MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (4)

Author: ANDONOVA VENETA STEFANOVA.
Year: 2004.
University: POMPEU FABRA [www.upf.edu].
Place of defense: DEPARTAMENTO DE ECONOMÍA Y EMPRESA.
Place of preparation: DEPARTAMENTO DE ECONOMÍA Y EMPRESA.

Summary: This thesis contributes to various fields of knowledge. First, it examines the impact ambiguous that Internet technology has on the cost structure of transaction in the case of retail sales. It offers a model where the Internet was intended as a technology for distributing low cost requires acceptance by customers and a business model specific to become a viable alternative to traditional methods of sale. The prediction of the model is that the distributors are going to formulate its strategy with regard to electronic commerce depending on their traditional way of selling. This hypothesis is confirmed by the evidence of the behavior of a group of distribution chains based in the United States. Second, this thesis examines empirically that determines the adoption of Internet technology and cellular telephony globally since 1980. It demonstrates that differences between countries are largely determined by the investment climate affecting incentives to adopt technologies based on specific assets. Using three different measures of the investment climate is shown that the spread of the Internet depends heavily on the security for investors, while the adoption of cellular telephony which is based on modules transportable and less specific assets is less subject to institutional quality. It is argued that the existence of technologies insensitive institutional underdevelopment can be an opportunity for investors. Finally on develops and tests a theory that relates the electoral systems and configurations government to the protection of property rights. It proposes a model, which provides a negative relationship between the number of institutions of consensus decision-making and the level of protection of property rights. Using data from 63 democratic countries is that those who have less consensual institutions have better rates of protection of property rights and thus enjoy better investment climate. Finally, the theory proposed here is contrasted with the popular notion that asserts that the differences in the level of protection of property rights deriving from the legal tradition of the countries. The assumption is that the countries of legal tradition Anglo-Americana enjoy better protection of property rights that the countries of legal tradition Continental-Europea. The evidence confirms that the scenarios developed here tends to better predict the level of protection of property rights that the legal origin.

Author: LÓPEZ GAMERO M. DOLORES.
Year: 2004.
University: ALICANTE [www.ua.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The objective of this study focuses on answering three key questions: Do you affect how a number of features contingenciales and internal factors in the attitude of managers to the environment as a competitive threat or opportunity? Â how that affects the attitude proactivity level of environmental strategy? Â how this strategy influences on the performance of companies? To answer these questions we divided our work into two parts. The first of these is a very thorough review of the literature on the integration of environment in the process of strategic direction, and the link between environmental strategy and performance. In the second part of this paper we present the empirical work done in two phases. In a first phase is a qualitative research to explore the phenomenon of environmental management excellence in eight companies belonging to the environmental sector primary, secondary and tertiary. To do so, as a methodological tool we use the case study. Subsequently, is a comparative study of cases with a view to establishing proposals that reflected the relationship arising as a result of the match between the theoretical model initially posed and the evidence in each particular case. In this study are perceived similarities between the industry primary and secondary, and deviations from the tertiary sector. In a second stage to perform a quantitative research, using structural equation models, in order to validate the proposals emerged in qualitative research from a sectoral analysis. To this end are selected as populations under study for the industrial complexes affected by the law IPPC and tourist accommodations, 3, 4 and 5 stars in Spain. Our results indicate that there are sectoral differences in the effect that environmental regulations, stakeholders, barriers sector, uncertainty and the resources and capabilities complementary cause on the interpretation of directors to the environment as a competitive opportunity. In addition, the level of environmental proactivity depends on a significant and positive interpretations of the managers of the environment as a competitive opportunity and the availability of a set of complementary assets in the organization. Finally, it contrasts empirically the direct link between the variables environmental strategy, environmental performance, competitive advantage and economic result.

Author: SINDE CANTORNA ANA ISABEL.
Year: 2004.
University: VIGO [www.uvigo.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The investigation conducted has been structured in a total of seven chapters are grouped into three distinct parts. The first of these contains the theory of work, the second contextualization of the investigation, the third empirical analysis. In the first part, includes two chapters along which aims on the one hand, stress the importance of diffusion processes in the process of technological innovation, especially in secotres that fundamnetan innovation in the acquisition of new technologies developed in other companies or in other productive sectors (Chapter 1). While in Chapter 2 raises the conceptual framework proposed to carry out the investigation. To do so, the theory was revised in various areas of knowledge (sociology, economics, marketíng organization) as well as the major contributions of empirical research conducted on the basis of different theoretical models. Based on the above information identifies the main factors in the processes of diffusion and adoption. The conceptual framework is proposed in this research seeks to integrate the models used to study the diffusion processes at industry or dissemination interempresa with existing proposals on adopció level enterprise, with the objective of establishing the factors that affect both processes. In a second part, we try to contextualize research travé study of the evolution recorded by the sector under review. This part consists of two chapters, the first of them (Chapter 3) aims to analyze the context in which the Spanish fishing sector experienced great growth, so have information on the environment in which firms operate and in the following chapters (Chapter 4) is conceptualized the term fishing enterprise, highlighting their features and peculiarities of the same. Finally, a third part deals with the empirical analysis. In the first chapter (Chapter 5), deals with the study of diffusion at steel as a material for construction of helmets, the adoption of diesel engines, the embodiment of the echo sounding the production process fishermen, as well as, variant of trawl couple introduced by Spanish fishermen against the drag by a single vessel used in the rest of the world. In this case, will take into account not only factors relacionaldos with industry applicant, but also those linked to the sector offeror, the characteristics of the technology to adopt, to the evolution of the old technology or the constraints of the environment in which played a leading role political guidelines of the time associated with the fishing industry. Finally, in Chapter 6 are trying to identify which characteristics of the enterprises, both sector demand as supply sector, involving greater porbabilidad making in the initial stages, and therefore affected in a greater or lesser speed of disseminating new technologies within the industry. So, we studied the importance of the size of the company, its ownership structure, its organizational structure, its experience in the adoption of other technologies, their geographical location or type of shipyard builder of the ship, the decision adopting or not a specific technology.

Author: JANE MARCET JOAN.
Year: 2004.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: ETSEIB, AULA 28-8.
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H Campus SUD.

Summary: The objectives of this thesis are to identify reliable measures of performance of logistics alliances and determine the effect of the contractual components on the alliance performance. To accomplish these objectives an empirical study was conducted on the European logistics alliances. The empirical study was conducted in two phases. The first one comprised an exploratory study based on a multiple case study analysis. The aim of this exploratory phase was to get deeper assessment of the thesis objectives and be able to create a general framework. The second phase involved an explanatory study using a survey on 95 European logistics alliances where information was collected from both parties. The aim of this second phase was to provide empirical evidence on the measures of performance and the influence of the contractual elements and contract complexity on the performance. Literature on strategic alliances has acknowledged the multi-dimensional nature of performance and the need to analyze the validity of different measures to represent the constituent satisfaction with the alliance. In the case of logistics partnership, performance has been usually associated with the achievement of specific partnership goals and the reach of previous empirical research in the area is still limited. Another important limitation of the existing empirical work on logistics alliances is the fact that information is generally only available from one of the partners; therefore, it is often assumed (explicitly or implicitly) that the measures of performance and their valuation are common to both sides of the partnerships. Studies that compare among constituencies are scarce and not complete. Again, the literature on strategic alliances in general suffers from this same drawback. Although researchers have developed diverse frameworks to analyze factors of success and failure in logistics alliances, there is very little empirical evidence which is mainly constrained by the sample size or sample with only data available from one of the parties. To the best of our knowledge, none of the previous academic work on logistics alliances has performed empirical research with a significant sample of matched pairs of 3PL providers and customers. The main conclusions of this thesis related to the performance measurement of logistics alliances are that participants in a logistic alliance enjoy different levels of satisfaction with it and the inter-party perceptions are a poor reliable measure of true actual satisfaction. Nevertheless, from a practical point of view, the thesis study casts certain doubts about the validity of using surveys on one party of the partnership only to infer the global performance on the partnership and the opinion of both sides is necessary, an d more so in the case of purely contractual alliances. Given the difficulties in collecting data from both sides of the dyad, this study suggests that in supplier-customer relationships the surveyed party should be the supplier as â consistent with the results â they are more likely to be aware of their customerâs satisfaction with the partnership than the other way around. Related to the performance model of logistics alliances, the main conclusions of this thesis are that the performance of logistics alliances is mainly influenced by the alliance drivers, the execution of the reciprocity components and the strategy changes suffered by the customer firm. More importantly, thesis results bring empirical evidence of the dimensionality of the logistics contract complexity and show that there is no significant influence of the contract complexity on the performance of logistics strategic alliances. As the contract complexity is not by itself a driver towards the logistics alliance effectiveness, parties understand the logistics contract as the backbone of the logistics agreements that support the alignment of expectations, drivers, reci 8 procity 2bd components and long -term commitments of the alliance

Author: JIMÉNEZ GONZÁLEZ SEBASTIÁN JORGE.
Year: 2004.
University: LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA [www.ulpgc.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: This paper begins by providing a theoretical framework for the study of the transfer of knowledge intrasectoral. To do so, we boarded the theory of the firm based on the resources and environment of new business. What we concluded that it is necessary to manage knowledge as a source of competitive advantage, which is also studied. In this process it is possible to distinguish two main points: 1 - The acquisition and creation of knowledge. 2 - The transfer and application in their own organizations. This is the phase where transfer focuses this work, and to this end acometemos a review of the literature in this area, bearing in mind the different levels of analysis possible. Next, we have proposed a model for classifying the types of transfer that can be given within a sector. Then proceed to collect, classify and analyze the determinants of the development of intra-transfer level. Concluding an explanatory model for the development of the same as testamos empirically in the field of fitness centers in Spain. In the second chapter we approached our design and research methodology. This chapter includes a presentation on the context of the investigation. Also included is an explanation of the research methodology based on: in-depth interviews and a survey type Delphi to industry experts and secondary sources of information. The last paragraphs of this chapter addresses the organization's field work and the methods used to analyze the information used. In the third chapter compiled and analyzed the results of the investigation. The result of these findings we propose a model explaining the transfer of knowledge in the field of intra-fitness in Spain. Finishing chapter with the study results Delphi, which serve to ratify the proposed model. This thesis ends with the Chapter of findings, implications and recommendations. These conclusions are relevant both to the theoretical review performed as a consistent approach to the objectives and assumptions and the results of the work carried out to check the validity of the same. In addition, we are addressing the implications arising from the results and raised a number of practical recommendations.

Author: FERNÁNDEZ ORTIZ RUBÉN.
Year: 2004.
University: LA RIOJA [www.unirioja.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The thesis analyzes the behavior of the SME exporter riojana, with an emphasis on the determinants of onset of globalization and the commitment to foreign markets. The results show that at the beginning of the development phase exporter, aspects such as size, the experience of the SME in the domestic market, the positive perception of the advantages of this strategy and the setting of targets by management, increase the likelihood that the company will be launched in the outward. They will be mainly issues related to the skills of the management team (language skills, international experience of the management team, age of the management team, etc.). Engine startup process any outward. Regarding the study of the levels of commitment exporting SMEs that have already begun to export variables such as a large size, scope for expansion within the domestic market, international experience, the goals of growth, profitability or diversification risk, a high value on the benefits, a low valuation of the obstacles or the availability to guide the activity outside the resources of the company, will contribute positively to an increase in the propensity to export. As in the beginning of the export, the formation of the leadership team, international experience and knowledge of these languages, and significantly positive influence on the degree of commitment exporter. The policy of diversifying markets and commitment to technological activities also enhance the propensity of the exporting company. With regard to the family business, the family in a more meaningful and relevant affect a greater commitment exporter are having relatives in the main export market and the existence in the family of some consensus on the pros and cons of the effects of the strategy of international expansion.

Author: COELHO PAQUETE BERNARDINO.
Year: 2004.
University: HUELVA [www.uhu.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: Since information of the issues on business cooperation is very low, we decided to move forward with this research, identifying the most relevant variables that explain the evolution of business activity in space-border Algarbe-Huelva and major obstacles to development existing and potential synergies have not been exploited. The theoretical support of this research has to do with transaction costs. Not interested in knowing the sources of information used by companies for the development of business opportunities and obstacles for information and asymmetries in the field of political and institutional framework to undertake the full development of entrepreneurial activity in this space transboundary Huelva - Algarve. It was essential to know the behavior, attitudes, perspectives motivations inducing the operators to promote cross-border activities. Here, we visited enterprises of the two sides of the border exporting to the neighboring region already gathered through a survey of businesses both sides of a border which export to the neighboring region and through a survey gathered information we needed to the realization of this research.

Author: TAGLIAFERRO EVANDRO ROBERTO.
Year: 2004.
University: EXTREMADURA [www.unex.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CC. ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: UNIVERSIDAD NORTE PAULISTA.

Author: PEREZ GONZALEZ DANIEL.
Year: 2005.
University: CANTABRIA [www.unican.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The objective of this Doctoral Thesis is studying the effect of information technology (IT) in organizations through the adoption of an inclusive approach and multidimensional: knowledge management, productivity and excellence in management. In particular, it seeks to analyze the impact of efforts made by organizations in information technology, considered both individually and under the influence of moderators organizational variables in the various stages of qualitative and quantitative value generation process .

Author: ALVARADO ACUÑA LUIS SEGUNDO.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: AULA 10.44 (ETSEIB).
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H PLANTA 10 Campus SUD.

Summary: Successful companies tried to be described by different theoretical paradigms, among them are the activity-based view, view resource base and knowledge base view, proposed by Porter, Dubin, Hamel, Prahalad, Grant, Teece, and others as they take based on the theory of resources and capabilities, considering building blocks to manage by companies to gain access to a better competitive position. Therefore, the management of intangibles that create value in companies, namely the management of intellectual capital, becomes a key process for obtaining competitive advantage. Clearly, the management of intellectual capital involves the development and testing of business activities essential to the success of signatures prior to an external review process, based on the model of the five forces in Porter and competitive intelligence, that should bring the main needs of the market and the competitive position of the best competitor, an activity that can be developed through a process of benchmarking strategic. This way the company can determine what products or services are the ones who must develop to succeed in the marketplace and their core business partners. Then, the company can identify the skills, abilities and relationships essential for the development of business activities essential. It is here where you can highlight the role of business associations to provide enterprises strategic relationships with other entities inserted in a process outsourcing where every company engaged in their core businesses. Groups can also actively collaborate in a number of processes related to knowledge management, because when it aims at developing the skills and abilities essential becomes a process essential for the productivity and competitiveness of existing and future businesses. In this context theoretical fits the âModelo grouping enterprise to facilitate the development of intellectual capital in companies that componenâ. The thesis in a first phase, and using the methodology of Dubin for the construction of theoretical models, including its realization, which in addition to considering the paradigms above also includes the following theories: knowledge management (based on Nonaka, Konno , Takeuchi, and others), social capital (based on Nahapiet, Ghoshal, Adler, Kwon and others) and intellectual capital (based on Viedma, Andriessen, Ulrich and others). Later this model is validated through an empirical research applied in the construction sector, where using the methodology proposed by Robert Yin case is to develop multiple three cases: Catalonia, Valencia and Santiago de Chile. In all three groups were consulted business, forty corporations and other entities related to the construction sector. We shall now proceed to an extensive field work, which includes a variety of interviews and surveys, which together with the analysis of databases, publications, Web sites and other sources of information, are used to perform various reports in each case, which finally contrast and generates the final report of the study area. Considering the empirical evidence and theoretical propositions is to modify and validate the model, which has the primary objective of delivering a structure suitable for the strategic sector of Constr 8 ucción, 380 which explain the role they should fulfill groups business and activities that should make companies for effective formulation and strategic analysis which lead them to improve their competitive position in the market.

Author: PAPOUTSAKIS CHARALAMPOS.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: ETSEIB.
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H Campus SUD.

Summary: The Doctoral Thesis builds and tests a theoretical model that evaluates the contribution of shared knowledge and information technology to manufacturing performance. This is achieved through a sectorial research study among Manufacturing, Quality and R&D groups in the global economy era of the 21st century. Theoretically, our research stands uponthe âknowledge-based theory of the firmâ. The theory has received influences from earlier research lines. It is considered to originate from the âepistemologyâ of the cognitive philosophers and âthrough contradiction to the âtransaction cost economicsâ and the traditional product-based or competitive advantage view-it builds heavily upon the âresource-based theoryâ. Starting with an analysis of previous empirical studies and by means of a productive synthesis, we develop the Shared Knowle! dge and Information Technology evaluation model which we later use in order to test the investigation hypotheses. Survey data collected from 51 medium to large sizeindustrial companies with a total of 112 manufacturing groups, representing 5 industrial sectors (alimentation, automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical, electro-mechanical,and textile) were analyzed to test the model. A methodology, particularly deployed for the Thesis and the proposed evaluation model, was developed. Its key elements are: (a) Two types of questionnaires, addressing the inter-group relationships andthe performance issues respectively, were developed and pilot tested prior to being used as the principal researchinstruments. (b) Design of the indicators and measures has been carried out using two types of measures, general and multiplicative, for all the variables. Manufacturing group performance has been conceptualized in two parts: operational and service performance. (c) Key-informant methodology has been used for selecting ourresearch responders. (d) Validity threats have been given special attention and three different types of validity criteria are applied. (e) Path analysis, a regression-based technique that permits testing of causal models, has been used. The investigation hypotheses have been tested and found to be fully or partially supported, by the significance -or insignificance- of the relevant paths. (f) Finally, four confirmatory tests have been conducted in order to further secure the validity of the hypotheses. As shared knowledge and information technology (IT) are central points of our investigation, we have focused on the issues of Knowledge Management (KM), and we have purposely directed our research on specific IT Systems for Supporting Collaboration and Knowledge-based Work. Our final target was to connect both shared knowledge and information technology to manufacturing performance, the subject matter of our investigation. Todayâs global economy era is the environment of our study, so it was under this perspective als! o that: (a) we have examined theinfluences of the globalization phenomenon to the recent information technology developments; (b) we have regarded KM and sharing knowledge in practice as an answer to globalization. Finally, our conclusions are presented together with a reference to the studyâs limitations and some recommendations for future research. Based on the literature and the results of our research we are demonstrating that the two main findings of the study âthe proved significant contributions of (a) shared knowledge to the manufacturing group performance, and (b) information technology to, mainly, the manufacturing group performance and, secondarily, to sharing knowledge- are useful to researchers and the business community alike. Manufacturing, Quality and R&D groups have the opportunity to increase shared knowledge and, in this manner, to positively affect manufacturi 8 ng perfo 337 rmance by developing mutual trust and influence through repeated periods of positive face-to-face or IT-based communication, social interaction and common goal accomplishment.

Author: MAJO FERNANDEZ JOAQUIM.
Year: 2005.
University: POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA [www.upc.edu].
Place of defense: DEPARTAMENTO D'ORGANITZACIÓN DE EMPRESAS.
Place of preparation: ETSEIB, EDIFICI H Campus SUD.

Author: AGUILASOCHO MONTOYA DORA.
Year: 2005.
University: ROVIRA I VIRGILI [www.urv.cat].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIÉNCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPREARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIÉNCIAS ECONÓMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The high rate of women who own and / or "management" of farmhouses us motiviado to incorporate the variable gender in the creation of goods and services from Rural tourism, and we intend to capture the social factors that are linked with the theme of building if rural accommodation and putting pressure on traditional models linking female farms, ie the diagram of male provider and women focused on the domestic sphere.

Author: GUERRERO DAVALOS CUAUHTEMOC.
Year: 2005.
University: ROVIRA I VIRGILI [www.urv.cat].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS I EMPRESARIALS.

Summary: The present paper deals with the management skills, a technique for the management of human resources aimed at improving the performance of employees and the organization. Specifically, it raised some doubts about the high degree of implementation of this technique in tissue empresarials Spanish that appears more prescriptive literature. Therefore, this paper aims at exploring empirically what is the real degree of use of management skills in specific sectors and companies with different economic results.

Author: SODRÉ FRAGA MAIA M.DAS GRAÇAS.
Year: 2005.
University: BARCELONA [www.ub.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE GEOGRAFÍA E HISTORIA.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE GEOGRAFÍA E HISTORIA.

Summary: This study aims at integrating university / business in the metropolitan area of Salvador and its axis is the analysis of petrochemical industrial segment between the years 2002 and 2004. This election is justified by the fact that the sports complex meets companies varied by the sophistication dela technology that is used in it and its importance in the regional economy. Hence, the purpose of inciting initiatives rapprochement between universities and industry, the expectation of expanding knowledge and produce greater development. The gradual deepening of the object of study has been guided by assumptions derived from the following research problem: Â How are configured and operate, within the metropolitan area of Salvador, the variables that interfere with the university / business? To fix this, the dependent variables and independent guided the six hypotheses to guide this work. The theoretical treatment took into account the historical development and current status of the item, systems and business univestitario of Bahia, the conceptualization and analysis of the petrochemical segment, the various mechanisms of integration, among others. We used the diagnosis analítico-descriptivo, inductive procedure, since it promotes a diverse and thorough collection of information and allows an in-depth analysis of the object. The research underlined the qualitative approach, which has been dispensed with complementary quantitative data. Interviews with the subjects whose functions credited to promote integration, both at the university and in the petrochemical company, led the qualitative approach. The field also included the implementation of questionnaires. The Secondary data were obtained from reports inverstigación, yearbooks and reports from government agencies and the private sector, through web pages and documents seminars on the subject, among other sources. The study concluded that the integration is still incipient in the region due wing considered a number of factors, all of which are analyzed in the workplace, such as: the inexperience of local universities and businesses considered in this type of initiative, that leads to resort to universities Southeast / South, the ideological diversity among researchers and entrepreneurs, the inadequacy of courses offered, both at graduation and in the postgraduate to meet the needs of the petrochemical segment, which, because it capital-intensive, requiring a contribution of advanced technology. Palabras-calve: integration, university / business, technology, competitiveness and development.

Author: SOLANA GONZALEZ PEDRO.
Year: 2005.
University: CANTABRIA [www.unican.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The objective of this thesis is to study Doctoral two factors of importance in the area of knowledge management: documentation, which partly reflects the explicit knowledge of the organizations, and experience, as implied knowledge acquired by the development of activities and processes business. Discusses semántiva of these factors with a collaborative approach to sharing knowledge, and proposes a conceptual model of integrated data which formalizes and permete automate workflow, definition, dynamics and development of structured business processes, management of documentation and security.

Author: Bou Alameda Maria Elena.
Year: 2005.
University: RAMÓN LLULL [www.url.edu].
Place of defense: E.S. Admi.y Dire. de Empresas ESADE.
Place of preparation: E.S. de Admi. Y Dire. de Empresas ESADE.

Summary: Drawing on the study of knowledge and action, this thesis explores how professionals belonging to two different companies develop their practice, "knowing" and "acting" simultaneously. It argues that different types of knowledge, activities and individual and contextual aspects are interrelated at the time of the action. However, this relationship is not static. The empirical work developed in a local placement and an international consultant shows that professionals use many kinds of knowledge at the same time (known as "bundle" or bundle of knowledge) at the same time that the practice takes place. Thus, the predominant role of explicit knowledge and the need for this to be a precedent for action are called into question. The empirical work also reveals that the "beam of knowledge is not static. Evolves over time and at the same time, the predominant type of knowledge depends on the actual practice and the level of expertise of professionals. Thus, the results underscore the fact that the relationship between knowledge and action is much more dynamic and that both words are intertwined. Finally, this research shows that the typical categorizations senior / junior commonly used by organizations, rather than correspond to different stocks knowledge formally describe different practices. This means that although experts and novices are apparently doing the same job, their actions are different since they are formed by beams or combinations of different types of knowledge and different orders of importance. Thus, these results point to the fact that the substance of the expert lies in its ability to reenmarcar (reframe). He is the one able to rebuild their practice, either reenmarcando their activities or the context that surrounds it. KEYWORDS: knowledge, types of knowledge, action, practice, experts, empirical study. PARAULES CLAU: Coneixement, tipus of coneixement, acció, practice, experts, estudi empíric. KEYWORDS: knowledge, knowledge types, knowing, action, practice, expertise, empirical study

Author: MOHAMMADY GARFAMY REZA.
Year: 2005.
University: AUTÓNOMA DE BARCELONA [www.uab.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: WHILE PRIOR RESEARCH PROVIDES CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLIER SELECTION AND BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT (BPI), IT YIELDS LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THE LEVEL OF THE RELATIONSHIP. BY EXAMINING THE LEVEL OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLIER SELECTION AND BPI PRACTICES, THE PRESENT STUDY CONTRIBUTES TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE IN BOTH FIELDS THROUGH IDENTIFYING AND EXAMINING THE LINKAGES BETWEEN TWO TOPICS BASED ON A DEVELOPED CONCEPTUAL MODEL, WHICH EXPLICATES THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SUPPLIER SELECTION AND BPI CONSTRUCTS, AND PROVIDING THE RESULTS OF AN EMPIRICAL TEST OF THE MODEL AT DIFFERENT DIVISIONAL LEVELS OF LARGE FIRMS OPERATING IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES IN THE LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM).

Author: BUENO ÁVILA SALVADOR.
Year: 2005.
University: PABLO DE OLAVIDE [www.upo.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EMPRESARIALES.

Summary: The strategic objective of this dissertation is to develop an analysis of assimilation and acceptance of ERP systems to enable us to properly understand these processes. In order to meet this objective we have defined as tactical objectives delimitation of the importance accorded by the organizations to ERP systems and the definition of a model that provides solutions to the acceptance of ERP systems by users. To complete the objectives proposed research, this thesis is divided into eight chapters, including highlights Chapters 3, 4 and 5 as those who seek to bring solutions to the tactical objectives defined above. In the second chapter develops the analysis of the environment of ERP systems. The third chapter elaborates on the relevance of the organizations assigned to ERP systems. In the fourth chapter develops a model for structuring the decision of selecting ERP tools for organizations. In the fifth chapter materializes the proposal of a model that provides evidence of the acceptance of ERP systems by end-users. In the sixth chapter detailing from an integrative perspective the main findings of the researches and the methodologies employed. Finally, the eighth and ninth chapters contain bibliographic references consulted and the annexes to the various chapters.

Author: MIRA SOLVES IGNACIO.
Year: 2005.
University: MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ DE ELCHE [www.umh.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS SOCIALES Y JURIDICAS DE ELCHE.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS ECONOMICAS Y EMPRESARIALES DE ELCHE.

Summary: This research analyzes the attitudes and behaviors of university graduates into business creation, and the influence they graduated can take it. Thus, based on concepts that focus on the importance of perceptions and intentions, and their influence in decision-making, this work is part of the Institutional Theory North, as regards facilitating the theoretical study of the institutional framework and regarding the promotion of business start-ups by titulacdos university. Specifically, in the first place have been analyzed data from 2000 surveys of the adult population between 18 and 65 years, collected through the project GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) in the Community of Valencia, which has allowed analyze significant differences concerning the establishment business between graduates and other population groups, and secondly, there was a case study in the University Miguel Hernández de Elche. The results show that people with college education perceived the existence of business opportunities to a greater extent than the rest of the population in the same direction perceives that it is capable of creating businesses and shows his intention to do so to a greater extent. As for influences university has highlighted the importance of practical activities linked to the curriculum, contacts with research groups and the influence of development programs and support for the creation of new businesses developed by the university itself , and in which they can engage actors socio-economic environment. These results contribute to characterize the phenomenon of business start-ups by university and explain the role they play in the universities.