Diversos fatores levam ao crescimento do número de cooperações entre empresas. Dentre estes podem ser destacados: o rápido desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias de informação e a tendência das empresas concentrarem-se em suas competências essenciais, procurando tornarem-se ágeis para sobreviverem no competitivo mercado atual. Neste cenário, Empresas Virtuais (EVs) constituem uma apropriada alternativa e vantagem competitiva para Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs). EVs podem ser formadas dentro de Organizações Virtuais (OVs), que são redes de potenciais parceiros (empresas). Entretanto, através de uma utilização sistemática de modernas tecnologias de informação, as EVs se tornam mais viáveis economicamente, devido a uma significativa redução nos custos de transação. Diante desta alternativa, propõe-se um ambiente cooperativo suportado por computador que possibilite e otimize a participação de PMEs em OVs. Como ambiente entende-se aqui as soluções técnicas de suporte computacional (ou infra-estrutura de informação), que devem apoiar a participação de PMEs nos processos de trabalho cooperativo do ambiente distribuído de uma OV. As questões humanas e organizacionais que as PMEs devem atender para participarem em OVs são...

O presente estudo tem como proposta analisar e entender as práticas de empresários brasileiros e americanos de pequenas e médias empresas no que diz respeito à utilização das informações do ambiente no processo de decisão estratégica. Alguns aspectos foram estudados em profundidade: descrever as atividades realizadas por estes empresários com relação à busca, análise e utilização das informações do ambiente; identificar quais variáveis ambientais são consideradas no processo de decisão estratégica; analisar as diferenças e semelhanças entre as práticas dos empresários e a utilização de modelos formais ou de suporte tecnológico. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliométrica como apoio à revisão da literatura que abordou as três dimensões do estudo: pequenas e médias empresas, informações do ambiente e decisões estratégicas. A pesquisa tem natureza exploratório-descritiva, abordagem qualitativa e utilizou como método o levantamento de experiência. Foram entrevistados em profundidade dez empresários entre brasileiros e americanos, sendo analisadas quatorze decisões estratégicas. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevista centrada no problema e analisados utilizando-se a técnica de análise do discurso. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que algumas são as diferenças entre as práticas de brasileiros e americanos...

Para competir em um mercado global as organizações precisam, além de formular e implementar estratégias, adotar ferramentas de gestão para monitorar e controlar o desempenho do negócio e comunicar suas ações junto aos seus stakeholders. Diante disso, nos últimos 20 anos, os pesquisadores passaram a examinar e propor sistemas de mensuração de desempenho, considerando os parâmetros financeiros e não financeiros, para auxiliar os gestores na implemtação de planejamento estratégico, na tomada de decisão e no controle das ações. Mas, causa surpresa, os poucos trabalhos dirigidos às Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs), sobre esse tema. Sabe-se que as PMEs têm características organizacionais e de desempenho que as tornam diferentes das grandes empresas, porém não se pode negligenciar o importante papel dos sistemas de mensuração de desempenho para qualquer tipo de empresa ou forma de gestão. Com isso em mente, a intenção desta tese foi responder a duas perguntas importantes, a saber: as Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PMEs) empregam indicadores de mensuração de desempenho? As características organizacionais influenciam no emprego de indicadores de mensuração de desempenho? As questões principais podem ser subdivididas nos seguintes questionamentos: Quais tipos de indicadores de desempenho são adotados pelas PMEs? Os indicadores são financeiros ou não financeiros? Quais dimensões não financeiras dos sistemas de mensuração de desempenho são aplicadas nas PMEs? Quais as motivações para empregar medidas de desempenho? Empresas que adotam práticas de gestão estratégicas e de pessoas...

A aplicação da Gestão do Conhecimento cresce a cada ano, especialmente em empresas de grande porte. Apesar de ser uma ferramenta capaz de oferecer vantagem competitiva, pequenas e médias empresas ainda tem dificuldade de aplica-la devido a falta de metodologias formais com ênfase em pequenas e médias empresas. Esse trabalho apresenta uma proposta de metodologia para guiar pequenas e médias empresas na realização de projetos de Gestão do Conhecimento. Por meio de um método sequencial e repetível a metodologia desenvolvida neste trabalho de pesquisa e denominada MAGCPME Metodologia de Análise para Gestão do Conhecimento em Pequenas e Médias Empresas, tem como foco a fase de análise e levantamento de requisitos para o desenvolvimento de Sistemas para Gestão do Conhecimento. Esse trabalho também apresenta um estudo de caso com o resultado da aplicação da metodologia MAGCPME em uma pequena empresa brasileira e a análise dos resultados obtidos desta aplicação.; Application of Knowledge Management is growing every year, especially in large companies. Despite all the benefits it can provide, small companies still have difficulty implementing it due to lack formal methodologies with an emphasis on small and medium enterprises. This work proposes a methodology to guide small and medium enterprises to start Knowledge Management projects. Through a sequential and repeatable method the methodology developed on this work called MAKMSME Methodology of Analysis for Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Enterprises...

Pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) cumprem um importante papel no desenvolvimento econômico e social das nações: geram riquezas, empregos e produzem inovação. Empresas como Apple® e Microsoft®, maiores do mundo na atualidade, já figuraram na dimensão dessas empresas. Entretanto, compreender a dinâmica desse universo empresarial tem se revelado um desafio para a pesquisa acadêmica. No contexto mundial constata-se que em torno de 25% das empresas nascentes sobrevivem menos de dois anos e, em torno de 50%, menos de cinco. O objetivo desta Tese consistiu em identificar e testar os fatores que determinam a sobrevivência e o desempenho de PMEs. A amostra foi formada por 410 empresas da região centro-sul do Estado do Paraná, sendo 74 empresas inativas (não sobreviventes) e 336 ativas (sobreviventes). A medida de desempenho resultou de oito indicadores, e foi testada sob três modalidades: a) sobrevivência versus não sobrevivência; b) grupos: não sobreviventes, sobrevivência marginal e alto desempenho, e; c) desempenho como variável contínua. As variáveis independentes foram distribuídas em oito dimensões: capital humano, capital social, características gerenciais, condições do ambiente, características organizacionais...

Mestrado em Marketing; How Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is regarded has been changing over time, and is currently a phenomenon with considerable importance, not only for big organizations but also for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), due to the competitiveness that presently exists. After the literature review about the theme, the research questions emerged were: Why do SMEs need to implement CRM? How is CRM implemented in SMEs? In this, we proposed a methodology for the adoption of CRM by SMEs. A multiple case study, with an exploratory approach, was conducted. Data was collected throught semi-structured interviews in 6 organizations, with a total of 19 interviews. These organizations needed to be SMEs and to have a CRM strategy implemented in it already. Although, there are many SMEs that do not have the necessary resources to implement an adequate combined CRM strategy as well as CRM software, many result in using other programs that are more accessible, but not without limitations. This study proposes a suggestion for CRM adoption in SMEs, taking into consideration the analysis of the current CRM strategies employed by 6 different Portuguese SMEs, their characteristics, qualities and limitations, as well as their current experience. In our sample we were alble to observe that most processes corroborated what was presented in the literature. However...

During thel ast years we have observedin Portugal;as in the mosto f the European countriesa, n accentuated development concerning the internationalisation of the agri-food sector. As a result a better cornpetitive capacity is expected together with the technological reconversion of Portuguese enterprises, an improved organisational capacity of their managers as well as agressivity in the external markets. The internationalisation of enterprises, particularly of small and medium enterprises, may cause the development of their strategic capacity. The, agrifood sector is analyzed using four main topics: the recent evolution of the sector, the growth of the agiifood industry, the relative importanoe of the internationalisation process and the entrepreneurial and governemental strategies for internationalisation. The study allows to open the discussion on the importance that foreign capital has in the Portuguese SMEs atid in the exports value of the Portuguese agri-food sector, considering some subsectors in particular. We are able to conclude that therei s a growing interest of the agrifood European industriyn the Portuguese SMEs, speciallyi n those producing for the internal market. Further, conclusions coulbde arrived at regarding the growing capacitoy f a few large enterprisest o export parallelt o a decreasing participation of the "traditional" SMEs. They need to enter reconversion processesin order to improve specificities of the producatn d find niche markets.

This research investigates the determinants of the capital structure of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) using a unique database that includes over 19,000 Brazilian firms and spans 13 years of data. The econometric analysis employs the System Generalized Method of Moments estimator (GMM-Sys) and two strong results emerge: (a) profitability is negatively related to leverage, and (b) asset growth is positively related to leverage. Both results are consistent with the pecking order theory of capital structure and suggest that SMEs tend to finance their expansion with debt only after exhausting their internal resources. Additionally, we find weaker evidence for the following: (a) size is positively related to leverage, which can be interpreted as evidence that larger firms have more access to credit markets; (b) riskier SMEs tend to be less financially leveraged, consistent with the bankruptcy cost arguments from trade-off theories; and (c) the age of the firm is negatively related to financial leverage, suggesting that older SMEs may be slightly more conservative in their financing choices. Finally, the magnitude of the coefficient of lagged leverage shows the high persistence of this variable and is compatible with the hypothesis that SMEs adjust their debt/equity ratio towards a target value...

This study is to provide the Government of Chile with a review of the portfolio of small and medium enterprise (SMEs) development programs and the institutions that provide them, leading to recommendations to improve the effectiveness of a streamlined portfolio. This emphasis is important for economic reasons, given the sectors role in employment, and the possibility of improving its integration into the national economy and export-oriented production and marketing chains. However, this analysis also identifies areas where SMEs can more effectively leverage government programs to become more productive, efficient, and innovative. The analysis is based on interviews with key policymakers, managers and other staff of the government institutions responsible for most of the programs secondary reports, and discussions with small business managers, business association leaders, academicians and financial intermediaries. The report is organized as follows: The first chapter reviews the evolution of the macroeconomic and business environment in Chile...

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) represent an important pillar of the Moroccan economy. Estimates indicate they account for more than 90 percent of all enterprises and contribute to 21.6 percent of total employment. These numbers only reflect the statistics of the formal economy: Their contribution to the real economy is significantly higher if the economic activity of the informal sector were to be included. Most MSMEs are in the services sector, followed by manufacturing and trade. The Moroccan government has acknowledged the importance of MSMEs for the national economy and has developed a number of initiatives aimed at improving the enabling environment for these firms. A new national strategy aimed at promoting the development of small enterprises was elaborated in 2011, which includes a simplified taxation system, adapted social charges, extended social security coverage, and specific banking products.

The authors explore the relationship between the relative size of the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, economic growth, and poverty using a new database on the share of SME labor in the total manufacturing labor force. Using a sample of 76 countries, they find a strong association between the importance of SMEs and GDP per capita growth. This relationship, however, is not robust to controlling for simultaneity bias. So, while a large SME sector is characteristic of successful economies, the data fail to support the hypothesis that SMEs exert a causal impact on growth. Furthermore, the authors find no evidence that SMEs reduce poverty. Finally, they find qualified evidence that the overall business environment facing both large and small firms-as measured by the ease of firm entry and exit, sound property rights, and contract enforcement-influences economic growth.

This paper describes a new cross-country database on the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This database is unique in that it presents consistent and comparable information on the contribution of the SME sector to total employment and GDP across different countries. The dataset improves on existing publicly available datasets on several grounds. First, it extends coverage to a broader set of developing and industrial economies. Second, it provides information on the contribution of the SME sector using a uniform definition of SMEs across different countries, allowing for consistent cross-country comparisons. Third, while we follow the traditional definition of the SME sector as being part of the formal sector, the new database also includes the size of the SME sector relative to the informal sector. This paper describes the sources and the construction of the different indicators, presents descriptive statistics, and explores correlations with other socioeconomic variables.

In 2010, IFC conducted a study to estimate the number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the world, and to determine the degree of access to credit and use of deposit accounts for formal and informal MSMEs. The study used primarily data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys (ES). In 2011 the data was revisited as new enterprise surveys became available. The resulting database, IFC Enterprise Finance Gap Database, covers 177 countries. This fact sheet summarizes and highlights the key data points available for the formal micro, formal small and medium enterprises (SME), and the aggregated formal and informal MSME sectors.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for a lion's share of the enterprises in most economies and are also thought to be an engine of new growth and innovation. The focus of this paper is to take the insights on SME mix and segments to practical implications for developing countries around the world. The paper attempts to do this by providing a diagnostic approach that client countries and regions can use to assess their SME sectors and tease out firms' contribution to the local economy. Guidelines and specific examples of policies based on the insights in the paper have been provided. Lastly, the paper includes some areas of future research that are required on the subject. This paper proceeds in three steps. The first is to better understand the economic contribution of SMEs. This analysis complements the existing policy focus and takes it further to direct attention to a more specific set of growth drivers to enable the firms that matter disproportionately, the competitive SMEs, while remaining inclusive and avoiding market distortion. The second step is to develop a perspective on how best to complement the policy focus on competitive SMEs with that on larger firms. Policy-makers need to structure policy appropriately to develop a healthy eco-system of firms. The third step is to make this analysis actionable by policy-makers. This paper provides an initial SME policy diagnostic. A better understanding of how to encourage SME growth has the potential to make a substantial contribution to national economic performance.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa have been hailed as the engine of economic growth. They are at the heart of developing countries' entrepreneurship, the source of most new employment and productive investment, and the basis for growth and poverty reduction. Despite the economic potential of SMEs, they face severe constraints related to access to resources, finance, and services, as well as procedural barriers all of which limit their potential to invest, innovate, and improve productivity and sustainability. To address these constraints, International Finance Corporation (IFC) developed the SME Solutions Centre (SSC) Pilot Program in Kenya. The SSC value proposition centers on four key pillars: access to finance, access to advisory services/technical assistance (now SME management solutions), access to reliable market information, and support for an enhanced business enabling environment. This smart lesson details the lessons learned from the SSC's experience with the access to finance pillar.

Uma das medidas para o sucesso do uso da tecnologia da informação (TI) é seu impacto na performance das empresas. Muitos estudos têm sido realizados analisando a influência da TI no resultado, especialmente em empresas de grande porte. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a relação entre investimentos em TI e eficiência organizacional com foco em empresas de micro, pequeno e médio porte. Para isso, foram identificados fatores críticos de sucesso para o desempenho de empresas industriais, sendo em seguida desenvolvido um modelo para realização de análise envoltória de dados (DEA - Data Envelopment Analysis) em dois estágios. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada com empresas ligadas à Associação Brasileira das Indústrias de Máquinas e Equipamentos (Abimaq). Dentre os resultados destacam-se a maior capacidade das empresas de pequeno porte em converter o uso da TI em eficiência operacional e a maior capacidade das empresas maiores em converter fatores críticos de sucesso em rentabilidade.; The impact on companies' performance is among the possible measures for Information Technology (IT) success. Several researches showing the influence of IT on firms' results have been conducted, but mainly through studies carried out in large enterprises. The objective of this work was to analyze the relationship between IT investments and organizational efficiency - focusing on micro...

Este trabalho aborda a gestão do desenvolvimento de produtos e a inovação tecnológica, amplamente aceitos como um meio de assegurar sobrevivência aos negócios. Realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica identificando os diferentes fatores que os influenciam. Descreve-se uma pesquisa, aplicada em 2004, que avaliou as metodologias de desenvolvimento de produtos utilizadas em pequenas e médias empresas industriais (PME\'s), em uma região específica do estado de São Paulo, pertencentes ao setor metal-mecânico da economia brasileira e que adotou como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário, dividido por assuntos, projetado e aplicado em entrevistas presenciais em uma amostra de 32 empresas. Este trabalho propõe e ordena um conjunto de diretrizes de apoio ao esforço de inovação tecnológica em PME\'s industriais, evidenciadas em uma ferramenta para o diagnóstico do estágio de amadurecimento, que se fundamentada na categorização das empresas pesquisadas, segundo os fatores de inovação tecnológica abordados por diversos autores. O método foi validado pela análise da implantação de diretrizes, em épocas distintas, em três empresas participantes da pesquisa.; This work approaches the product development management and technological innovation...

This article aims to understand the importance of systematic environmental scanning in SMEs (small and medium enterprises), whereas the understanding of how companies seek and use information from the Internet is of great relevance to this process, keeping them more competitive in their market. For this was a literature review of environmental scanning, evaluating that several generic models are described in the literature, although many don’t direct their efforts for small and medium enterprises. The methodology used was a descriptive single case study to present the procedures performed by a company that uses data from the Internet in its environmental scanning, comparing the practice used with the steps of the model described in the literature. The results showed that the Internet is used as an important source for environmental scanning of this company, but the search for on-line information happens without systematic, intuitively and reactively. This article contributes to help SMEs to perceive the importance of scanning the environment and begin to adopt a formal model that systematizes the search and use of on-line information, making them more strategic to their business.; Este artigo tem como proposta compreender a importância da sistematização do monitoramento ambiental em PMEs (pequenas e médias empresas)...

North Carolina is challenged to foster economic development while protecting environmental assets under regulatory and legislative mandate. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the major economic drivers in North Carolina, and in the United States as a whole, but existing support networks for small emterprises looking to pursue sustainable practices are insufficient. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to ensure that its regulations do not unreasonably burden SMEs. The EPA is investigating ways that it can assist SMEs that are voluntarily trying to improve their environmental stewardship, specifically looking at the feasibility and appropriateness of using environmental management systems (EMSs) and peer-to-peer mentoring to help small businesses address their corporate practices. This report provides the results of the first phase of work for the EPA. Analysis of qualitative data from SMEs in two North Carolina cities shows that barriers and motivations for sustainable behavior in small organizations are different than those for larger entities. Our analysis and recommendations for tools to help SMEs improve their environmental footprints were aided by identifying and analyzing the motivations that SMEs cite for implementing sustainable practices. SMEs need a simple and flexible framework for developing and implementing EMSs. Introducing SMEs to the newly-developed “EMS Guide for SME” tool may help smaller enterprises at different level of EMS potential incorporate an informal environmental management system into their daily business operations. The EMS Guide for SME separates SMEs into three categories based on their EMS development potential and provides specific guidance for entities across the potential range. This will help organizations customize their environmental analysis and procedures to fit their capabilities...

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will play a key role in future economic and social strategies in South Africa. However, we find that SMEs are particularly vulnerable to shocks in their external environment due to a general lack of skills and resources. This is critical as the future demand for electricity in South Africa is likely to outstrip supply and electricity will become increasingly unreliable and expensive. We surveyed 250 SMEs in Cape Town and found that the prevailing policy methods of changing electricity consumption behaviour: information campaigns, increasing prices, and providing rebates for energy savings, have had limited results and are unsustainable when applied to SMEs.