Customers as Predictors of Rent Returns to Innovation and Small Firms – an exploratory study

Small to medium enterprises (SME) are frequently associated with high levels of innovation. However, it is difficult for such firms to fully assess the merits of a particular innovation. This study examined the risk-return profile of future investment in innovation by SME with respect to anticipated ‘rent' or financial returns. A survey of highly innovative SME was undertaken that examined management perceptions of the key strategic influences on rent returns. Regression analysis suggests that the firms' assessment of the rent returns from their innovation may be influenced by the value it is likely to deliver to the customer, the customer's expected use of the innovation to generate new sales and the ease of integrating the new innovation into existing technologies. The findings have implications for how entrepreneurs from early stage ventures are assisted.small business; entrepreneurship; innovation; risk assessment

Contribution à la compréhension du processus d’élaboration de la stratégie des PME : Deux études de cas

La littérature sur le management stratégique des PME s’est, pendant longtemps, beaucoup intéressée à l’importance de la planification stratégique, mais ne s’est attachée que plus récemment à étudier le processus de décision, de formulation et de mise en oeuvre de la stratégie (Ivanaj et Bayad, 2005). En particulier dans les PME, le processus d’élaboration de la stratégie a une dimension ontologique fondatrice de l’identité de l’entreprise et à partir de laquelle elle projette et construit son avenir dans un processus dynamique et cumulatif. Cet article se concentre sur le processus d’élaboration de la stratégie afin d’évaluer à quel point ce processus est contraint et afin de relever les facteurs qui peuvent l’influencer. Cette recherche est un effort de synthèse des travaux évolutionnistes (Nelson et Winter, 1982, 2002) et constructivistes (Weick, 1995 ; Marmuse, 1999) centrés sur le processus d’élaboration de la stratégie et d’Émile-Michel Hernandez (2001) sur le modèle entrepreneurial. À partir de ces travaux, nous avons construit un modèle théorique que nous avons testé en réalisant deux études de cas de type instrumental (Hlady Rispal, 2002) auprès de deux entreprises moyennes, un fabricant de cycles et une entreprise d’injection plastique. Au plan méthodologique, cette recherche est donc fondamentalement exploratoire. L’objet de cette communication est de décrire et analyser le processus d’élaboration de la stratégie de deux PME dans un système de contraintes et d’influences à la lumière de notre modèle théorique.Literature on small and medium sized enterprises has mostly looked at the importance of strategic planning but paid little attention until recently to strategic decision making, strategy formulation and strategy implementation processes (Ivanaj et Bayad, 2005). This paper focuses on strategy development process in SMEs, in order to evaluate the extent to which it is a constrained process, and identifies specific influencing factors. This research is an attempt to synthesize evolutionist (Nelson and Winter, 1982, 2002) and constructivist (Weick, 1995 ; Marmuse, 1999) contributions on strategy making process on the one hand and entrepreneurial literature (Hernandez, 2001) on the other hand. This research is exploratory and is based upon two instrumental case studies (Hlady Rispal, 2002) to evaluate the practical relevance of the model and to consolidate its theoretical foundation. This paper traces the dynamic and cumulative strategy formulation processes of two SMEs in the context of a system of constraints and influences reflecting our theoretical model.La literatura sobre el management estratégico de las PyMEs se ha interesado por mucho tiempo a la importancia de la plantación estratégica y solo recientemente toma en cuenta el proceso de decisión, de formulación y de puesta en marcha de la estrategia (Ivanaj et Bayad, 2005). En particular en las PyMEs, el proceso de elaboración de la estrategia tiene una dimensión antológica fundadora de la entidad de la empresa, a partir de la cual ella proyecta y construye su porvenir en un proceso dinámico y acumulativo. Esta comunicación se centra en los procesos de elaboración de la estrategia a fin de evaluar hasta que punto este proceso se encuentra limitado, y con el fin de identificar los factores que pueden influenciarlo. Esta investigación es un esfuerzo de síntesis de trabajos evolucionistas (Nelson et Winter, 1982, 2002),constructivistas (Weick, 1995 ; Marmuse, 1999) y de emprendedor (Hernandez 2001) centrados en el proceso de elaboración de la estrategia. En el plan metodológico, esta investigación es por lo tanto fundamentalmente exploratoria, y consiste en realizar dos estudios de caso de tipo instrumental (Hlady Rispal, 2002), permitiéndonos probar nuestro modelo teórico. Son, de alguna manera, la ilustración detallada de una hipótesis teórica permitiendo afinar la grille de lectura de las otras entrevistas. El objetivo de esta comunicación corresponde a la análisis de el proceso de elaboración de la estrategia de dos PyMEs en un sistema de limitaciones y de influencias a la luz de nuestro modelo teórico.Die Literatur zum strategischen Management in KMU hat sich lange Zeit vor allem um die strategische Planung gekümmert. Erst seit kürzerer Zeit sind der Entscheidungsprozess, die Formulierung sowie die Umsetzung der Strategie ein Thema (Ivanaj & Bayad, 2005). Insbesondere bei den KMU hat der Prozess zur Ausarbeitung der Strategie eine ontologische Dimension, die die Identität des Unternehmens mitbegründet und die Zukunft in einer dynamischen und konstruktiven Entwicklung projiziert und gestaltet. Vorliegende Kommunikation konzentriert sich auf den Ausarbeitungsprozess der Strategie, um festlegen zu können bis zu welchem Punkt dieser Prozess zwingend ist und welche Faktoren ihn beeinflussen. Unsere Forschung synthetisiert die evolutionistischen (Nelson & Winter, 1982, 2002) und konstruktivistischen (Weick, 2005 ; Marmuse, 1999) Arbeiten, die den strategischen Ausarbeitungsprozess und das unternehmerische Modell von Émile-Michel Hernandez (2001) thematisieren. Auf dieser Basis haben wir ein theoretisches Modell entwickelt und es anhand von instrumentalen Fallstudien (Hlady Rispal, 2002) bei zwei mittelgrossen Unternehmen getestet. Aus methodischer Sicht handelt es sich also um ein grundsätzlich exploratives Vorgehen. Ziel des Beitrages ist somit die systemische Umschreibung und Analyse des Strategieerarbeitungsprozesses bei KMU – mitsamt sämtlicher Erfordernisse und Einflüsse – im Lichte unseres theoretischen Modelles

Organisational factors, anticipated rents and commercialisation in SMEs

The study investigates the relationship between organisational factors and the anticipated returns to the commercialisation of an innovation within small to medium enterprises (SMEs). Using a large multi-country sample, the analysis involved a structural equation model of seven organisational factors associated with the management of innovation, and their relationship with the anticipated volume of sales, profitability and lifecycle of the innovation. Significant relationships were found between the possession of an innovation strategy and formal commercialisation management, and optimism over sales volumes and lifecycle. The study provides new insights into the resource-based view and theory of entrepreneurial rents, strengthening SME owner-managers’ assessment on future investments in innovation and how to utilise their best capabilities. Policy makers also gain more insights into the commercialisation process within SMEs to foster the innovation orientation in both high and low tech sectors

Employer and employee perspectives of HRM practices within SMEs

This paper examines the perspectives of employers and employees within nano, micro, small, medium, and large firms in relation to HRM practices. The study draws upon a large sample of respondents from firms of all size categories. An online questionnaire comprising established HRM measures was used to collect the data. A multivariate discriminant analysis procedure was used to identify the interrelationships between the employer and employee groups, across firms by size, and how they viewed the importance of the HRM measures. The study found a strong congruence between employers and employees across most constructs and provides insights into the role firm size plays in the formalization of HRM practices and the relative importance of such factors within SMEs

HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase Control the Architecture of Their Nucleocapsid Partner

The HIV-1 nucleocapsid is formed during protease (PR)-directed viral maturation, and is transformed into pre-integration complexes following reverse transcription in the cytoplasm of the infected cell. Here, we report a detailed transmission electron microscopy analysis of the impact of HIV-1 PR and reverse transcriptase (RT) on nucleocapsid plasticity, using in vitro reconstitutions. After binding to nucleic acids, NCp15, a proteolytic intermediate of nucleocapsid protein (NC), was processed at its C-terminus by PR, yielding premature NC (NCp9) followed by mature NC (NCp7), through the consecutive removal of p6 and p1. This allowed NC co-aggregation with its single-stranded nucleic-acid substrate. Examination of these co-aggregates for the ability of RT to catalyse reverse transcription showed an effective synthesis of double-stranded DNA that, remarkably, escaped from the aggregates more efficiently with NCp7 than with NCp9. These data offer a compelling explanation for results from previous virological studies that focused on i) Gag processing leading to nucleocapsid condensation, and ii) the disappearance of NCp7 from the HIV-1 pre-integration complexes. We propose that HIV-1 PR and RT, by controlling the nucleocapsid architecture during the steps of condensation and dismantling, engage in a successive nucleoprotein-remodelling process that spatiotemporally coordinates the pre-integration steps of HIV-1. Finally we suggest that nucleoprotein remodelling mechanisms are common features developed by mobile genetic elements to ensure successful replication

Determination of quantum numbers for several excited charmed mesons observed in B- -> D*(+)pi(-) pi(-) decays

A four-body amplitude analysis of the B − → D * + π − π − decay is performed, where fractions and relative phases of the various resonances contributing to the decay are measured. Several quasi-model-independent analyses are performed aimed at searching for the presence of new states and establishing the quantum numbers of previously observed charmed meson resonances. In particular the resonance parameters and quantum numbers are determined for the D 1 ( 2420 ) , D 1 ( 2430 ) , D 0 ( 2550 ) , D ∗ 1 ( 2600 ) , D 2 ( 2740 ) and D ∗ 3 ( 2750 ) states. The mixing between the D 1 ( 2420 ) and D 1 ( 2430 ) resonances is studied and the mixing parameters are measured. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.7     fb − 1 , collected in proton-proton collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7, 8 and 13 TeV with the LHCb detector

Updated measurement of decay-time-dependent CP asymmetries in D-0 -> K+ K- and D-0 -> pi(+)pi(-) decays

A search for decay-time-dependent charge-parity (CP) asymmetry in D0 \u2192 K+ K 12 and D0 \u2192 \u3c0+ \u3c0 12 decays is performed at the LHCb experiment using proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb^ 121. The D0 mesons are required to originate from semileptonic decays of b hadrons, such that the charge of the muon identifies the flavor of the neutral D meson at production. The asymmetries in the effective decay widths of D0 and anti-D0 mesons are determined to be A_\u393(K+ K 12) = ( 124.3 \ub1 3.6 \ub1 0.5) 7 10^ 124 and A_\u393(\u3c0+ \u3c0 12) = (2.2 \ub1 7.0 \ub1 0.8) 7 10^ 124 , where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The results are consistent with CP symmetry and, when combined with previous LHCb results, yield A_\u393(K+ K 12) = ( 124.4 \ub1 2.3 \ub1 0.6) 7 10^ 124 and A_\u393(\u3c0+ \u3c0 12) = (2.5 \ub1 4.3 \ub1 0.7) 7 10^ 124

Search for the doubly charmed baryon Ω cc +

Abstract: A search for the doubly charmed baryon Ωcc+ with the decay mode Ωcc+ → Ξc+K−π+ is performed using proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV collected by the LHCb experiment from 2016 to 2018, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4 fb−1. No significant signal is observed within the invariant mass range of 3.6 to 4.0GeV/c2. Upper limits are set on the ratio R of the production cross-section times the total branching fraction of the Ωcc+ → Ξc+K−π+ decay with respect to the Ξcc++→Λc+K−π+π+ decay. Upper limits at 95% credibility level for R in the range 0.005 to 0.11 are obtained for different hypotheses on the Ωcc+ mass and lifetime in the rapidity range from 2.0 to 4.5 and transverse momentum range from 4 to 15 GeV/c