[pt] Algumas das principais competências que surgem como necessárias em um cenário de crescimento, são as que permitem a realização de novos negócios e parcerias interorganizacionais. As empresas que estiverem preparadas para a realização destes movimentos poderão obter uma vantagem competitiva em relação às suas concorrentes. A criação destas novas competências se dá através da análise, ajuste e desenvolvimento dos aspectos organizacionais a elas relacionados. O estudo teve como objetivo final gerar um quadro de referência listando estes aspectos. Para alcançar este objetivo, foi realizado um estudo de caso na Petrobras, empresa que vem investindo no desenvolvimento destas competências. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica incluindo as teorias sobre gerência estratégica, competências centrais, visão baseada em recursos, design organizacional, redes, parcerias, empreendedorismo, aquisições e novos negócios. Desta revisão bibliográfica, foi possível extrair diversas questões para a exploração do contexto organizacional em que o processo de construção de novos negócios e parcerias interorganizacionais está imerso. Estas questões, organizadas em categorias, geraram um questionário para a realização de entrevistas com profissionais envolvidos nestes processos. Foi possível verificar que a empresa deve desenvolver alguns aspectoschave, como a integração da estratégia, a perpetuação destas atividades, a adaptação das estruturas, o uso dos recursos e competências, o relacionamento entre áreas, o alinhamento dos processos e sistemas, a adequação das pessoas, a interação com os parceiros e o aprendizado organizacional. O estudo contribui assim para que as empresas possam, através da análise das questões identificadas, se preparar para a realização dos processos de novos negócios e parcerias. / [en] Some of the most important competences that are necessary in a growth scenario are the ones that allow new ventures and interorganizational partnerships to happen. Companies that are prepared to make these movements will be able to benefit from a competitive advantage against its competitors. The creation of these competencies becomes possible through analysis, adjustment and development of the organizational aspects related to them. This study had as its final objective to construct a framework listing these aspects. To achieve this objective, a case study was carried out at Petrobras, a company that is investing in the development of these competencies. For this purpose, a bibliographic revision was carried out, including the theories about strategic management, core competencies, resource-based view, organizational design, networks, partnerships, entrepreneurship, acquisitions and new ventures. From this bibliographic revision, it was possible to extract some issues to explore the organizational context where the process of construction of new ventures and interorganizational partnerships is immersed. These issues, organized in categories, generated a questionnaire to be used in the interviews with the professionals working in this process. It was possible to verify that a company shall develop some key-aspects, as strategic integration, survival of these activities, structure adjustment, use of resources and competences, relationship between areas, alignment of the processes and systems, fit of people, interaction with partners and organizational learning. The study contributes for the companies to prepare itself, through the analysis of the listed issues, to make new ventures and partnerships happen.

The goal of this study is to contribute to understandings of parent-school relationships involving parents of students with autism by exploring notions of belonging with a small group of parents. The purpose of the study is to describe the experiences of middle school parents of children with autism. From these descriptions, I examined how parents of students with autism might contribute to understandings of belonging in school-family partnerships and enable schools and families to collaborate more effectively. This study addresses an apparent gap in understandings of belonging of parents of children with autism in their relationships with their child's school. As parents are asked to make connections with their children's school in parent-school partnerships, understandings of those connections are vital to generating and sustaining meaningful and effective relationships between parents and schools. This study uses thick descriptive methods (Geetz, 1973) to examine the phenomenon of belonging in parent-school partnerships among a small group of parents of middle school children with autism. The experiences of the parents in this study suggest that parents of middle school students with autism seek a sense of belonging in their relationships with those they work with regarding their children's schooling. This study also suggests that a sense of belonging may be an essential element of effective parent-school partnerships.

La presente investigación se realizó con el objetivo de determinar si impacto financiero de los contratos de asociación en participación conforme la NIIF 11 “Acuerdos Conjuntos” en los bancos del sector retail. Para llevar a cabo la validación de nuestra hipótesis, hemos encuestado a los principales bancos del sector retail de Lima. Se realizó un caso práctico bajo dos escenarios, el cual ayudará a evaluar el impacto financiero de nuestro tema de investigación. De los datos analizados podemos concluir que implementar la NIIF 11 generaría un impacto financiero favorable para los bancos del sector retail. Esto se llevaría a cabo bajo la figura de consorcio. / The present investigation was carried out with the objective of determining the financial impact of the joint venture agreements under IFRS 11 "Joint Agreements" in the banks of the retail sector. To carry out the validation of our hypothesis, we have surveyed the main banks of the Lima retail sector. A practical case was carried out under two scenarios, which will help to evaluate the financial impact of our research topic. From the data analyzed, we can conclude that implementing IFRS 11 would generate a favorable financial impact for banks in the retail sector. This would be carried out under the consortium figure. / Tesis

Cultivating profitable, long-lasting customer-supplier partnerships is a significant task for today's companies. These relationships bring value-adding benefits, including cost and risk reductions, and bring joint business opportunities (Ravald & Grönroos, 1996; McDonald, et al. 1997). Key account management deals with developing customersupplier partnerships within the business-to-business context. Key account managers are responsible for delivering customised products/services, and defining possible business opportunities for both parties, after carefully selecting buying companies according to their strategic importance for the supplier. However, key account management may be complicated for suppliers to manage especially if the selling companies do not know how to implement a key account management programme appropriately. There have been a number of studies attempting to identify approaches to successful key account management programmes (Millman & Wilson, 1995, Napolitano, 1997, Homburg et al., 2002). Abratt & Kelly (2002) were the first to investigate both buyers' and sellers' perceptions of success factors of a key account management programme. They found that both buyers and sellers hold similar points of view on what a successful key account management programme should contain.This thesis is a replication of Abratt & Kelly (2002), which refined their scale to obtain better reliability assessments and generalisability. Only some of the findings of the original study could be replicated. Six factors were extracted while only three of them were reliable. Some of the items loaded onto the same dimension in the replication as Abratt & Kelly (2002), whereas others did not. The discussion section of the thesis suggests reasons for the difference in findings and suggests future research areas based on this discussion.

This study explores perceptions regarding the existence and influence of occupational subcultures on commercialisation outcomes in four Australian hybrid industry-research organisations. The thesis proposition is that occupational subcultures exist within Australian Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and impact commercialisation outcomes; the distinctly different knowledge and skills that provide reason for research and commercial groups to collaborate, may simultaneously create obstacles to communication and cooperation. Understanding and considering the impact of occupational cultures that underpin the actions and decisions taken by member organisations and individuals, may be important in hybrid industry-research organisations. The findings of this study extend and challenge some of the management practices recommended by extant innovation research. In particular, the finding that process management techniques functioned to ease the transition from exploration to exploitation activities during commercialisation in one CRC contradicts advice to isolate exploration activities from process management. Directions for future research include the investigation of temporal orientations in research and commercial occupational subcultures in the context of commercialisation in hybrid-industry research organisations. Temporal attributes encompass planning horizons, mono and polychronicity, and attributes towards pace and punctuality. Additionally, the findings regarding the impact of argumentation styles upon commercialisation justify further research to examine different national settings, industry sectors and occupational communities. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p>Date: 06/10/2008</p><p>Level: Master Thesis in International Business and Entrepreneurship</p><p>Title: Organizational innovation processes and network relationship development-“The case study of Athera Biotechnologies and AstraZeneca R&D”</p><p>Authors: Marina Tasheva and Patchara Thaisrivichai</p><p>Advisor: Bengt Olsson</p><p>Research Problem: It has been known that developing a novel drug in pharmaceutical companies is a complex and expensive process. A company within these industries is forced to increase its innovativeness in order to compete with others. In this case study we will examine Athera Biotechnologies AB and AstraZeneca R&D respectively and how both companies promote, develop, sustain and enhance organizational innovation. At the same time we will also examine what is the two companies’ business strategy when it comes to networks relationship development.</p><p>Aim of thesis: The main purpose of our thesis is to compare two Swedish pharmaceutical companies and to see what are the differences and similarities in the way they foster organizational innovation processes.</p><p>Method: The method used for analyzing the collected data and information in our research is qualitative. We decided to use this method to examine the two companies’ organizational innovation processes and networks development. Further on we have collected both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through two semi-structured interviews with open questions. Secondary data was gathered from companies’ official web sites, annual reports and different publications and articles.</p><p>Conclusion: Our findings indicate that organizational innovation is crucial for pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies to sustain their competitive advantage in the rapid changing environment within this industry. Further more, entrepreneurial culture, corporate culture and networks and partnerships are the main factors that help AstraZeneca R&D and Athera to develop, maintain and enhance their organizational innovation. This in turn leads to the ability of the firms to successfully propose, adopt, develop and implement any new idea in relation to certain product or process.</p><p>Key words: Organizational Innovation, Entrepreneurial Culture, Corporate Culture, Networks and Partnership, Entrepreneurship</p>

<p>Background: A majority of strategic alliances do not create value for the participants. One of the main reasons for the high failure rate is an inadequate process for partner selection. If the correct partner is not selected, it can have serious effects on the management of the partnership. This is a serious problem since failed alliances usually are very expensive for the involved companies. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate which theoretical factors are important when selecting a partner for a strategic alliance. Further we aim to investigate how these factors can effect partner selection for small and middle size technology intensive companies. </p><p>Realisation: The empirical part is based on interviews with persons holding key positions at four case companies. All the case companies are situated in Mjärdevi Science Park. </p><p>Result: Our research has shown that the strategic fit is the crucial factor. Other important factors are brand, network position, compatibility and attention when selecting a partner for a strategic alliance.</p>

<p>This paper addresses the so-called political rationale of the European Union’s (EU) regional policy in the context of the forthcoming eastern enlargement. The political rationale emphasises a particular type of organisation, involving multiple layers of governance and actors. This organisation is considered important in effectively reducing regional disparities. Regarding the great amount of EU regional funding the candidate states in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are expected to receive upon accession, capable institutions and structures for handling these funds are vital. Also, it is a crucial part of the EU’s accession criteria. By using Hungary and the implementation of the partnership principle as a case study, the process of preparing for the regional funds in CEE is investigated in-depth. A policy analysis of the cohesion between EU policy objectives and the Hungarian implementation process of the partnership principle serves as the overall basis for the analysis. In order to analyse and understand the implementation process, Historical Institutionalism (HI) is applied as a theoretical framework. It contributes by assessing the factors affecting the implementation process and thus, policy coherence. A triangulation of data consisting of interviews with Hungarian officials and EU Member State experts involved in the implementation of partnership practices, primary and secondary texts as well as basic statistics is made against the propositions formulated through HI.</p><p> In turn, a number of analytical findings have been discovered. Firstly, the policy process is seen as highly constrained by formal and informal institutional factors, created by historical policy legacies. These have shaped the goals and preferences of the actors involved and have also privileged certain groups over others. In turn, path-dependency is noticed. Secondly, this has made policy cohesion rather weak, with certain short-term requirements being fulfilled but with a lack of more in-depth, long-term measures. Thus, there is a mismatch between the EU and the Hungarian regional policy organisation. Thirdly, although the formal institutional mechanisms for change are rather rigid, indications of informal mechanisms providing possibilities of institutional change were found, with some actors adapting to the EU enlargement context. This could lead to partnership practises gradually infiltrating some ofthe institutional and organizational features and in turn, become strengthened through the multi-level governance structure of the EU. Yet, implementation of the partnership principle is identified as a long and open process, with the real challenges arriving as Hungary enters the EU</p>

<p>Det övergripande syftet med arbetet är att undersöka och studera ett läsinlärnings projekt med fokusering på arbetet med storböcker. Med arbetet vill jag få reda på orsaken till att man har startat ett kommunomfattande läsinlärningsprojekt och vad läsinlärningsprojektet innehåller. Syftet är vidare att ta reda på vad storböcker är för något och hur man arbetar med dem. Genom arbetet vill jag hitta ett sätt som både inspirerar mig som lärare och mina kommande elever till att lära sig läsa. Arbetet inleds med en litteraturgenomgång där läsaren får bekanta sig med vad läsning är och med olika begrepp som nämns i resultatdelen. Förutom en litteraturstudie har jag gjort intervjuer med 6 personer som har varit insatta i arbetet med projektet och storböcker. Jag har också gjort en klassrumsobservation för att se vad läraren gjorde och vad eleverna gjorde under arbetet med storboken. Då jag ställde samma frågor till några av de jag intervjuade har jag kunnat jämföra de svar jag fått och se om de fanns några likheter i deras sätt att se på storboksmetodiken. Dessa redovisas under resultat diskussionen. I mitt arbete har jag kommit fram till att storboksmetodiken är ett bra sätt att använda då barn lär sig läsa. Den inbjuder till en lustfylld och meningsfull inlärning som går helt i Lpo-94:s anda.</p>

<p>This study focuses upon the new societal objects that are termed public private</p><p>partnerships where the public sector forms strategic alliances with the private sector</p><p>and the civil society to manage the wicked issues of today. An exampel of such</p><p>cooperation is Vänerhamn AB where the municipalities around the lake of Vänern</p><p>and the private shipping companies got togheter to handle an economic crisis of the</p><p>shipping buisiness. The partnership Vänerhamn has developed from a problematic</p><p>activity to a healthy company and the aim of this thesis is to illuminate this</p><p>development through an historical institutional approach, focusing critical juncture</p><p>to discover if the governance theory can be used to understand the partnerships</p><p>positive process.</p><p> </p><p>This will be done through research questions about the organisation of the</p><p>partnership, about the members interests with the partnership and about eventually</p><p>coordination problems in the partnership. The questions derive from dimensions in</p><p>governance theory, central for the activity of partnerships. Interviews with central</p><p>informants where held and it was complemented through a document analyses in</p><p>order to search for indications of the dimensions and that is the methodological</p><p>approach of the study.</p><p> </p><p>The conclusion of this thesis is that the governance theory can be used to</p><p>understand Vänerhamns postive development since the members interest with the</p><p>partnership to a begining was not at all conformed and that led to obvious</p><p>coordination problems. With more conformed interests the coordination problems</p><p>were almost absent and the partnership made success. In this case the organisation</p><p>of the partnership did not matter as it was a registered company during the whole</p><p>time. The central sapiency of the thesis is that the public sector has to learn more</p><p>about the private sector and vice versa.</p>