Microfranchising is emerging as a potentially powerful strategy for reaching the enormous markets at the base of the pyramid (BOP). Microfranchising also represents an effective and sustainable way to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic growth. However, we know little about how organizations maneuver contradictory forces as they use this innovative business model to engage the BOP. To address this gap, I offer a longitudinal case study of an emerging microfranchise effort by a successful Mexican agribusiness—one whose ambitions to continue growing were challenged by multinational agrochemicals suppliers. As this project shows, companies and BOP markets can realize mutual benefits from a value co-creation strategy. Specifically, I adopted a dialectical approach to analyze the tensions and competing forces that arose as business managers and local BOP distributors and producers collaborated in this emerging microfranchising venture. As a result, the research offers three contributions. First, it provides a detailed empirical account of how contradictory forces shaped the Mexican agricultural firm’s implementation of microfranchising to engage with BOP farmers. Second, it presents a conceptual synthesis that describes the major contradictory forces a company faces as it implements microfranchising as part of its BOP strategy. Finally, it offers lessons for how business managers can maneuver contradictory forces to co-create value with the BOP through microfranchising.

Herman Daly's view of the economy as an "inverted pyramid" sitting on top of essential raw material inputs is compelling, but not readily visible in monetary data, as the contribution of primary sectors to value added is typically low. This article argues that "forward linkages", a classical development theory concept capturing the relevance of a sector for downstream activities, is a more appropriate measure to identify key sectors. Using Input-Output (IO) data from eighteen European countries, we identify mining as the sector with the highest average forward linkages, and confirm the consistency of this result across countries via cluster analysis. By treating IO tables as the adjacency matrix of a directed network, we then build and visualise national inverted pyramid networks, and analyse their structure. Our approach highlights the key importance of natural resources in providing the necessary inputs to modern European economies. / Series: Ecological Economic Papers

Para atuar nos mercados da Base da Pirâmide - BOP (Bottom of Pyramid) estratégias customizadas são requeridas dadas as especificidades do consumidor alvo, em que não apenas a restrição à renda se configura, mas também, o acesso ao produto e as necessidades de especificações relacionadas ao seu uso e local. Assim, as organizações precisam atuar com produtos de baixos preços e crédito, devido à restrição de renda do consumidor, obrigatoriamente trabalhando com eficiência, baixos custos de produção, maiores volumes de produção e investimentos em canais de distribuição. As principais publicações não chegaram a um acordo sobre se a atuação na BOP é produtiva ou ilusória, em que se pesem os vários estudos de caso e os vários estudos específicos de estratégias para a BOP. Recentes estudos sobre eficiência indicaram não haver diferença entre elas no mercado, no entanto, importantes autores a veem, mesmo que com grandes vieses. Até mesmo a caracterização da BOP no Brasil foi colocada em discussão. Esta pesquisa utilizou abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa na análise dos dados feitas através de survey eletrônica e questionário, que foram trabalhados por meio de metodologia multicritério e utilizando como base conceitual a Teoria dos Grupos Estratégicos. Assim, o estudo apresenta quais diferenças existem entre as eficiências financeiras das indústrias que atuam ou não na BOP e apresenta um modelo de dimensões estratégicas que estão mais associadas à alta eficiência financeira dos Grupos Estratégicos (GEs) das indústrias de móveis, de confecções, de alimentos, de bebidas, de higiene que ofertam produtos para a BOP estendida, renomeada dessa maneira por incluir a classe C no estudo, diferentemente ao conceito inicial da BOP. Adjacentes a esse objetivo principal, esta tese avaliou a correlação de eficiências com as principais variáveis econômicas e identificou quais dimensões estratégicas estão associadas aos mercados BOP-e, Não-BOP e Misto, dos GEs. A expectativa é de que a pesquisa possa ser mais um dos poucos estudos significativos que inter-relacionam estratégia e eficiência financeira no país, portanto, busca avançar no campo teórico das estratégias relacionadas à BOP, bem como, apresentar dados empíricos sobre Grupos Estratégicos e BOP, contribuindo gerencialmente com a exposição das dimensões estratégicas e estrutura financeira dos GEs que apresentam melhor eficiência financeira dentro da BOP-e, de forma a serem ponderadas pelos executivos em suas tomadas de decisões. / To operate in the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) markets, customized strategies are required given the specificities of the target consumer, where not only the income restriction is configured, but also the access to the product and related specifications needs to its use and location. Thus, organizations need to work with products of low prices and credit due to consumer income restriction necessarily working efficiently, lower production costs, higher production volumes and investments in distribution channels. The main publications did not reach an agreement on whether the performance in the BOP is productive or illusory, considering the various case studies and the several specific studies of strategies for BOP. Recent studies on efficiency indicated that there is no difference between them in the market, however, important authors see it, even if with great bias. Even the characterization of BOP in Brazil was placed under discussion. This research used a quantitative and qualitative approach in the analysis of the data made through electronic survey and questionnaire, which were worked through a multicriteria methodology and using as conceptual basis the Theory of Strategic Groups. Thus, the study shows that differences exist between the financial efficiencies of industries that operate or not in the BOP and presents a model of strategic dimensions that are more associated with high financial efficiency of Strategic Groups (SGs) of the furniture industry, of the clothing industry, of the food industry, of the beverage industry and of the hygiene that offer products for the extended BOP, renamed in this way by including class C in the study, unlike the initial concept of BOP. Adjacent to this main objective, this thesis evaluated the correlation of efficiencies with the main economic variables and identified which strategic dimensions are associated with the BOP-e, Non-BOP and Mixed markets of the SGs. The expectation is that the research may be one of the few significant studies that interrelate strategy and financial efficiency in the country, therefore, it seeks to advance in the theoretical field of strategies related to the BOP, as well as to present empirical data on Strategic Groups and BOP , contributing managerially with the exposure of the strategic dimensions and financial structure of the GEs that present better financial efficiency within the BOP-e, in order to be considered by the executives in their decision-making.

Les Textes des Pyramides empruntent au répertoire de la vie quotidienne des Anciens Egyptiens bon nombre de vocables, faisant de ces objets a priori profanes des attributs divins ou encore des éléments d’un viatique funéraire accompagnant le défunt lors de son « ascension ». Le cas des artefacts textiles (vêtements et habits) est particulièrement riche.En reprenant l’identification de chaque item, d’un point de vue tant iconographique que lexicographique, et en tenant compte du contexte d’utilisation, il est possible de comprendre ce qui motiva sa présence : traditions institutionnelles héritées des premières dynasties, significations théologiques ou simples préoccupations fonctionnelles. / The Pyramid Texts borrow from the daily life of Ancient Egyptian a lot of words,making those objects a priori profane to divine attributes or components of funeraryequipment accompanying the deceased during his ascension. The case of textile artifacts(clothes and garments) is particularly affluent.By resuming the identification of each item, on a point of view so iconographical aslexicographical, and to take account of used context, it is able to understand what wasthe motivation of its : institutional lore inherited from first dynasty, theological senses orprivate functional preoccupations.

Cette thèse de doctorat étudie la façon dont les organisations, en particulier les entreprises sociales, créent et mettent en œuvre des technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC) pour les populations vivant "au bas de la pyramide" (BoP) et comment de tels projets permettent de lutter contre l'exclusion (ICT4D). Ce travail de recherche est basé sur des données recueillies à partir de deux organisations situées en Inde, l'une opérant principalement dans les zones rurales et l'autre dans les milieux urbains. Ces deux organisations ciblent principalement les populations marginalisées, et opèrent dans un marché strictement réglementé. Ces données ont été collecté principalement à partir d'approches qualitatives. comprenant des interviews, et des documents d'archives. Après un chapitre introductif présentant les motivations et spécificités de ce travail, cette thèse est composée de trois articles. Le premier article explique comment les entreprises sociales répondent à la fois à une mission sociale et une mission de profit, en fournissant des services TIC aux populations marginalisées. Cet article explique comment les entreprises sociales utilisent différentes formes de bricolage pour faire face aux défis liés aux ressources disponibles et aux contraintes réglementaires. Le deuxième article examine l'importance des composants d'un modèle d'affaire dans la fourniture de TIC. Cet article suggère que, en plus de la proposition, l'architecture et la finance, le réseau "innofusion" et la valeur de co-création sont deux éléments supplémentaires essentiels à un modèle d'affaire pertinent pour les communautés marginalisées. Le troisième article propose une théorisation du rôle de l'innovation inclusive (une forme d'innovation émergente pour les marchés à faible revenu) pour permettre le développement des communautés marginalisées. Cette approche propose de tenir compte (1) du rôle des institutions financières dans les zones rurales et (2) de la prolifération rapide des TIC pour faciliter l'innovation inclusive, en prenant pour exemple les femmes en milieu rural. Enfin, cette thèse offre plusieurs contributions théoriques et pratiques. Tout d'abord, en mobilisant le concept de bricolage, cette recherche fournit des indications utiles à la compréhension des TIC pour les populations marginalisées, en particulier dans un contexte de ressources limitées et d'environnement restrictif. Le deuxième article propose également une contributions théorique majeure puisqu'il souligne l'importance des composants d'un modèles d'affaire en proposant l'addition de deux nouveaux composants pour l'introduction des TIC au sein des populations marginalisées à savoir le réséau innofusion, et la co-création de valeur. Et le troisième article fournit une analyse précise et détaillée de l'innovation inclusive pour les populations marginalisées. Enfin, cette thèse suggère aux professionnels comment structurer leurs opérations et leurs modèles de revenus pour des populations à faible revenu. De manière générale, cette thèse ouvre la voie pour l'étude des populations marginalisées, en terme de recherche en système d'information, qui a reçu jusqu'alors une attention trop limitée / This dissertation investigates how organizations (specifically social enterprises) create and implement information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) projects for the people at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP) and how such initiatives achieve scale. Building upon the case of mobile money in India, it explains how organizations develop ICT4D projects for the BoP, and explores the issues of business models, inclusivity and scaling in such projects. It is based on data collected from two organizations, one with operations mainly in rural areas and the other one in an urban setting. These organizations which primarily target marginalized communities, operate in a strictly regulated market, and face initial resource challenges. The data is collected from multiple sources, including interviews and archival material such as organizational records, annual reports, formal project reports, etc. Following the introductory chapter, the dissertation comprises three related papers. The first explains how social enterprises that have both a social and a profit mission, provide ICT-enabled services to the people at the BoP and achieve scale. It discusses how ICT social enterprises employ different forms of bricolage to cope with resource challenges and regulatory constraints and scale up. The second paper examines the role of business models in providing ICTs to the BoP and discusses the key components of such business models. It proposes that in addition to the previously discussed value proposition, value architecture and value finance components, innofusion network and value co-creation are also crucial components of such business models due to the specific characteristics of the BoP communities. The final paper of this dissertation theorizes the role of inclusive innovation (an emerging form of innovation in low income markets) in enabling development for marginalized communities. Taking into account 1) the role of micro financial institutions in rural areas and 2) the rapid proliferation of mobile technologies, it studies the ways in which micro financial institutions leverage mobile technologies to facilitate inclusive innovation in marginalised communities, specifically those for women. The dissertation offers contributions to theory and practice. First, by investigating bricolage, it provides useful insights into understanding aspects of scaling for ICT social enterprises, particularly in resource constrained and restrictive environments. Second, it discusses the particular importance of business models for the BoP. Given the specificities of BoP communities, I propose five key dimensions of business models that are appropriate for delivering ICTs. Extending this, the third paper also proposes contributions to the emerging field of inclusive innovation and provides a novel way to understand innovation in marginalised communities. The dissertation also provides practitioners (that deal with BoP communities) useful insights into the ways in which they might structure their operations and revenue models and deal with the partners they could engage with to expand and scale. Finally, this dissertation argues for more focus on marginalised communities such as women in rural areas that have received limited attention in IS research

The purpose of this research was to examine how social issues are perceived and addressed in the food and drink sector, focusing on the narrower context of Nigerian purchasing practices, identifying the drivers, and barriers to the adoption of socially responsible purchasing (SRP) in the organisational supply chains. This research is underpinned by the stakeholder and institutional theories with the use of Carroll's CSR pyramid to explain the perceptions of stakeholders and the level at which each of the practices is in the pyramid. An in-depth study was conducted in multinational and indigenous food and drink organisations in Nigeria. Data was gathered from practitioners comprising of employees, managers, and executives by means of questionnaires and semi-structured face-to-face interviews to triangulate data sources. Drawing on the data collected, respondents' perspective of the meaning of socially responsible purchasing provided new insights into the phenomenon with various meanings and contestations. The findings suggest that socially responsible purchasing practices have a moderate positive influence on the organisations' supply chains within an unstable economic environment. Some of the practices were perceived to be voluntary and having an ethical underpinning while others were related to legal responsibilities. The findings suggest that the moderate influence is due to internal and external factors within the institutional environment. This research context was restricted to private organisations in the food and drink sector in Nigeria which might limit the generalisation of the findings. However, the findings may be transferable to other sectors of the economy where socially responsible purchasing issues are addressed in the supply chains. In practice, SRP is perceived to be an important element of CSR and supply chains despite the barriers to its implementation. The practices should be properly implemented to help in the sustenance of organisational supply chains. This research will be insightful for other industrial sectors as well as developing economies in Africa. The findings advance the stakeholder and institutional theories by providing an in-depth perception of various stakeholders and SRP practices within the institutional environment of organisations' supply chains. The research has contributed to enriching the literature on CSR and supply chains sustainability in Nigeria which has a relative shortage of literature on CSR and supply chain.

Nowadays about 1.2 billion people in world lack modern access to electricity, with the majority of them living in rural areas in low-income and developing contexts. This research addresses the issue of energy access by investigating the design of sustainable business models, and in particular by exploring the combination of Product-Service Systems (PSS) with Distributed Renewable Energy systems (DRE). The combination of PSS and DRE represents a new design approach to explore promising business models for energy access and to deliver clean and affordable solutions in low-income contexts. The overall aim of this research is to explore the applications of PSS and DRE in low-income and developing contexts, thus defining characteristics of these models, their variables and critical factors. Additionally, this research aims at developing a support for companies, practitioners and other stakeholders for designing sustainable PSS applied to DRE, with a specific focus on the idea generation phase of new solutions. The first part of this PhD resulted in the development of a classification system for PSS applied to DRE, in the identification of 15 Archetypal Models and in the collection of critical factors to successfully implement these models. Then, these findings have been translated into three tools for designing PSSs applied to DRE: the Innovation Map, the Design Framework and Cards, the Energy System Map. These tools have been tested, refined and evaluated through a series of iterative applications in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and the UK. Through the testing activities, which involved a wide range of companies, NGOs, practitioners and experts, the usefulness, usability and completeness of the tools were demonstrated. This research concludes with reflections on the design process for different scenarios of applications and by highlighting further research activities for the field of PSS applied to DRE in low-income and developing contexts.

À partir des premiers corpus funéraires de l’Égypte ancienne (Textes des Pyramides et Textes des Sarcophages), cette étude propose une nouvelle approche de la conception de la personne dans la pensée égyptienne, par le truchement de la notion de corps. De fait, parmi l’ensemble des éléments connus pour composer la personne (le ka, le ba, le ib, le nom, l’ombre…), le corps est le seul à pouvoir être désigné par différents termes, à savoir Haw, XA.t ou D.t. Ceci implique donc que le corps connaît plusieurs états, chacun entretenant des relations distinctes avec l’un ou l’autre des composants de la personne. Celle-ci n’étant pas considérée comme une somme d’éléments constants dans le temps et dans l’espace, l’étude de la notion de corps et de ses différents aspects permet ainsi d’appréhender la personne dans sa globalité, qu’il s’agisse de celle de l’homme ou des dieux. Dans cette perspective, l’intérêt des textes funéraires considérés est de présenter la personne du défunt, évoquant ainsi à la fois ses caractéristiques terrestres et divines. Cette recherche est envisagée selon deux axes, avec dans un premier temps une analyse lexicographique des termes Haw, XA.t et D.t. Une seconde partie est ensuite consacrée à l’analyse anthropologique, visant à détailler le système de représentation de la personne en déterminant les différences entre la personne humaine ou divine, mais également à travers les transformations subies par le défunt. / Founded on the early funerary literature of Ancient Egypt (Pyramids Texts and Coffin Texts), this research intend to offer a new approach on the concept of person in the egyptian thinking through the notion of body. Indeed, among all the components of the person (ka, ba, ib, name, shadow…), the body is the only one which can be designated by different words, namely Haw, XA.t or D.t. therefore, it suggests that the body can have different states of being, each one having distinctive relationships with one or the other element. As the person is not considered as a sum of different permanent components in time and space, the study of the notion of body and of its various aspects allow us to grasp the concept of person as a whole, in human context as well as divine. Thus, from this viewpoint, the interest of the funerary literature is to present the person of the deceased, with his characteristics of both kinds. This study is led in two ways, with first a lexicological analysis of the words Haw, XA.t and D.t. Then a second part presents the anthropological analysis, aiming at detail the system of representation of the person in the Egyptian way of thinking by defining the differences between human and divine person, and through the transformations endured by the deceased.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / O aumento da expectativa de vida e da populaÃÃo de idosos em todos os paÃses e especialmente nos paÃses em desenvolvimento, tem motivado o interesse dos profissionais ligados à saÃde pelas pessoas de idade mais avanÃada. O grupo que mais cresce na populaÃÃo brasileira à a faixa etÃria acima de 60 anos, representa uma importante forÃa polÃtica, social e econÃmica, e com isso tem chamado a atenÃÃo de profissionais de diversas Ãreas e tambÃm do governo. Este trabalho tem por objetivo delinear o padrÃo nutricional e alimentar de integrantes de grupos da melhor idade. Foram convidados os participantes de 05 grupos da Melhor Idade ( 03 grupos da cidade de Fortaleza, 01 da cidade de Itapipoca e 01 da cidade de Jijoca de Jericoacora ) de ambos os sexos, selecionados aleatoriamente. Realizou-se um inquÃrito sÃcioeconÃmico, um inquÃrito para avaliaÃÃo das condiÃÃes de saÃde, estudo antropomÃtrico atravÃs do Ãndice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e RelaÃÃo Cintura/Quadril, anamnese alimentar, para anÃlise qualitativa da dieta do grupo de alimentos da PirÃmide Alimentar. Foram coletadas a pressÃo arterial e a glicemia capilar em jejum apenas do clube de melhor idade da cidade de Jijoca de Jericoacoara. Para participar da segunda fase, foram submetidos ao teste mini-mental para se delinar a capacidade cognitiva para o auto-registro do inquÃrito alimentar recordatÃrio de 24 horas. Foi realizado um inquÃrito para avaliaÃÃo da saÃde nutricional. No total foram 144 idosos pesquisados de ambos os sexos, 65 obtiveram escores para participar de 2 fase, apenas 34 concluÃram a 2 fase. A maior faixa etÃria à de 60 a 79 anos, a maioria do sexo feminino, 72,9% sÃo dedicados a um sà clube, maioria tem o nÃvel fundamental incompleto, 81,9% aposentados, 78,5% desenvolvem atividades remuneradas, renda salarial de aproximadamente 1 a 3 salÃrios mÃnimos; 78,3% residem em casa prÃpria; 59,7% fazem atividade fÃsica, freqÃÃncia de 2 a 3 vezes por semana; 40,3% sÃo sedentÃrios, 18% sÃo portadores de HipertensÃo, 11,5% portadores de constipaÃÃo e 10,6% portadores de osteoporose; 12,5% de fumantes e 13,2% de consumidores de bebidas alcoÃlicas. A atividade fÃsica feita sem acompanhamento profissional (65,1%), falta de orientaÃÃo com relaÃÃo a nutriÃÃo e saÃde (64,6%); 69,4% tomam medicamentos, 31% destes medicamentos sÃo de anti-hipertensivos; 67,4% sofreram cirurgias; 32,8% dos idosos sà vÃo ao mÃdico quando estÃo doentes, 55,6% utilizam a rede de saÃde pÃblica. Foram identificados alta da glicemia capilar e alto risco cardÃaco; bom nÃvel cognitivo, demonstrando integridade das funÃÃes cerebrais; comprovou-se que a religiosidade nÃo interfere na escolha dos alimentos; alimentos rejeitados por motivo de patologia tiveram o mesmo perfil dos alimentos rejeitados por orientaÃÃo profissional, alimentos que foram rejeitados por desagrado do paladar ( arroz, frango e frutas), tambÃm foram os mais consumidos na dieta. Na avaliaÃÃo do padrÃo alimentar, cafà e frutas sÃo alimentos mais consumidos no desjejum, as frutas sÃo as mais consumidas principalmente na colaÃÃo (lanche da manhÃ); arroz e feijÃo no horÃrio do almoÃo; à tarde: cafà e suco com ou sem complemento sÃo mais utilizados, o jantar à composto de alimentaÃÃo branda, lÃquidas ou pastosas, muitos idosos nÃo se alimentavam no horÃrio da ceia. Na avaliaÃÃo antropomÃtrica do IMC a maioria foi classificada com eutrofia. O teste da saÃde nutricional revelou que hà necessidade de mudar alguns hÃbitos, consultar um mÃdico ou nutricionista, procurar o apoio da famÃlia ou procurar ajuda junto a programas de assistÃncia para terceira idade. / The increase of the aged life expectancy and the population of in all the countries and especially in the developing countries, has motivated the interest of on professionals to the health for the people of more advanced age. The group that more grows in the Brazilian population is above of 60 years, represents an important force politics, social and economic, and with this it has called the attention of professionals of diverse areas and also of the government. This work has for objective to delineate the nutritional and alimentary standard of integrant of groups of the best age. The participants of 05 groups of the Best Age (03 groups of the city of Fortaleza, 01 of the city of Itapipoca and 01 of the city of Jijoca de Jericoacora) had been invited both sexs, with rule to chosen teams. Fist became full filled a partner-economic inquiry, an inquiry for evaluation of the health conditions, anthropometric study by the Index of Corporal Mass (ICM) and Relation Waist/Hip, anamnese to feed, for qualitative analysis of the diet of the group of foods of the Alimentary Pyramid. The arterial pressure and the hair glicemia in jejum only of the club of better age of the city of Jijoca de Jericoacoara had been collected. To participate of the second phase, they had been submitted to the mini-mental test to know the cognitive capacity for the auto-register of the recordatÃrio alimentary inquiry 24-hour. An inquiry for evaluation of the nutritional health was carried through. In the total aged searched of both the sex had been 144, 65 had gotten prop up to participate of 2 phase, only 34 had concluded 2 phase. The biggest band is of 60 the 79 years, the majority of the feminine sex, 72.9% is dedicated to one alone club, majority has incomplete the basic level, 81.9% pensioners, 78.5% develops remunerated activities, wage income of approximately 1-3 minimum wages; 78.3% in habit in proper house; 59.7% to make physical activity, frequency of 2 -3 time per week; 40.3% are sedentary, 18% are carrying of High arterial pressure, 11.5% carriers of constipation and 10.6% carriers of osteoporosis; 12.5% of smokers and 13.2% of alcoholic beverage consumers. The made physical activity without professional accompaniment (65.1%), lack of orientation with regard to nutrition and health (64.6%); 69.4% take medicines, 31% since medicines are of antihypertensives; 67.4% had suffered surgeries; 32.8% of the aged ones only go to the doctor when they are sick, 55.6% to use the public health service. They had been identified high of the glicemia and high cardiac risk; good cognitive level, demonstrating integrity of the brain functions; one proved that the religion does not intervene with the choice of foods; foods rejected for pathology reason had the same had profile of foods rejected for professional orientation, foods that had been rejected by unpleasantness of the palate (rice, chicken and fruits), also had been consumed in the diet. In the evaluation of the alimentary standard, coffee and fruits are consumed foods more in coffee-break, the fruits are consumed mainly in the light meal (snack of the morning); rice and beans in the schedule of the lunch; to the afternoon: coffee and juice with or without complement more are used, the supper are composed of feeding lights or liquid , many aged ones were not fed in the schedule of after the supper. The anthropometric evaluation of the ICM the majority was normal classified. The test of the nutritional health disclosed that it has to change some habits, to consult a doctor or nutritionist, to look the support of the family or to look aid next to programs of assistance for third age.

In early childhood classrooms, transitions are often targeted as times of the day during which teachers encounter problems with deficiencies in child engagement, as well as frequent occurrences of challenging behavior. Studies to date on improving child behavior during in-class transitions have focused on providing supports for individual children, as well as on reducing transition duration. The present study evaluated the effects of systematic transition strategies, as applied to three Head Start preschool classrooms during targeted in-class transitions. Strategies encompassed an accumulation of antecedent and consequent manipulations and were selected on the basis of environmental fit with individual classroom environments. Participants included three Head Start preschool teachers and their respective students, all three to five years of age. The dependent measures examined in the study included mean percent classroom engagement and percent occurrence of challenging behavior, measured across all phases of the study (i.e., baseline, coaching and independent implementation). Results, evaluated in a multiple baseline probe across classrooms, indicated that with implementation of systematic transition strategies, mean percentages of classroom engagement within intervention phases (i.e., coaching and independent implementation) were higher and relatively more stable than those observed in baseline, within and across all three participating classrooms. Furthermore, mean percent occurrences of challenging behavior were lower and relatively more stable within phases of intervention (i.e., coaching and independent implementation) than those observed in baseline, within and across all three participating classrooms. Data on the accuracy with which teachers implemented selected strategies (i.e., treatment integrity) were also documented and presented in the context of results obtained. Implications for future research are discussed, in light of the limitations and findings of the current investigation.