Previous literature on the social dynamics of network creation in enterprises has drawn a sharp division between the utility of personal and professional networks. This has been particularly marked in social network analysis of born-global SMEs operating in emerging markets and seeking to internationalise. Using the case study of International Housing Solutions (Pty) Ltd (IHS) – a born global SME with both a global and a regional network – this research creates a deeper and more nuanced understanding of what such networks look like, what human factors are key to their operation, and what the relative importance is of the personal and professional drivers of networking.The study employs a mixed-method research design including network mapping and both qualitative and quantitative analysis of questionnaire responses from 35 participants in the IHS network, providing both hard data and rich qualitative insights into the ingredients and processes required for effective networking in such an enterprise.The results provide robust evidence for crossover between professional and personal networking activities; both are equally relevant in enabling the born-global SME to grow networks, increase innovation and enter otherwise impenetrable markets. Though the weighting of networking attributes is marginally different – for personal networks, the key attributes are advice, trust, friendship and communication; for professional networks, knowledge and referrals – in practice, both the personal and the professional are assimilated into a single complex of network activity and cannot be viewed in isolation.The research thus contributes innovative findings to a hitherto under-researched aspect of networking in the born-global SME. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

De nombreuses études font ressortir les difficultés d’intégration des immigrants qualifiés sur le marché du travail au Québec (Chicha et Charest, 2008; Boudarbat et Boulet, 2010 ; Forcier et Handal, 2012). La non-reconnaissance des qualifications acquises à l’étranger, l’insuffisante maitrise du français et la discrimination en entreprise figurent parmi les obstacles les plus souvent évoqués (Bourhis et al. , 2007 ; Chanoux, 2009). Une des difficultés mentionnées (Eid, 2012 ; Forcier et Handal, 2012) concerne leur difficulté à s’insérer dans des réseaux socioprofessionnels composés de non-immigrants. Or, comme l’ont montré d’autres auteurs (Ibarra, 1993; Granovetter, 1983; Robert, 2007; Beji et Pellerin, 2010), ces réseaux contribuent à l’intégration en emploi. En effet, les réseaux favorisent, entre autres, l’accès à l’information concernant la disponibilité de certains postes avant même qu’ils ne soient publiquement affichés (Ibarra, 1993). Une fois en emploi, l’appartenance à un réseau formé de collègues ou de supérieurs immédiats permet de profiter de leur appui et de leurs conseils. Les Brésiliens, comme les autres immigrants, ont de la difficulté à bâtir un réseau. Cette population peu étudiée à Montréal surtout en ce qui a trait aux méthodes de recherche d’emploi (formelles et informelles) qui influencent l’accès à des emplois qualifiés fera l’objet de notre recherche. Notre objectif est d’analyser et de comprendre l’accès à des emplois qualifiés pour les immigrants brésiliens à Montréal au moyen des méthodes de recherche d’emploi formelles et informelles. Pour ce faire, une analyse de type qualitatif, avec des entrevues semi-dirigées, a été effectuée auprès de Brésiliens hautement qualifiés à Montréal. Les résultats de notre recherche permettront de mieux comprendre les efforts des Brésiliens à obtenir un emploi qualifié et à constituer des réseaux socioprofessionnels et comment ceux-ci peuvent appuyer leur intégration en emploi. / Many studies highlight the challenges of integrating skilled immigrants into the labor market in Quebec (Chicha and Charest, 2008; Boudarbat and Boulet, 2010; Forcier and Handal, 2012). The lack of recognition of qualifications acquired abroad, insufficient knowledge of the French language and discrimination in the workplace, are among the most frequently cited challenges that new immigrants face upon settling in Quebec (Bourhis et al. 2007; Chanoux, 2009). One of the difficulties mentioned (Eid 2012; Forcier and Handal, 2012) is the challenge of integrating into socio-professional networks composed of non-immigrants. Nevertheless, as shown by some authors (Ibarra, 1993; Granovetter, 1983; Robert, 2007; Beji and Pellerin, 2010), those networks are key to integrating into the job market. Indeed, networks provide access to important information such as the availability of job opportunities before they are posted on job boards or career sites (Ibarra, 1993). Once employed, being part of a network of colleagues or superiors can facilitate the individual’s career goals by having the support and advice of their network. Brazilians, like other immigrants, also face challenges in building a network. Since there is very little research regarding the integration of Brazilians in Montreal, especially concerning the job search methods (formal and informal) that influence the access to skilled jobs for Brazilian immigrants in Montreal, we have decided to explore this subject and will focus our research on this population. Consequently, the aim of this research is to analyze and understand job search methods (formal and informal) that influence the access to skilled jobs for Brazilian immigrants in Montreal.As for the methodology, a qualitative analysis, with semi-structured interviews, were conducted with highly qualified professionals living and working in Montreal. The results of our research will allow further research to better understand how Brazilian immigrants succeed, or not, in obtaining a job related to their background and building social and professional networks as well as how those networks can support their employment integration.

Cette thèse vise à appréhender les possibilités et les contraintes induites par LinkedIn en termes de « représentation de soi » chez les professionnels des ressources humaines. La recension de la littérature permet de mettre en évidence deux grandes catégories d’utilisation d’un profil LinkedIn : l’utilisation individuelle et l’utilisation institutionnelle. Par ailleurs, il apparaît que le profil pourrait potentiellement permettre à l’individu d’accroître son efficacité au travail, de divulguer son image à un grand nombre de personnes, de développer des relations avec d’autres professionnels ou de développer la confiance en soi. Une première typologie d’utilisateurs est proposée à partir de la sociologie des RSNP. Une analyse sémiotique de profils LinkedIn et des entretiens de recherche compréhensifs ont permis de valider une typologie des usagers du réseau LinkedIn. Les résultats montrent qu’un clivage entre deux grands types d’utilisation semble se dessiner. L’utilisation institutionnelle fait apparaître une forme d’empowerment tournée vers l’efficacité au travail tandis que l’utilisation individuelle est propice à la médiatisation de soi. / This doctoral dissertation focuses on the use of professional network services by Human Resource staff registered on LinkedIn. The aim is to understand the new possibilities and the constraints induced by the RSNP in terms of "self-representation". The literature review shows that a LinkedIn profile can be used in two main ways : for individual and institutional uses. Moreover, it appears that the profile could potentially allow users to increase their efficiency at work by making their image known to a large number of people, to develop relationships with other professionals or develop self-confidence. An initial typology of users is proposed based on the sociology of PNS. A semiotic analysis of LinkedIn profiles and comprehensive research interviews also validate a typology of users. The results show that a cleavage between two major types of use seems to appear. The common purpose of institutional use is to be more efficient at work. At the same time, individual use mainly pursues an objective of self-mediatization.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva hur styrkan i småföretags sociala och professionella nätverk påverkar valet av finansiell bootsrapping, med företagarens ursprung som betingad faktor. Målet med studien är att introducera och ge en generell översikt över orsakssambandet mellan de berörda koncepten. En undersökning genomfördes bland småföretag i Sverige för att identifiera det sociala och professionella nätverkets påverkan på finansiell bootstraping. I undersökningen antogs företagarens ursprung ha en modererande roll. Dessutom ingick en rad kontrollvariabler för att undersöka deras effekt på orsakssambandet. Sålunda ger det en djupare insikt om vilka underliggande individuella och organisatoriska attribut som påverkar företagares val av finansiell bootstrapping. En utökad kunskap för fenomenet finansiell bootstrapping kan ses som ett konkurrenskraftigt hjälpmedel vid egenföretagande. Framförallt blir det påtagligt för småföretagare som stöter på hinder i anskaffningen av externt finansiellt kapital. Denna uppsats baserades på 136 frågeformulär som returneras från småföretagare som är etablerade på den svenska marknaden. Medan resultatet bekräftar vikten av finansiell bootstrapping för småföretag, identifieras ursprungsskillnader i användningen av olika finansiella bootstrappingmetoder. Dessutom identifieras variationer i invandrare och inföddas användning av sociala och professionella nätverk. Vidare upptäcker vi att styrkan i småföretags nätverk har en positiv påverkan på finansiell bootstrapping. Däremot när ursprung antas ha en modererande effekt ges blandade resultat. Sålunda indikerar resultatet på att det finns vissa likheter i invandrare och infödda företagares finansieringsbeteende

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:39:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3070.pdf: 869104 bytes, checksum: 76df64e1f0a5700ad780bad14b872d9e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-28 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / I analyze the articulation process existing between the juridical knowledge internationalization, represented here by restorative justice, and local professional networks in two cities from the state of São Paulo: São Carlos and São Caetano do Sul. In the first city it was observed a interest decay in restorative justice with a local configuration of disputes towards the minor with problems against the law. Then, the second city is constituted as one of the three areas in this country in which was established a pilot program of mediation in the shapes of the kind of informal resolution of conflicts indicated here. Based on a bibliography on sociology of professions, it is discussed how this proposal, with a more political content, has been treated more specifically in the field of law professions, assuming that these professions, unique in their historical tradition and strong connection with the State, have taken the knowledge neutrality and strong delimitation with political field as the best strategy for the construction of their autonomy. / O objetivo central do trabalho é realizar uma análise sociológica que contemple o processo de articulação entre a internacionalização do saber jurídico, aqui representada pela justiça restaurativa, e redes profissionais locais em dois municípios paulistas: São Carlos e São Caetano do Sul. Na primeira cidade foi verificada uma perda de interesse pela justiça restaurativa concomitante a uma configuração local de disputas políticas em torno do campo dos adolescentes em conflito com a lei. Já a segunda cidade se constituiu numa das três regiões do país em que se estabeleceu um programa piloto de mediação nos moldes do tipo de resolução informal de conflitos em questão. A partir de uma revisão bibliográfica com base na área da sociologia das profissões, discute-se como essa proposta de mediação alternativa que tem tido destaque no meio jurídico vem sendo tratada mais especificamente no âmbito das profissões do Direito, assumindo que existem resistências ao modelo, nesse campo, como foi captado pela pesquisa. As objeções podem ser de diferentes tipos, mas no geral constroem uma imagem de divergência existente entre a justiça restaurativa e a expertise dos grupos profissionais. Para investigar que motivos levaram as duas localidades a apresentarem resultados diferentes em relação à agenda global da justiça restaurativa, foram feitos estudos de caso sob uma abordagem qualitativa, contando com a realização de entrevistas e presença em círculos restaurativos em São Caetano do Sul. Pretendeu-se identificar, dessa maneira, além das diferentes formas pelas quais a justiça restaurativa veio a se inserir nos dois lugares, quais são as especificidades das redes profissionais envolvidas e quem são os agentes que se ligam a rede importadora da pauta, levando em consideração as implicações que as distâncias das redes profissionais em relação aos centros de troca de expertise profissional podem assumir no contexto. Essa distância, que não é de caráter geográfico, pode ser traduzida em questões de inserção ou acesso às redes ou pessoas das redes mais próximas dos centros de troca de saber especializado.

Cette thèse est une contribution à la branche professionnelle de l'anglais de spécialité et au domaine de l'anglais comme lingua franca. Le contexte de la recherche est le milieu de l'entreprise où les employés échangent des courriels dans le cadre de la réalisation d'actions professionnelles routinières. Dans ce contexte, l'anglais est considéré comme une langue internationale et, dans la situation où les employés sont natifs d'autres langues que l'anglais, la lingua franca. La première partie traite des quatre concepts fondamentaux de cette recherche : l'anglais comme langue internationale, le registre, la phraséologie et les discours professionnels. De ces quatre concepts émerge l'hypothèse selon laquelle l'analyse du discours professionnel en général et des courriels professionnels en particulier reposent sur la modélisation de situations professionnelles récurrentes en situations professionnelles typiques d'échange. Cette modélisation permet ensuite une analyse de registre. La seconde partie présente la démarche méthodologique dont l'objectif estla constitution d'un corpus de 500 courriels professionnels à partir d'une base de données plus large que nous avons constituée lors de notre enquête de terrain dans le monde de l'entreprise. Le corpus est tout d'abord défini selon quatre situations linguistiques que nous présentons ci-dessous : 1. scripteurs natifs et destinataires natifs 2. scripteurs natifs et destinataires non natifs 3. scripteurs non natifs et destinataires natifs 4. scripteurs non natifs et destinataires non natifs Il est ensuite défini selon les quatre situations professionnelles suivantes : 1. achats et ventes de produits 2. management d'équipes distantes 3. administration des ressources humaines 4. résolution de problèmes techniques A partir de ce corpus, nous menons une étude de la variation sur trois ensembles de traits linguistico-discursifs et paralinguistiques qui nous permettent d'évaluer le degré de minimalisme dans les courriels, le degré d'imbrication du texte dans le contexte ainsi que de mesurer le caractère interpersonnel et intime de ce type d'échange. Notre étude nous mène tout d'abord à confirmer que l'analyse de registre est une approche efficace pour la caractérisation des discours ordinaires et routiniers dans les entreprises. Elle interroge ensuite la solidité des normes et du concept de communauté de discours en présentant l'anglais en circulation sur les réseaux professionnels, éphémères et mondiaux, comme une variété fluide. / This dissertation is a contribution to both the professional branch of English for Specific Purposes and English as a lingua franca. The research takes place in the corporate world where employees exchange emails during the course of their professional routines. In this context, English is considered as an international language and, in the situations where employees are natives of other languages than English, the lingua franca. In the first part, the four fundamental concepts used in this study are introduced: (1) English as an international language, (2) register, (3) phraseology, and (4) professional discourse. From this introduction emerges the hypothesis that professional discourse analysis in general and professional emails in particular are based on modelising recurrent, professional situations into typical exchange situations then allowing for register analysis. The second part deals with the methodological approach which consists in building a corpus comprising 500 messages extracted from a larger database which was collected while we did fieldwork in the corporate world. The corpus is defined by the four following linguistic situations : 1. native professionals writing to native professionals 2. native professionals writing to non-native professionals 3. non-native professionals writing to native professionals 4. non-native professionals writing to non-native professionals It is also defined by four professional situations, namely : 1. selling and purchasing 2. team management 3. human resources management 4. technical problem solving The situations are then used to conduct a corpus-based, register analysis alongthree linguistic and paralinguistic dimensions. Each dimension seeks to characterise professional emails as a form of minimal, embedded, and interpersonal discourse. More generally, this thesis explores and challenges the solidity of traditional norms and that of the concept of discourse community by presenting the English used in global, ephemeral and professional networks as a fluid variety.