Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:52:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarcoAntonioDS.pdf: 1662987 bytes, checksum: 3b57554ccc44a85b859b48b6dc4915d0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-11-14 / The objective of this work consists of considering a script so that operating companies in the telecommunications sector, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, can reach excellency in its operations and get, thus, conditions to compete with companies consolidated in its niche of market. The proposal intends to lead the enterprises to a level of qualification of processes that to become them apt to adopt the Six Sigma method as part of its culture. From the analysis of the essential processes of the sector, methods and tools will be suggested for guarantee the continuous improvement of these processes, without forgetting the internal peculiarities of each company / O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em propor um roteiro para que empresas atuantes no setor de telecomunica??es, principalmente prestadoras de servi?o de pequeno e m?dio porte, possam alcan?ar excel?ncia em suas opera??es e obtenham, assim, condi??es de competir com empresas consolidadas em seu nicho de atua??o. A proposta pretende conduzir as empresas a um n?vel de qualifica??o de processos que ?s tornem aptas a adotarem a metodologia Seis Sigma como parte integrante de sua cultura. A partir da an?lise dos processos essenciais do setor, ser?o sugeridos m?todos e ferramentas que garantam o aprimoramento cont?nuo destes processos, sem esquecer, contudo, das peculiaridades internas de cada empresa

Hållbarhetsfrågor är ett ämne vilket är ständigt aktuellt och aldrig varit mer aktuellt än idag. Med negativa klimatförändringar som konsekvens av mänskliga aktiviteter är det mer viktigt än någonsin att motverka detta och arbeta mot en bättre morgondag. Detta uppnås genom balanserade åtgärder av miljömässig, ekonomisk och social karaktär. Teori säger att små och medelstora tjänsteföretag bör involvera sig inom hållbarhet på en strategisk nivå, genom att inkludera hållbarhet som en del av företagets kärnverksamhet - integration av hållbarhet i företagets strategi. Denna studie studerar åtta små och medelstora tjänsteföretag i Umeå. Huruvida de integrerar hållbarhet i sin respektive företagsstrategi, samt vilka drivkrafter och utmaningar som ligger till grund för integrationen. Deltagande respondenter är anställda på företagen i chefspositioner, i vissa fall också delägare till företagen - samtliga innehar en position där de deltar i företagets strategiska arbete. Studiens tvådelade problemformulering lyder: “I vilken utsträckning integrerar svenska små och medelstora tjänsteföretag hållbarhet i sin företagsstrategi?” “Vilka drivkrafter respektive utmaningar har svenska små och medelstora tjänsteföretag till att integrera hållbarhet i sin företagsstrategi?” Resultaten visar att de studerade företagen integrerar hållbarhet i olika utsträckning. Detta har genererat tre olika kategorier för graden av integration, låg, medel och hög. Av de åtta studerade företagen innehar två företag en låg grad av integration, fyra företag kategoriseras till nivån medel och två av företagen en hög grad av integration. Vidare besvarades problemformulerings andra del genom en kartläggning av flertalet drivkrafter och utmaningar till denna integration. Fyra drivkrafter och fyra utmaningar har identifierats som de huvudsakliga faktorerna till att företagen integrerar eller inte integrerar hållbarhet i sin företagsstrategi. De fyra främsta utmaningarna till att integrera hållbarhet är; kunskap, finansiella incitament, knyta hållbarhet till kärnverksamhet och formulering & planering. Vidare identifierades följande fyra drivkrafter som de främsta; vara en god samhällsmedborgare, medarbetares välmående, företagets anseende och konkurrensfördelar. Slutsatserna presenteras i en modell för integration av hållbarhet i företagsstrategi för små och medelstora tjänsteföretag. Studien påvisar ett utrymme till att företag ska kunna integrera hållbarhet ytterligare. Detta kan leda till en högre ekonomisk lönsamhet för företaget själv och en ökad nytta för samhället.

This qualitative study contributes to the research field on legitimacy theory and creating shared value (CSV) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regarding helping entrepreneurs and business owners better understand the journey of engaging with social and environmental issues. Recent years have seen a growing number of organisations engage in CSV, which builds on identifying societal needs and approaching these as business opportunities. A standard that purports to uphold these values and is comprised of for-profit companies committed to sustainability-related initiatives is the B Corp label. We consider B Corp certification and explore how sustainably oriented SMEs engage with their wider community in a way that fosters corporate credibility and legitimacy.  Empirical data about five SMEs organisational narratives working with CSV, implementation of social and environmental activities, and effects of B Corp certification were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with company representatives and a range of secondary data materials. Analysing the data from these five interviewed companies established them to be engaging with the notion of CSV and regard addressing societal or environmental issues as the purpose of their business. Furthermore, findings suggested that values and beliefs incorporated by the SMEs supersede the generally adopted values in society, thereby representing a paradox with legitimacy theory. As a result, these businesses aim to close the perceived legitimacy gap by trying to raise awareness and engage the public with the appropriateness of their business, thereby slowly providing citizens with a more conscious mindset.

The goal of this thesis is to assess the link between labour productivity and firm competitiveness. An indispensable condition is to identify appropriate indicators measuring competitiveness. The link is examined in small and medium-sized companies active in manufacturing industry, specifically in section CZ-NACE 10. Manufacture of food products. First, an analysis of labour productivity and selected competitiveness indicators is made. Selected competitiveness indicators are Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Sales (ROS), Current Liquidity and index IN05. The relationship between labour productivity and competitiveness measured by selected indicators is examined by correlation and regression analysis. The significant positive link was found between labour productivity and competitiveness measured by ROA and ROS. Small and Medium-sized companies active in food industry can improve their ROA and ROS, and through this also competitiveness, by increasing their labour productivity. These indicators have also proved to be an appropriate tool for measuring the competitiveness of the company, especially in the food industry in the Czech Republic. The link between labour productivity and competitiveness measured by current liquidity and index IN05 was not explained in more detail.

In the context of human resource management can be argued that employee selection process is a major activity. This process is essentially based on competencies so job applicants including university graduates with an economic education, should have the desirable core and key competencies that result from job requirements. The aim of this doctoral dissertation is to build up a competency model of economically educated university graduates, according to the needs of employers from the South Bohemian Region's small and medium-sized enterprises and to identify the level of desirable key competencies of students of the Faculty of Economics, the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. Core and key competencies' preferences were collected through the questionnaire survey from the 189 human resource managers. The competency model creation was based on the statistical analysis of the identified results. Following the determined employers' preferences of the competencies, the skills of Faculty of Economics' students were also tested to find out their current level of key competencies.

Work to the theme "Analysis of insurance products for small and medium sized enterprises" tries to find the optimal variant of insurance of enterprise for the given company. These variants, also the given insurance companies, are compared by using of monocriteria and multicriteria evaluation of variants. It is possible to apprise basic concept in the first part, relating to insurance industry, insurance, enterprise, small and medium sized enterprises, mono and multicriteria evaluation of variants. There is a given company defined in the practical part, what are these variants evaluate for. There are also requests defined, that a company holder determines with a help of insurance broker, and then insurance offers are in this part defined. I used a method of monocriteria evaluation that supposes pessimistic approach for evaluation of variants. The aim of this evaluation was to determine which combination of insurances would be for the businessman and his company the optimal variant. Variants were evaluated with the help of multicriteria evaluation later, specifically Saaty´ method of weight determination and AHP method for order determination. Criteria, which were evaluated, are for example insurance premium over the discount that was offered through individual insurance companies, requirements for the security of buildings that provide insurance companies, etc. Four variants were evaluated. Today´s businessmen often solve problem, how they should protect themselves and their business against risks that can threaten. At this moment it is important to realize not only what type of risks threaten the business, but also the extent of its. When a businessman decides to one insurance option, it´s necessary to navigate himself through the offers of insurance companies and even get advice from an insurance broker. He can also for example decide based on personal experience with the insurance company. It´s definitely important to analyse the offers from different insurers.

These theses are focused on the analyses of a particular business center located in the boarder area supporting not only the business cooperation but the cross-boarder cooperation at all.

Bakgrund och problem: Tidigare forskning kring CSR-implementering har i större utsträckning fokuserat på stora företag. Dock tyder tidigare forskning på att CSR är ett koncept som även förekommer inom små och medelstora företag. Det finns emellertid bristande forskning om hur små och medelstora företags tillämpning av strategi påverkar graden av CSR-implementering. Vidare är informell kontroll en aspekt som, enligt tidigare forskning, är väsentlig inom små och medelstora företag. Syfte: Studien syftar till att undersöka till vilken grad små och medelstora företag implementerar CSR och hur implementeringen påverkas av vilken strategi företaget tillämpar. Varför ett företag implementerar CSR kan förklaras med hjälp av intressentteorin samt legitimitetsteorin. Vidare är syftet att testa och förklara hur relationen mellan graden av CSR-implementering och den strategi som tillämpas, påverkas av graden av användning av informell kontroll. I enlighet med contingency teorin påverkas variablers samband av andra faktorer. Metod: Studien är genomförd med en kvantitativ forskningsstrategi med en deduktiv ansats. Hypoteser har formulerats utifrån vedertagna teorier och data har samlats in genom en tvärsnittsstudie. 108 svenska små och medelstora företag utgör studiens urval. Resultat och slutsats: Resultaten visar på att strategin prospector för SME har ett positivt samband med graden av CSR-implementering. Vidare visar studien på informell kontroll har en stark positiv relation till graden av CSR-implementering oberoende av vilken strategi små och medelstora företag tillämpar. Studien tyder även på att företag som tillämpar strategierna prospector för SME och reactor för SME i hög grad implementerar CSR. Det finns däremot inget samband mellan att tillämpa strategierna defender för SME samt analyzer för SME och graden av CSR-implementering i förhållande till användning av informell kontroll. Slutligen visar studien på att små och medelstora företag i hög grad implementerar CSR i sina verksamheter. / Background and problem: Previous studies on CSR to a large extend have so far focused on its implementation on large firms. However, other research also states that CSR is a concept that is provided in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well. There is, however, lack of research among SME companies and how their strategy affects the degree of the CSR-implementation. Furthermore, informal control is an aspect that according to earlier studies is essential within small and midsized companies. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate in what extent SMEs implements CSR and how this implementation is affected by the strategy these companies applies. The reason why a company implements CSR can be explained by using the stakeholder and legitimacy theories. Furthermore, the purpose is also to try to test and explain the correlation between the strategy applied and if this is affected when using informal control. In accordance to the contingency theory, variables in this equation are affected by other factors. Method: The study is conducted with a quantitative research strategy with a deductive approach. Hypotheses are based on established theories, and data has been added from a cross-sectional study. 108 Swedish SMEs constitutes the study´s collection. Results and conclusions: The result of the study shows that the strategy prospector for SMEs has a positive connection with the extent of CSR-implementation. Furthermore, the study shows that informal control has a strong positive correlation to the degree of CSR-implementation independently of what strategy the SMEs are applying. The study also shows that companies who apply the strategies prospector for SMEs and reactor for SMEs is very prone to implement CSR. However, there is no correlation between the defender for SMEs and analyzer for SMEs strategies, and the extent of CSRimplementation for the use of informal control. As final, the study also shows that SMEs implement CSR to a large degree in their businesses.

As operações de usinagem viabilizam a construção de máquinas e equipamentos que proporcionam a manutenção do bem estar da sociedade e a sua evolução. Com o estudo das tecnologias e a adequação dos sistemas de produção ao paradigma desenvolvimento sustentável, é possível discutir as operações de corte com ferramentas de geometria definida e oferecer suporte ao desenvolvimento destes processos nas pequenas e médias empresas (PME). Estas unidades do sistema produtivo estão sujeitas ao rigor do mercado e suas transformações, devendo ter condições de oferecer respostas à altura de sua função. O acesso ao conhecimento e à tecnologia leva ao fortalecimento da empresa através dos ganhos de competência e competitividade. A tecnologia proporciona condições de maior produtividade, qualidade e controle dos processos e o novo paradigma de produção conduz à eliminação dos impactos ambientais, racionalização e redução do consumo de recursos não renováveis, para a preservação e manutenção do planeta e seus sistemas naturais. No trabalho desenvolvido na presente pesquisa foi possível conhecer e avaliar as instalações e corpo técnico de onze empresas (PME), com processos de usinagem, no município de São Carlos, São Paulo. A organização dos dados permite a construção de um cenário onde são evidenciados potenciais e carências. Na etapa seguinte foi eleito um processo, em uma das empresas, que recebeu intervenções para melhor desempenho nos aspectos econômico, social e ambiental. Os resultados alcançados permitem que se faça projeções de ganhos para todo o parque industrial estudado. O mecanismo de apoio às pequenas e médias empresas em uma avaliação final sugere um salto de qualidade, referendando o modelo que pode ser facilmente reproduzido. / Machining operations make possible the construction of machines and equipment which provide the maintenance of society welfare and its evolution. Studying the technology directions and the production systems adequacy to the sustainable development paradigm enables the discussion of machining and the fostering of the processes at the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). Because of the vulnerability to the market and its transformations these companies should have conditions to respond to the demands at the importance level of their function. The access to the knowledge and technology brings a gain in competence and competitiveness. Technology provides conditions for higher productivity, quality and processes control, as well as the new production paradigm leads to the elimination of the environmental impacts, rationalization and reduction in the use of non renewable materials preserving and maintaining the planet’s natural systems. In this research it was possible to know the facilities and the technical staff of eleven metalworking companies (SME), in São Carlos city, São Paulo state. The gathered data allows to draw a portrait that puts in evidence the potentials and deficiencies. On a next stage a specific machining operation was chosen to be improved in the economic, social and environmental aspects. The achieved results allow projections of gains in the industrial park. In a final evaluation of the small and medium-sized enterprises support mechanism it suggests a quality improvement assuring the availability of the model that is easily reproducible.

A globalização dos mercados e a crescente competitividade internacional nas duas últimas décadas proporcionaram a entrada de empresas no mercado, dentre as quais estão as pequenas empresas. Notadamente reconhecidas por sua importância social e econômica, as pequenas empresas dos setores da indústria, do comércio e de serviços são, em termos numéricos, a grande maioria das empresas no Brasil. Dada a importância deste objeto de estudo, a presente pesquisa possui como objetivo geral explorar a relação entre a orientação para a inovação e os padrões de internacionalização de pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs). Para a concretização deste objetivo principal, três objetivos específicos são traçados, sendo estes o estudo das capacidades dinâmicas para a inovação de PMEs de base tecnológica brasileiras, o estudo do processo e dos padrões de internacionalização deste grupo de empresas e o estudo da relação entre estes dois objetivos específicos. As capacidades dinâmicas para a inovação direcionam o desenvolvimento de inovações tecnológicas, quais sejam, inovações em produtos, processos e serviços, e também sustentam o desenvolvimento de inovações não-tecnológicas, em outras palavras, as inovações de Marketing e organizacionais. As capacidades dinâmicas também impactam positivamente na competitividade das pequenas empresas nos mercados domésticos e internacionais. A fundamentação teórica desta pesquisa reside nas Teorias de Internacionalização, fundamentando-se nos Modelos de Internacionalização, e nas Teorias de Inovação, referindo-se às Capacidades Dinâmicas para a Inovação. Com o intuito de melhor compreender o objeto de pesquisa, para cada um dos temas existem tópicos que apresentam as PMEs. A diversidade setorial das empresas participantes da pesquisa contribuiu para a magnitude de resultados sobre as capacidades dinâmicas para a inovação de PMEs brasileiras, assim como para a identificação de seus padrões de internacionalização. A partir de um estudo qualitativo, as análises mostram que as PMEs brasileiras buscam se diferenciar através da inovação em seus mercados de atuação internacionais. Com relação aos padrões de internacionalização das PMEs brasileiras, estes se diferem, em alguns parâmetros, ao apresentado na literatura. Portanto, a análise das capacidades dinâmicas para a inovação mostra que as pequenas empresas brasileiras possuem elevado potencial para o desenvolvimento da inovação. Sobre a internacionalização, as PMEs do estudo apresentam padrões específicos de internacionalização, necessitando, assim, de aproximações em relação aos parâmetros apresentados na literatura. Como contribuições acadêmicas, a pesquisa apresenta a análise das capacidades dinâmicas para a inovação relacionadas ao padrão de internacionalização das PMEs brasileiras, apresentando variáveis emergentes aos temas de pesquisa. Por fim, como contribuições gerenciais, a análise dos casos permite verificar como as PMEs buscam se posicionar competitivamente nos mercados internacionais. / The globalization of markets and the growing international competitiveness in the last two decades have provided the entry of firms in the market, among which are small businesses. Notably recognized for their social and economic importance, small businesses from the industry, the commerce and the services sectors are, in numerical terms, the vast majority of companies in Brazil. Given the importance of this object of study, this research has as general objective to explore the relationship between the innovation orientation and the internationalization patterns of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To achieve this general objective, three specific objectives are set, which are the study of dynamic capabilities for innovation of Brazilian technology-based SMEs, the study of the internationalization process and the internationalization patterns of this group of firms, and the relationship between these two specific objectives. The dynamic capabilities for innovation drive the development of technological innovations, namely, innovation in products, processes and services, and support the development of non-technological innovation, in other words, Marketing and organizational innovations. Dynamic capabilities also impact positively on the competitiveness of small businesses both in domestic and international markets. The theoretical basis of this research lies in the Internationalization Theories, based on the Internationalization Models, and in the Innovation Theories, referring to the Dynamic Capabilities for Innovation. In order to understand better the object of research, for each of the themes there are topics presenting the SMEs. The sectoral diversity of the survey participants companies contributed to the magnitude of results on the dynamic capabilities for innovation of Brazilian SMEs, thus as the identification of their international patterns. From a qualitative study, the analysis show that Brazilian SMEs seek to differentiate through innovation in their international operating markets. Regarding the patterns of internationalization of Brazilian SMEs, these differ in some parameters, as presented in the literature. Therefore, the analysis of dynamic capabilities for innovation presents that Brazilian SMEs have high potential for the development of innovation. About the internationalization, the SMEs of this study present specific international patterns, thus requiring approaches in relation to the parameters presented in the literature. As academic contributions, the research presents the analysis of dynamic capabilities for innovation related to the patterns of internationalization of Brazilian SMEs, with emerging variables to the research topics. Finally, as managerial contributions, the analysis of cases allows verifying SMEs seeking to position themselves competitively in international markets.