Scientific studies on the advantages of environmental management and futures research integration have been increasingly published during the last years. WEMAG, a traditional German energy provider, aims to benefit from the energy market transition by offering innovative and sustainable energy solutions. However, the whole industry lacks experience with innovation management and beyond that also lacks knowledge on how to integrate eco-design and strategic foresight. Currently, theoretical contributions do not provide practice-relevant and interdisciplinary solutions due to a research gap on integrative perspectives of innovation, environmental and futures research streams and applied research approaches. This thesis is a first attempt to bridge the research gap and to provide a practice-relevant concept by introducing an integrative innovation process model, which benefits from eco-design and strategic foresight. Following an applied design theory methodology, requirements for the new process model-building are derived from literature review and qualitative insights from company material scanning, interviews and a workshop. The results show that integrating eco-design and strategic foresight into innovation management on a strategy and process level offers major advantages for managerial practice, especially in uncertain environments. It provides the opportunity to explore future developments while having normative guidance towards environmentally-friendly solutions, which also provide unique advantages for market positioning and succesful competition.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:29:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 124165.pdf: 6277287 bytes, checksum: fa409c6c35f4552ae9bf5cb17da03a22 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Information is an intangible asset increasingly relevant to the context in which organizations operate, due to the large availability of data and information and the need to supply decision makers with actionable intelligence. This research promotes the adoption of Competitive Intelligence processes and Strategic Foresight in designing mechanisms and tools that provide strategic information to stakeholders. The objective was to model a Sectoral Intelligence System from the perspective of Strategic Foresight applied to the Agrifood industry in the state of Santa Catarina. The choice of the agri-food sector is justified by its relevance to the state, as it is considered one of the carriers sectors of the future in the framework of the Santa Catarina s Industrial Development Program - PDIC 2022 conducted by the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina - FIESC. The research was characterized as applied and descriptive, focused on a case study. Data were collected through non-participant observation in the experts panel Strategic Route of the Agrifood Sector and benchmarking research, which received qualitative treatment. One of the research results to be highlighted is the proposition of the Agrifood Sector Intelligence System (SIS) conceptual model which covered the steps of identifying information needs, collecting and analysing information, dissemination of intelligence products and the validation of the system and its impacts in the sector. Among the technologies suggested to support the development of the system is big data, which enables the visualization of large volumes of information at high speed. In short, this research is expected to promote sectoral mobilization in order to put into practice the modeling of the proposed SIS, thus contributing to the decision-making process and increase the industrial competitiveness of the state. / A informação é um ativo intangível cada vez mais relevante para o contexto em que a organização está inserida, devido a grande disponibilização de dados e informações e a necessidade de gerar inteligência acionável para os tomadores de decisão. É nesse cenário que esta pesquisa está pautada, por meio da inserção dos processos de Inteligência Competitiva e Prospectiva Estratégica na concepção de mecanismos e ferramentas que tornem a informação estratégica para todas as partes interessadas. O objetivo do trabalho foi modelar um Sistema de Inteligência Setorial do ponto de vista da Prospectiva Estratégica aplicado ao setor Agroalimentar do estado de Santa Catarina. A escolha do setor agroalimentar justificou-se por sua relevância para o estado, além de ser considerado um dos setores portadores de futuro no âmbito do Programa de Desenvolvimento Industrial Catarinense PDIC 2022 realizado pela Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Santa Catarina FIESC. Em termos metodológicos, a pesquisa caracterizou-se como aplicada e descritiva, privilegiando o estudo de caso. Os dados foram coletados por meio da observação não participante no painel de especialistas da Rota Estratégica do setor agroalimentar e pesquisa de benchmarking, os quais receberam tratamento qualitativo. Como resultados da pesquisa destacam-se a proposição do modelo conceitual do Sistema de Inteligência Setorial (SIS) agroalimentar que contemplou as etapas de identificação das necessidades de informações, a coleta e análise, a disseminação dos produtos de inteligência e a avaliação do sistema e seus impactos para o setor. Entre as tecnologias sugeridas para suportar o desenvolvimento do sistema menciona-se o big data, que possibilita a visualização de grandes volumes de informações em alta velocidade. Em síntese, espera-se que os resultados dessa pesquisa promova uma mobilização setorial, a fim de colocar em prática a modelagem do SIS proposto, contribuindo assim com o processo de tomada de decisão e aumento da competitividade industrial do estado.

La profession comptable libérale, caractérisée pendant longtemps par des évolutions relativement lentes, est confrontée à des défis stratégiques majeurs pour aligner durablement sa performance sur les réalités et les mutations de l'environnement. Dans ce contexte, la profession comptable se doit d'anticiper, de réfléchir aux futurs souhaitables pour ne plus subir les événements en adoptant une logique entrepreneuriale. Pour préparer les cabinets de demain, l'innovation est un facteur clé pour consolider, voire améliorer leur performance sur le long terme. La présente thèse étudie la contribution de l'innovation, menée dans le cadre d'une démarche prospective stratégique, à la performance durable de la profession comptable. Combinant une phase qualitative (notre expérience professionnelle en cabinets comptables de 1991 à 2009) et une phase quantitative basée sur un questionnaire de recherche (146 répondants), la thèse met en évidence l'existence de nombreuses innovations et leur impact sur quatre dimensions de la performance durable dans les cabinets comptables en France. / Accounting profession characterized for a long time by relatively slow changes is facing major strategic challenges to sustainably align its performance on the realities and changing environment. In this context, the accounting profession has to anticipate, think about the desirable future and not to suffer any more the events. Therefore, it must adopt an entrepreneurial logic. To prepare the firms of tomorrow, innovation is a key factor to consolidate or improve their performance on the long term. This thesis examines the contribution of innovation, conducted as part of a strategic prospective approach to sustainable performance of the liberal accounting profession. Combining qualitative phase (our experience in several accounting firms from 1991 to 2009) and a quantitative phase based on a research questionnaire (146 respondents), the thesis highlights the existence of numerous innovations and their influence on the sustainable performance in French accounting firms.

Les transitions écologiques et numériques, ainsi que les préoccupations relatives aux inégalités sociales, signalent l’avènement de nouveaux défis complexes pour les villes contemporaines. Ces changements soulèvent la question de la capacité dynamique des urbanistes, plus précisément leur capacité à revoir leurs outils et leurs routines de planification dans les projets urbains afin d’explorer le potentiel des nouveaux paradigmes d’action collective et de favoriser des voies de transition innovantes pour les villes. Les entreprises européennes, en particulier dans le domaine des transports publics, ont relevé ce défi, avec des résultats convaincants, en développant des outils basés sur des théories de conception innovante. L’un de ces outils méthodologiques, le processus Définition-Connaissance-Concept-Proposition (DKCP), a été utilisé pour générer une nouvelle gamme d’options de planification dans trois recherches-interventions à Montréal, au Canada. La routine traditionnelle du planificateur se concentre généralement sur une seule activité du processus, la formulation de propositions (phase P), en adaptant légèrement les anciens projets au contexte et aux règles locales. Cependant, la routine des futurs urbanistes devrait inclure de nouvelles capacités de gestion des étapes en amont des projets sous la forme d’une succession de phases DKCP. La nécessité de relever les défis complexes de la ville du XXIe siècle ouvre la voie à une nouvelle identité professionnelle : celle de « l’urbaniste innovant ». / Ecological and digital transitions, along with concerns over social inequalities, signal the advent of complex new challenges for contemporary cities. These changes raise the issue of the dynamic capability of urban planners: more specifically, their ability to review their tools and planning routines in urban projects in order to explore the potential of new paradigms of collective action and foster innovative transition paths for cities. European companies, especially in public transportation, have responded to this challenge, with convincing results, by developing tools based on innovative design theories. One of these methodological tools, the Definition-Knowledge-Concept-Proposition (DKCP) process, was used to generate a new range of planning options for three urban districts in Montreal, Canada. The traditional planner’s routine generally focuses on a single activity in the process, the formulation of propositions (Phase P), by slightly adapting former projects to the local context and rules. However, the future urban planners’ routine should include new capabilities for managing upstream stages of projects in the form of a succession of DKCP phases. The need to tackle the complex challenges of the 21st century city opens the way to a new professional identity: the “innovative urban planner”.

Studies show that the average lifespan of large companies is decreasing and that companies of today face a higher degree of market-saturation caused by globalization. In order for companies to stay alive, they need to scan for trends outside their business scope, which can be done by adopting corporate foresight. This thesis investigates the uniqueness of corporate foresight in large Swedish companies when compared to a European sample. The focus lies on measuring differences with regards to need, capabilities and maturity of corporate foresight. This thesis establishes that there is an ever-growing interest in studying corporate foresight from a Swedish perspective due to the high rate of innovation in the country. Based on a theoretical framework, a method is established for measuring the three main dimensions of need, capabilities and maturity. The data for the Swedish companies is empirical data from 11 Swedish companies gathered using a survey provided by the collaborator Rohrbeck Heger GmbH. The Swedish data is then compared to a European sample by using an existing database. Through the use of a quantitative method with two statistical tests, one non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U-test) and one parametric test (Welch’s t-test), several interesting differences were found. For need, it was found that Swedish firms act in a less dynamic environment than its European counterparts, but that Swedish firms’ environment is more complex. For capabilities, Swedish firms have stronger internal capabilities with regards to culture, method sophistication and information usage. Finally, for maturity, Swedish firms have stronger perceiving abilities but weaker prospecting abilities than European firms. In summary, it is not possible to say that the overall need or maturity with regards to corporate foresight is greater or more advanced for Swedish firms. However, a conclusion is that Swedish firms have stronger capabilities for corporate foresight than its European counterparts. / Studier visar att genomsnittslivstiden för stora bolag minskar, samt att dagens företag möter en högre grad av marknadsmättnad orsakad av globalisering. För att företag ska överleva behöver de skanna efter trender utanför deras nuvarande verksamhet, vilket kan göras genom att arbeta med affärsförutseende. I detta examensarbete undersöks unika egenskaper gällande affärsförutseende i stora svenska bolag jämfört med stora europeiska bolag. Fokus ligger i att mäta skillnaderna i behov, färdigheter samt mognadsgrad av affärsförutseende. Detta examensarbete konstaterar genom flertalet källor att intresset och behovet av att utforska affärsförutseende för svenska bolag finns, eftersom Sverige är ett av världens mest innovativa länder. Från litteraturstudien etableras en metod för att mäta nivåer på de tre dimensionerna behov, färdigheter samt mognadsgrad. Empirisk data har samlats in på 11 stora svenska bolag genom en enkätbaserad intervju, där tillgång har erhållits till en granskad enkät genom samarbetspartnern Rohrbeck Heger GmbH, samt tillgång till deras databas med europeiska bolag. Den svenska datan jämförs därefter mot ett europeiskt dataset, där en kvantitativ metod används för att jämföra dessa grupper; ett icke-parametriskt test (Mann-Whitney U-test) samt ett parametriskt test (Welch’s t-test). Genom dessa tester erhålls flera intressanta skillnader mellan svenska och europeiska bolag. Gällande behov, visade resultatet att svenska bolag har ett lägre dynamiskt affärsklimat, men där affärsklimatet är mer komplext. Gällande färdigheter skiljer sig svenska bolag på de interna färdigheterna kultur, metodraffinering samt informationsanvändning. Slutligen, gällande mognadsgrad för affärsförutseende, är svenska bolag starkare på att uppfatta trender men svagare på att analysera trender. Sammanfattningsvis är det inte möjligt att dra någon slutsats överlag huruvida behov och mognadsgrad gällande affärsförutseende är mer avancerat bland svenska bolag. Däremot kan slutsatsen dras att svenska bolag har starkare färdigheter för affärsförutseende än dess europeiska motsvarigheter.