensions of product in start-ups. Lastly, we clarified the sub-constructs under entrepreneurs’ knowledge and their impact on product attributes and competitive advantage. The findings of the research have practical implications. It can make strategic thinking of potential entrepreneurs in the same industry-growth stage more effective. The implications are: (1) It is a necessary condition that an entrepreneur has enough industry-specific knowledge to be successful; (2) When an entrepreneur has a high level of industry-specific knowledge, if entrepreneur have heterogeneous knowledge or there is an entrepreneurial opportunity in industry environment, then differentiation can success, thus he worth to take entrepreneurial action. If entrepreneur have not heterogeneous knowledge and there is not an entrepreneurial opportunity, then he should not take entrepreneurial action; (3) Discovered entrepreneurial opportunity structure can help potential entrepreneur identify entrepreneurial opportunity in entrepreneurial decision stage, and avoid exploiting a non-entrepreneurial opportunity.

從時代趨勢中洞悉到女性創業議題的重要 ，爰發現青輔會「飛雁專案」下之非預期性政策產出(「中華飛雁創業互助協會」)的關鍵地位與價值，於檢視該組織背後的脈絡因素中覺察到「新制度主義之鑲嵌性概念」與「動態社會資本理論建構」間不謀而合，除確立女性創業環境下公部門（青輔會）、非營利組織（中華飛雁創業互助協會）及個人(微型女性創業者)間之互為鑲嵌關係，更因該組織成立而點明女性創業之動態社會資本建構過程，調和過去二元價值對立的窘境，透過實務與理論間交互檢證，開創女性創業、非營利組織及社會資本理論間之新紀元。 / Owing to the key status and value of the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Taiwan (WEAT) and unpredictable policy output of the“Free & Yong Program ”of National Youth Commission of Executive Yuan (NYC), this paper seeks to identify the importance of current trend issue about women entrepreneurship. In viewing the inner factors of the organizational context, I find there’s a coincidence between the“ embedding concept of new institutionalism” and “dynamic construction of social capital theory”. It not only sets up the correlation among Gov (NYC), NPO（WEAT）and individual (women mircrobusinesses entrepreneurs), but also makes the process of dynamic construction of social capitals in women business clear, harmonizing the paradox of structural/rational dualism in the past. The Interviewing and case study design are mainly employed methods in this research to cross-check practice and theory and thus depicts a better interaction among women entrepreneurship, NPO and social capital theory.

Nous avons investi l’entrepreneuriat maghrébin dans la métropole parisienne, région riche de par sa diversité culturelle, avec comme point de départ les activités associatives auxquelles adhérent nos interlocuteurs. A ce titre, nous avons identifié un certain nombre de regroupements et de réseaux crées par des entrepreneurs maghrébins et qui ont pour objectifs, notamment, de fédérer les efforts pour faire face à la concurrence domestique et de faciliter un retour entrepreneurial au pays d’origine. Sur ce plan, nous avons mis en relief les questions d’efficacité de ces associations, voir même leur transformation en entreprises.Nous avons pu évoquer avec nos interlocuteurs les aspects des diasporas maghrébines, notamment celles se rapportant aux difficultés de transmettre la culture d’origine aux descendants, les jeux avec les doubles identités ou l’assimilation avec tout ce que signifie ce mot.Nous avons aussi, évoqué les effets directs et indirects du retour entrepreneurial sur le marché des pays du Maghreb aussi bien sur le plan de l’intégration ou la désintégration économique, que sur le plan de l’emploi, les qualifications et les compétences ainsi que les modes de gouvernance./. / Absract:We discussed in this thesis the maghrebian entrepreneurial ship in Paris, This capital is known by its cultural diversity . the starting point was the association’s activities that make the business men that we meet. We have identified some entrepreneurial network. These network have as missions to federate des efforts of the maghrebian entrepreneurs to conterbalance the concurrents in France and to guarantee the best conditions for the entrepreneurial return to tha origin country in maghreb.We evoked also in this doctoral work, the aspects of maghrebian diasporas, and the difficulties to transmit the original cultures to the younger generations . the acting with the double culture and or the assimilation full integration in the host society (the frensh community) .We studied also some economic consequences of creating company in the origin country (Tunisia) by the maghrebian business men. Especially the economic desintegration or the integration through out the entrepreneurial establishement either creating compagnies or by some partenarship.Kee words: entrepreneurship, associations, network, diasporas, maghrebian, Paris, identities, culture, economic integration,

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:45:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rachel Campos Niza.pdf: 827444 bytes, checksum: 865cae9b3fbf7d24fa00f276a9786122 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-15 / This research sought to assess strategic planning practice in a child educational institution. The work was done through a study single in case a child education center located in the region of Morumbi, which occurred in four steps where interviews and visits have been made in different times and different people related to the establishment. Nursery schools are institutions that should be reviewed with care and often appear in condition of micro and small company, in addition to the specificities of these delicate question that is be a service provider for children from zero to six years. Due to the small business demand educational sector tools that allow your development considering the characteristics of the market in question and impediments commonly found. Planning strategic offers to entrepreneurs of child education centres, conditions evaluate what occurs in internal and external environment of the company and the then define strategies to reach their schools objectives. Often smaller organizations have not or have difficulty in implementing the strategic planning. Finally, the importance of use of this instrument becomes apparent when we discuss the success of entrepreneurs in the nursery industry / Esta pesquisa buscou avaliar a prática do planejamento estratégico em uma instituição de ensino infantil. O trabalho foi realizado através de um estudo de caso único em um centro de educação infantil localizado na região do Morumbi, que ocorreu em quatro etapas onde foram feitas entrevistas e visitas em diferentes horários e com diferentes pessoas relacionadas ao estabelecimento. Escolas de educação infantil são instituições que devem ser analisadas com bastante cautela e com frequência aparecem na condição de micro e pequena empresa. Além das especificidades destas, compreendemos ainda a delicada questão de ser uma prestadora de serviços para crianças de zero até seis anos. Devido às suas peculiaridades, uma pequena empresa do setor educacional demanda ferramentas que possibilitem o seu desenvolvimento considerando as características do mercado em questão e os entraves comumente encontrados. O planejamento estratégico oferece aos empreendedores dos centros de educação infantil condições de avaliar o que ocorre no ambiente interno e externo da empresa e a partir de então definir estratégias que permitam às escolas alcançarem seus objetivos. Muitas vezes, as organizações de menor porte não apresentam ou têm dificuldades em realizar o planejamento estratégico. Enfim, a importância da utilização desse instrumento fica evidente ao tratarmos do sucesso dos empreendedores no setor de educação infantil

O trabalho é o estudo de um caso crucial (Eckstein) de um município pobre e populoso (Sobral, no Estado nordestino do Ceará) dentro do contexto de um problema de cunho nacional o baixo rendimento sistemático e estrutural dos alunos brasileiros nos testes padronizados nacionais e internacionais, inclusive em relação ao processo escolar mais elementar, que é o processo de alfabetização emerge como um exemplo de sucesso escolar. Todos indicadores educacionais de Sobral mostram uma trajetória consistente e sustentável de melhoria, que descola da dos demais municípios de mesmo porte populacional no Brasil, mas que segue em paralelo ao Estado do Ceará. As perguntas que a pesquisa pretendeu responder são: 1) Como foi que Sobral chegou a alcançar os níveis de desempenho nas provas padronizadas nacionais? Que fatos, políticas públicas ou atores teriam contribuído para que as escolas do Município alcançassem os resultados que justificam o presente estudo? e 2) Seria possível repetir essa experiência em outros municípios do Brasil? Ou seja, é possível sobralizar a educação brasileira?. Os objetivos da investigação foram situar as reformas educacionais do Município no amplo contexto nacional e internacional das reformas do tipo qualidade dos anos 1990/2000, identificando e categorizando os principais fator e componentes de política pública em nível local, estadual e nacional que contribuíram para seu sucesso cotejando-os com teorias existentes e já validadas em outros contextos. Os principais condicionantes das reformas exitosas de Sobral identificados são o conjunto formado por policy, polity e politics: a) um processo de parametrização de expectativas de aprendizagem e de alfabetização (Linhares) que reflete o consenso internacional sobre o tema (policy), b) a adoção institucionalizada de conceitos e práticas de eficácia escolar na gestão pedagógica e escolar da Rede (polity), descritos por Lezotte, Edmonds, Levin e Fullan, e c) um conjunto de lideranças com crenças fortes o suficiente para sustentar uma coalizão longeva (politics), conforme Kingdon, Sabatier e Jenkins, o qual mantém a estabilidade e o aprimoramento contínuo das políticas. Com o primeiro objetivo cumprido e com base nas teorias a eles relacionadas, que, no contexto de Sobral, foram novamente validadas, responde-se a segunda pergunta. Sobralizar ou cearalizar a educação no restante do Brasil depende de ações políticas suficientes para alterar a dinâmica de forças que disputam recursos e poder no âmbito das reformas do tipo qualidade no Brasil (matriz de Wilson e Corrales), com o objetivo de pacificar: a) a polêmica em torno do processo de alfabetização e do estabelecimento de parâmetros ambiciosos de aprendizagem para todos os alunos; b) a profissionalização da instituição escola, fomentando uma cultura de sucesso acadêmico a partir da escola pública e c) o reconhecimento do monitoramento incansável dos processos de aprendizagem para garantir que todos os alunos aprendam de acordo com os parâmetros estabelecidos. / The work is a crucial case study (Eckstein) of a poor and populous Municipality (Sobral, in the Northeastern State of Ceará) within the context of a nationwide problem - the systematic and structural low performance of Brazilian students in national and international standardized tests, including those related to the assessment of the most elementary school process, alphabetization - emerges as an example of school success. All educational indicators in Sobral show a consistent and sustainable improvement track record, which takes off from that of other municipalities of the same population size in Brazil, but which runs parallel to the state of Ceará. The questions that the research intended to answer are: 1) \"How did Sobral reach the levels of performance in national standardized tests? What facts, public policies or actors would have contributed to the municipal schools achieving the results that justify this study? \", and 2)\" Would it be possible to repeat this experience in other municipalities in Brazil? In other words, is it possible to sobralize the Brazilian education? \" The objectives of the research were to situate the educational reforms of the Municipality in the broad national and international context of the quality reforms of 1990/2000, identifying and categorizing the main factors and components of public policy at local, state and national level that contributed to its success by comparing them with existing theories and validated in other contexts. The main determinants of Sobral\'s successful reforms identified are the set of policy, polity and politics: a) a process of parameterization of learning and literacy expectations (Linhares) that reflects the international consensus on the theme (policy), b) the institutionalized adoption of concepts and practices of school effectiveness in the pedagogical and school management of the local Department of Education (polity), described by Lezotte, Edmonds, Levin and Fullan, and c) leaderships with beliefs strong enough to sustain a longstanding political coalition, according to Kingdon, Sabatier and Jenkins, which maintains the stability and the continuous improvement of the policies. With the first objective fulfilled based on pertinent theories, which were, in the context of Sobral, again validated, the second question is answered. \"Sobralizar\" or \"cearalizar\" education in the rest of Brazil depends on political actions sufficient to change the dynamics of forces that compete for resources and power in the scope of reforms of the quality type in Brazil (Wilson and Corrales matrix), in order to pacify: a) the controversy surrounding the literacy process and the establishment of ambitious learning parameters for all students; b) the professionalization of the school institution, fostering a culture of academic success from the public school, and c) recognition of relentless monitoring of learning processes to ensure that all students learn according to established parameters.

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal avaliar a formação do mercado de agências digitais no Rio Grande do Sul a partir de relações sociais e econômicas desencadeadas pelo empreendedorismo institucional coletivo de empresários, reunidos em uma associação de negócios (business association). O estudo fundamenta-se teoricamente nos pressupostos da Sociologia Econômica dos Mercados. A tese busca evidenciar a relevância de estudos sociológicos sobre a atividade empresarial, notadamente das associações de negócios, com ênfase sobre as ações que uma organização do tipo desenvolve na tentativa de conferir identidade, normas, padrões e fronteiras de atuação comercial e também profissional a um mercado de origem recente, isto é, o mercado de serviços de empresas designadas como agências digitais e que possuem matriz em território gaúcho. Por agências digitais entendemos todas aquelas companhias que têm projetos de Internet como atividade-fim, bem como conteúdo para outras mídias/plataformas digitais (celulares, TV digital e games), e que se situam na interseção de áreas de criação e Comunicação Social, como a Publicidade e Propaganda, e de base técnica, no caso de Tecnologia da Informação (TI). Como resultado desta tese, apontamos qual papel que uma associação de negócios (Agadi / Abradi-RS) desempenha no mercado de agências digitais do Rio Grande do Sul e qual o estágio em que se encontra a formação desse mercado, que possui caráter híbrido, reunindo mais de uma expertise. / This study aims at evaluating the market creation of digital agencies in Rio Grande do Sul privileging the social and economic relations triggered by the collective institutional entrepreneurship within a business association. The study is based on theoretical assumptions of the Economic Sociology of Markets. The study seeks to demonstrate the relevance of sociological research on entrepreneurial activity, particularly related to a business associations, emphasizing the actions of an organization created to give identity, norms, standards and boundaries for the commercial operations as well as to a recent professional market, that is, the market for services companies designated as digital agencies with headquarters in RS. For digital agencies it is understood all those companies that work with Internet projects, as well as with content for other media / digital platforms (mobile phones, digital TV and games), and which lie at the intersection of areas of creation and the Media, as Advertising and Propaganda, and technical basis, in the case of Information Technology (IT). The study examines the role the association plays for the creation of the market for digital agencies do Rio Grande do Sul and the stage it is in the formation of this market, which has hybrid character, gathering more than one expertise.

L’influence montante de la Chine en Afrique est souvent analysée comme la simple exprsssion d’unevolonté étatique chinoise. Le rôle des migrants et diasporas contribue pourtant de manière primordialeau dynamisme des échanges. C’est notamment le cas des Chinois au Nigér ia. Entre la Chine et leNigéria, les relations inter-étatiques sont peu significatives, contrairement aux échanges initiés par laprésence de migrants et entrepreneurs chinois. Implantées solidement dans les tissus économiques duNigéria, les communautés chinoises créent une dynamique forte qui associe affaires et politique. Lathèse met en lumière et analyse à partir d’observations participantes et d’entretiens (formels etinformels) , le rôle d’impulsion joué par une « diaspora économique » largement autonome par rapportaux relations officielles. Elle décrypte les stratégies du quotidien et l'importance de ces individusordinaires et leurs actions, entretenus essentiellement par les réseaux de toute nature, dans l’animationdes relations sino-nigérianes. / The rising influence of China in Africa is often considered as the mere expression of the will theChinese state. The role of migrants and Diasporas contributes decisively to the dynamism of theseinteractions. This is notably the case of the Chinese in Nigeria. Between China and Nigeria, inter-staterelations carry little significance, unlike the interactions associated with the presence of Chinesemigrants and entrepreneurs. The Chinese communities are solidly anchored in the Nigerian economicissue, and they create a momentum that combines business with politics. The thesis highlights anddiscusses, through observer-participant observations and interviews (both formally and informallyconducted) the impulse given by an 'economic Diaspora' that remains largely autonomous vis a visofficial relations. We analyze daily strategies and contrast these with official relations. In doing so, thethesis decrypts the daily strategies and the importance of ordinary individuals and their networks in thedevelopment of a diversity of networks that contribute, in their own way, to deepen Sino-Nigerianinteractions.

This thesis goal is to analyze the factors that are influencing the strategies and growth expectations of the Czech start-ups. The analysis is based on the data sample from the Czech GEM 2011 and unique study of the Czech start-ups performed in 2011 as well. Various statistical methods are used to determine which microeconomic factors affect (1) the strategy choice and (2) growth expectations. As for the factors influencing expected growth, the research is concluded by the creation of the regression equations explaining the expected growth in the revenues as well as expected growth in employees. The factors influencing strategy choice are: managers-owners experience, the environment, self-efficacy, gender, and innovativeness. The factors influencing expected growth in revenues are: innovativeness, self-efficacy, competitive strategy, managers-owners experience, social capital, export intention, and business planning. The factors influencing the expected growth in employment are: legal structure of company, export intention, self-efficacy, innovativeness, competitive strategy, business planning. Following variables create the regression equation explaining expected growth in revenues: financial planning, export intention, education, IPR use, and age of entrepreneur. The variables explaining expected growth in employees are: (1) export intention, product newness, and legal structure of the company, (2) product newness, differentiation inclination, and financial projections. Alongside, the Porter's generic strategies framework was proved to fit the data sample while it was showed that a portion of Czech entrepreneurs are "stuck in the middle". By these findings, this thesis provides unique empirical verification of the growth and strategy theory on the sample of the Czech entrepreneurs.

This thesis aims to unpack the impact the legalization of street vending and the subsequent regulation had on sidewalk vendors. Although legalization occurred state-wide through Senate Bill 946 in September of 2017, the rules and regulations for vending were passed at a city-level, and I am focusing on the City of Los Angeles specifically. Through interviews with government officials, non-profit partners and advocates, and vendors from different parts of the City, I analyze information around the policy itself, its history, and the impact it has and is expected to have on vendors and their businesses. While vendors have been central to advocacy and the policy process, the creation of a permitting system in the City of Los Angeles has been less transparent. By interviewing stakeholders, relying on existing economic, political, and sociological literature, and gathering opinions from vendors themselves, I develop various policy recommendations to further empower vendors and integrate them into Los Angeles’ formal economy. I recommend a permitting model that is backward-mapped and stems from the needs of and feedback from vendors in order for it to be more aligned with the goals and needs of vendors themselves.