This study investigates the drivers and forms of business model innovation. It is built on the business model innovation typology proposed by Koen et al. (2011), we have developed its dimensions into Hurdle rate, technology, partners value network and customer value network. The study used these dimensions as a base to differentiate between the two approaches of the business model innovation which were identified as innovating the existing business model approach and multiple business model approach. The study used qualitative analysis, through a dual case study approach in the automotive industry, consequently Fiat and Tata Motors were selected as case studies. Furthermore, the study foundation is secondary data supported by primary data (i.e. interviews) to investigate how each of these two organizations has implemented business model innovation in each case study, by highlighting and contrasting their different approaches of business model innovation. The results of the study showed that each of the two approaches of business model innovation implies open innovation and expands the organization’s value network. However, innovating the existing business model focuses on improving the organizations’ performance, and sustaining innovation. On the other hand, the multiple business model approach aims to disrupt the industry or a competitor (i.e. New entrant), through disruptive innovation. Moreover, the study proposed a process based framework and a checklist on business model innovation, to assist the decision makers in organizations while choosing between innovating their existing business model or designing a new one.

Ecological modernization is a paradigm and an environmental discourse, whichpromotes sustainable development of cities, it considers that economic growthand environmental protection are not opposed to each other, and it includesenvironmental protection in an existing social, economic and governmental structure (status quo). The goal of ecological modernization is the development of new technologies and systems to manage environmental impacts. The main advantages are higher involvement of society and the development of new practices as the Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) or industrial ecology, which creates an economic and environmental win-win situation. However, this theory is accused of not considering the whole context of the problem and that it is too optimistic regarding the development of technologies and their adoption. Ecological modernization is an environmental discourse that has helped modern cities to adopt environmental practices; nevertheless, the solutions need to be holistic. / La modernización ecológica es un paradigma y un discurso ambiental que promueve el desarrollo sostenible de las ciudades, considera que el crecimiento económico y la protección del ambiente no son opuestos e incluye la protección ambiental en la estructura social, económica y gubernamental existente (status quo). El objetivo de la modernización ecológica es el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías y sistemas para gestionar los impactos ambientales. Sus ventajas consisten en mayor  involucramiento de la sociedad y el desarrollo de nuevas prácticas como Mecanismos de Desarrollo Limpio (MDL) o ecología industrial, lo que genera una situación de beneficio tanto económico como ambiental. Sin embargo, se dice que esta teoría no considera todo el contexto del problema y es muy optimista en cuanto al desarrollo de tecnologías y la adopción de las mismas en la comunidad. La modernización ecológica es un discurso ambiental que ha ayudado a las ciudades modernas a adoptar prácticas ambientales; sin embargo, las soluciones deben ser holísticas.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:58:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 RobertaMaitinoOAlves18062007.pdf.jpg: 16825 bytes, checksum: 99be2509a3eaddc1aef448f1f46761ce (MD5) RobertaMaitinoOAlves18062007.pdf.txt: 217814 bytes, checksum: 29b746ec55e0a4699e24e93df7b3cbcc (MD5) RobertaMaitinoOAlves18062007.pdf: 634270 bytes, checksum: 9de621f0c946d4d9849a031a1c5b2c2e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-06-18T00:00:00Z / The relationship between market structure and technological innovation has been widely studied; however there is no literature’s consensus on how this relationship is shaped. An important attribute that makes the understanding of this relationship important is its possible influence on antitrust practices, considering that standard antitrust policy assumes that perfect competition is the best solution to maximize welfare. This dissertation investigates the impact of market concentration (measured as HHI index) on innovative activities expenditures for Brazilian industrial sectors. I test the hypothesis that competition influences firm’s internal R&D expenditures in an inverted U shape, as stated by Scherer and Ross (1989) and Aghion et al. (2002). Applying panel data analysis I find evidences that an inverted U shape exits and the HHI index that maximizes firm’s internal R&D expenditures is about 0.30. On the other hand, when specific industry effects are controlled, HHI index explanatory power decreases. Additionally I find evidences of negative relationship between competition and innovative expenditures for low risk innovative activities. / A relação entre estrutura de mercado e inovação tecnológica é um tema amplamente discutido, mas não existe concordância entre os autores que a estudam. Um dos aspectos que tornam o entendimento desta relação importante é seu possível impacto na praxis da política antitruste, já que esta assume que a concorrência perfeita é a estrutura de mercado que maximiza o bem-estar. Esta dissertação investiga o impacto da concentração de mercado (HHI) nos gastos em atividades inovativas para o caso dos setores industriais brasileiros através de uma análise de dados em painel. A partir de informações sobre os gastos em diferentes atividades inovativas e de características da indústria testa-se a hipótese de que a concorrência influencia os gastos em P&D internos às firmas na forma de um U invertido, como prevêem Scherer e Ross (1989) e Aghion et al. (2002). Os principais resultados encontrados indicam que essa relação em U invertido realmente existe e que o índice de concentração que maximiza os gastos em P&D interno é, em torno de, 0,30 de HHI. Apesar disso, quando efeitos específicos da indústria são controlados, o poder de explicação do HHI decai. Um segundo resultado importante é que quando se examina as atividades inovativas com menor risco associado, como capacitação tecnológica, a relação entre concentração e gastos inovativos é negativa.

O agronegócio, a cada dia recebe incremento de novas tecnologias, o que lhe confere lugar de destaque no Produto Interno Bruto (PIB) do Brasil. Tal como qualquer outra atividade humana, os setores agrícola e pecuário são geradores de resíduos e, potencialmente, produtores de impactos ambientais. Prever, avaliar e remediar os impactos ambientais são necessidades imperiosas para sustentabilidade de uma atividade e proteção dos ecossistemas. A Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) produziu um instrumento de avaliação de impacto ambiental da inovação tecnológica agropecuária, denominado Ambitec-Agro. Entre um vasto campo de inovações tecnológicas, este trabalho foca a Integração Lavoura-Pecuária, que visa recuperar áreas de lavouras degradadas, usar eficientemente a terra, recuperar e renovar pastagens degradadas, ou seja, promover sustentabilidade agropecuária. O presente trabalho aplicou o Ambitec-Agro na unidade experimental: Fazenda Capivara, que abriga a Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, no estado de Goiás. A metodologia propõe realizar entrevista para obtenção de dados; para este trabalho foram entrevistados pesquisadores da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, Cerrados e Sede. Este trabalho acadêmico propôs, por meio de estudo de caso, avaliar os impactos promovidos pela inovação tecnológica do binômio integrado lavoura-pecuária em área de sequeiro e irrigada, com o uso do Ambitec-Agro. Os coeficientes de impacto ambiental da Integração lavoura-pecuária tanto em área de sequeiro quanto em área irrigada indicam que a inovação tecnológica contribui positivamente para a sustentabilidade da atividade produtiva no âmbito do estabelecimento estudado. / The agribusiness has been taking advantage of new technologies becoming prominent in the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Like any other human activity, the practice of agriculture and cattle raising produces waste, and as a result it can create environmental impact. Therefore, it is necessary to assess, predict, and lessen the environmental impact for the sustainability of this activity and for the ecosystems protection. The Brazilian Agricultural Research Agency (Embrapa) has proposed a system, the environmental impact assessment of agricultural technology innovations(Ambitec-Agro), focusing on the agriculture-cattle raising integration which aims at improving the production of farming products in areas already deteriorated; intensifying the use of land; and recuperating and renovating agricultural areas and pastures already deteriorated to guarantee agricultural sustainability. Thus, this study adopts the Ambitec-Agro system in the experimental unit Capivara Farm, which comprises the National Rice and Beans Research Center (Embrapa Arroz e Feijão) in the state of Goiás. This methodology proposes carrying out interviews in order to obtain data. Researchers at National Rice and Beans Research Center (Embrapa Arroz e Feijão), Embrapa Cerrados (Cerrados), and Embrapa Headquarters (Sede), were interviewed. Based on a case study, this work aimed at the assessment of the environmental impact created by technology innovation of the agriculture-cattle raising integration in unirrigated and irrigated areas by applying the Ambitec-Agro system. The environmental impact of agriculture-cattle raising integration coefficients, in both unirrigated and irrigated areas, demonstrate that technology innovation contributes effectively to the sustainability of this productive activity in the area studied.

Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, utilizando o método do estudo de caso, que investiga quais as orientações de negócios predominantes nos Institutos de Pesquisas Tecnológicas Industriais (IPTIs) brasileiros. No contexto atual de ciclos de vida dos produtos cada vez mais curtos e de concorrência acirrada entre empresas, cadeias produtivas, setores econômicos e países decorrente da globalização, os IPTIs são chamados a dar suporte tecnológico fundamental aos agentes econômicos nacionais, os quais não têm condições ou recursos para gerar internamente. Para que isto ocorra efetivamente dentro deste quadro, somado à escassez de recursos governamentais, crises econômicas cíclicas e concorrência de fontes alternativas de suporte tecnológico, os IPTIs têm que estar orientados para os seus mercados. O trabalho faz uma revisão da literatura sobre orientação de negócios, com ênfase na orientação para o mercado (OM), e estuda dois IPTIs nacionais: o Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT) e o Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Após análise dos dados, o estudo propõe o aprofundamento da investigação em futuros estudos com base em um modelo de OM que introduz variáveis apropriadas para os IPTIs nacionais, como ?natureza jurídica do instituto? e ?consciência e orgulho do papel dos empregados?. Propõe ainda que em futuros estudos sejam também investigados os clientes dos IPTIs para que os efeitos de suas orientações de negócios sejam avaliados por aqueles para quem estas orientações são dirigidas. / This dissertation is a exploratory study, using case study method, that investigates what business orientations prevail in Brazilian Industrial Technology Research Institutes (ITRIs). On the current context of shorter product life cycles and strong competition amongst value chains, industries and countries due globalization, ITRIs are being pushed to provide essential technological support to domestic economic agents, which don?t have resources and conditions to generate them internally. In order to play this role effectively amidst this picture, adding up lack of governmental funds, cyclical economic crisis and alternative technology sources competition, ITRIs must be market oriented. This work performs a literature survey, emphasizing market orientation (MO), and studies two Brazilian major ITRIs: Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT) e o Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). After accomplishment of data analysis, the study suggests deeper investigation on future researches based on a MO model that introduces variables suitable for Brazilian ITRIs, such as ?juridical status? and ?employees pride and consciousness of their role?. It also proposes the investigation of ITRIs clients, on their perceptions about ITRIs MO outcomes effects in their businesses.

O grau de exigência da sociedade no atendimento das suas necessidades vem aumentando progressivamente, bem como a complexidade tecnológica dos bens e serviços oferecidos. Para se atender a essa acelerada evolução, o processo de inovação tecnológica precisa atingir um nível de eficiência e eficácia que articule todos os atores do processo de inovação em redes de cooperação, pois já não há mais lugar para o trabalho organizacional solitário. No novo cenário, há necessidade de parcerias para que novos produtos e processos atinjam a sua verdadeira utilidade, que é a melhoria da qualidade de vida da humanidade. Nesse contexto, o setor espacial tem um papel de destaque, seja por meio da monitoração climática ou até de equipamentos de medicina preventiva, desenvolvidos a partir de tecnologias espaciais. Assim, o Brasil tem utilizado o programa de parceria Uniespaço, sob coordenação da Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB), para transferir tecnologias para o seu setor espacial. Com base na experiência internacional dos programas espaciais e do levantamento da literatura, este estudo parte do pressuposto de que a eficácia da transferência de tecnologia (TT) nos programas de parceria pode ser alcançada mediante a superação de barreiras existentes no processo, por intermédio de elementos facilitadores. Desta forma, a pesquisa teve por objetivo identificar os fatores críticos entre atores no processo de TT, a partir de estudos de 05 projetos de parceria do programa Uniespaço. As organizações geradoras da tecnologia foram três instituições de ensino superior e quatro institutos de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento (P&D), tendo como usuários o Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) e o Instituto de Aeronática e Espaço (IAE). Além desse programa, foi estudado o programa de parceria inovativa (PPI) da NASA, identificando o arranjo organizacional e os fatores que fomentam a TT entre os atores do sistema setorial de inovação e produção espacial dos EUA. O presente trabalho teve como resultado principal a elaboração de dois modelos conceituais; o primeiro focando a TT entre gerador e usuário em termos dos fatores críticos obtidos na pesquisa, dentre eles o nível de maturidade tecnológica, adaptação da nova tecnologia versus a cultura tecnológica do usuário, e capacitações de absorção tecnológica e inovativa, e o segundo modelo como resultado da formação de parcerias e do impacto dos demais atores sociais envolvidos nos processos de TT. / The level of requirement of the society in order to satisfy its needs has been increasing progressively, as well as, the technology complexity of goods and services offered. In order to follow this evolution, the technology innovation process needs to achieve a certain level of efficiency and effectiveness, which is able to articulate all players of the innovation process in the network cooperation, in other words, there is no place for solitary organizational work. Partnerships are required to produce new products and processes to achieve its goals and promote a better quality of life. The space sector has an important role, such as the earth climate monitoring and preventive medicine equipments that were developed from technologies used for space applications. Therefore, similarly to other countries, Brazil has transferred technologies to its space sector, through partnership programs, though, sometimes with no success. The assumption of this study was the effectiveness of technology transfer in the partnership programs can be achieved by overcoming the barriers in the process through specific facilitators, and it was based on the international experience of space programs and literature review. The aim of this dissertation was to identify critical factors between players in the technology transference process on the brazilian space sector. The methodology used was based on case studies of five partnership projects and involved both three universities and four R&D institutes in the brazilian partnership program called Uniespaço, which is coordinated by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB). The NASAs innovative partnership program was also studied, in order to know the organizational arrangement and the technology transfer facilitators between players in the US space sector system of innovation and production. The main results of this dissertation were two new conceptual models; the first was based on critical factors of TT between technology generators and users, such as, technology maturity level, adaptation of new technology versus users technological culture, and the ability of absorbing technology and innovation; the second model was the result of the dynamic of partnership formation and the impact of social players involved in the TT process.

Trabalhos acadêmicos têm procurado explicar o impacto do uso estratégico da tecnologia no desempenho das empresas e identificar as práticas adotadas pelas empresas para o gerenciamento de sua estratégia tecnológica, bem como a relação desta com a sua competitividade. Porém, o entendimento da inter-relação entre os fatores que geram o processo de inovação e seu impacto econômico sobre as empresas ainda é deficiente. Neste sentido, na busca de elementos que possam contribuir para minimizar esta lacuna, este estudo procurou um melhor entendimento sobre a relação entre a capacidade de inovação e a formação de valor, através da identificação dos vetores de valor da capacidade de inovação capazes de gerar fluxos de caixa que contribuam para a formação de valor da empresa. A capacidade de inovação foi definida como o potencial interno para gerar novas idéias, identificar novas oportunidades no mercado e desenvolver uma inovação comercializável através dos recursos e competências existentes na empresa. Operacionalmente, a capacidade de inovação é um construto formado pela inter-relação sinérgica de sua cultura organizacional, de seus processos internos e de suas relações interorganizacionais. Estudos de casos múltiplos foram realizados em cinco empresas que trabalham com produtos e processos biotecnológicos. Foram observados valores e comportamentos peculiares da cultura organizacional, alguns processos internos característicos das empresas inovadoras e as relações interorganizacionais. Dentre os processos internos, foram analisados a gestão da carteira de projetos, a formulação e implementação da estratégia da empresa e a forma de assegurar uma melhor contribuição dos profissionais de P&D para a empresa. Através do uso de Mapas Cognitivos, foram identificados os traços dos vetores de valor da capacidade de inovação e a forma como estes vetores se inter-relacionam. A análise comparativa dos mapas traçados em cada caso estudado revelou serem o fator humano e a gestão participativa potentes vetores de valor, os quais não foram contemplados nas premissas deste estudo e devem ser estudados com maior profundidade em estudos posteriores. / Academic works have tried to explain the strategic use of technology and its impact in the companies’ performance, and to identify practices adopted by companies for the management of their technological strategy, as well as the relation of these with its competitiveness. However, the understanding of the relationship between factors that generate the innovation process and its economic impact on companies is still deficient. In order to minimize this gap, this study searched for a better agreement on the relationship between innovation capacity and the formation of value by identifying the existing value drivers in the innovation capacity capable to generate cash flows that contribute to the company value capture. Innovation capacity was defined as the internal potential to generate new ideas, identify new opportunities in the market and develop a marketable innovation by leveraging existing resources and competences. Operationally, innovation capacity is a construct formed by the synergistic interrelationships of its organizational culture, its internal processes and networking. Five biotechnology companies were analyzed through multiple case studies. In each case, particular attention was given to values and behaviors of the organizational culture, some characteristic internal processes of the innovative companies and their networking. Among internal processes, project portfolio management, strategy formulation and implementation and the way to assure a better contribution of the R&D personnel were analyzed. Using Cognitive Maps, it was possible to identify the innovation capacity value drivers and the way they interact. The comparison of the cases showed that human factors and participative management are powerful value drivers. Since these two factors have not been contemplated in the premises of this study, they need to be extensively analyzed in future studies.

製造業是台灣經濟發展的重點產業，科技快速的發展加速工業技術的革新，面對全球的競爭，我國製造業需透過持續的創新來維持其在國際上的競爭地位。工業4.0下的技術創新即是製造業在尋求發展與成長的最佳動能。近年來的文獻多半針對工業4.0的概念進行介紹，較少研究工業4.0這個新興的議題，亦較少談論企業如何進行工業4.0的技術創新活動。本研究藉由個案訪談了解我國企業在面對工業技術快速變化之下，推動工業4.0技術創新活動的實際作為，並以「組織方式」與「知識管理」兩大構面為主軸，針對我國三家在不同產業中具優異表現的公司進行研究，得到了以下的結論： 結論一：企業在推動工業4.0下的技術創新活動時，會從公司內部原有業務內容進行延伸，依產業類別的不同而有不同的發展方向。 結論二：企業推動工業4.0技術創新活動的團隊，會具有較高的權力層級及跨功 能整合程度，且團隊領導者特別強調溝通與整合的能力。 結論三：企業在整合工業4.0相關知識時，會同時強調整合的廣度與深度。 最後，本研究提出對於產業實務上以及後續學術研究上的建議。 / Manufacturing industry is one of the backbones of Taiwanese economy. As the rapid development of technology accelerates the innovation of industry, Taiwan’s manufacturing should be more aggressive in innovation in order to maintain its competitiveness in the global world. “Industry 4.0” provides the best opportunity for manufacturing companies for growth. In the past few years, the research and studies of Industry 4.0 focused more on providing an overall preliminary introduce and rarely mention how companies can apply it to the innovation activities. This study aims to investigate the actual responses of companies while doing technology innovation activities in "Industry 4.0". A framework with two major constructs: organizing, knowledge management is adopted for this study. And three leading companies in different industry are selected. Three conclusions from this study are as follows: 1. Enterprises that promote Industry 4.0 technology innovation activities will be usually extended from their existing business, and have different direction for business development according to their industry types. 2. Enterprises that promote Industry 4.0 technology innovation activities will require the responsible teams to have higher level of authority and cross functional integration. The ability to communicate and integrate will be also emphasized by the team leaders. 3. The breadth and depth of integration will be emphasized when the enterprises try to integrate the related knowledge of Industry 4.0. Finally, there are some recommendations for industry and follow-up researcher.

Orientador: André Tosi Furtado / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T17:33:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Correa_CamilaBastos_M.pdf: 1769268 bytes, checksum: e4476134b9d8176d48e3230f7af1cfb6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: As parcerias estratégicas tecnológicas representam instrumentos cada vez mais frequentes e para acesso a novas tecnologias e conhecimentos. Fazem parte de um universo de acordos cooperativos tecnológicos que ocorrem com maior ou menor frequência em função do nível de desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico do país, assim como varia entre os setores da indústria. Elas ainda se concentram entre empresas de países desenvolvidos, ao passo que são mais comuns às empresas dos países em desenvolvimento estabelecerem acordos de transferência de tecnologia, cuja divisão de trabalho é assimétrica entre os parceiros e que são menos intensivas em aprendizado. Neste sentido, visa-se analisar as oportunidades e os desafios relacionados à aplicação das tecnologias de segunda geração para a produção de etanol celulósico no país, a partir dos diferentes acordos cooperativos tecnológicos que se tornam cada vez mais frequentes no setor sucroalcooleiro, considerando o papel das empresas nacionais e estrangeiras no que tange à divisão de trabalho e a apropriação das tecnologias e conhecimentos. Assim como, pretende-se analisar o papel do governo e as políticas públicas para a alavancagem desses projetos. Foram identificados 21 acordos cooperativos tecnológicos relacionados com tecnologias de segunda geração para etanol celulósico, todos firmados no Brasil no período entre 2000 e 2013, sendo 19 (90%) deles internacionais. Os acordos foram compilados em um banco de dados, a partir do qual foi realizada uma análise agregada, seguida de entrevista semiestruturada e questionário enviados para uma amostra com os cinco casos mais relevantes: GranBio, Raízen, CTC, Odebrecht Agroindustrial e Petrobras. Dentre os principais casos analisados, apenas a Raízen apresenta uma parceria estratégica tecnológica vigente, ao passo que todos os outros casos são pautados em acordos unilaterais de transferência de tecnologia para os parceiros nacionais que não participam da propriedade intelectual ou da apropriação dos resultados da parceria. Sendo que na maioria dos casos os parceiros estrangeiros são detentores das tecnologias centrais, ao passo que as empresas nacionais desenvolvem tecnologias complementares. Conclui-se que, embora o Brasil seja pioneiro no desenvolvimento da tecnologia de bioetanol de primeira geração e que as políticas públicas tenham avançado no apoio aos projetos de inovação de bioenergia, as firmas nacionais ainda estão muito dependentes das empresas e das tecnologias estrangeiras que são transferidas em pacotes fechados para realizar o processo de transição tecnológica da primeira para a segunda geração no Brasil / Abstract: Strategic technological partnerships are increasingly common tools to access new technologies and knowledge. They are part of a universe of technological cooperative agreements and they occur more or less frequently depending on the level of scientific and technological development of the country and varies between industry sectors. They are still concentrated among companies in developed countries, whereas it is common to companies in developing countries to establish technology transfer agreements, whose division of labor is asymmetric between the partners and that are less intensive learning. In this sense, this works aims to analyze the opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of second-generation technologies for cellulosic ethanol production in Brazil, according to the different technological cooperative agreements established in the biofuels industry, considering the role of domestic and foreign firms regarding to the ownership of the technologies and knowledge. It aims to analyze the role of government and public policies to leverage these projects. It was identified 21 technological cooperative agreements related to second generation cellulosic ethanol technologies in Brazil, all signed in between 2000 and 2013, of which 19 (90%) of them were international. The agreements were compiled into a database, from which an aggregate analysis was performed, followed by semi-structured interview and questionnaire sent to a sample of the five most relevant cases: GranBio, Raizen, CTC, Odebrecht and Petrobras Agroindustrial. Among the main cases analyzed, only Raizen had a current strategic technological partnership, while all the other cases are guided by unilateral agreements for technology transfer to domestic partners who do not participate in the technological development or the intellectual property of the partnerships. In most cases the foreign partners are holders of core technologies, while domestic firms develop complementary technologies. It follows that, although Brazil is a pioneer in the development of first generation bioethanol technology, and public policy have advanced in support of bioenergy innovation projects, domestic firms are still heavily dependent on foreign companies and their technologies to carry out the process of technological transition from first to second generation in Brazil / Mestrado / Politica Cientifica e Tecnologica / Mestra em Política Científica e Tecnológica

The emergence of static warfare on the Western Front in late 1914, encouraged the reinvention of devices associated with siege warfare and the invention of hitherto unknown munitions. These munitions included hand and rifle grenades and trench mortars and their ammunition. At the outbreak of war, the British effectively possessed none of these devices and lacked an infrastructure by which they could be quickly designed, manufactured and supplied to the BEF. The British met this challenge with considerable success and the subsequent proliferation of trench warfare munitions had profound consequences for the evolution of British tactics on the Western Front. This thesis examines the processes by which these devices were invented, developed into manufacturable devices and supplied to the BEF. It considers their novelty in respect to similar devices from the American Civil War and the Russo-Japanese War. It looks at how their technical evolution affected tactical developments. The thesis discusses the relationship between the technical characteristics of these devices and the evolution of their tactical employment on the Western Front. It also considers how the characteristics of certain munitions, such as the Stokes mortar and the Mills grenade, directly effected tactics. It argues that the tactical employment of these munitions was dependent upon their functionality, utility and reliability. The present thesis provides a different model of trench warfare conducted by the British during the First World War and thereby demonstrates the significance of the novel munitions under discussion and the role they played in changing infantry warfare. This thesis also provides a different view of the Ministry of Munitions from that usually offered and argues that certain aspects of the Ministry’s role in providing the BEF with munitions has been overstated by virtue of its having underplayed the work of the War Office, while overlooking that conducted by the Royal Engineers in France.