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The aim of this thesis is to investigate the influencers and consequences of organisational commitment (OC) within the context of the Sheffield City Region and mid-sized business. The existing literature on OC is almost wholeheartedly dedicated to investigating which type of commitment an employee will experience during their work. Ghosh and Swamy (2014) and Singh and Gupta (2008) considered this to be a weakness of commitment research as it has failed to explain what influences commitment, and its associated consequences. Meyer and Allen's (1991) three component model (TCM) is often used as a framework, and allows researchers to investigate to what extent employees are committed, and which of the three styles of commitment they experience: 'affective' and in line with organisational goals; 'continuous' and trapped through a lack of alternatives; or 'normative' and remaining through loyalty. However, what is missing from existing research is an investigation into the influencing factors of OC and the consequences of having committed employees in the same way that Meyer and Allen (1991, p.71) said 'would require further attention.' Essentially asking, why are employees are committed? Finally, it is noteworthy that OC theory has generally been developed in North-America's public sector and seldom tested in the United Kingdom and with smaller private organisations, a gap filled by this PhD study. In order to answer the research question, a mixed methods research approach was adopted in this thesis. In a pre-study, the existing Meyer and Allen (1991) TCM questionnaire survey was issued to employees in three case organisations in the Sheffield City Region. This allowed the researcher to position, for each employee their current commitment, or lack of thereof, relative to theory before investigating the reasons they were committed. The questionnaire also asked willing employees to volunteer for follow-up interviews. Further, and through a snowballing approach from the original sample, additional volunteers were located. In total, 147 completed TCM questionnaires were returned in the pre-study and 38 employees were interviewed from the three case organisations. The pre-study quantitative data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS and the qualitative data was transcribed and analysed in line with framework analysis (FA) (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). The results from the qualitative data and FA demonstrated that 'Culture,' Organisational Direction,' and 'Relationship' were influencers of OC and the authors own 'Influencers of Organisational Commitment' (IOC model) was presented. Further, the researcher identified the consequences of commitment; for continuous commitment, only the requirement to remain was found. Whereas, for affective and normative commitment styles a number of outcomes were noted: goal and value alignment; reduced turnover; employee attachment; and interest and awareness in the organisations strategy. The influencers and consequences of organisational commitment were identified and explored through the findings and discussion chapters, serving as a practical and theoretical contribution to knowledge in line with the Corley and Gioia (2011) framework.

Cloud computing is a disruptive technology which represents a paradigm shift in the way computing services are purchased and maintained within organisations. Due to its benefits like low capital, scalability and high reliability, the cloud infrastructure has the features and facilities to speed up Information Technology (IT) adoption in developing countries. However, moving data and applications to a cloud environment is not straightforward and can be very challenging as decision makers need to consider numerous technical and organisational aspects before deciding to adopt cloud infrastructure. There are existing models and framework available to support different stages of the cloud adoption decision making process. However, they are developed for technologically developed countries and there has been very little investigation done to determine whether the factors that affect cloud adoption are any different for a technologically developing country like India. This research aims to provide a framework to aid cloud adoption among SMEs in Tamil Nadu, a southern state of the Indian Union. The major contribution to knowledge is the framework, based on Scientific Decision Making (SDM) which has been developed to support SME decision makers at all the different stages of the cloud adoption decision making process. The theories of technology adoption like Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), Technology, Organisation and Environment (TOE) framework along with Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) forms the theoretical underpinnings of the research. The primary data was collected via two web-based questionnaire surveys among SME decision makers from Tamil Nadu. Six determinants of cloud adoption such relative advantage, compatibility, innovativeness, organisation size, external issues and industry type were identified. The findings identify that 12 organisational factor specific to SME location is a very important decision factor while planning cloud adoption. The proposed cloud adoption decision support framework (CADSF) includes two tools namely; cloud suitability assessment and cloud service identification. The framework provides a preliminary structure for developing a knowledge driven Decision Support System (DSS) to support cloud adoption among SMEs in Tamil Nadu. Finally, based on the findings of the research, it is expected with developments to the existing cloud infrastructure, especially the availability of reliable internet and increased awareness, more SMEs in Tamil Nadu would adopt the cloud computing infrastructure.

Despite the government's recognition of the importance to our economy of this business sector, there has been relatively little research commissioned regarding the importance of the educational level of managers employed to manage this business sector, alongside outlining the challenges facing SMEs that are committed to a strategic path of growth. This thesis sets out to explore the complex characteristics surrounding UK manufacturing SME growth, with specific focus on education with particular focus on managers who hold a Post-Graduate Business qualification (PGB). A quantitative survey and qualitative interviews converge to explore characteristics surrounding the businesses under investigation. Educational qualifications differentiated the two management groups explored, one management group hold a PGB qualification the other does not. Purposeful sampling was utilised to ensure the sample businesses met specific criteria, based on location, business size and trading sector. Statistical and thematic analysis are utilised to examine the collated data. Results highlight that the PGB qualification holders achieve improved business results when results are measured using typical growth measures; revenue generation, profit and numbers employed. The results demonstrate that the theoretical under-pinning of this thesis is strong. The PGB holders realise improved results. The conclusions focus on several key areas; improved business results, access to education, staff retention, educational clubs, subsidiary businesses, key performance indicators, enhanced self-esteem and confidence, reflective learning alongside the need, or not, to generate profits. The research identifies that managers who do not hold a PGB qualification can lack confidence. Employees that attain PGB qualifications often advance their careers and find new employment. PGB appear to be valued to those that hold them but not necessarily to those that do not. SME managers are fully conversed with the deployment of a vast array of strategic business tools, irrespective of the qualifications they hold. This research contributes to knowledge in several ways, to include; adding weight to the debate surrounding the appropriateness of the current PGB curriculum, the relevance of management experience prior to undertaking a PGB qualification, family businesses and their employment strategies, and finally the researcher's personal knowledge and understanding about UK manufacturing SMEs. The outcomes of the research combine to form a creative framework, referred to as the "Grafton Gearbox" the functionality of the gearbox is detailed in chapter five. The research concludes by recommending improved training routes for governments to explore, these new routes engage business owners more favourably to realise improved performance from our nation's SMEs.

This research contributes to bridging the gap in the existing knowledge on sustainability of family businesses. It provides understanding that enables engagement with the theoretical processes underpinning transition. It is grounded in the context of Iranian family businesses, a field in which generational issues have not really been considered before. Furthermore, this research provides understanding of the process of transition from the perspectives of different generations. It thereby enhances family businesses' knowledge of how to grow their business across generations. In both advanced and developing economies, the vast majority of business enterprises are family owned and together they account for most of the jobs created in the economy. Furthermore, scholars have indicated that most family businesses are dysfunctional in transferring the business to the next generation. Hence, transition of family businesses to the next generation involves crises that threaten the sustainability of family firms. The literature on family business and entrepreneurship has not fully investigated the sustainability of family business. This is especially true for firms outside of Western Europe and North America. To address this gap, the study examines a set of eight Iranian entrepreneurial family firms to understand how the family businesses in this region can sustain to the next generation. Therefore the purpose of this thesis is to understand how SME family businesses manage and overcome their generational issues to transit successfully to the next generation. The findings aim to inform family businesses and the practitioners how the conflicts and issues among young generation and senior generation family members can be managed in a way which will result in sustainability of the family business. This study explores the common conflicts that exist between first, second and third generation family members which obstruct the continuity of family businesses in Iran. A qualitative approach was conducted to gather empirical data through in-depth semi-structured interviews with CEOs, family managers and non-involved family members from different generations at the selected SMEs. A purposive sampling technique and general analytical induction approach were used for data collection and analysis respectively. The analysis of the data produced three main themes: Sustaining Governance, Family Trust and Family Integration. The findings of this research identified that, generational issues in Iranian family businesses are related to three main areas. These areas, categorised as sustaining governance, family trust and family integration, have not been explicitly identified in previous research or identified as the main areas of conflicts in family businesses. Furthermore, the findings of this research suggest how to consider and manage each area of conflict. This research also identified participative commitment as a factor linking the derived three main themes in order to resolve issues and support sustainability of family businesses. Accordingly, the research reveals the importance of family members' engagement and participation in every stage of the continuity model. For instance, in developing plans and policies, it is essential to manage family members' expectations, build long term trust among family members and enhance family integration. These are recognised as important elements for the continuity of family business to the next generation. Therefore, participative commitment is recognised as a key concept supporting the sustainability of family businesses. The main outputs from the present research are two practice-based models of 1) continuity process and 2) initiating and building a family business sustainability model. These conceptual models are discussed in chapter 4 (Figures 4.9 and 4.10). The models include elements which can help predecessors and successors in SME family businesses to define their strategy in sustaining to the next generation.

The concepts of E-Business and Supply Chain Management (SCM) have been broadly investigated in the last 10 years. However, there have been limited insights into the integration of the two concepts - Electronic Supply Chain Management (ESCM). Also, there is limited information about the implementation of E-Business practices in the supply chain management of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Adopting an exploratory approach, this thesis investigated Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and E-Business as practical and innovative approaches towards supply chain management. Following Tornatzky and Fleischer's (1990) 'Technology-Organisation-Environment' (TOE) theory, which has recently been used by Ifinedo (2011) in investigation of E-business in organisations, this research has attempted to provide a comprehensive view towards the adoption of ESCM. Having explored and extracted key factors influencing the adoption and implementation of ESCM from a literature review, a comprehensive ESCM model was developed. The model is focused towards understanding of the significance of various technological, organisational, environmental and strategic factors on successful adoption of E-Business technologies in supply chain management. Additionally, the advantages of the application of Information Technologies (IT) in supply chain management of SMEs, and possible obstacles are investigated in depth. Using a deductive approach, a questionnaire was designed to explore the research objectives. Consequently, 6 hypotheses were proposed and tested using data from 67 manufacturing SMEs in the UK. The findings of this study will enable comprehensive understanding of the concept of ESCM in SMEs, through exploring the integration of E-Business and supply chain management, and through an investigation of key elements of ESCM adoption. It is hoped that the developed model offers a better and stronger understanding of implementation of IT in SMEs, allowing managers of SMEs to evaluate the level of success and appropriateness of E-Business capabilities and IT strategies in their supply chains. Key words: Supply Chain Management (SCM), E-Business, E-Business capabilities, Electronic Supply Chain Management (ESCM), SMEs, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

This study is about the author as a business owner manager and events surrounding my buy-in of a small business and its subsequent development. The nature of the research evolved from a proposed causal approach concerning the growth of small businesses in general, to become an enquiry into the evolution of my own company and the development I experienced as the researcher and owner over the course of the enquiry. It is a reflexive study, presented in the form of a self-narrative covering a span of around fifteen years. Literature within the dominant paradigm is examined for its usefulness in describing the expected characteristics of small businesses and their owner managers but the lack of explanation behind these descriptions prompted the move to a more appropriate and effective research design. Inspired by complexity theory the study moves beyond the notion of systems thinking, to adopt a view of the company as a social construction of complex responsive processes. The importance of emotions and the pressure of family issues in influencing decision making in a nascent entrepreneur form the starting point from which the story of the buy-in and subsequent management of my small businesses develops. The story is constructed around four themes of Entrepreneurship, Culture and Leadership, Strategy and Growth. Interspersed within the narrative are appropriate contributions from the literature, which serve as a framework within which to analyse my experiences as they occurred. By observing one small business and its owner and contrasting these experiences directly with the literature, the findings confirm the complex and contextual nature of the subject. The dominant theories are useful in retrospectively describing the characteristics of a business and its owner manager but not in explaining the driving forces behind these characteristics. The original contribution to knowledge of this research results from the deep insight into these forces using a reflexive methodology and the application of complex responsive process concepts, which forms a new approach to the study of small business development. Individual entrepreneurs may use these methods and findings to reflect on their own experiences and approach to managing their businesses.