Dialogical communication is considered to be the most ethical way of practicing public relations. Especially social medias’ potential for engaging in dialogue is mostly not exploited to its full potential. This study aims to shed light on new technology-based firms’ use of dialogical communication on Twitter. The focus hereby is on the formal side of dialogue and not on its content. Moreover possible explanations for the presence or absence of dialogue are taken into consideration. To be able to classify the results they are discussed in the context of the Fortune 500 companies’ use of Twitter. In order to do so a content analysis of both the Twitter profiles and tweets of 89 new technology-based firms was undertaken. The results showed that the Fortune 500 companies were communicating more dialogically than the new technology-based firms did. Bigger companies engaged in dialogue more often. The performance was furthermore improved by listening rather than posting. An implication is that a profound knowledge of communication is necessary in order to use the social medium successfully. A pure knowledge of technology was not found to be beneficial for this public relations practice.

Dentro da literatura sobre gestão de projetos, trabalhos que estudam o uso do escritório de projetos dedicam-se, quase que exclusivamente, a citar modelos e exemplos bem sucedidos nas grandes empresas, em especial àquelas com estruturas projetizadas como bens de capital e engenharia. Há uma tendência de estas empresas exigirem práticas semelhantes de seus fornecedores. Esta exigência se intensifica nas pequenas empresas de base tecnológica, pois comumente realizam projetos complexos, com risco considerável para os seus clientes. A implantação de escritório de projetos é um mecanismo fundamental para apoiar a utilização das técnicas e metodologias nessa área, porém, exige um investimento significativo em infra-estrutura e profissionais qualificados. Este trabalho analisa o nível de maturidade em gestão de projetos de uma amostra de empresas de base tecnológica desenvolvedoras de software e avalia o potencial de adoção do escritório de projetos. O grau de maturidade foi avaliado segundo um modelo adaptado do OPM3. Foi realizada ainda a identificação e sistematização dos serviços que podem ser oferecidos por um escritório de projetos, segundo a literatura especializada. Ao final, o trabalho faz uma análise dos possíveis serviços que poderiam ser disponibilizados por um escritório de projetos para uso das empresas estudadas. / Inside project management literature most of available researches about project offices mainly discuss reference models and examples of best practices in big companies, especially the ones with project oriented structure such as engineering and industrial goods firms. There is a trend for those firms to demand similar project management practices from their suppliers. This kind of requirement is intensified for technology based firms once they usually develop complex projects which contains many risks for their customers. The project office implementation in technology based firms is an important mechanism to support the use of project management techniques and methodologies but it demands a significant investment in infrastructure and qualified professionals. This research analyze the project management maturity level of a software development technology based firms sample and the project office adoption potential on these firms. The maturity level was analyzed according an adapted model of OPM3. In addition, it was identified and systemized services that can be offered for those firms by a project office, according the specialized literature. By the end, this research presents an analysis about different kinds of services that a common project office could offer for those firms studied.

Empresas de base tecnológica (EBT\'s) necessitam criar produtos inovadores para sobreviver e competir no mercado. A criação de produtos que sustentem a competitividade das empresas depende diretamente do seu processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP). Para superar as limitações inerentes de uma pequena empresa que precisa investir em pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D), as EBT\'s podem optar por instalar-se em parques tecnológicos. Esses ambientes são conhecidos por reunir diversos atores como universidades, institutos e laboratórios de pesquisa, empresas, incubadora, capitalistas de risco, agências de inovação, dentre outros, que buscam criar um ambiente propício à inovação. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar como foi realizado o PDP em EBT\'s instaladas em parques tecnológicos. Além disso, foi investigado como os atores vinculados aos parques tecnológicos contribuíram para o PDP das empresas instaladas. A natureza da pesquisa é de cunho qualitativo, baseada no estudo de múltiplos casos, foram investigadas três empresas instaladas em parques tecnológicos das regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil. Nestas empresas foram estudados três PDP\'s, que resultaram nos seguintes produtos: monitor multiparamétrico, ondaleta e sistema de microfiltração. Os dados dos casos foram apresentados em duas matrizes de análise cruzada, sendo a primeira sobre como foi feito o PDP, e a segunda sobre como ocorreu as contribuições dos atores dos parques tecnológicos para o PDP das empresas estudadas. Dentre os achados desta pesquisa, destaca-se que o PDP dessas empresas e suas atividades de pesquisa tecnológica não são formalmente planejados. Na fase inicial do processo de desenvolvimento, as empresas utilizam sua própria equipe e buscam nas etapas seguintes a contribuição dos outros atores do parque. Verificou-se que a universidade foi um ator relevante em todos os casos estudados, contribuindo com as empresas por meio dos seus laboratórios de pesquisa e da relação informal de professores/pesquisadores com os colaboradores das empresas. Os produtos resultantes do PDP\'s das empresas foram identificados como inovações incrementais, inéditos para o mercado nacional, mas com tecnologias já conhecidas no mercado internacional. Uma das limitações desta pesquisa é inerente aos estudos de múltiplos casos cujos achados e conclusões não podem ser generalizadas para o universo das EBT\'s instaladas em parques. Por fim, sugere-se que sejam estudados o PDP de empresas instaladas em parque tecnológicos, que não estejam vinculados a universidades. / Technology-based firms (NTBF) need to create innovative products to survive and compete on the market. The creation of products that support the competitiveness of enterprises depends directly of your product development process (PDP). To overcome the inherent limitations of a small firm which need to invest in research and development (R&D), the NTBF can choose to install in technology parks. These environments are known for bringing together diverse actors such as universities, institutes and research laboratories, companies, incubators, venture capitalists, innovation agencies, among others, who seek to create an environment conducive to innovation. The objective of this research was to investigate how the PDP was held in NTBF installed in technological parks. Furthermore, we investigated how the actors linked to technological parks contributed to the PDP established firms. The nature of research is a qualitative study, based on a multiple case study of three firms installed in a technology parks in South and Southeast regions of Brazil. These firms were studied three PDPs, which resulted in the following products: multiparameter monitor, ondaleta and microfiltration system. The case data were presented in two arrays of cross-examination, the first was done on the PDP, and the second on the contributions of actors involved on the technological parks for the PDP of the firms studied. Among the findings of this study, it is emphasized that the PDP of these companies and their technological research activities are not formally planned. In the initial phase of the development process, companies use their own staff and seek in the following steps the contribution of the other actors in the park. It was found that the university was a major player in all the cases studied, contributing the companies through its research labs and informal contacts of professors/researchers with employees of the companies. Products made by PDP\'s enterprises were identified as inedited for the domestic market, but non inedited in the international market. One limitation of this research is inherent to multiple case studies, whose findings and conclusions can not be generalized to the universe of NTBF installed in parks. Finally, it is suggested that the PDP are studied installed in technological park companies that are not affiliated with universities.

[pt] A presente dissertação tem como objetivo pesquisar as características de empresas de base tecnológica, particularmente no que tange o seu processo de amadurecimento. Pretende-se aproximar a teoria da prática, realizando, para isso, um estudo de caso em uma empresa oriunda de uma incubadora tecnológica - a PipeWay Engenharia. Inspirado na metáfora apontada pelo uso do termo incubadora, esse estudo toma como base uma analogia entre as fases do desenvolvimento de uma empresa e as etapas de amadurecimento do ser humano. O estudo focou a adolescência organizacional, relatando os principais desafios a serem vencidos e dando exemplos de como empresas de base tecnológica poderiam superar esses problemas com menores dificuldades. / [en] This dissertation aims at research the characteristics of technology-based companies, particularly in reference to their process of development. The intention is to bring theory and practice closer. Therefore, it is carried out a case study in a company that comes from a technology incubator - named PipeWay Engenharia. Inspired by such metaphor, this study takes the analogy between human and company development as premise. The focus of the study was on the organizational adolescence, showing the main challenges faced by a technology-based company and suggesting how it could be coped with.

Immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship is a subject that has received increased attention in recent years. Many immigrants or people with ethnic backgrounds different from the majority population run their own businesses, in Sweden as well as in most countries and contexts in the world. However, ambitious research shows that there are great differences in business activity, behaviour and performance between different ethnic groups. Besides, it is easy to argue that differences also occur at the individual level. Thus, a person is not predetermined just because he/she belongs to a definable ethnic group. Another important question is the fact that the industrial setting and the context of the individual firm also affect the activity of the firm and the entrepreneur. E.g. in high tech environments, innovative competences may be of greater importance compared to business activity in the restaurant or retail sectors, where one could imitate already successful concepts. In this dissertation immigrant as well as ethnic enterprises (where ethnic entrepreneurs are those who have clear ethnic involvement in terms of accessing and utilising different forms of ethnic resources) in different industries are studied. The work hypothesis, or rather assumption, is that the industry of the individual business plays an important role for the access to and utilisation of different forms of resources (organisational, financial, cultural, social, human, ethnic). Further, the industry of a business is also assumed to have an effect on the access to and utilisation of ethnic resources and the own ethnicity as a resource. The purpose of this study is to through a number of case studies explore the influence of ethnic background for immigrant businesses in different industries. The focus is on how ethnic involvement, thus ethnic resources, and identity as immigrant and/or ethnic business influence firms in their resource bases and resource acquisition efforts. That is, if the objective ethnic background is important for the firms in their resource acquisition efforts. Since I want to study individual firms in an open and complex way I use a qualitative methodology with a multi-method approach, including ethnographic elements, direct observations, participant observations and interviews. This way, the possibility exists to grasp individual personal and firm characteristics that pay attention to the complexity and variation of immigrant and ethnic entrepreneurship, an issue that tends to be forgotten in broad descriptions of the subject. The Kista district hereby provides an interesting example with its high technology context, mixed with a considerable amount of immigrants living in the area. The exploratory study of seven businesses shows that there are important differences between firms in different industries. However, apart from type of firm and kind of venture opportunity exploited, the action mode of the individual(s) involved and the degree of confirmation and legitimacy the businesses have experienced influence and affect the importance of ethnic background for these firms. / <p>QC 20161026</p>

[pt] O objetivo da dissertação é propor e validar empiricamente um modelo conceitual de avaliação da adoção das diretrizes da Norma Internacional ISO 26000 por empresas de base tecnológica geradas em uma incubadora universitária no Brasil, na perspectiva de definir novos critérios para processos de seleção de candidatas e de avaliação das empresas incubadas. No contexto organizacional no qual a pesquisa se insere, considera-se que essas empresas têm na sua configuração o potencial de contribuir para a promoção do desenvolvimento sustentável, por meio de uma atuação social e ambientalmente sustentável e da geração de novos produtos e serviços sustentáveis. A metodologia adotada compreende pesquisa bibliográfica e documental sobre os temas centrais da dissertação e proposição de um modelo analítico que integre esses temas na perspectiva de aplicação em incubadoras universitárias no Brasil. Na sequencia, validação empírica do modelo por meio de um estudo de casos múltiplos, focalizando seis PMEs de base tecnológica, que foram incubadas no Instituto Gênesis, da PUC-Rio. Destacam-se como resultados: (i) um modelo conceitual inovador para processos de seleção de candidatas e de avaliação das empresas incubadas à luz das diretrizes da norma internacional ISO 26000; e (ii) um conjunto de novos critérios de seleção e indicadores de desempenho voltados para PMEs de base tecnológica socialmente responsáveis. / [en] The objective of this dissertation is two-fold: (i) to propose an evaluation model to assess incubated technology-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) concerning the adoption of ISO 26000 guidelines; (ii) to validate the proposed model through a multiple case study on selected incubated technology-based SMEs. In the context of university incubators, it was assumed that these enterprises have the potential to contribute to the promotion of sustainable development, through socially and environmentally sustainable operations, and by generating new sustainable products and services. The research methodology encompasses bibliographical and documental review on research’s central themes, with an attempt to design a conceptual model that integrates the referred themes, within the perspective of future application in university incubators in Brazil. Additionally, a multiple case study was carried out, focusing on six selected SMEs. The main results can be summarized as follows: (i) an innovative evaluation model to assess incubated technology-based small and medium enterprises regarding the adoption of ISO 26000 guidelines; and (ii) a set of new indicators for selecting candidates and assessing performance of incubated enterprises aligned to ISO 26000 guidelines.

The author analyzed three different perspectives of the development of new technology-based firms (NTBFs) from the resource-based view. The first article discusses how the resource base impacts the internationalization behavior of German NTBFs. Some companies go international early, some internationalize only after a few years. We argued that the resource base is a substantial factor determining if a NTBF will internationalize or not. In the second article, we analyze how the resource base impacts the survival of German NTBFs. We argued that a lack of sufficient resources can lead to early business failure. We further state that the different resources are necessary to fulfill the requirements within the development phases of the NTBF. To broaden our perspective we combined the resource-based view with the market view. In the third article, we analyzed how the resource base impacts the business model innovation of NTBFs. The business model for NTBFs must often be tailored to fulfill the requirements of potential customers or to further grow the business. A sufficient resource base is necessary to be able to change the business model and buffer the transition phase.

Due to the increase in investments in physical structure and incentives by educational institutions, agencies of innovation promotion and financing, technology-based companies show annual growth. However, organizations need to be prepared for positive or negative scenarios, reinforcing how the strategy becomes evolutionary, as well as each business that interacts with its environment. For the entrepreneurs, understanding the value of the organizational life cycle means identifying changes likely to interfere with the company growth and development. Taking into account these scenarios, this dissertation research aimed to propose a model for measuring the level of competitiveness in technology-based companies based on intangible assets related to each phase of the organizational life cycle, through a bibliographical and applied research on the characteristics of the sector. The entire model used 57 performance indicators, considering theories about Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and some elements of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The proposed research instrument was applied in 31 companies, and seven of them are situated in the creation stage, 5 in the launch phase, 9 in the stabilization phase, 3 in the expansion phase, 1 in the ripening phase, and 6 in the evolution phase. This modeling considered each organizational life cycle, returning in its evaluation stage an index representative of the competitive performance of each evaluated company, then allowing the comparison and discussion of the results obtained. In addition, simulations were exemplified in the case of that companies had adopted strategic actions. Thus, it is concluded to be possible to measure and evaluate the competitiveness level in technology-based companies considering the intangible assets which interfere in the organizational life cycle. / Devido ao aumento de investimentos em estrutura física e aos incentivos por parte das instituições de ensino, órgãos de fomento e financiamento à inovação, às empresas de base tecnológica apresentam crescimento anualmente. Entretanto, as organizações necessitam estar preparadas para cenários positivos ou negativos, reforçando o quanto a estratégia faz-se evolutiva, assim como cada negócio que interage com o seu ambiente. Para os empreendedores, entender o valor do ciclo de vida organizacional significa identificar as mudanças que acontecem com o crescimento e desenvolvimento da empresa. Além disso, em um ambiente competitivo, os ativos intangíveis têm sido a fonte de vantagens sustentáveis para o aumento de valor nas organizações. Frente a estes cenários, a pesquisa desenvolvida nesta dissertação de mestrado teve por objetivo propor uma modelagem de mensuração do nível de competitividade em empresas de base tecnológica a partir dos ativos intangíveis que interferem no ciclo de vida organizacional, fundamentada em uma pesquisa bibliográfica e aplicada sobre as características do setor. No total foram levantadas 57 indicadores de desempenho, utilizando-se para tanto os pressupostos referente aos Key Performance Indicators (KPI) e alguns elementos de Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). O instrumento de pesquisa proposto foi aplicado em 31 empresas, sendo que sete encontram-se na fase da criação, 5 na fase de lançamento, 9 na fase de estabilização, 3 na fase expansão, 1 na fase de amadurecimento e 6 na fase de evolução. A modelagem foi baseada em cada ciclo de vida, retornando em sua etapa de avaliação um índice que representa o desempenho competitivo em cada empresa avaliada, permitindo-se assim a comparação e discussão dos resultados obtidos. Posteriormente, foram exemplificadas simulações, caso as empresas adotassem ações estratégicas. Ao término, conclui-se que é possível medir e avaliar o nível de competitividade em empresas de base tecnológica a partir dos ativos intangíveis que interferem no ciclo de vida organizacional.

[pt] A partir de meados do século XX, os avanços científicos e tecnológicos desencadearam uma onda de transformações que vem atingindo as sociedades em seus aspectos: cultural, social, político, comportamental e econômico. Neste contexto, empresas intensivas em conhecimento ou de base tecnológica, como as do setor de software, vêm ganhando espaço no cenário econômico e galgando importantes posições nos mercados. Há um resgate da dimensão local na atividade produtiva e a discussão sobre temas como desenvolvimento regional sustentável, Arranjos Produtivos Locais - APLs e PLOLHX de inovação tem sido cada vez mais constante. O presente trabalho buscou analisar, sob o ponto de vista dos atores locais, os fatores de atração e fixação de empresas de software na região do município de Juiz de Fora, Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais. Para tanto, foram levantados alguns dados e realizadas entrevistas com diferentes atores, cuja análise permitiu entender melhor as possibilidades e dificuldades da região em relação ao processo de atração e manutenção das empresas deste setor e sugerir caminhos, que possam levar a forma mais adequada para realização dos dois processos supracitados. Este estudo pretende fornecer subsídios para futuras políticas de atração de investimentos para a região e para a busca de alternativas de desenvolvimento regional sustentado. / [en] From the late 20th century on all the scientific and technological advances occurred have brought a wave of changing`s on several aspects of our society such as cultural, political, behaviorism and economical which have made intensive knowledge enterprises or those based in technologies like software production ones to win more space in the economic scenario and reach important positions in the markets. There has been a rescue of the local dimension in the productive activities and the discussions around subjects as sustainable developing in particular regions, Local Productive Arrangements - APL, new ways of innovation, among others, have been getting more importance each day. This work has the intention of analyzing the factors of attraction and establishment of software enterprises in the Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais surroundings, under the local actors` point of view. Therefore some data were obtained from interviews with different actors and their analysis is going to make it better to understand both the possibilities and difficulties in the processes of attracting and maintaining these kind of enterprises in the considered region and it`s going to suggest actions to bring the most suitable ways to make sure the two of the processes already mentioned happen. This study is also going to present sources for future investment policies to the region and alternatives for sustainable developing.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:16:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3638.pdf: 1553459 bytes, checksum: 01837965cd5cb2678069ae8c7c8f8488 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Technology-based firms (TBF s) are expected to fit market demands more easily for being technologically dynamic, more flexible due to their size and their intense knowledge grounds. This research investigated how TBF s of São Carlos/SP have involved in environmental sustainability. It focuses on environmentally friendly strategies employed by companies in sectors that are likely to be environmentally impactful. The survey verifies the environmental performance of firms by identifying if companies have done effective actions, and investigates whether they have proactive, preventive or reactive attitudes in response to pressure from legislation, environmental certification or public pressure. This research characterized those companies considering, among other factors, their relationship with local universities and research centers, characterized the entrepreneurs and verified if environmental certification is usual with the TBF s. This research is supported by work previously done on TBF s and manuals and norms, among other sources. Data were collected by means of questionnaire sent to 10 companies from industrial sectors whose production processes potentially impact the environment. It was possible to draw a partial picture of the environmentally friendly strategies employed, verify the low certification of ISO 14001 and the need for incorporating more effective environmentally friendly practices by those companies. Entrepreneurs of the companies investigated have a high educational level, and the employees have an educational level higher than those usually observed in traditional types of businesses. Most of the founders of the companies investigated come from educational and research institutions of São Carlos which also influence the technological areas developed by the companies. / Há uma expectativa das empresas de base tecnológica (EBTs) se adequarem com maior facilidade às mudanças exigidas pelo mercado por serem empresas tecnologicamente dinâmicas, por serem mais flexíveis devido ao porte e por possuírem bases intensas de conhecimento. Esta pesquisa investigou como EBTs de São Carlos/SP vêm se relacionando com a sustentabilidade ambiental. A pesquisa se concentra nas estratégias ambientais adotadas por empresas de setores provavelmente impactantes ambientalmente. A pesquisa averigua o comportamento ambiental das empresas identificando se as empresas apresentam ações efetivas, e investigando se apresentam posturas proativas; preventivas ou reativas como resposta a pressões de legislação, certificação ambiental ou da pressão pública. A pesquisa caracterizou estas empresas considerando, entre outros fatores, sua relação com as universidades e centros de pesquisa locais, caracterizou os empreendedores e verificou se são empresas que tem como característica adotar certificado ambiental. Esta investigação se apóia em trabalhos previamente realizados sobre as EBTs e em manuais e normas, entre outras fontes. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário enviado a 10 empresas de setores industriais cujos processos produtivos potencialmente impactam ambientalmente. Foi possível traçar um panorama parcial sobre as estratégias ambientais adotadas, verificar a baixa adoção da ISO 14001 e a necessidade da incorporação de práticas ambientais mais efetivas por estas empresas. Os empreendedores do grupo de empresas investigado apresentam um alto nível educacional, e os funcionários possuem um nível de capacitação superior ao que geralmente é observado em empresas do tipo tradicional. Grande parte dos fundadores das empresas investigadas é proveniente das instituições de ensino e pesquisa de São Carlos além destas influenciarem as áreas tecnológicas de atuação das empresas.