Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are being seen by governments, increasingly, as important engines of economic growth. They are viewed as sources of innovation and employment creation. Technology innovative SME’s commercialization strategy often includes forming a partnership with a large company (LCO). This is because what the SME lacks in terms of market links, marketing and distribution channels, the LCO can often provide. LCOs, on the other hand, need to be innovative in order to survive in a dynamic and ever changing business environment. LCOs are therefore open to new ideas, being in the form of knowledge and capabilities. The reality is, however, that many partnerships fail. For an SME whose growth is dependant on a partnership with an LCO, understanding how it can influence the partnership such that it will result in success is critically important. This research sets out to gain a better understanding of this topic. Research Problem Technology innovative businesses operate in the knowledge economy where the one sure source of competitive advantage is knowledge (Takeuchi and Nonaka, 2004). However, knowledge is a high risk commodity and can be easily appropriated by an opportunistic company. A major risk in collaboration is that the partners can gain access to the knowledge and skills of the company (Littler et al, 1995) – this is termed knowledge spillover. Where this is unintentional, it can result in the company exposing its knowledge and skills being made very vulnerable. Furthermore, the high rate of partnership failure is attributed to a lack of cooperation and the opportunistic behaviour of partners (Das et al, 1998). It is important, therefore, for SMEs wishing to partner with an LCO, to understand both what attracts the LCO to partner with them in the first instance, as well as what safeguards need to be in place to protect themselves against possible opportunistic behaviour by the LCO. Methodology A sample of 43 technology innovative SMEs was interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. The frequencies of the variables were analysed and compared with findings in the literature. In order to improve the variation of the dichotomous responses, the independent variables were compounded into the following variables: competencies, ability capabilities, awareness capabilities, formal safeguards and informal safeguards. The relationship between the number/level of competencies and capabilities and partnership success was determined, as well as the influence of formal and/or informal safeguards on this relationship. Backward conditional logistic regression was performed on the compounded variables in order to determine which model best fitted the data, in other words which predictors most affected partnership success. To better understand the negative relationship between ability capabilities and perceived partnership success, as well as the positive relationship between awareness capabilities and perceived partnership success, cross tabulations were performed on all the individual items to determine the Phi Square. An explanation was provided for those items that proved to be statistically significant. Because of the small sample used for this quantitative study and in order to verify the major findings, four case studies were conducted on SMEs that had participated in the original survey. The findings of the survey were then compared with the findings of the case studies. Main findings The main findings from the survey were the following: 1. SMEs’ abilities rather than their competencies, appeared to influence the success of the partnership 2. the more ability capabilities an SME had, the lower the perceived success of the partnership. This was influenced by where the SME had developed its own IP; and where the SME had segmented is potential market in accordance with Moore’s (1999) market segmentation strategy for hi-tech products 3. a positive relationship between awareness capability and partnership success was influenced by the SME having an understanding of the LCO’s SWOT, but this same relationship was negatively affected by the LCO preferring to enter into a JV with another LCO when sourcing technology 4. the relationships listed in items 2 and 3 above were influenced by safeguards, namely: 4.1 the greater the number of safeguards (formal and informal) that were put in place, the more positive will be the relationship between increasing numbers of awareness capabilities and the perceived success of the partnership 4.2 the greater the number of safeguards (formal and informal) that were put in place, the less negative will be the relationship between increasing numbers of ability capabilities, and the perceived success of the partnership 4.3 formal safeguards were more effective at moderating the relationship between capabilities and partnership success than informal safeguards The main findings from the case studies were as follows: 1. having ability capabilities, awareness capabilities and competencies was associated with high levels of partnership success (not in support of the survey findings) 2. above average levels of capabilities/competencies were associated with low levels of partnership success (in support of the survey findings) 3. there is a positive relationship between the level of safeguards and the association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success (in support of survey findings) 4. both formal and informal safeguards are important in ensuring a positive association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success (not in support of survey findings). In conclusion, the findings from the case studies did indeed validate some of the findings of the survey, namely, in the absence of safeguards, above average levels of capabilities/competencies are associated with low levels of partnership success; and there is a positive relationship between the level of safeguards and the association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success. / Thesis (PhD (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / PhD / unrestricted

abstract: Water utilities across the United States are facing numerous challenges, such as limited funding and increasing project complexity, in constructing and upgrading their aging infrastructure. One innovative method to overcome these challenges is through the use of alternative project delivery methods (APDM), such as construction management at-risk (CMAR) and design-build (DB). Previous research has shown that APDM have the potential to deliver higher performing water infrastructure projects when compared to the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) method. However, there is a need to further examine APDM practices and develop tools that may support utilities in the delivery of their APDM water infrastructure projects. This study fills the knowledge gap by conducting several studies that may support public and private utilities in improving the delivery of their APDM water infrastructure projects. First, APDM implementation practices for water infrastructure projects are identified by assessing the state of practice, particularly during project procurement and execution. Second, DB project administration best practices are determined to support utilities seeking to add DB to their organization’s project delivery toolbox. Third, a pioneering web-based project delivery method decision-support tool was developed to aid utilities in selecting the appropriate delivery method for their water project. Finally, project-specific factors and attributes that impact project delivery performance are investigated through exploratory modeling and analysis. The study collected data on 75 completed treatment plant projects, conducted interviews with ten utilities that successfully deliver their water projects using DB, and worked closely with several industry experts through industry workshops and panels. Key findings related to water infrastructure project delivery revealed in this study included: (1) guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is the preferred compensation type for APDM projects; (2) utilities statistically having the lowest comfort level with delivering CMAR projects; (3) qualifications-based procurement is an effective DB project delivery practice; (4) the identification of 13 key project delivery method selection factors; and (5) the three highest predictors that impact unit cost performance are project complexity, project team chemistry and communication, and project size. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore suitable end-of-life strategies for fashion retailers of custom-made products after they have been returned by the customer, by analysing and evaluating these strategies, and how to implement and conclude the viability of these. Method: The study follows an abductive explorative case study method. The exploratory design is structured as follows; a literature review is carried out, followed by interviews for collecting empirical data, which is analysed with the help of a conceptual framework. Thereafter, secondary data is collected to create an overview of the real-world context in the form of end-of-life strategies implemented by fashion retailers. Finally, the case was tested within a new proposed framework. Findings: The findings demonstrate the importance of the core values of the companies and inherent to that, the product characteristics and design in the decision-making of a suitable end-of-life strategy. For that reason, a second phase of data collection based on secondary data was implemented and juxtaposed the first finding from the interviews. The main insight this paper shows is that resell “as it is”, which is a common end-of-life strategy for regular fashion retailers, is a conflicting strategy for retailers of custom-made clothing. Introducing an adapted version of the Sustainable Value Analysis Tool as a conceptual framework gave a better insight in how to approach and analyse suitable end-of-life strategies and shows the relation between these parameters. Originality: It is difficult according to the findings of this study to conclude a generalisable, one-size-fits-all end-of-life strategy for returned custom-made products. However, the introduction of an adapted version of the Sustainable Value Analysis Tool can serve a purpose for all fashion retailers in this transformation process and which is not limited to fashion retailers of mass customised clothing.

This diploma thesis sloves usage of the innovative materials in the construction of CNC machining centers for non-rotational components. There are described innovative materials, machines and parts of these machines at first. Further, there is assigned a suitable material for each part of the machine. For the design part of this thesis is chosen a fixed rack made of polymer concrete for vertical machining center. Finally, the rack and its motion system are designed.

Thesis treats of effectiveness of innovative plan of company HARTMANN – RICO. In forepart I introduce theoretical findings related to innovative strategy and planning investment activity. The second part applies to identification a company, its history, function, range of products and its results. In the next part I present line of products innovation, whose evaluate I make after that. In conclusion I propound my own analysis proposal.

Background: In the past few decades, organizations has shifted towards digitalization. Making it necessary for employees within an organization to acquire the necessary digital skills to cope with digitalization. These skills are necessary for employees to carry out their daily activities without setback. It is therefore important for an organization to provide a channel or an avenue for employees to acquire these skills without stress or difficulty.     Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to explore an innovative strategy for digital skills development for employees, which can foster communication and collaboration and improve employees work performance within the organization.   Method: A qualitative study was used to conduct the research. The authors used semi-structured interviews to collect data from employees of the municipalities being studied. The interviewees were employees from Nässjö, Jönköping and Habo municipalities. From the interview findings an analysis was performed comparing the findings between the three municipalities.   Conclusion: The results outline some of the benefits of using innovative learning systems for digital skills development of employees and how these leaning systems can improve employees’ performance. Organizations should make it a priority to continually reinvest in developing employees’ digital skills in the public sector and need to be aware about the barriers to adopt innovative learning methods. Some of these barriers are lack of training programs, lack of managerial support among others. A coherent strategy is needed to address these barriers and facilitate skills development process. Further research regarding other alternative methods to improve employees’ digital skills that were not discussed in this research can be explored by other researchers using larger samples, different theories and data collection methods.

Le rôle de l’intelligence économique et stratégique (IES) est maintenant reconnu. Cependant, malgré le développement des pratiques dans les entreprises, des doutes quant à l’efficacité des dispositifs d’IES semblent subsister. Aussi notre recherche propose une contribution à la mesure de l’efficacité de l’IES qui a été très peu étudiée dans la littérature. En l’absence d’une méthodologie disponible pour effectuer cette évaluation, nous avons créé un système de mesure qui repose sur les possibilités offertes par la modélisation de la mise en œuvre du concept d’IES et l’élaboration d’un protocole d’analyse. Plusieurs configurations du modèle ont d’abord été générées à partir de deux critères relatifs à la formation du personnel à l’IES et à l’évaluation des dispositifs d’IES au sein de l’entreprise. Ces configurations ont été ensuite opérationnalisées en utilisant le terrain empirique des entreprises innovantes du secteur de l’aéronautique et de l’espace. Ce choix est justifié par les enjeux de l’innovation et l’importance des pratiques d’IES dans ce secteur de pointe. L’option d’une étude quantitative a permis de calculer des profils de performance servant à positionner une entreprise dans un domaine qui est circonscrit par une limite basse et une limite haute et qui constitue une marge de manœuvre pour l’entreprise. Ce résultat montre la possibilité de mesurer la performance de la mise en œuvre du concept d’IES. Il permet d’envisager l’amélioration de la performance de l’entreprise à la suite de la mise en œuvre d’un processus d’IES. La modélisation de la mise en œuvre du concept d’IES permet de déduire des pistes pour améliorer encore ce processus / The role of Competitive Intelligence (CI) is now recognized. However, despite the development of practices in companies, questions remain concerning the effectiveness of the implementation of CI. Thus, our research provides a contribution to the measurement of the efficiency of CI which has seldom been studied in the literature. In the absence of an available methodology to conduct this evaluation, we created a system of measurement based on the possibilities offered by modeling the implementation of the CI concept and the development of an analysis protocol. Several model configurations were first generated from two criteria based on training of personnel in CI and on the evaluation of CI within the company. These configurations were then put into operation in the empirical field of innovative companies in the aeronautics and aerospace sector. This choice is justified by the importance of innovation and the importance of CI practices in this sector. Conducting a quantitative study allowed us to compute performance profiles for situating businesses in an area bounded by upper and lower limits which provide a certain flexibility for the company. These results show the possibility of measuring the performance of the implementation of the CI concept. It allows businesses to consider improving performance by following the implementation of the CI process. The modeling of the implementation of the CI concept will allow us to deduce future ways to improve this process

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed a new concept for the manufacture of diaphragm accumulators. Its advantages are a reduced need for components, fewer process steps, shorter assembly times, a higher level of product cleanliness, and an expansion of the product portfolio into additional fields of application. These diaphragm accumulators also weigh significantly less. This is opening up new opportunities for applications in the automotive and industrial fields. The assembly concept is based on a hermetically sealed pressure chamber in which the joining of the two housing halves with the help electromagnetic pulse technology (EMPT) as well as the filling of the gas side with nitrogen takes place in a single operation. In this way, downstream filling to generate the initial gas charge is no longer necessary.

Innovative technologies for construction project management are constantly emerging in the construction industry's global landscape, yet the rate of failed projects within the Nigerian construction sector due to poor coordination of construction tasks is on the rise. An unanswered question in the literature remains as to why construction project managers in Nigeria remain slow to adopt new technologies for improving decision-making processes and project success rates. The purpose of this qualitative single case study with embedded units was to understand the perceptions of construction project managers in Nigeria regarding their barriers to technology adoption. This study was framed by 2 conceptual models: Usman and Said's model of factors contributing to information and communication technology adoption in Nigerian construction firms and Waziri, Mustapha, and Idris' model of factors influencing IT adoption in Nigerian construction organizations. Semistructured interviews involving 10 participants, reflective field notes, and archival data provided information regarding the barriers to technology adoption experience of construction project managers in Nigeria. Thematic analysis of the textual data and synthesis produced 5 conceptual categories for 14 identifiable themes from the study. The conceptual categories were (a) adoption of technology, (b) culture, (c) organizational performance, (d) innovative technology, and (e) interorganizational collaborations. The findings from this study may serve as a catalyst for positive social change by challenging existing technology-avoidance behavior in the Nigerian construction industry, and opening new opportunities for improved project delivery in the Nigerian national economy.

Innovative teaching is, in essence, the art of breaking down barriers which prevent educators from preparing learners for the gruelling demands of the 21st century by exploiting the affordances of emerging Information and communications technologies (ICT) to enhance their teaching and learning strategies. The resulting new educational practice can affect roles, learning situations, patterns of interaction, learning spaces, strategies and theories as well as modes of assessment (Mioduser, Nachmias, Tubin,&Forkosh-Baruch, 2002a). The problem addressed in this study is that of innovative teacher knowledge construction and its context. The role of educational technologies in teaching and learning has evolved and changed dramatically over time but little is understood of how this knowledge manifests itself in their practice and how it is replicated and shared in practice. Pioneering, innovative teachers have developed personal theories that may potentially inform future practice once articulated and disseminated. This study sets out to deepen our understanding of how new knowledge is created in practice by innovative teachers and how this knowledge manifests itself in teaching and learning with emerging ICT. The consequent collaboration between researcher and participant teachers can act as a reconciliatory measure between practice and theory. The literature reviewed draws on tenets from socio-cultural theory, critical philosophy, emerging technology and teaching and learning theory and aims to construct rational foundations to assist in the articulation of new theories which, in turn, will better our understanding of this new emerging pedagogical practice. A post-modernistic interpretive prism views the research investigation through the work of teachers qualified as finalists in the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum Awards (ITFA) competition. This annual competition recognises and connects innovative teachers who share a common interest in the enhancement of teaching and learning through the use of technology. Data collecting instruments include metadata consisting of educational multimedia artefacts, virtual classroom tours (VCT’s), document analysis, innovative teacher workshops and interviews. The data were qualitatively analysed using Straussian Grounded Theory Method to articulate a substantive theory which aims to better our understanding of knowledge creation when innovative teachers use emerging technology to enhance their teaching and learning. The resultant substantive theory’s three core components comprise moral cohesion; innovation negotiations in context; and responsive governance as essential to innovative teachers’ pedagogical efficacy when they engage with emerging technologies. Innovative teachers’ perception of the professional burden they carry along with their bricoleur attitude allude to them using whatever means and whatever is at hand to equip learners with the skills required to make them contributing members of their community and the information society. Strategies for the constant renewal of pedagogical practices and the need for reflexivity included the appropriation of learners’ personal devices for learning where their disposition had to be carefully managed in accordance with ethical considerations and their various capabilities. Innovative teachers are powerful change agents within their school environments and in this regard a certain amount of freedom could be offered to innovative teachers to further explore their own practice whilst at the same time tasking them with additional responsibilities in growing organisational capabilities. Innovative teachers use their increased status and power within their schools to actively lobby for policy changes through participating in advisory committees and assisting in the drafting of documents that hold strategic, ethical and practical implications for the exploitation of emerging technologies within their schools. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted