Syftet med den här studien var att undersöka hur affärsmodeller beskrivs och används hos ett urval av småföretag inom byggbranschen i Nyköping. Studien ämnade även att identifiera likheter och skillnader i hur företagschefer inom byggbranschen formulerar konceptet affärsmodell. I studien tillämpades en surveyundersökning som forskningsdesign där datainsamlingen skedde i form av elektroniska enkäter och offentlig företagsinformation. Analysen av det insamlade datamaterialet genomfördes i form av en tematisk analys av primär- och sekundärmaterial.  De likheter som identifierades var att företagen formulerade sina svar konsekvent genom byggstenarna kundsegment, distributionskanaler och kundrelationer. Det var samma företag som redogjorde ingående för ovannämnda byggstenar och de resterande företagen formulerade byggstenarna delvis. Studiens resultat ansågs styrka tidigare forskning som menar att utbildning kan ha en positiv inverkan på hur chefer formulerar affärsmodellskonceptet. Gällande faktorn arbetslivserfarenhet kunde inte dess positiva inverkan konfirmeras i den här studien. Vidare använde inget av studiens företag konceptet affärsmodell i sitt dagliga arbete. Företagscheferna i den här studien ansågs vara insatta i sin verksamhet. Men den praktiska företagskulturen och logiken inom byggföretagen kunde medföra att formuleringen av affärsmodellskonceptet skiljde sig mot hur konceptet presenterades ur ett teoretiskt perspektiv. Följaktligen betonade studien vikten av användandet av affärsmodeller som ett teoretiskt hjälpmedel i byggbranschen. / The purpose of this study was to examine how business models are described and used among a selection of small companies within the construction industry in Nyköping. The study also aimed to identify similarities and differences in how company managers in the construction industry formulate the concept business model. The study applied a survey research design where data collection was in the form of electronic surveys and public company information. Analysis of the collected data material was carried out through thematic analysis of primary and secondary data.  The similarities identified were that companies consistently formulated their responses through the building blocks of customer segments, distribution channels and customer relationships. It was the same company that described the above-mentioned building blocks in detail and the remaining companies partially formulated the building blocks. The study's results were considered to strengthen previous research which presents that education could have a positive impact on how managers formulate the business model concept. The positive impact of the factor work experience cannot be confirmed in this study. Furthermore, none of the study companies used the concept business model in their daily work. The company managers in this study were considered to be familiar with their businesses. But the practical corporate culture and logic within the construction companies could mean that the formulation of the business model concept differs from how the concept is presented from a theoretical perspective. Accordingly, the study emphasized the importance of using business models as a theoretical tool in the construction industry.

Small businesses owned by women cease operations 11% more often than businesses owned by men. Women, who own over 37% of all businesses in the United States, contribute significantly to the 50% small business failure rate. The purpose of this multiple-case study was to explore strategies 5 women who own small businesses use to succeed in business beyond 5 years on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The theory of constraints was the conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews, websites, company documents, and archival records. Transcript review of interview response data was used to strengthen the credibility of the interview data. Three themes emerged: customer and employee relations, leadership, and strategic management. Customer and employee relations were the most important theme, and strategic management was the second most important. Strategic management was one of the main sources of growth in all the 5 participant's businesses. Participants discussed skills in managerial decisions and strategies to manage the day-to-day business operations that played an active role in entrepreneurship. Female small business owners identified strategies used to eliminate constraints that may have prohibited the business operation to succeed. The findings may inspire entrepreneurs to enhance their leadership skills, increase capacity to expand their small businesses, start new businesses, and explore entrepreneurial options. Social implications include the potential to serve as a guide that encourages female entrepreneurs to enhance their professional practices and to adopt new business strategies to make better strategic decisions.

None of the company, including small businesses, if they want to survive in the current dynamic environment and growth, can not remain static, so some level of adjustment, improvement or change becomes an essential part of operating a business. In order for organizations to grow and survive in the current environment, they must respond to external and internal stimuli and develop systematically. Over time, organizations have developed a strong and persistent pattern of behavior. The aim of the dissertation thesis is to identify and explain the development approaches of small enterprises from the chosen service sector in the Czech Republic through strategic and other internally realized organizational changes and capturing the overall patterns of behavior in the form of the interactive effect of the attributes of the development of these enterprises. The thesis is based on the literature on corporate behavior in organizational theory and the subcategory of organizational changes due to the focus on aspects of decision making in organizations in a changing environment that deals with issues related to the different nature, context and process of change and their proactive or reactive character. The thesis is based on the researcher's pragmatic attitude in the form of a mixed research strategy implemented by a combination of quantitative and qualitative research on a sample of small firms falling under the category of knowledge intensive services. Based on the triangulation of the empirical data obtained from the questionnaire survey and the outputs in the form of a comparative case study on the two most represented in this category representatives (IT services and architectural activities), the results are presented with a view to answering the research questions and objectives stated in this work . The outputs of the dissertation identify specific developmental approaches in the behavior of the Czech population of knowledge intensive services as subsets of SMEs and also reveal the content of the context between the individual attributes of the development of these companies. The results of the research bring practical and theoretical benefits, which are discussed in the conclusion of this work.

Each year, millions of small businesses are established, and individuals that engage in entrepreneurial activities continue to increase significantly. In order for small businesses to be able to grow, external financing is required. Previous research has primarily focused on how financial literacy impacts performance and enables access to finance. This study intends to develop Maxwell and Lévesque's (2014) reasoning about trustworthiness. This paper aims to investigate how entrepreneurs generate trust through their financial literacy in regard to capital contribution. The findings intend to develop a framework for how businesses can nurture trustful communication with the financier and increase their opportunity for financing. Subsequently, this paper has, in detail, explored how entrepreneurs in small businesses, in Sweden, have communicated their financial literacy in connection with capital contribution.   The qualitative methodological reasoning has, in extension of being interpretative, emanated from an inductive nature, to foster the respondent’s experience. The empirical data includes interviews with respondents consisting of 13 entrepreneurs from 11 small Swedish businesses. To fulfill the purpose of this paper, previous research in the field has been collected to, among other, conform the study's self-constructed analysis model which was united with qualitative thematic content analysis to enable a framework for trustful communication.   The result of this paper shows that in the process of conveying entrepreneurs' financial literacy, two main themes, based on time, was identified. Before the meeting and during the meeting with the financier. The majority of the entrepreneurs experience difficulties obtaining the necessary capital, and the relationship with the financier is critical for the company's growth. Before the meeting, the preparatory activities, such as the composition of the team and pitch deck, are of great importance to increase legitimacy and trustworthiness. During the meeting, the entrepreneur can instead focus on generating a successful presentation, a compelling story containing financial information, the business journey, and the team. The study also reveals the importance of having a financier’s orientation, meaning an understanding of the financier and their preferences. Based on this research, we provide guidance for small business entrepreneurs and contribute with a framework, facilitating the financing process by emphasizing how financial literacy can be conveyed. Furthermore, the result makes it possible to distinguish which trust behaviors are the most prevalent before and during the meeting with the financier. Lastly, the signaling theory is not considered sufficient to create an understanding of the financing decision. / Titel: Konsten att förmedla finansiell kompetens genom förtroendeskapande kommunikation – En kvalitativ studie om att erhålla extern finansiering Problemformulering: Hur förmedlar entreprenörer sin finansiella kompetens i samband med kapitaltillskott genom förtroendeskapande kommunikation? Syfte: Syftet med studien är att utveckla kunskap och förståelse för hur entreprenörer i svenska småföretag förmedlar sin finansiella kompetens genom förtroendeskapande kommunikation i samband med kapitaltillskott. Till följd av en ökad förståelse för förmedlingen av entreprenörers finansiella kompetens ämnar studien att utveckla ett ramverk för hur företag kan skapa en förtroendefull kommunikation tillsammans med finansiären för att öka finansieringsmöjligheterna.  Metod: Studiens forskningsansats utgår från en kvalitativ forskningsmetod och har huvudsakligen varit i linje med en induktiv karaktär. För att besvara studiens forskningsfråga och uppfylla studiens syfte har tidigare forskning på området studerats och presenteras under den teoretiska referensramen. Den empiriska data omfattades av semistrukturerade intervjuer med 13 entreprenörer från 11 svenska småföretag. Den analysmetod som används i studien utgår från uppsatsens analysmodell tillsammans med en kvalitativ tematiserad innehållsanalys.  Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att processen av förmedling av entreprenörers finansiella kompetens kan delas in i två övergripande kategorier med hjälp av ett tidsperspektiv: inför mötet och under mötet med finansiären. Inför mötet blir de förberedande aktiviteterna, såsom sammansättning av team och pitch deck med mera av stor vikt för att kunna öka legitimiteten och trovärdigheten under mötet med finansiären samt att bidra till att företaget blir investeringsredo. Under mötet kan entreprenören fokusera på att presentera en tydlig story innehållande finansiell information, företagsresa och teamet. Studien visar också på betydelsen av att ha en finansiärs inriktning, innebärande en förståelse för finansiären och dess preferenser. Studien bidrar med ett ramverk som avser underlätta finansieringsprocessen genom att framhäva hur den finansiella kompetensen kan förmedlas. Därtill kan vi baserat på studiens resultat och analys urskilja vilka förtroendebeteende som är de mest förekommande inför och under mötet med finansiären. Slutligen anses inte signaleringsteorin som tillräcklig för att på egen hand skapa förståelse för finansieringsbeslutet och dess teoretiska resonemang avslås.

Thesis (M.Com. (Business Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The primary objective of the study was to examine the effect of values (biospheric values, altruistic values, egoistic values and openness to change values) on voluntary pro-environmental behaviour of employees of SMMEs.In addition, the study investigated the moderating effect of demographic variables (gender, age and level of education) in the relationship between values and pro-environmental behaviour. The quantitative approach was utilised and the cross-sectional survey method was used to collect data from the respondents that were conveniently sampled. The Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure reliability and the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS SEM) was utilised to analyse data. The findings of the study indicated that biospheric values has a negative relationship with employees’ voluntary proenvironmental behaviour. Three values (altruistic, egoistic and openness to change values) have significant positive relationships with voluntary pro-environmental behaviour of employees. The moderating effects of gender, age and level of education are insignificant. Recommendations on how to use values to improve the voluntary pro-environmental behaviour of employees of SMMEs are outlined.

[pt] A resiliência reflete a capacidade de lidar com eventos adversos por meio da adaptação e flexibilidade. A crise do Covid-19 afetou a vida dos indivíduos, o que refletiu também na economia de diversos países. Em um contexto de pandemia diversos negócios precisaram interromper suas atividades presenciais, bem como se adaptar ao novo normal. Os pequenos negócios, em geral, são flexíveis, porém tendem a sofrer com falta de recursos, e os pequenos negócios de comunidades pobres carecem também de recursos institucionais, dentre eles recursos de saúde o que os torna mais vulneráveis numa pandemia. Em vista disso, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo investigar como os pequenos negócios de comunidades pobres foram impactados pela crise do Covid-19, quais foram suas respostas à crise e como ocorreu o processo de construção de resiliência nos empreendedores desses negócios. Com base em 38 entrevistas em profundidade, esta pesquisa qualitativa, que utilizou o método de estudo de múltiplos casos, explora o papel do capital humano, social e o contexto no processo de construção das capacidades de resiliência. Os resultados do estudo mostram que o contexto e o capital humano influenciam diretamente nas respostas dos pequenos negócios. Aqueles que mais desenvolveram respostas à crise foram os que mais sofreram com os impactos, principalmente em termos de faturamento. Contudo poucos desenvolveram capacidades de resiliência para se adaptar / aprender e se preparar para eventos futuros. Com base nos achados foram elaboradas contribuições acadêmicas, gerenciais e sugestões para pesquisas fututras. / [en] Resilience reflects the ability to deal with adverse events through adaptation and flexibility. The Covid-19 crisis affected the lives of individuals, which also reflected in the economy of several countries. In a pandemic context, several businesses had to interrupt their face-to-face activities, as well as adapt to the new normal. Small businesses, in general, are flexible, but tend to suffer from a lack of resources, and small businesses from poor communities also lack institutional resources, including health resources, which makes them more vulnerable in a pandemic. In view of this, this research aims to investigate how small businesses in poor communities were impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, what were their responses to the crisis and how the process of building resilience among entrepreneurs in these businesses occurred. Based on 38 in-depth interviews, this qualitative research, which used the multiple case study method, explores the role of human, social capital and the context in the process of building resilience capacities. The results of the study show that the context and human capital directly influence the responses of small businesses. Those who developed the most responses to the crisis were the ones who suffered most from the impacts, especially in terms of revenue. However few have developed resilience skills to adapt / learn and prepare for future events. Based on the findings, academic and managerial contributions and suggestions for future research were elaborated.

Although the development of small businesses is generally considered important for income generation and job creation, there has been relatively little research in developing countries such as Ghana on understanding why some small firms succeed and grow rapidly while others do not in. This thesis investigates the influences on small firm growth rates in Ghana using data from a random sample of 252 manufacturing and services firms from the database of the Association of Ghana Industries. The general hypothesis is that, growth is a function of the characteristics of the entrepreneur; characteristics of the firm; strategic factors; environmental factors; and cultural factors. Consequently, the research tests 36 hypotheses drawn from the five main categories of variables using the turnover and the employment growth measures. It also uses logistic regression analysis to isolate significant factors differentiating rapid-growth firms from slow-growth firms. Overall, the research finds strong evidence which suggests that, perception of a market opportunity; university education; multiple founders; entrepreneurs with marketing skills; workforce training; new product development; presence of a clear vision and mission statement; majority non-family members in management and membership of professional or business associations were associated with rapid-growth firms. iv Factors which were significant in discriminating between rapid-growth and slow-growth firms but were more likely to be associated with slow-growth firms included threat of unemployment or actual unemployment as a motivation for starting a business; production skills; legal form (limited liability companies); access to external equity (post-formation); exporting; access to public or external aid; unionization and frequent management meetings.

The research is devoted to the review of practical and theoretical aspects of the international expansion marketing strategy development for the small healthcare setting. The development of international links among the companies of healthcare field and foreign enterprises and states is an important factor in receiving a recognition and taking the rightful place on the market. Increasingly greater number of the small and medium-size healthcare enterprises bethink of the breaking into external markets as it stands. However, here they face the challenges. On the one hand, Russian healthcare enterprises have the lack of business internationalization experience. On the other hand, the issue of international expansion is not explored enough theoretically and methodologically. The thesis determines the role of marketing strategy in business activities, its place in the company’s strategy structure. Besides, the study distinguishes the factors affecting decision-making process on company’s international expansion, elaborates an algorithm of a gradual marketing strategy development, makes guidelines on the strategy’s performance evaluation and particularly introduces the process of development and performance evaluation of company’s international expansion marketing strategy under current conditions evidence from Llc. «Stavko medical Centre». / В работе рассматриваются теоретические и практические аспекты разработки маркетинговой стратегии выхода на зарубежный рынок для малого медицинского предприятия. Для компаний, работающих в сфере медицинских услуг, развитие международных связей между предприятиями и странами является важным условием для получения признания и занятия достойного места на рынке. В современных условиях все большее число малых и средних частных медицинских фирм рассматривают возможность выхода на зарубежный рынок. Однако, с одной стороны, отсутствует опыт интернационализации бизнеса у российских медицинских организаций, с другой – данная проблема недостаточно теоретически и методологически разработана. В работе определена роль маркетинговой стратегии в предпринимательской деятельности, ее места в структуре стратегий предприятия, рассмотрены и классифицированы факторы, влияющие на процесс принятия решения о выходе предприятия на зарубежный рынок, разработан алгоритм поэтапного формирования маркетинговой стратегии предприятия, методические рекомендации по оценке ее эффективности, представлен процесс разработки и оценки эффективности маркетинговой стратегии выхода на зарубежный рынок в современных условиях на примере ООО «Клиника Ставко».

[pt] Este trabalho fundamentou-se na teoria da visão baseada em recursos (RBV) e nas cinco forças competitivas de mercado para identificar e analisar os fatores determinantes para o desempenho operacional de pequenos negócios prestadores de serviços, evidenciando os facilitadores e barreiras para o desempenho dos mesmos. Utilizou-se como métodos de pesquisa a revisão sistemática da literatura (RSL) para identificar os principais determinantes e o estudo de caso para explorar como os pequenos negócios abordam esses determinantes em seu desempenho operacional. Neste contexto, este estudo foi realizado junto a quatro pequenos negócios prestadores de serviços do setor de petróleo e gás, parceiras do Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro (SEBRAE/RJ). Como resultados da RSL, identificou-se a inovação e a orientação ao mercado como os principais determinantes frequentemente relacionados ao desempenho de pequenos negócios em serviços. Os principais facilitadores identificados foram qualidade, capital humano e inovação de produto/serviço, enquanto que recursos limitados e funcionários desqualificados foram identificados como as principais barreiras. Assim, na análise dos resultados dos estudos de caso observou-se que a competitividade e o crescimento no mercado são as forças que direcionam as atividades de inovação, logo, a orientação ao mercado se torna necessária paras as empresas direcionarem suas ações de maneira estrategicamente assertiva e, com a inovação, as organizações visam melhorar seus desempenhos, gerando vantagens competitivas ao oferecer novos serviços. / [en] This work was grounded on the theory of the resource-based view (RBV) and the five competitive market forces to identify and analyze the determining factors for the operational performance of small service providers, showing the facilitators and barriers to an improved performance. The systematic literature review (SLR) was used as a research method to identify the main determinants and a case study to explore how small businesses address these determinants in their operational performance. In this context, this study was carried out with four small oil and gas service providers, which work in partnership with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service in the State of Rio de Janeiro (SEBRAE/RJ). As SLR results, innovation and market orientation were identified as the main determinants often related to the performance of small businesses in services. The key facilitators identified were quality, human capital, and product/service innovation while limited resources and disqualified employees were identified as the main barriers. Thus, in the analysis of the results of the case studies, it was observed that competitiveness and market growth are the driving forces for innovation activities, so market orientation becomes necessary for companies to target their actions in a strategically assertive way and, with innovation, organizations aim to improve their performance generating competitive advantages by offering new services.

För att upprätthålla en ekonomisk hållbarhet inom ett företag krävs ett ansvarsfullt företagande inom organisationer, vilket skapar behov av ett systematiskt arbetssätt med ekonomiska styrmedel. Olika styrmedel kan vara relevanta för olika syften, varför valet och användandet av dem är kritiskt att studera. Studien undersöker därför genom en komparativ fallstudie vilka faktorer som påverkar valet och användandet av styrmedel i småföretag i Sverige. Undersökningen resulterar i ett antal faktorer som enligt fallföretagen påverkar hur besluten om styrmedel tas. Dessa faktorer ligger som grund för den modell som skapats. Modellen visar att informationsbehovet hos ledaren är det som påverkar hur valet och användandet sker samt att behovet förändras beroende på företagets och omvärldens karaktär tillsammans med ledarens bakgrund. / Maintaining economic sustainability within a company requires a responsible business organization that creates the need for a systematic approach to economic instruments. Different instruments may be relevant for different purposes and therefor the choice and use of them is critical to study. The study examines, through a comparative case study which factors influence the choice and use of economic instruments in small businesses in Sweden. The survey results in a number of factors that, in the studied companies affects how decisions on financial instruments are made. These factors form the basis of the model created. The model shows that the informational needs of the leader is what influences how the selection and use takes place, and that need is changing depending on the company and the external characteristics along with the background of the leaders.