A aplicação da Gestão do Conhecimento cresce a cada ano, especialmente em empresas de grande porte. Apesar de ser uma ferramenta capaz de oferecer vantagem competitiva, pequenas e médias empresas ainda tem dificuldade de aplica-la devido a falta de metodologias formais com ênfase em pequenas e médias empresas. Esse trabalho apresenta uma proposta de metodologia para guiar pequenas e médias empresas na realização de projetos de Gestão do Conhecimento. Por meio de um método sequencial e repetível a metodologia desenvolvida neste trabalho de pesquisa e denominada MAGCPME Metodologia de Análise para Gestão do Conhecimento em Pequenas e Médias Empresas, tem como foco a fase de análise e levantamento de requisitos para o desenvolvimento de Sistemas para Gestão do Conhecimento. Esse trabalho também apresenta um estudo de caso com o resultado da aplicação da metodologia MAGCPME em uma pequena empresa brasileira e a análise dos resultados obtidos desta aplicação. / Application of Knowledge Management is growing every year, especially in large companies. Despite all the benefits it can provide, small companies still have difficulty implementing it due to lack formal methodologies with an emphasis on small and medium enterprises. This work proposes a methodology to guide small and medium enterprises to start Knowledge Management projects. Through a sequential and repeatable method the methodology developed on this work called MAKMSME Methodology of Analysis for Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises, focuses on the phase of analysis and requirements gathering to support the development of a Knowledge Management System. This work also presents a case study with the results of the application of the methodology in a small Brazilian company and the analysis of results obtained in this application.

This thesis is focused on the analysis of business conditions of small and medium-sized enterprises in Belgium. First chapter involves the definition of these companies, describes their weaknesses and strengths and importance in the European Union. Next part includes short information about Belgium and contains also the description of the local business environment. Third chapter aims at the characteristics of small and medium-sized companies in Belgium considering the total number of active companies, employment and other measures and analyzes in detail the system of the public support at the european, national and regional level. The last part compares the sector of SMEs in Belgium with the same category of enterprises in the Czech Republic.

The subject of this dissertation thesis is human resource management in small and medium-sized enterprises, in the context of various internal and external conditions for their functioning. The main objective of this thesis is based on the identification and assessment of the current approaches of small and medium-sized enterprises to human resource management propose the model of human resource management in Czech small and medium-sized enterprises, including recommendations to improve the quality of human resource management.

A aplicação da Gestão do Conhecimento cresce a cada ano, especialmente em empresas de grande porte. Apesar de ser uma ferramenta capaz de oferecer vantagem competitiva, pequenas e médias empresas ainda tem dificuldade de aplica-la devido a falta de metodologias formais com ênfase em pequenas e médias empresas. Esse trabalho apresenta uma proposta de metodologia para guiar pequenas e médias empresas na realização de projetos de Gestão do Conhecimento. Por meio de um método sequencial e repetível a metodologia desenvolvida neste trabalho de pesquisa e denominada MAGCPME Metodologia de Análise para Gestão do Conhecimento em Pequenas e Médias Empresas, tem como foco a fase de análise e levantamento de requisitos para o desenvolvimento de Sistemas para Gestão do Conhecimento. Esse trabalho também apresenta um estudo de caso com o resultado da aplicação da metodologia MAGCPME em uma pequena empresa brasileira e a análise dos resultados obtidos desta aplicação. / Application of Knowledge Management is growing every year, especially in large companies. Despite all the benefits it can provide, small companies still have difficulty implementing it due to lack formal methodologies with an emphasis on small and medium enterprises. This work proposes a methodology to guide small and medium enterprises to start Knowledge Management projects. Through a sequential and repeatable method the methodology developed on this work called MAKMSME Methodology of Analysis for Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises, focuses on the phase of analysis and requirements gathering to support the development of a Knowledge Management System. This work also presents a case study with the results of the application of the methodology in a small Brazilian company and the analysis of results obtained in this application.

O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi avaliar a existência de uma orientação do controle do desempenho utilizados nas pequenas e médias empresas hoteleiras e sua adequação aos fatores-chave de competitividade do setor. Essa pesquisa foi realizada na região central do Estado de São Paulo contemplando os circuitos Paulista da Chapada Guarani e Ecocaipira. A pesquisa fundamenta-se no vácuo existente entre a visão estratégica e visão operacional na gestão empresarial, ou seja, a falta de integração entre as diretrizes estratégicas e a operação das empresas. A medição de desempenho é uma atividade que visa melhorar gradativamente a atuação das empresas, fazendo com que elas se mantenham competitivas. O trabalho de campo foi dividido em três fases: a primeira e segunda fase concentrou-se na abordagem quantitativa. A primeira fase teve o propósito de identificar a quantidade de empresas hoteleiras na região central do Estado de São Paulo, considerando o mapeamento da equipe de pesquisadores do GEOPE da EESC - USP. A segunda fase teve o propósito de caracterizar a preocupação com o controle do desempenho e com as medidas de desempenho da organização. A terceira fase concentrou-se na abordagem qualitativa, na qual foi feito um estudo de caso com o propósito de verificar os indicadores utilizados pelas empresas e verificar se estão orientados para a competitividade. Como principal resultado, observou-se que os mecanismos de controle do desempenho são adequados as características do contexto social de cada organização e, como conseqüência, está relacionado à estratégia da empresa. Ainda, concluiu-se que os indicadores de desempenho das grandes e das pequenas empresas hoteleiras são semelhantes, a diferença está na formalização desses indicadores. / The general aim of this research is to evaluate the existence of an orientation of the organizational control utilized in small and medium sized hotels and its adequacy for the key competitivity factors of the sector. The research was conducted in the central region of São Paulo State comprising the Paulista Circuits of Chapada Guarani and Ecocaipira, based on the vacuum that exists between the strategic and operational visions in the entrepreneural management, i. e., the lack of integration between the strategic guidelines and the operation of the enterprises. The performance measurement is an activity that aims to gradually improve the action of enterprises, so that they keep themselves competitive, which is the basis in the strategic process. The field work was divided into three stages, of which the first and the second focused on the quantitative approach. In the first phase the aim was the identification and quantification of hotels in the central region of São Paulo state, considering the mapping of the research group of GEOPE at São Carlos Engineering School - USP. In the second phase, the concern about the performance control and measurement of the organization was characterized. Finally, the third phase focused on the qualitative approach, in which a case study was conducted in order to verify the indicators utilized by the enterprises and check that they are oriented towards competitiveness. As a main result, it was possible to observe that the performance control mechanisms are adequate for the characteristics of the social context of each organization and, therefore, related to the enterprise strategy. The performance indicators of large and small hotels are similar, differing only in their formalization.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-07-13T16:51:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Baggio_.pdf: 849327 bytes, checksum: d48578cbd16c06d4aaebc25cadeb3269 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T16:51:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Baggio_.pdf: 849327 bytes, checksum: d48578cbd16c06d4aaebc25cadeb3269 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-06 / Nenhuma / O presente estudo foi motivado por lacunas teóricas sobre a gestão de práticas colaborativas de pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D) no processo da inovação aberta (IA). As pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) são consideradas relevantes no contexto econômico brasileiro, entretanto, enfrentam diversas dificuldades para se desenvolver, crescer e inovar no mercado quando atuam de forma individualizada. Com base nessa contextualização, a pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar como PMEs brasileiras realizam a coordenação das práticas colaborativas de P&D no processo da IA. Como objetivos específicos deste estudo estão: identificar os motivos para a adoção de práticas colaborativas; as dificuldades encontradas em sua implementação no que se refere à coordenação dos projetos; identificar como ocorre a gestão através dos mecanismos de coordenação de Grandori e Soda (1995); e, analisar a importância x desempenho dos mecanismos na coordenação nos projetos. Para tanto, foi realizado um levantamento teórico que enfocou tópicos referentes ao processo da IA, colaboração e os mecanismos de coordenação. Como estratégia investigativa optou-se por uma pesquisa qualitativa, através de um estudo de quatro casos em que ocorreram práticas colaborativas entre: empresa-fornecedor (P1); empresa-empresa (P2); empresa-cliente (P3), e, empresa-universidade-usuários (P4). Os dados foram obtidos através de entrevistas em profundidade e dados secundários. Como resultado da pesquisa conclui-se que os principais motivos para a adoção das práticas colaborativas estão vinculados a fatores motivacionais de caráter individual em complemento com fatores relacionados por motivações organizacionais e estratégicas. Entre as dificuldades encontradas em relação à coordenação dos projetos colaborativos foram identificados os seguintes: sistemas de informação, suporte público e infraestrutura; negociações; e, sistema de controle e planejamento. Quanto aos mecanismos de coordenação utilizados nos projetos colaborativos, foram identificados os seguintes: comunicação, decisão e negociação; sistema de controle e planejamento; equipe comum; coordenação e controle social; e, interação interunidades. E, como ponto crucial desta pesquisa, percebeu-se que a utilização dos mecanismos de coordenação dependeu das particularidades e especificidades de cada projeto, influenciando na coordenação dos projetos colaborativos. Além disso, as evidências empíricas demonstram que, quanto maior a complexidade do projeto, os mecanismos de coordenação utilizados em sua gestão tendem a ser mais específicos e formais. / This study was motivated by theoretical gaps on the management of collaborative practices of research and development (R&D) in the open innovation process (OI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are considered relevant in the Brazilian economic context, however, they face a lot of difficulties to develop, grow and innovate themselves in the market when they act individually. Based on this context, the research aimed to analyze how Brazilian SMEs realize the coordination of collaborative practices of R&D in the OI process. The specific objectives of this study are: identify the reasons for the adoption of collaborative practices; the difficulties found in the implementation of collaborative practices of R&D regarding the coordination of projects; identifying how the management of collaborative practices of R&D occurs in the OI, through Grandori and Soda (1995) mechanisms of coordination; and, analyze the importance x mechanisms performance when coordinating the projects. Therefore, a theoretical study was conducted focusing on topics related to the closed innovation process to the OI, cooperation and the coordination mechanisms. As the research strategy, was chosen a qualitative research, through a study of four cases in which collaborative practices occurred between: company-supplier (P1); company-company (P2); company-client (P3), and, company-university-users (P4). The data were collected through depth interviews and secondary data. As a result of the research it is concluded that the main reasons for the adoption of collaborative practices are linked to motivational factors of individual character in addition to factors related to organizational and strategic motivations. Among the difficulties found as regards the coordination of collaborative projects, the following ones have been identified: information systems, public support and infrastructure, negotiations, and control system and planning. Regarding the coordination mechanisms used in collaborative projects, the following ones have been identified: communications, decision and negotiation; controlling and planning system; common staff; coordination and social control; and inter-unit interaction. And, as a crucial point of this research, it was noticed that the use of the coordination mechanisms depended on the particularities and specificities of each project, influencing the coordination of collaborative projects. Moreover, empirical evidences show that the greater the complexity of the project, the coordination mechanisms used in its management tend to be more specific and formal.

There is a lack of attention and understanding of how smaller hotel businesses understand and engage with social responsibility. The lack of understanding has led to a situation where the knowledge of how hotel corporations operate regarding Corporate social responsibility unproblematically is applied across scales onto Small and medium sized hotels behaviour regarding social responsibility. This thesis examines this lack of understanding by analysing discourses related to social responsibility that can be found in online reviews written by former guests of SME hotels in Tällberg, Sweden. The results of the discourse analysis show that SME hotels mainly perform social responsibility through the performance of hospitality and by acting as cultural brokers allowing socialisation to happen. They suggest that the notion most SMEs have of hospitality links into social responsibility without them realising it. However, the unreflective conflation of knowledge across scales regarding social responsibility and the term Corporate social responsibility risk disrupting this performance, as it makes SME hotel owners and managers act counterproductively to this. Thus, this thesis suggests that the very use of the term CSR when talking about SMEs in the hotel sector is problematic. Furthermore, the findings also suggest that the creation and performance of social responsibility in hotel SMEs are mainly dialogic, unlike previously assumed, as it is created in the interaction between two persons.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon are at risk of failure because of the geoeconomic crisis. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that successful leaders of SMEs use to sustain their businesses during tenuous economic conditions. The target population for the research comprised 6 business leaders of SMEs in Beirut, Lebanon: 3 in the civil security field and 3 in the facilities management field. Kotter's change model theory provided the conceptual framework for this research. Data were gathered from company documents and interviews with SMEs leaders in Beirut. Data were analyzed using Yin's data analysis method, which included compiling the data, disassembling the data, reassembling the data, interpreting the meaning of the data, and concluding the data. Member checking and methodological triangulation were used to add consistency and rigor to the findings. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) leaders of SMEs embedded change management in their organizations to sustain their businesses, (b) leaders of SMEs increased awareness in their organizations, (c) leaders of SMEs succeeded in creating solid organizational and financial structures to ensure a sustainable cash flow, and (d) leaders of SMEs formed niche markets to grow. Leaders of SMEs achieved their strategies by (a) establishing a sense of urgency, (b) forming a powerful guiding coalition by creating awareness in leaders' organizations, (c) empowering others to communicate both organizational and financial visions, and (d) generating short-term wins. The implications for positive social change include the potential to reduce unemployment rates and create new job opportunities by sustaining businesses of SMEs during tenuous economic conditions.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 92% of all Ghana firms, providing 60% of citizens' employment and contributing about 70% of Ghana's income from gross domestic products. Within the first 5 years of operation, 40% of new businesses fail. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies used by Ghanaian SME manufacturing leaders in the fruit industry to sustain business for longer than 5 years of operation. The conceptual framework for this study was open systems theory and complexity theory. The population for this study was 5 Ghanaian SME manufacturing business leaders in the fruit industry who maintained their businesses longer than 5 years of operation. The data sources were semistructured face-to-face interviews, interview notes, and the organizations' manuals for standard operations. Data collected were transcribed, member checked, analytically coded, and analyzed using Yin's 5-stage method of qualitative data analysis. Four themes emerged: training and capacity building, the need for good equipment and good packaging, the availability of working capital, and the need for target marketing. The implications of this study for positive social change include lowering high unemployment, alleviating poverty, supporting community development, and enhancing economic growth in the country.

本研究最主要的目的在於瞭解：在臺灣中小企業眾多型態的合作關係中，不同型態合作關係所呈現的不同特性，是如何影響合作雙方共識之形成，並進而影響其維繫並管理此一合作關係的方式。本研究引用與組織間合作關係有關的文獻，包括以動態觀點的研究、資源依賴理論、網路理論，以及社會學者的田野觀察結果等，從中整理出本研究的觀念架構。自變數為「合作任務特性」，包含「合作關係經濟本質」、「合作成員互動特性」兩部份；中介變數為「共識凝聚型態」，包含「對彼此互賴程度的預期」、「成員默契形成之程度」兩部份；應變數為「合作關係維持機制」。本研究運用定性研究方式，在針織染整、進口化學原料，以及鐵門窗製造產業中，各選取一家中小企業作為深度訪談對象，了解其各種對外合作關係的運作本質，以其為分析單位，並利用前述之架構發展命題，所獲之研究發現如下： 一、「合作關係之經濟本質」與「對彼此互賴程度的預期」間具有正向之關聯。二、「成員互動特性」與「成員形成默契之程度」間亦具有正向之關聯。 三、「對彼此互賴程度的預期」高，「成員彼此形成默契之程度」高的合作者，其對合作效率的重視度高於公平，以默契、交情、合作利益降 低不確定性並化解衝突，工作角色與人際互動互為輔翼。 四、「對彼此互賴程度的預期」高，「成員彼此形成默契之程度」低的合作者，其對合作效率的重視度同於公平，以資訊蒐集降低不確定性，以較高之談判力主導衝突之解決，並以工作角色作為雙方互動的主軸。 五、「對彼此互賴程度的預期」低，「成員彼此形成默契之程度」高的合作者，其對合作效率的重視度同於公平，以交情、網路成員制裁力降低不確定性，依行規解決衝突，並以人際關係作為主要互動方式。 六、「對彼此互賴程度的預期」低，「成員彼此形成默契之程度」低的合作者，其對合作效率的重視度低於公平，以提高對方之依存度降低不確定性，顧忌較少的衝突常造成合作關係瓦解，以工作角色作為主要互動方式。