Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Retail Format'

Many policy and business decisions regarding food deserts in the U.S. are based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) definition of a food desert. This definition only includes large/national chain grocery retailers, based on the assumption that these major retailers are the only affordable sources of food contributing to balanced diets. As alternative distribution channels, including smaller stores, start to include groceries in their product offering, the need to consider the role of other businesses in the food retailing environment should be addressed. This thesis assesses the role of smaller format grocery retailers (small local grocers, convenience stores, gas stations, dollar stores, and drug stores) in shaping the food desert landscape in Dallas, Texas. The analysis evaluates the products offered in these stores, and then identifies the difference these stores make when included in the USDA analysis. This was done by collecting in-store data to determine the variety of products offered, the affordability of those products, and the overall healthfulness of the store. In addition, the gaps in supply and demand were identified in the USDA-defined food deserts in order to identify the impact any smaller format retailer may have. The findings suggest that, overall, smaller format retailers do offer a variety of products needed for a balanced diet. However, the products in these stores are mostly not affordable, and most stores offer more unhealthy foods, than unhealthy. Overall, results suggest dollar stores may play a role in alleviating the impact of food deserts.

The Ph.D. dissertation, Impact of the retail environment drivers on sales and demand forecasting, aims to explore and study the influence of the retail environment patterns on sales and demand forecasting. The uncertainty of the retail environment influenced by the complexity of the supply chain and demand management put out the range of drivers that can influence the dynamics of demand and sales and the tendency to develop more functional tools to capture them. In the first chapter, The concept of the environment and external impact on the forecasting in retailing, it is outlined the main research on the environment in the literature, focusing on the concept of uncertainty, complexity especially in the domain of retailing. The network analysis on citation data benefits the research on certain trends in the literature about environmental patterns on forecasting activities. Results are outlined in the theoretical framework of research trends and the concept of the retail environment for the decision-making process in forecasting. In the second chapter, Influence of the internal and external drivers on consumers’ visits and sales productivity, the explorative analysis focuses on analyzing the effect of the internal retail environment, as the retail format and assortment level, on the consumers’ visits and it is hypothesized whether the external (competition distance, public holidays) and internal drivers (promotions, assortment level, customer visits) affect the sales productivity in different store’s formats. Results show that both promotions and competition distance positively influence sales productivity and it variates based on the store format. The third chapter, The causal effect of the environmental and promotional variables on the sales forecasting, studied the type of relationships between the environmental and internal drivers on the sales forecasting, looking for the causality and functional links. Using the linear and additive models shows that, additive models can allow the together nonlinear and linear functions between the macro variables (CPI, Fuel Price, Unemployment and Temperature) and internal micro (promotions) capturing better the dynamics of effects on sales and perform better in terms of prediction. In the previous explorative analysis, the focus is on looking at possible causal links between the external, internal drivers and sales. In the fourth chapter, The added value of the competition information in demand forecasting, matching closer the business reality, it has been studied the effect of the external variables in the short-term demand forecasting. Using DIY (Do-It-Yourself) stores’ demand and sales data it is analyzed the influence of the competitions’ promotional discounts on the weekly demand at SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit) level. Results show that if the SKUs have high sold quantity and promotions more weeks in the year the inclusion of competitors’ promotional discounts may improve the demand-forecasting model, while SKUs that have the stable demand and are not often discounted the simple linear model without external competition’s variables works better. The final chapter, Conclusions, limitations and future research, discuss the main conclusions, academic, practical implications and future research. The research contributes both to the literature and retail practice. There is, still, the lack of studies of the external influence on the demand and sales forecasting. Retail managers may use these insights to extract important information from the environment and to apply different solutions based on the complexity of the business problem. Focal promotions and competitive promotional actions create a significant impact on consumer demand. The complex nonlinear model with the external variables may work better in a situation of enlarging retail business and where its high impact on the market creates dynamics interactions, while the simple linear models can provide efficient solutions in an already stable and easily predicted competitive market. The limitation of this research is the missing variety of external and internal data that can help to find the optimal model. The future research will be in direction of creating the optimal model with external and internal variables that may be the efficient solutions to the large amount of SKUs and useful managerial tool for scanning the environment.

This study aimed to address consumers' stereotypical categorizations in the form of essentialist views about foreign cultures and their effect on individual consumers, including their negative or aroused emotions and subsequent retail patronage behaviors. The research mission was to empirically assess the salient dimensions of consumers' states of mind (positive and negative affect, psychological essentialism, epistemic curiosity), states of being (store atmospherics), and states of action (retail patronage behaviors) in a cultural context based on Mehrabian-Russell theory of environmental psychology. Specifically, the retail patronage setting was selected as foreign-based fast-food franchises because it represents both a relevant and timely situational context for consumer behavior. This dissertation makes several contributions to international retail patronage literature. First, it frames curiosity as an aroused emotional state and finds support for the relationship between consumer epistemic curiosity and retail patronage. Second, it provides support for the linkage between consumer affect and retail patronage in an international retail setting. Third, it reveals that affect has a greater impact on retail patronage than epistemic curiosity. The overarching finding of this study is an inability to tie the cultural elements in retail atmospherics, including signs, symbols, and artifacts, to consumer emotions. In addition, we were unable to frame psychological essentialism as a personality trait that would reduce the levels of affect and curiosity in retail store environments characterized by foreign-cultural elements.

The Diploma thesis ,Selected aspects of the retail supplier-purchaser relations' defines British grocery retailing. It presents government bodies which regulate retail industry and important independent not-for-profit organizations which have a strong influence on the market situation. It introduces the reader into legislation which regulates supplier-purchaser relations, particularly the Supermarket Code of Practice and its revised version the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The analytical part examines the British market at the macroeconomical level, outlines the grocery retailing structure, describes the supply chain, customer behaviour, points out certain pricing and product policy trends and presents subjects which are bonded by the provisions set out in the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. The findings on local market competition and barriers which prevent the entry by a competitor are of a high significance as well. Despite the introduction of legal regulation the supplier-purchaser relations remain unequal and unfair. The thesis proposes a forecast of possible future grocery market development in the United Kingdom.

This dissertation examines organic food marketing from three aspects: household demand for organic food, household choice of retail formats accounting for preference organic food preference, and farmers’ joint adoption of organic farming and direct marketing methods. In Chapter Two, given the fast growth of private label milk and organic milk in the U.S., we estimate a censored demand system to study the demand relations among types of milk differentiated by brand types and organic status, using recent Nielsen Homescan data. We find that sociodemographic factors still play important roles in a household choice of milk types, and fluid milk is an inferior good. Moreover, as income increases, households are more likely to shift from buying conventional milk to organic milk and from private label conventional milk to branded conventional milk, as indicated by the asymmetric cross price elasticities. In Chapter Three, we examine whether households’ preference for organic food can affect their retail format choices for their grocery shopping trips. We model households’ choices of five major retail format with a conditional logit model, also using the Nielsen Homescan data. Our main findings are that regular organic user households are more likely to patronage organic specialty stores and discount stores, but less likely to shop in warehouse clubs. Price, consumer loyalty, and household shopping behavior also affects household retail format choice. In Chapter Four, we examine the relation between farmers’ adoption of organic farming and direct marketing, given their similar objectives in satisfying consumer demand and increasing farm income. We model farmers’ adoption of the two practices with a bivariate simultaneous linear probability model using data from USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey. Our main finding is that the farmers’ adoption of organic farming decreases their probability of adopting direct marketing, whereas the reverse effect is insignificant. Also, organic farming is found to improve gross farm income.

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This paper aims to explore the advance of the diffusion of the financial logic on the national clothing retail in the promotion of consumer credit in Brazil. In this sense, it looks to verify how this advance is configured in a new organizational arrangement that is signed by the formation of partnerships between the financial institutions and the retail companies, as well as to analyze the administrative strategy to manage this new model, in view of its Social and labor implications. We analyzed eight companies in the national retail clothing sector that have a strong expression in consumption in Brazil, from 2008 to 2016. The companies of this sampling are Marisa, Renner, Riachuelo, Pernambucanas, Cia. Hering, Arezzo & Co, Restoque Commerce and Garment Apparel and Grazziotin Group, which previously had the commercial object of trading merchandise and today deal with consolidated variables in the financial Market. In this work, it is analyzed how the mergers and acquisitions movements involving financial institutions and retail companies are shaping the domestic market, and also how organizational models are managed after the adoption of partnerships with financial institutions and which Impacts of the expansion of this model on labor relations. The results obtained point to a better understanding of the need to adapt to the process, which requires a gradual change in the current organizational structure and consequent prevention of damages related to labor issues, values added to shareholders or positions of CEOs, obliged to increase a series of variables that result in change in the segment. These factors exemplify the materialization of financialization strategies among the largest national apparel retailers, and also show how the banking process is affecting the profile of the commercial model of the national retail sector.
Este trabalho tem como objetivo explorar o avanço da difusão da lógica financeira sobre o varejo nacional de vestuário no fomento de crédito para o consumo no Brasil. Nesse sentido, busca-se verificar como esse avanço se configura em um novo arranjo organizacional que se firma pela formação de parcerias entre as instituições financeiras e as empresas de varejo, bem como analisar a estratégia administrativa para gerir esse novo modelo, tendo em vista suas implicações sociais e trabalhistas. Foram analisadas oito empresas do setor varejista nacional de vestuário que desempenham forte expressão no consumo no Brasil, ¬¬¬¬de 2008 a 2016. As empresas da amostra são as lojas Marisa, Renner, Riachuelo, Pernambucanas, Cia. Hering, Arezzo&Co, Restoque Comércio e Confecções de Roupas e Grupo Grazziotin, que antes tinha como objeto social a comercialização de mercadorias e hoje lidam com variáveis consolidadas no mercado financeiro. Neste trabalho, é analisado como os movimentos de fusões e aquisições que envolvem instituições financeiras e empresas varejistas estão modelando o mercado nacional e, ainda, como os modelos organizacionais passam a ser gerenciados após a adoção de parcerias com as instituições financeiras e quais os impactos da expansão desse modelo nas relações de trabalho. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma melhor compreensão da necessidade de adequação ao processo, o que exige mudança gradativa na estrutura organizacional vigente e consequente prevenção dos danos relacionados a questões trabalhistas, a valores agregados aos acionistas ou às posições de CEOs, obrigados a incrementar uma série de variáveis que resultam em mudança no segmento. Esses fatores exemplificam a materialização de estratégias de financeirização junto aos maiores varejistas nacionais de vestuário, e ainda, demonstram como o processo de bancarização está afetando o perfil do modelo comercial do setor varejista nacional.

Thailand has been one of the emerging markets in Asia in recent decades. The pattern of consumers has dramatically changed due to the arrival of various modern retail trade formats. Thai consumers have been shifting from traditional retail formats to modern retail formats and frequently do ‘outshopping’, particularly from rural areas to town centres. This has led to the decline of rural retailers. To improve this situation, the concept of developing retailers in market towns has been adopted. However, it is unclear what form (i.e. store format) this takes and on which factors (store image attributes and customer characteristics) the role depends. This thesis examines the effect of store image attributes and customer characteristics on retail agglomeration format choice for a regular grocery outshopping trip. The conceptual framework is constructed following the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model. The concept of store image is applied as the stimulus, and the customer characteristics are proxy variables representing the organism, which lead to the choice decision as the response. The discrete choice model is applied using the mixed logit modelling approach. The choice set includes (1) a traditional agglomeration retail format (TAF), (2) a modern agglomeration retail format (MAF) and (3) a non-agglomeration retail format (NAF). The unit of analysis is a household in a regional city that does grocery shopping regularly. The stratified random sampling divided the population into an urban area and a rural area. Then, a random sample was drawn within each stratum by a simple random sampling − a store format. A systematic random sampling was applied by intercepting each household representative in order to maintain randomness. The chosen area is Nakhon Ratchasima province which is one of the regional cities in north-eastern Thailand. It consists of 2,600,000 people (around 830,000 households) and about 75% of the total population live in a rural area. The total sample consists of 1,521 households. The choice experiment is adopted by a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) survey. The parameters are estimated using the simulated maximum likelihood approach. The models are built, and then marginal effects are used to examine the effects of store image attributes and customer characteristics to the retail agglomeration format choice. Reliability and validity are tested. The results from the chosen model reveal that increases in seven store image attributes: product quality, customer service, price, travel time, atmosphere, accessibility, and range of products, affect the probability to shop at TAF and MAF with the same degree, while in store attributes have less effect on the probability to shop at NAF. The product quality, customer service level, and price are the most important attributes affecting the retail agglomeration format choice, following by atmosphere, accessibility, and range of products, respectively. The results indicate that consumers in rural areas are likely to shop at TAF and NAF than consumers in urban areas. Older rather than younger customers tend to shop at NAF. Finally, the higher income households have more opportunity to shop at MAF than the lower income households. This study employs the theory of cumulative attraction as theoretical lens of the study. However, this study contributes to the theory by examining further dimensions. The first contribution is to the theory of cumulative attraction by considering a location dimension. It investigates the role of retail agglomeration formats in market towns. The second dimension contributes to retail management by focusing on retail management style as traditional and modern retail formats. Another contribution of this study is the taxonomy of retail agglomeration formats. It indicates how retailers are planned and constructed, to what extent they are managed and marketed, and what their management styles are. This classification system can categorise existing retail formats, e.g. weekend markets, periodic markets, night markets, tourist attraction retail sites, and exhibition retail outlets which cannot be classified by the previous studies. The application of this taxonomy is applied as retail agglomeration formats in this study.

Abstract Problem Formal Volunteers in volunteer based organizations drop out at a fast pace due to many reasons like lack of interest what they are doing, conflict among volunteers, lack of motivation, job dissatisfaction due to prolonged volunteering etc.  which is causing to improper functioning of these organizations and reaches a point where these volunteer based organizations find it difficult to function properly. The author in this study tries to address this particular issue of this drop out of formal volunteers. Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the factors which helps in the retention of formal volunteers in a volunteer based organization for a longer period. Method The research in this paper is done in a qualitative way with primary data collected in the form of participant observation and open interview in two voluntary organizations. The collected data is analyzed in content analysis. The secondary data is collected in the form of necessary documents provided by the participating organizations. Results Many factors were found to influence retention of volunteers namely Job satisfaction, Motivation, Public Service Motivation, Organizational Commitment, Mission Attachment, Work load, Relationship with Coworkers, Justice of Organization, Flexible Timing, Training & Orientation.  Conclusions Recommendations to improve retention is mentioned and a future model is also proposed. The result obtained from this research can be generalized to other form of small scale volunteer organizations where the major employees are formal volunteers.

Thesis (MS en S)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Of all the strategies available to help eradicate poverty and enhance the quality of life of people living in marginalized communities, the provision of a formal retail centre would not stand out as a number one strategy. Nevertheless, the Nomzamo Business Centre was built as part of a local economic development initiative to help local businesses to develop. The primary goal of this study was to establish whether the residents of Nomzamo perceived the development of the centre as a contributing factor towards improving the quality of their lives. Although the retail sector is well represented in these marginalized communities, in the form of spazas and other informal businesses, these businesses desperately lack the bearings of formality. The Nomzamo Business Centre provides a formal business premises at affordable rates, for local business people and gives them the opportunity to develop skills through business training courses and the provision of information. As the study concludes, the residents of Nomzamo perceived the centre as an enhancement towards their quality of live, even though many of them still do not make use of the centre. Established shopping habits are hard to brake especially if the centre does not provide any real magnetism. The centre failed to attract an anchor tenant and although Eskom's presence at the centre does provide some form of attraction, the benefits have not yet spilled over to the other shops. At this stage the Nomzamo Business Centre cannot be deemed a success. The centre fails to compete with local informal businesses. What is needed in most of these communities however is a change in the local economic structure. Local economies in most cases are retail based, with no or little representation in sectors like manufacturing. Although the Nomzamo Business Centre will not contribute much towards a more balanced local economy, it does provide the foundation for future changes to take place.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Van al die strategieë beskikbaar om te help met die uitwissing van armoede en die verbetering in die kwaliteit van lewe van mense wat in marginale gemeenskappe bly, sal die voorsiening van 'n formele kleinhandelsentrum beslis nie as 'n nommer een strategie bekend staan nie. Nogtans is die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum, geleë tussen die Strand en Gordonsbaai, gebou as deel van 'n plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkelingsinisiatief om plaaslike besighede te help ontwikkel. Die primêre doel van die studie was om vas te stel of die inwoners van Nomzamo, die ontwikkeling van die sentrum as 'n bydraende faktor in die verbetering van hul lewenskwaliteit waarneem. Alhoewel die kleinhandelsektor goed verteenwoordig is in die marginale gemeenskappe, in die vorm van spaza-winkels en ander informele besighede, ontbreek die besighede aan die nodige formaliteit. Die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum bied 'n formele besigheidperseel teen bekostigbare tariewe vir plaaslike besighede en gee hulle die geleentheid om vaardighede te ontwikkel, deur kursusse in besigheidsopleiding en die voorsiening van informasie. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die inwoners van Nomzamo wel die sentrum as 'n verbetering in hul lewenskwaliteit waarneem, selfs al maak meeste van hulle steeds nie gebruik van die sentrum nie. Gevestigde inkopie gewoontes is moeilik om te verander, veral as die sentrum geen werklike aantrekking bied nie. Die sentrum het misluk in die poging om 'n anker huurder te lok en alhoewel Eskom se teenwoordigheid by die sentrum, 'n vorm van aantrekking bied, het die voordele van Eskom se teenwoordigheid nog nie na ander winkels oorgespoel nie. Op hierdie stadium kan die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum nie as 'n sukses verklaar word nie. Die sentrum misluk om met plaaslike informele besighede mee te ding. Wat egter benodig word in die gemeenskappe is 'n verandering in die plaaslike ekonomiese struktuur. Plaaslike ekonomieë is in meeste gevalle op kleinhandel gebaseer, met min of geen verteenwoordiging in sektore soos vervaardiging nie. Alhoewel die Nomzamo Besigheidsentrum nie sal bydra tot 'n meer gebalanseerde plaaslike ekonomie nie, bied die sentrum 'n platform vir toekomstige veranderinge om op plaas te vind.

This study uses four survey datasets across Britain and Taiwan to aim at conducting empirical and nationally representative cross-national consumer segmentation on four retail formats (Internet, hypermarket/superstore, supermarket, and traditional market) and two consumption trends (convenience and health trends). A diagnosis of equivalence, which precedes the segmentation process, suggests that the retail format data in the two countries are readily combinable, but the consumption trend data cannot be aggregated for cross-national consumer segmentation. Cross-national consumer segments of the hypermarket/superstore and the supermarket are found to be similar to each other. They are younger, financially better off, and living in the capital city. The only demographic characteristics that exist among supermarket shoppers but not hypermarket/superstore shoppers is gender. The female are more likely than the males to patronize the supermarket. This may be attributable to the notion that going to hypermarket/superstores often requires driving a car and taking bulky goods back home, which are arguably male tasks. On the other hand, hypermarket/superstore shoppers, rather than supermarket shoppers, are characterised by large household size. Cross-national consumer segments of the Internet and the traditional market, though found, are more real in words than in substance because of the significance of the national culture dimension that signifies the impracticability of the formation of pan-country consumer segments for each of these two retail formats. The result is understandable in the case of the traditional market, which has been widely acknowledged as a culturally bound institution. Yet the result seems astonishing in the case of the Internet, which has been noted as possessing very high internationalization capability and potential to transcend across national cultures. In contrast to the hypermarket/superstore and the supermarket, whose technologies have successfully transcended national cultures across Britain and Taiwan, Internet technology cannot successfully transcend national cultures across the two countries to the extent that cultural groupings are more influential than most of the personal background factors being considered in online shopping decision making.

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This research is dedicated to the work of the philosopher, historian and German economist Alfred Sohn-Rethel and the contributions that his theory has to offer for the analyses of law. The analysis of the commodity form made by Marx is the starting point for criticism of the theory of knowledge by the author which shows how humans can have a pure knowledge, separated from the empirical level, which Kant refers to when he says of the existence of a priori categories of knowledge. The emergence of conceptual thinking, of formal logic, is the main discussion of his work and base from which to take elements to the analysis of that social phenomenon which we call law.
Esta pesquisa é dedicada à obra do filósofo, historiador e economista alemão Alfred Sohn-Rethel e às contribuições que sua teoria tem a oferecer para a análise do direito. A análise da forma mercadoria efetuada por Marx é o ponto de partida para a crítica da teoria do conhecimento feita pelo autor, que revela como é possível os humanos terem um conhecimento puro , desvinculado do nível empírico, ao qual se refere Kant quando afirma a existência de categorias a priori do conhecimento. O surgimento do pensamento conceitual, da lógica formal, é o debate principal de sua obra e base a partir da qual se retira elementos para a análise daquele fenômeno social ao qual chamamos de direito.

After more than two decades of democracy, South Africa is still faced with challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality. The informal sector is one that presents opportunities for making a positive contribution towards solving social problems that South Africa is faced with. While the informal sector is large and offers flexibility in employment, it is associated with low productivity and poor governance as traders in the informal sector are not obliged to register their businesses and therefore cannot make tax contributions. The lack of formalisation of the informal sector not only impacts the government for not being able to account for the sector, but it also creates barriers for those trading in the sector. The study adopted qualitative research methods to gain insights into describing and exploring the meaning research participants use to construct and interpret their world of reality, such as formalising the informal sector to stimulate economic growth in South African Townships. A total of 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with business owners in the retail informal sector, managers of big corporates in retail in the formal sector and government employees from various departments who were represented by those in relevant positions such as directors, heads of departments, regional and board members. Interviews were analysed by means of thematic analysis. The key findings from literature indicated that the informal sector is broad and there is no one definition of the informal sector. It was also established that there is a direct relationship that exists between the state and the informal sector, however there is an indirect relationship that exists between the formal and informal sector as further explained in institutional and stakeholder theory. The lack of development in the informal sector can be attributed to the non-existence of policies to guide and regulate the existence of the informal sector. The insights shared from the interviews pointed to the applicability of the proposed model in terms of formalising the informal sector.
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2021.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
MBA
Unrestricted

Product similarity matching for food retail is studied in this thesis. The goal is to find products that are similar but not necessarily of the same brand which can be used as a replacement product for a product that is out of stock or does not exist in a specific store. The aim of the thesis is to examine which machine learning model that is best suited to perform the product similarity matching. The product data used for training the models were name, description, nutrients, weight and filters (labels, for example organic). Product similarity matching was performed pairwise and the similarity between the products was measured by jaccard distance for text attributes and relative difference for numeric values. Random Forest, Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines were tested and compared to a baseline. The baseline computed the jaccard distance for the product names and did the classification based on a threshold value of the jaccard distance. The result was measured by accuracy, F-measure and AUC score. Random Forest performed best in terms of all evaluation metrics and Logistic Regression, Random Forest and Support Vector Machines all performed better than the baseline.
I den här rapporten studeras produktliknande matchning för livsmedel. Målet är att hitta produkter som är liknande men inte nödvändigtvis har samma märke som kan vara en ersättningsprodukt till en produkt som är slutsåld eller inte säljs i en specifik affär. Syftet med den här rapporten är att undersöka vilken maskininlärningsmodel som är bäst lämpad för att göra produktliknande matchning. Produktdatan som användes för att träna modellerna var namn, beskrivning, näringsvärden, vikt och märkning (exempelvis ekologisk). Produktmatchningen gjordes parvis och likhet mellan produkterna beräknades genom jaccard index för textattribut och relativ differens för numeriska värden. Random Forest, logistisk regression och Support Vector Machines testades och jämfördes mot en baslinje. I baslinjen räknades jaccard index ut enbart för produkternas namn och klassificeringen gjordes genom att använda ett tröskelvärde för jaccard indexet. Resultatet mättes genom noggrannhet, F-measure och AUC. Random Forest presterade bäst sett till alla prestationsmått och logistisk regression, Random Forest och Support Vector Machines gav alla bättre resultat än baslinjen.

To understand how an organisation functions effectively it is necessary to look at both the formal firm and the informal firm. It is widely acknowledged that the formal and informal aspects of an organisation interact. However, little empirical work has investigated the nature of this interaction. This study aims to conceptualise the relationship between the formal and the informal firms and the effect of the informal firm on employee performance. The formal firm is defined as the explicitly documented policies and procedures which dictate how the firm should operate. The informal firm is defined as the socially derived ways of performing tasks. A social capital framework is employed to study the formal and informal firms as it is through their connections with others that employees develop the informal firm. A highly standardised, major retail organisation was the population for this study. The formal firm was therefore a constant across stores, facilitating study of the informal firm. Data collection was both quantitative and qualitative, by means of questionnaires presented to employees within semi-structured interviews, interviews with managers and in-store observations. Data analysis involved multiple linear regressions, content analysis and case studies. This thesis makes a contribution in the following four respects. First, three relationships between the formal and informal firms are conceptualised. Second, empirical evidence is provided for the importance of the informal firm in both determining how employees perform their job tasks and affecting the implementation of formal policy. Third, even in such a standardised organisation the dual role of the departmental manager was highlighted. Fourth, it is proposed that social capital and the informal firm be included in the HR-performance chain to contribute to 'unlocking the black box' (Purcell et al, 2003). The informal firm is a fact of life in any organisation. Understanding its interaction with the formal firm as well as its effect on formal policy success provides a source of internal competitive advantage to managers. Social relationships among the workforce affect how tasks are completed within an organisation and the attainment of organisational goals.

A produção e o comércio de alimentos orgânicos mostram-se como um mercado em desenvolvimento, e esse se apresenta como alternativa agrícola com menores externalidades negativas. No entanto, há algum tempo já é indicado um processo de convencionalização que o aproxima de práticas de mercado que ameaçam essa capacidade de preservação do ambiente. Nesse processo aparece a venda através de grandes varejistas. Como alternativa surgem diferentes formas de distribuição de alimentos e a possibilidade de alcançar maiores benefícios para a sociedade e o ambiente. Uma delas é a venda em domicílio através de esquemas de cestas, uma variante em que consumidores adquirem semanalmente uma cesta de produtos orgânicos padronizada, através de meios eletrônicos. Utilizando o arcabouço teórico proposto na Sociologia Econômica, vou investigar através dos empresários, funcionários e consumidores que formam essa rede, os interesses, as relações e sua estrutura para responder como essa nova forma de comércio se enraíza socialmente na cidade de São Paulo. Através de entrevistas realizadas a partir de um roteiro semi-estruturado, é possível entender que o novo canal se estabelece a partir do desejo de consumir alimentos orgânicos. Uma falha de mercado representada pela disponibilidade e qualidade precária na rede convencional e outras formas alternativas, os leva a experimentar esse novo canal. A capacidade de abandonar o hábito de compra convencional (ver, tocar, avaliar) dá lugar a um relacionamento com terceiros que se incubem de escolher por esses consumidores a qualidade dos alimentos que serão levados para casa. Lentamente as trocas comerciais se expandem a sinais de reciprocidade, fortalecendo a confiança. Eventualmente o compartilhamento de valores possibilita influenciar os interesses dos consumidores e torná-los mais conscientes.
The production and trade of organic food are defining a growing market and presenting an alternative supposed to cause less negative externalities. Nevertheless, a conventionalization process has been identified some time ago, what takes it closer to market practices that threat its capacity to preserve the environment. Sales through large retailers is part of this process. As options, different ways to distribute food emerge and represent the possibility to reach more benefits to society and environment. One of them is the home delivery of boxes containing fresh food, the box-schemes. It consists of weekly acquisition of a standard set of organic goods through electronic media. Utilizing the theoretical framework proposed by the Economic Sociology, I have investigated with owners, employees and consumers that are part of this social network, the interests, relationships and structures to answer how this new retail format gets socially embedded in Sao Paulo city. Through interviews based on a semi-structured script, it is possible to understand that this new channel is established from the desire to consume organic food. A market failure that causes poor distribution and quality in conventional network drives them to look for alternatives and try this new channel. The capacity to abandon the conventional buying habitus (see, touch, assess) opens space to establish a new tie with people that will choose the quality of the food to be delivered to their homes. Slowly, commercial exchange expands to reciprocity signals and strengthen trust up to a possible redistribution system. Eventually, values sharing makes possible to influence consumers and make them more conscious.

Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia Industrial
Com os recentes desenvolvimentos tecnológicos cada vez de ciclos mais reduzidos aliados a uma incessante busca pela inovação, as empresas necessitam de tomar decisões que as permita distanciar-se e ao mesmo tempo diferenciar-se da concorrência. A tecnologia de impressão 3D é um tema cada vez mais discutido ao longo dos últimos anos pelas suas características promissoras face à manufatura tradicional, em grande parte potenciadas pelos avanços tecnológicos referidos anteriormente. No entanto, poucos estudos existem sobre a sua aplicação em outros contextos empresariais, como o caso do contexto retalhista. Ainda que existam alguns estudos abrangendo as aplicações da tecnologia em determinadas fases da cadeia de valor de uma empresa, são desconhecidos estudos que permitam analisar a impressão 3D no contexto retalhista na forma de serviço. A presente investigação pretende evidenciar as diferenças existentes no modelo de negócio de uma empresa retalhista antes e depois da implementação da tecnologia de impressão 3D. Para esse efeito, utilizou-se um modelo de análise que permitiu contrastar as diferenças ao nível do modelo de negócio e ao mesmo tempo equiparar os resultados com a literatura encontrada sobre o tema. Segundo os dados analisados, é possível chegar à conclusão de que a impressão 3D permitiu reestruturar o modelo de negócio existente na empresa de forma positiva, alterando todas as componentes que o compõem, permitindo também obter conclusões relativamente à sua viabilidade em contexto nacional.
With the recent technological developments in ever-shrinking cycles coupled with a relentless pursuit for innovation, companies need to make decisions that allow them to distance themselves while differing from the competition. 3D printing technology has been a subject that has been increasingly discussed over the last few years for its promising characteristics compared to traditional manufacturing, greatly enhanced by the technological advances. However, few studies exist about its application in other business contexts, such as the retail context. Although there are some studies covering the applications of technology in certain phases of the value chain of a company, studies that analyze 3D printing in the retail context as a service are unknown. This research aims to highlight the differences in the business model of a retail company before and after the implementation of 3D printing technology. For this, we used an analysis model that allowed us to contrast the differences at the business model level and at the same time to match the results with the literature found on the subject. According to the data analyzed, it is possible to conclude that 3D printing made it possible to restructure the existing business model in the company in a positive way, changing all its components, and also allowing conclusions to be reached regarding its feasibility in a national context.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

A formação de redes flexíveis tem sido alternativa, principalmente para as pequenas e médias empresas, como forma de obter vantagens competitivas. Contudo, além do objetivo principal dessas redes, aspectos culturais e organizacionais trazidos pelos integrantes das mesmas devem ser ponderados. Esta dissertação apresenta um estudo dos aspectos considerados relevantes para o relacionamento entre a governança e seus integrantes, dentro de uma rede flexível de supermercados. Três dimensões foram estudadas: foco de negócio, formato de exploração econômica e processos operacionais, avaliadas sobre a perspectiva de quatro construtos, motivação, gestão, comunicação e decisão. A pesquisa foi realizada dentro da abordagem múltipla de casos, levando em conta três tipos de formatos de exploração econômica: o associativismo, a franquia e o licenciamento de marca. O levantamento das informações foi realizado por meio de entrevistas semi estruturadas, sendo para cada rede, entrevistados a governança e seis integrantes. Observou-se que os elementos motivacionais para a formação das redes são semelhantes, mas que a gestão estratégica em sua maioria atende fatores e situações divergentes relativamente ao foco do negócio e os processos operacionais. Para o formato associativista, foi possível identificar a baixa preocupação em relação à integração, treinamentos e processos operacionais, aliada a forte independência dos integrantes, funcionando com características de centrais de compras. Para os formatos de franquia e licenciamento de marca o valor principal reside na padronização de procedimentos e na relevância para treinamentos dos novos integrantes. Os três formatos de redes trazem em comum a preocupação com os procedimentos orientativos em relação aos fornecedores nas negociações de compra e nas promoções em ponto de venda. Evidenciou-se a ampliação do foco do negócio das redes flexíveis de supermercado e a consequente transição de centrais de compras para formatos mais abrangentes do negócio.
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Flexible networks formation has been an alternative, mainly for small and medium enterprises, as a way to gain competitive advantages. However, beyond the primary objective of these networks, organizational and cultural aspects brought by the participant members should be considered. This work presents a study of the aspects relevant to the relationship between governance and its members, within a flexible network of supermarkets. Three dimensions were studied: business focus, form of economic exploitation and operational processes, evaluated on the prospect of four constructs, motivation, management, communication and decision. The research was conducted into the multiple case approach, taking into account three types of formats economic exploitation: associativism, franchising and brand licensing. The lifting information was conducted through semi-structured interviews, and for each network, governance and interviewed six members. It was observed that the motivational elements for the formation of networks are similar, but that strategic management in their majority caters factors and situations diverging to the focus of the business and operational processes. For the format associativist, it was possible identify the low concern regarding integration, trainings and operational processes, coupled with the strong independence of members, functioning with characteristics of central purchasing. For formats franchise and brand licensing the primary value resides in the standardization of procedures and relevance to trainings of new members. The three formats networks bring in common the concern with the procedures orientative towards suppliers in the purchases and promotions at point of sale. The analysis reveals the expansion of the business focus of flexible networks supermarket and the consequent transition from central purchasing formats for broader business.

This research aims to examine a framework to test the relationships between consumers' perceptions of a retailer's brand personality and outcome variables (i.e., positive word-of-mouth about and patronage intention toward the retailer) by applying identity and social identity theories to reveal possible factors influencing these relationships in both department and discount retailer image formats. This research hypothesized that retailer brand personality should influence consumers' behavioral outcomes through private and public forms of self-congruity. The more positive the perception of a retailer's brand personality, the higher the private and public self-congruities with the brand personality. In addition, considering the unique, tangible nature of a store's environment, this research suggested that retailer brand identity (RBI), a consumer's perception of oneness with a retailer brand, should play an important role in the retailer brand personality-behavioral outcomes framework by mediating the influences of both private and public self-congruities on various behavioral outcomes. Moreover, the relationships among two forms of self-congruity and perceived RBI should be moderated by the shopping conspicuousness situation (i.e., whether co-shopping with important others or alone and whether shopping in an environment in which one is visible to important others or is relatively secluded) and consumer shopping involvement (i.e., whether consumers see shopping as an important and self-relevant activity). To test the study's hypotheses, data were collected from a sample of 616 general consumers via a self-administered questionnaire provided through the website of an online survey research firm. This research used a 2 (retailer image format) X 2 (shopping situation conspicuousness) between-subjects quasi-experimental design in which subjects were randomly assigned to one of the four treatment groups who read a scenario that provided a description of a retailer image format of either a hypothetical department (n = 311) or discount store (n = 305) and a description that manipulated the shopping situation as being either high (n = 303) or low (n = 313) in shopping conspicuousness. Results revealed that the retailer brand personality scale, adapted from BPS, a brand personality scale developed by Aaker (1997) and other scales specifically used to measure retailer brand personality (Dardin & Babin, 1994; d'Astous & Lévesque, 2003; Helgeson & Supphellen, 2004) comprised two positive dimensions (i.e., Modish and Genuine) and one negative dimension (Inactive). Each dimension influenced the behavioral outcomes of Word-of-Mouth and Patronage Intention differently. Perceived Genuineness was the most influential dimension among the three, exerting direct and indirect influences through increasing Private and Public Self-congruities and overall RBI on both WOM and Patronage Intention. However, Modish had only a direct negative effect on Patronage Intentions whereas Inactive had indirect effects on both behavioral outcomes through a combined (direct and indirect) negative effect on overall RBI. This research also revealed that overall RBI, driven by its affective and evaluative dimensions, fully mediated the influences of Private and Public Self-congruities on behavioral outcomes, suggesting overall RBI as an important factor in the retailer brand personality-behavioral outcomes framework. Moreover, the relationship between Public Self-congruity and overall RBI was found to be stronger in the high Shopping Conspicuousness Situation whereas the relationship between Private Self-congruity and overall RBI was found to be stronger in the department store image format. The moderating role of Consumer Shopping Involvement on the relationships among self-congruities and overall RBI was not significant. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings and limitations of the study are provided.

The future of the sawmill industry is uncertain; this is partly due to its internal structural changes, but also due to structural changes amongst their customers. Concurrently, competition within the industry is increasing, and therefore focus is constantly being placed on reducing costs and leveraging economies of scale. However, in order for sawmills to benefit from economies of scale, it is necessary to work with a well thought-out logistics strategy. This doctoral dissertation aims at identifying and describing the customers' logistics service requirements as well as describing and analyzing logistic strategies in the sawmill industry. The dissertation identifies and defines some of the sawmills customers' logistics service requirements and establishes a theoretical framework for logistics strategies, as well as it studies logistics strategies in the sawmill industry. House-builders and traditional retailers appear to focus on similar logistics service requirements, whereas the logistics service requirement of the DIY multiple retailers differ. Furthermore, this dissertation provides a general definition of logistics strategy that has been operationalized by generic logistics strategies. The sawmill industry makes use of generic logistics strategies such as differentiation and postponement. The individual sawmills ought to consider improving their process performance by implementing additional generic logistics strategies as well as increasing their utilization of generic logistics strategies that are already implemented. The sawmill industry's utilization of generic logistics strategies is however restricted by its own supplier market (including uncertainties of quality of incoming material), and also by the inherent nature of commodity products, as well as divergent material flows.

Il progetto realizzato consiste in uno strumento software in grado di effettuare una conversione di file, dal formato MIDI al formato MusicXML. Il tool è il proseguimento di un’attività basata sull'analisi di reti complesse e sullo sviluppo di strumenti per la modellazione di spartiti musicali. Melodie, assoli ed in generale tracce musicali sono rappresentabili come reti complesse, in cui i nodi identificano le note del brano e gli archi mostrano le sequenze con cui queste vengono suonate. Utilizzando la teoria delle reti è possibile estrarre alcune metriche principali che caratterizzano il brano in questione. Per la generazione della rete si è fatto uso di spartiti musicali descritti tramite lo standard MusicXML. File in questo formato sono difficilmente reperibili, per cui lo strumento realizzato si propone di effettuare una conversione da formato MIDI a formato MusicXML, con l’obiettivo di ottenere un database più esteso. Attraverso il tool sono stati convertiti brani di diverso genere, le cui reti relative sono state poi analizzate applicandovi le metriche principali ed effettuando le dovute valutazioni.

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Novos formatos de loja surgem constantemente. Estimulados por diferentes aspectos de seu ambiente de negócios, os varejistas estão sempre inovando em seus formatos para atrair mais consumidores, atender melhor seu público, para superar a concorrência ou ainda aproveitar vantagens decorrentes do avanço da tecnologia. A estratégia traçada pelo varejista está diretamente relacionada com o formato da loja. Este formato, por sua vez, é resultado da oferta do composto mercadológico – características básicas deste varejista utilizadas para satisfazer as necessidades dos consumidores. A diversidade de formatos e de estratégias dos varejistas de confecção é grande. Apesar desta variedade, não foi encontrada na literatura uma classificação única, consensual e amplamente aceita, nem uma descrição destes formatos. Devido ao grande potencial do mercado de baixa renda aliado à importância econômica do varejo de vestuário, este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar como as empresas varejistas de confecção estão organizadas em relação ao seu formato, isto é, em relação às variáveis do seu composto mercadológico (produto, preço, apresentação, pessoal, promoção e localização). Assim, este trabalho pretende derivar empiricamente uma taxonomia dos formatos varejistas com base no composto mercadológico das lojas por meio de uma análise de agrupamentos. Os resultados apontam para a existência de quatro grupos atuando no segmento de confecção para baixa renda: Amadoras, Barateiras, Especializadas e Consolidadas. As principais características dos grupos são detalhadas neste trabalho. São apresentadas também as diferenças e semelhanças entre eles. Os grupos aparentam estágios distintos no seu desenvolvimento estratégico. De maneira especulativa é possível identificar um caminho evolutivo entre estes grupos de lojas.
New retail formats emerge constantly. Driven by different factors of their business environment, retailers are always evolving their formats to keep and attract costumers, to overcome the competitors or to benefit from the technology development. The strategy outlined by the retailer is directly related to the store format. This format, in turn, is the result of the retail mix offering – the retailer basic characteristics that are established to satisfy the consumers' needs. There are many different formats in the apparel retail segment. Despite that, it was not found in the literature one single, accepted and consensual classification for these formats. Given the great potential of the low income segment and the economic importance of the apparel retail business, the objective of this research is to investigate how apparel retailers develop their formats and organize their retail marketing mix (product, price, presentation, people, promotion and placement). This investigation is focused on a taxonomic analysis of retail formats based on the stores' retail mix, using a cluster analysis. The results indicate four store groups in the low income apparel retail segment: Non Professional, Cheap, Specialty and Professional. The main characteristics of the groups are detailed in this study. It is also presented the differences and similarities among the groups. These groups are apparently in different stages of strategic development. Speculations are raised about the way these groups of retail formats evolve.

Ces travaux visaient à développer de nouveaux implants biodégradables se formant in situ pour le traitement des parodontites, les infections les plus fréquentes au monde. Ces implants permettront de délivrer localement le principe actif et de contrôler sa libération. L’un des pré-requis pour ces nouveaux systèmes est de présenter une bonne bioadhésion et des propriétés mécaniques permettant d’éviter une expulsion prématurée hors de la poche parodontale.Tout d’abord, de nouveaux implants se formant in situ avec un potentiel prometteur pour surmonter l'un des inconvénients majeurs liés au traitement local de la parodontite: l’adhérence limitée aux tissus environnants ont été développés. L'addition de diverses concentrations de différents types de plastifiants (l’acetyltributyl citrate, ATBC et le dibutyl sebacate, DBS) et de polymères adhésifs (l'hydroxypropyl méthylcellulose, HPMC) ont permis d’obtenir une augmentation significative de l’adhésion des implants à base de l’acide poly(lactique-co-glycolique) (PLGA). Ces systèmes sont formés in situ à partir des formulations liquides de N-méthyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Dans le même temps, une bonne aptitude à la déformation plastique des implants a été obtenue et les cinétiques de libération du principe actif souhaitées ont pu être affinées à l'aide de plusieurs outils de formulation. L'activité antimicrobienne de ce nouveau type d'implants se formant in situ, chargés à l’hyclate de doxycycline, a été démontrée en utilisant la méthode de diffusion en gélose sur plusieurs souches de Streptococcus isolées à partir de la microflore buccale des patients souffrant de parodontite.Ensuite, une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes de formation in situ des implants a été suivi en utilisant de différentes techniques tels que: la résonance paramagnétique électronique (EPR), la résonance magnétique nucléaire (1H NMR), le suivi de l’évolution de la masse et la cinétique de libération du principe actif dans différentes conditions, la microscopie optique, la chromatographie d'exclusion stérique (SEC). Des implants se formant in situ à base de PLGA, d’ATBC, de chlorhydrate de minocycline, de NMP et d’HPMC, ont été préparés et caractérisés en détail in vitro. Ces résultats ont révélé une vision approfondie sur les phénomènes physico-chimiques impliqués dans la formation de l'implant et sur le contrôle de la libération du principe actif. Par exemple, les effets de l'ajout d’HPMC dans la formulation, qui améliore l'adhérence de l'implant et réduit le gonflement, ont pu être expliqués. De manière importante, les implants se formant in situ ont efficacement empêché la croissance bactérienne dans les poches parodontales des patients. Enfin, l’impact de la composition des implants sur la performance des systèmes a été étudié. Afin d’élucider ces relations, des techniques de caractérisation de pointe, telles que l'analyse EPR ont été utilisées. Il est intéressant de noter que l’ajout d’HPMC et de PLGA de plus faible poids moléculaire a légèrement diminué la libération du principe actif, alors que dans le cas de PLGA de poids moléculaire plus élevé, la vitesse de libération a substantiellement augmenté. Ces tendances peuvent être expliquées en se basant sur la cinétique du transport de masse au cours de la formation de l'implant et des structures internes des systèmes. En outre, l'activité antimicrobienne des implants contre les micro-organismes présents dans les poches parodontales de patients atteints de parodontite a été évaluée. Ces systèmes gênent plus efficacement la croissance des bactéries pathogènes que celle des micro-organismes physiologiques. Ainsi, une recolonisation de la flore saine dans les poches des patients peut être envisagée in vivo
This work aimed to develop new biodegradable in situ forming implants for the treatment of periodontitis, the most common infections in the world. These implants would locally deliver the active ingredient and control its release. One of the prerequisites for these new systems is to provide a good bioadhesion and mechanical properties to prevent premature expulsion from the periodontal pocket. Firstly, new in situ forming implants with promising potential to overcome one of the major drawbacks for the local treatment of periodontitis: limited adhesion to the surrounding tissue were developed. The addition of various concentrations of different types of plasticizers (acetyltributyl citrate, ATBC and dibutyl sebacate, DBS) and adhesive polymers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, HPMC) resulted in a significant increase in the adhesion of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based implants. The systems are formed in situ from N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP)-based liquid formulations. Importantly, at the same time, good plastic deformability of the implants could be provided and desired drug release patterns could be fine-tuned using several formulation tools. The antimicrobial activity of this new type of in situ forming implants, loaded with doxycycline hyclate, was demonstrated using the agar well diffusion method and multiple Streptococcus strains isolated from the oral microflora of patients suffering from periodontitis.Secondly, a better understanding of the mechanisms of the in situ implant formation was followed using different techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), mass change and drug release measurements under different conditions, optical microscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The in situ forming implants containing PLGA, ATBC, minocycline hydrochloride, HPMC and NMP were prepared and characterized in detail in vitro. Based on these results, deeper insight into the physico-chemical phenomena involved in implant formation and the control of drug release could be gained. For instance, the effects of adding HPMC to the formulations, resulting in improved implant adherence and reduced swelling, could be explained. Importantly, the in situ formed implants effectively hindered the growth of bacteria present in the patients’ periodontal pockets.Finally, the impact of the composition of the implants on system performance was investigated using advanced characterization techniques, such as EPR analysis. Interestingly, HPMC addition to shorter chain PLGA slightly decreased drug release, whereas in the case of longer chain PLGA the release rate substantially increased. These tendencies could be explained based on the mass transport kinetics during implant formation and the systems’ inner structures. Furthermore, the implants’ antimicrobial activity against microorganisms present in the periodontal pockets of patients suffering from periodontitis was evaluated. Interestingly, these systems more effectively hinder the growth of pathogenic bacteria than of physiological microorganisms. Thus, a re-colonization of the patients’ pockets with healthy flora can be expected to be favored in vivo

Depuis plus d’un siècle, l’existence du concept de responsabilité contractuelle suscite de vives controverses au sein de la doctrine française. Le retard contractuel, aussi dénommé demeure, ou mora, constitue le second fait générateur de la responsabilité contractuelle, à côté du défaut d’exécution. Les spécificités de la demeure tiennent tant à ses conditions de mise en œuvre qu’à son régime, caractéristiques qui ne cesseront d’être réformées depuis le Moyen Âge, au gré des besoins et valeurs de chaque époque sans cesse en évolution. Fidèle à l’héritage romain dévolu par la Codification justinienne, le jus commune ne parviendra pas à formuler un principe général de responsabilité contractuelle pour retard, admettant que cette question relève davantage du fait que du droit. Il dispose néanmoins du matériau nécessaire à l’édification du principe. Mais le retard n’y est jamais considéré comme une faute, et ce constat est d’autant plus frappant dans les sources du droit propre au Royaume de France qui privilégient la recherche de l’exécution en nature de la dette. Le véritable changement de paradigme s’opèrera à la fin du XVe siècle, puis surtout sous la plume des juristes humanistes, qui, pour la première fois, qualifieront le retard de faute. Toutefois, faute, dommage et causalité ne feront pas l’objet d’une systématisation aboutie, bien que favorisée par l’énonciation d’un principe général de responsabilité civile par Grotius, sous l’égide du précepte du neminem laedere. Aux siècles suivants, l’ambiguïté demeurera manifeste, entraînant d’ailleurs une importante discordance entre les deux sommités de la doctrine française moderne, Domat et Pothier. Finalement, les rédacteurs du Code civil ne prendront pas partie pour un principe de responsabilité contractuelle pour retard, tout en confirmant les traits principaux d’un tel concept
Since over a century, the concept of contractual liability has been generating strong controversies within the French doctrine. The contractual delay, also called mora, forms the second operative event of the contractual liability, beside of the contractual failure, from which independent issues can be distinguished. Thus some specificities of the mora belong to its deployment conditions as well as its legal regime, characteristics that keep being reformed since the Middle Ages, depending on the needs and the time values constantly evolving. Following the Roman heritage from the Codification of Justinian, the Jus Commune will never succeed in formulating a general principle of contractual liability for delay, admitting that this question belongs more to the fact than the law. Yet, there is the needed ressources to edify such a principle. But the delay is never considered as a tort, and this finding is even more striking in its sources of the French Kingdom. The texts of the jus proprium are indeed very far from establishing a damages system of the delay, encouraging the search of the execution of the debt in nature. The true change of paradigm will happen at the end of the 15th century, and especially with the humanist jurists who, for the first time, will qualify the tort delay. However, tort, damage and chain of causation will not be the object of an achieved systematization, despite the enunciation of a general principle of civil liability by Grotius, under the aegis of neminem laedere precept. During the next centuries, the ambiguity will remain obvious, generating actually a strong discord between the two thoughts leaders of the modern French Doctrine, Domat and Pothier. Finally, the Code Civil redactors will not decide for a principle of contractual liability for delay, while still confirming main features of such a concept

Cette thèse est consacrée à l'étude d'une classe d'équations différentielles à retard dépendant de l'état -- ces équations provenant d'un modèle structuré en taille. La principale motivation de cette thèse provient de la volonté d'ajuster les paramètres du système d'équations étudiées vis-à-vis des données générées par un simulateur de forêts, appelé SORTIE. Deux types de forêts sont étudiés ici: d'une part une forêt ne comportant qu'une seule espèce d'arbre, et d'autre part une forêt comportant deux espèces d'arbres (au chapitre 2). Les simulations numériques du système d'équations correspondent relativement bien aux données générées par SORTIE, ce qui montre que le système considéré peut être utilisé afin d'écrire la dynamique de populations d'une forêt. De plus, un modèle plus étendu prenant en compte la position spatiale des arbres est proposé dans le chapitre 2, dans le cas de forêts possédant deux espèces d'arbres. Les simulations numériques de ce modèle permettent de visualiser la propagation spatiale des forêts. Les chapitres 3 et 4 se concentrent sur l'analyse mathématique des équations différentielles à retard considérées. Les propriétés du semi-flot associé au système sont étudiées au chapitre 3, où l'on démontre en particulier que ce semi-flot n'est pas continu en temps. Le caractère dissipatif et borné du semi-flot, pour des modèles de forêts comportant une ou deux espèces d'arbres, est étudié dans le chapitre 4. En outre, afin d'étudier la dynamique de population d'une forêt (d'une seule espèce d'arbre) après l'introduction d'un parasite, nous construisons dans le chapitre 5 un système proie-prédateur dont la proie (à savoir la forêt) est modélisée par le système d'équations différentielles à retard dépendant de l'état étudié auparavant, et dont le prédateur (à savoir le parasite) est modélisé par une équation différentielle ordinaire. De nombreuses simulations numériques associées à différents scénarios sont faites, afin d'explorer le comportement complexe des solutions du au couplage proie-prédateur et les équations à retard dépendant de l'état
This thesis is devoted to the studies of a class of state-dependent delay differential equations. This class of equations is derived from a size-structured model.The motivation comes from the parameter fittings of this system to a forest simulator called SORTIE. Cases of both single species forest and two-species forest are considered in Chapter 2. The numerical simulations of the system correspond relatively very well to the forest data generated by SORTIE, which shows that this system is able to be used to describe the population dynamics of forests. Moreover, an extended model considering the spatial positions of trees is also proposed in Chapter 2 for the two-species forest case. From the numerical simulations of this spatial model one can see the diffusion of forests in space. Chapter 3 and 4 focus on the mathematical analysis of the state-dependent delay differential equations. The properties of semiflow generated by this system are studied in Chapter 3, where we find that this semiflow is not time-continuous. The boundedness and dissipativity of the semiflow for both single species model and multi-species model are studied in Chapter 4. Furthermore, in order to study the population dynamics after the introduction of parasites into a forest, a predator-prey system consisting of the above state-dependent delay differential equation (describing the forest) and an ordinary differential equation (describing the parasites) is constructed in Chapter 5 (only the single species forest is considered here). Numerical simulations in several scenarios and cases are operated to display the complex behaviours of solutions appearing in this system with the predator-prey relation and the state-dependent delay

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O mercado de baixa renda no Brasil, que engloba a população das classes sócio-econômicas CDE , representa cerca de 77% dos domicílios brasileiros, com renda familiar de até R$ 2.000,00 por mês (10 salários mínimos em 2002), movimentando cerca de R$ 500 bilhões/ ano em consumo, o equivalente a 35% do consumo agregado nacional (IBGE, 2003). Na categoria de alimentos, esse segmento da população é responsável por 53% do consumo nacional, sendo que em categorias como cereais em geral, leite fresco e em pó, fraldas descartáveis e sabão em pedra são responsáveis por cerca de 80% do consumo no país (LATIN PANEL, 2004). Os pequenos varejistas são os principais responsáveis pelo atendimento a este segmento da população, já que a participação das grandes redes de auto-serviço é relativamente baixa nesse mercado. Os pequenos auto-serviços e o varejo tradicional (padarias, mercearias, empórios) respondem por cerca de 81% das vendas (LATIN PANEL, 2004) e possuem uma penetração superior a 90% no mercado de baixa renda (HILÁRIO 2006). Eles são abastecidos em sua grande maioria de forma indireta pela indústria, que se utiliza de atacadistas e distribuidores para fazerem com que seus produtos cheguem até esses consumidores de menor renda. Esses varejistas possuem características e necessidades distintas dos supermercados de maior porte, dentre as quais pode-se citar: menor capital de giro; menor poder de negociação na hora da compra, em razão de falta de escala; dificuldade de investimento em tecnologia e em treinamento de pessoal (HILÁRIO, 2006) que demandam ações diferenciadas de seus fornecedores, atacadistas e distribuidores. Por meio de uma pesquisa de caráter exploratório, em uma amostra de empresas que atuam no setor varejista e de distribuição, buscou-se identificar, com base no modelo de relacionamentos comprador-vendedor desenvolvido por WILSON (1995), as variáveis ativas mais importantes em cada etapa dos relacionamentos entre o pequeno varejo de baixa renda e os intermediários da indústria, e apontar as estratégias de relacionamento de maior importância na visão dos varejistas. A conclusão do estudo mostra que as estratégias de relacionamento entre atacadistas e pequenos varejistas é ainda muito focada no aspecto transacional, imperando a questão do preço, com baixo envolvimento e compromisso entre os agentes. Embora esta seja, aparentemente, a realidade dos relacionamentos entre atacadistas e pequenos varejistas, existe uma diferenciação nas estratégias de relacionamento entre distribuidores e pequenos varejistas, bem como iniciativas por parte de alguns atacadistas em desenvolverem relacionamentos baseados também em compromisso e confiança. Este parece o caminho a ser trilhado pelas empresas atacadistas e distribuidoras que pretendem criar e manter vantagens competitivas sustentáveis e desenvolver parcerias de sucesso com o pequeno varejo.
The low-income market in Brazil, characterized by the CDE socio-economic classes, represents about 77% of the Brazilian households. This parcel of the Brazilian population earns up to R$ 2.000,00 per month (10 Brazilian minimum wages in 2002), spending about R$ 500 billion per year, corresponding to 35% of the national aggregated consumption (IBGE, 2003). In the category of food products, this segment of the population is responsible for 53% of the national consumption. In other categories like general cereals, fresh and powdered milk, diapers and bar soaps, they are responsible for 80% of the consumption in the country. (Latin Panel, 2004). The small retailers are the main channel in supporting this population segment, since the participation of the bigger chains of supermarkets are relatively lower in this market. The small supermarkets and the traditional retail ( bakeries and grocery stores) respond for about 81% of sales (Latin Panel, 2004) and have a penetration above 90% in the low-income market (Hilario, 2006). They are supplied, indirectly, mostly by the industry, that uses wholesalers and distributors to make their products reach these low-income consumers. These retailers have characteristics and needs others than bigger supermarkets, among that, can be mentioned: lower operating capital; lower negotiation power at purchasing time, due to the low volumes; difficulty to invest in technology and employees training (Hilario, 2006) that demand different actions from suppliers, wholesalers, and distributors. Through a research of exploratory character, in a sample of companies that work in the retailer and wholesaler market, it searched to identify, based in the buyer-seller relationship model developed by WILSON (1995), the most important active variables in each step of the relationships between the small low-income retail and the industry intermediates and point out the most important strategies in the retailers’ sight. The conclusion of the study shows that the relationship strategies, mainly among wholesalers and small retailers, are much focused in the transactional aspect yet, ruling the price aspect, with low involvement and commitment among the agents. Although it is, apparently, the reality of the relationship among wholesalers and small retailers, there is a differentiation in the relationship strategies among distributors and small retailers, and initiatives by the wholesalers to develop relationships also based on commitment and trust. This seems the way to be tracked by the wholesalers and distributors companies that intend to create and maintain sustainable competitive advantages, and develop success partnerships with the small retail.

Ciências Empresariais
Master Programme in Management Sciences
A dissertação que se apresenta enquadra-se na problemática da identificação dos factores determinantes para as vendas no mercado da distribuição, com enfoque no sector do retalho. O espaço em área de venda, identificado pelos retalhistas como o seu recurso mais dispendioso, assume um papel importante como factor explicativo das vendas, sendo dada relevância à sua influência ao longo de toda a investigação. Por outro lado, procura-se avaliar a importância do espaço e de outros factores para diferentes categorias de produtos e segmentos de loja. Este estudo serve-se de um exemplo representativo de lojas que operam no mercado português, pertencentes a um dos principais grupos retalhistas existentes, para avaliar esta problemática Relativamente à metodologia adoptada no estudo do grupo de retalho português recorreu-se a modelos econométricos - regressão linear, segmentação e modelos de mistura de regressão, usando informação da empresa e das suas insígnias. Concluiu-se que o espaço é um factor determinante para as vendas, cuja importância varia entre lojas, grupos de lojas e categorias de produtos. Estes resultados são importantes na tomada de decisão do retalhista, na medida em que contribuem para a realização de estudos de simulação de lojas, prevendo os efeitos das variações de vendas provocados por alterações de espaço. Os factores relacionados com o preço face à concorrência, rendimento per capita da população alvo e qualidade no atendimento também foram analisados e inferiu-se sobre a sua importância relativa. Os modelos de segmentação adoptados foram também úteis, porque permitiram identificar grupos homogéneos de lojas, facultando ao gestor informação útil para a definição de políticas direccionadas a estes grupos.
The following dissertation covers the field of identification of the determinant sales factors at the distribution market, with the emphasis on the retail sector. The sales area, which is considered by retailers as the highest investment outlay point, assumes an important role as explanatory sales factor and gets a relevant attention throughout the research according to its influential character. On the other hand, the ambition has been set to evaluate the importance of the retail sales area and of the other factors concerning various product categories and various segments of stores. This study operates with a representative example of stores working in the Portuguese market and belonging to one of the existing local retail groups, with the objective of analysing this problematic. As for the methodology applied to the study of the Portuguese retail group, the econometric models were chosen linear regression, segmentation, regression mixture models, survey information of the company in question and its store formats. To sum up, the sales area is a determinant sales factor, which importance varies between the stores, groups of stores and product categories. These results are relevant to the retail's decisions since they facilitate the realization of underlying studies predicting the effects of the sale variations provoked by sales area alteration. The factors related to the price contest in face of the competitors, the income per capita of the population as well as the service quality were analysed and studied its relative importance. The applied segmentation models proved to be useful since they allowed identify homogeneous store groups, delivering valuable information to the managers that facilitates the definition of particular attitude policies regarding these groups

Ciências Empresariais
Master Programme in Management Sciences
A dissertação que se apresenta enquadra-se na problemática da identificação dos factores determinantes para as vendas no mercado da distribuição, com enfoque no sector do retalho. O espaço em área de venda, identificado pelos retalhistas como o seu recurso mais dispendioso, assume um papel importante como factor explicativo das vendas, sendo dada relevância à sua influência ao longo de toda a investigação. Por outro lado, procura-se avaliar a importância do espaço e de outros factores para diferentes categorias de produtos e segmentos de loja. Este estudo serve-se de um exemplo representativo de lojas que operam no mercado português, pertencentes a um dos principais grupos retalhistas existentes, para avaliar esta problemática Relativamente à metodologia adoptada no estudo do grupo de retalho português recorreu-se a modelos econométricos - regressão linear, segmentação e modelos de mistura de regressão, usando informação da empresa e das suas insígnias. Concluiu-se que o espaço é um factor determinante para as vendas, cuja importância varia entre lojas, grupos de lojas e categorias de produtos. Estes resultados são importantes na tomada de decisão do retalhista, na medida em que contribuem para a realização de estudos de simulação de lojas, prevendo os efeitos das variações de vendas provocados por alterações de espaço. Os factores relacionados com o preço face à concorrência, rendimento per capita da população alvo e qualidade no atendimento também foram analisados e inferiu-se sobre a sua importância relativa. Os modelos de segmentação adoptados foram também úteis, porque permitiram identificar grupos homogéneos de lojas, facultando ao gestor informação útil para a definição de políticas direccionadas a estes grupos.
The following dissertation covers the field of identification of the determinant sales factors at the distribution market, with the emphasis on the retail sector. The sales area, which is considered by retailers as the highest investment outlay point, assumes an important role as explanatory sales factor and gets a relevant attention throughout the research according to its influential character. On the other hand, the ambition has been set to evaluate the importance of the retail sales area and of the other factors concerning various product categories and various segments of stores. This study operates with a representative example of stores working in the Portuguese market and belonging to one of the existing local retail groups, with the objective of analysing this problematic. As for the methodology applied to the study of the Portuguese retail group, the econometric models were chosen linear regression, segmentation, regression mixture models, survey information of the company in question and its store formats. To sum up, the sales area is a determinant sales factor, which importance varies between the stores, groups of stores and product categories. These results are relevant to the retail's decisions since they facilitate the realization of underlying studies predicting the effects of the sale variations provoked by sales area alteration. The factors related to the price contest in face of the competitors, the income per capita of the population as well as the service quality were analysed and studied its relative importance. The applied segmentation models proved to be useful since they allowed identify homogeneous store groups, delivering valuable information to the managers that facilitates the definition of particular attitude policies regarding these groups

SUMMARY An altarpiece is a hard work of art to understand, from the structural point of view, as well as, from the iconographic one. It is an interrelated group of images, which are the result of some characteristics, which are determined in part for the place it is destined, and the rest for the people who ordered it, its authors and for the historicartistic period in which it was created. All the images and elements in the altarpiece have a concrete function and purpose: to transmit messages, a tale, a group of symbols and some aesthetic effects. The topic of this Doctoral Thesis is focused on the transformations that the pictorial altarpiece have suffered, including changes in theirlocation, their iconography and the context in which they are presented. The transformations are a very important problem due to the huge variety of them; such as: repainting, mutilations, combination of elements from different ages and the dismemberment of the altarpiece and so on ... The trouble also depends on the degree of modifications suffered. In some altarpieces there is only one panel painted, or the altarpiece has arrived today with so many transformations that it has become a collage of pieces from other altarpieces. This is a challenge in every intervention of restoration and preservation. Nowadays, there is no agreement in how to proceed regarding these transformations, to be able to explain the extent of these transformations this work of investigation has centred in some pictorial altarpieces, or in parts of them. These are preserved in the town of Xàtiva, the examples are located between XIV and XVIII centuries. Some of them are: " Retablo Mayor de San Pedro Y San Pablo, Retablo de los Dolores de la Virgen and Retablo de Guerau de Castellvert". There are also exposed examples of independent pieces, which in origin were part of some altarpiece, such as a tabernacle, some panel painted o part of a pew within others. A description of each work of art has been made. The changes on its placements, each and every identified alteration in order to comprehend the rounds suffered by the work of art which have taken it to its present's day state. Some unpublished documents have been obtained, from written texts to pictures, which show some light on the history of these art pieces. Also, some hypothesis on these altar pieces restorations to their initial morphology, so that, the extent of their transformations is shown. From the study of these pieces and the revision of the main pieces' alterations, the most recent restorations have been analysed and exposed, so that, studying the adopted solutions to handle these transformations, and reach that the observer can read these pieces of art despite their transformations, mutilations and their descontextualization.
RESUMEN Un retablo es una obra compleja de comprender, tanto desde el punto de vista estructural como iconográfico. Es un conjunto de imágenes interrelacionadas, como resultado de un cúmulo de características, determinadas en parte por el lugar al que está destinado, por los comitentes que lo encargaron, por los artistas que lo realizaron y, por supuesto, por el período histórico-artístico y la estructura social en la que se creó. Todas las imágenes, y demás elementos que configuran el retablo, persiguen una función y propósito determinado para transmitir un mensaje, un relato, un conjunto de símbolos y también de efectos estéticos. El tema de esta tesis doctoral está centrado en las transformaciones que han sufrido los retablos pictóricos, incluyendo tanto los cambios de carácter físico como las modificaciones en la iconografía, así como los cambios en el contexto en el que se presentan. Las transformaciones son un problema de enorme importancia debido a la gran variedad de estas (repintes, mutilaciones, combinaciones de elementos de diferentes épocas, desmembramiento de retablos etc.) y al grado de modificación que pueden implicar. De algunos retablos solo se ha conservado una tabla, o el retablo ha llegado a la actualidad con transformaciones que lo han convertido en un collage de piezas de otros retablos. Esto es un reto en cada intervención de conservación y restauración, así como en su gestión. Actualmente, no siempre hay un consenso en la forma de proceder con respecto a estas alteraciones o con respecto a la forma de presentación de los retablos, o de las partes conservadas de los mismos, para hacer entender al espectador, de forma comprensible, la historia de las piezas. Para poder explicar el alcance de estas transformaciones, este trabajo de investigación se ha centrado en algunos retablos pictóricos (o partes de los mismos) conservados en la ciudad de Xàtiva, con ejemplos desde el siglo XIV hasta el s. XVIII. Algunos de estos son el Retablo Mayor de San Pedro y San Pablo, el Retablo de los Dolores de la Virgen y el Retablo de Guerau de Castellvert. También se exponen ejemplos de piezas independientes que formaban originalmente parte de algún retablo, como un sagrario, diversas tablas y fragmentos de un banco, entre otros. Se ha realizado una descripción de cada obra, expuesto sus cambios de ubicación y todas las alteraciones que se han podido identificar, para comprender el recorrido de estas obras, los diversos estados por los que ha pasado y que han configurado la obra existente en la actualidad. Se han obtenido algunos documentos inéditos, tanto textos como fotográficos, que permiten arrojar luz sobre algún periodo de la historia de estas obras. También se aportan hipótesis de reconstrucción de algunos de los retablos (su morfología inicial) para presentar de forma más evidente el alcance de las transformaciones. A partir del estudio de estas piezas, y de una revisión de las principales alteraciones que pueden sufrir los retablos, se han expuesto y analizado las restauraciones más recientes realizadas a las mismas. Se trata de estudiar las soluciones adoptadas para gestionar estas transformaciones y conseguir que la obra, aun mutilada y descontextualizada, sea legible para el espectador.
RESUM Un retaule és una obra complexa de comprendre, tant des del punt de vista estructural com iconogràfic. És un conjunt d'imatges interrelacionades, com a resultat d'un cúmul de característiques, determinades en part pel lloc al qual està destinat, pels comitents que el van encarregar, pels artistes que el van realitzar i, per descomptat, pel període històric-artístic i l'estructura social en la qual es va crear. Totes les imatges, i altres elements que configuren el retaule, persegueixen una funció i propòsit determinat per transmetre un missatge, un relat, un conjunt de símbols i també d'efectes estètics. El tema d'aquesta tesi doctoral està centrat en les transformacions que han sofert els retaules pictòrics, inclosos tant els canvis de caràcter físic com les modificacions en la iconografia, així com els canvis en el context en què es presenten. Les transformacions són un problema d'enorme importància a causa de la gran varietat d'aquestes (repintades, mutilacions, combinacions d'elements de diferents èpoques, desmembrament dels retaules, etc.) i al grau de modificació que poden implicar. D'alguns retaules només s'ha conservat una taula, o el retaule ha arribat a l'actualitat amb transformacions que l'han convertit en un collage de peces d'altres retaules. Això és un repte en cada intervenció de conservació i restauració, així com en la seva gestió. Actualment, no sempre hi ha un consens en la forma de procedir pel que fa a aquestes alteracions o pel que fa a la forma de presentació dels retaules, o de les parts conservades d'aquests, per fer entendre a l'espectador, de manera comprensible, la història de les peces. Per poder explicar l'abast d'aquestes transformacions, aquest treball de recerca s'ha centrat en alguns retaules pictòrics (o parts dels mateixos) conservats a la ciutat de Xàtiva, amb exemples des del segle XIV fins al s. XVIII. Alguns d'aquests són el Retaule Major de Sant Pere i Sant Pau, el Retaule dels Dolors de la Mare de Déu i el Retaule de Guerau de Castellvert. També s'exposen exemples de peces independents que formaven originalment part d'algun retaule, com un sagrari, diverses taules i fragments d'un banc, entre d'altres. S'ha realitzat una descripció de cada obra, exposat els seus canvis d'ubicació i totes les alteracions que s'han pogut identificar, per comprendre el recorregut d'aquestes obres, els diversos estats pels quals ha passat i que han configurat l'obra existent en l'actualitat. S'han obtingut alguns documents inèdits, tant textos com fotogràfics, que permeten donar llum sobre algun període de la història d'aquestes obres. També s'aporten hipòtesi de reconstrucció d'alguns dels retaules (la seva morfologia inicial) per presentar de forma més evident l'abast de les transformacions. A partir de l'estudi d'aquestes peces, i d'una revisió de les principals alteracions que poden patir els retaules, s'han exposat i analitzat les restauracions més recents realitzades a aquestes. Es tracta d'estudiar les solucions adoptades per gestionar aquestes transformacions i aconseguir que l'obra, tot i mutilada i descontextualitzada, siga llegible per a l'espectador.
García Enguíx, V. (2017). Transformaciones y cambios de contexto en los retablos; el caso de Xátiva [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/90563
TESIS

Negli ultimi anni i metodi di autenticazione tradizionali sui dispositivi elettronici, come password e token, si sono rivelati obsoleti a causa della capacità sempre più avanzata di malintenzionati di risalire a tali informazioni sfruttando debolezze nei sistemi informatici. I sistemi di riconoscimento biometrico nascono come sostitutivi di questi metodi tradizionali e offrono una soluzione più affidabile in quanto si basano su attributi distintivi e propri di un individuo, che non possono essere rubati, manipolati o condivisi. Ad oggi i sistemi di riconoscimento biometrico su smartphone si limitano alla valutazione di caratteristiche fisiche, come la geometria del viso e l'impronta del dito, ma da anni vengono studiate alternative che sfruttano invece caratteristiche comportamentali come l'apposizione di una firma o il pattern di digitazione su una tastiera. I primi studi sul riconoscimento di utenti basato sulla digitazione utilizzavano le tastiere dei computer, ma ben presto si sono estesi anche agli smartphone sfruttando le Application Programming Interface (API) dei sistemi operativi. I metodi più utilizzati per questo compito finora si sono affidati ad algoritmi come 'Random Forest', 'k-Nearest Neighbor' e 'Support Vector Machine'. Questa tesi studia invece la possibilità di utilizzare reti neurali per l'identificazione di utenti sulla base di dati estratti dai pattern di digitazione ('keystroke dynamics') e dai sensori di movimento dello smartphone, mettendole a confronto con i tradizionali classificatori. I risultati indicano che è possibile ottenere risultati soddisfacenti, se non addirittura migliori, anche con l’utilizzo di reti neurali, ma rimane il fatto che le reti neurali sono computazionalmente più complesse dei classici algoritmi di classificazione, il che potrebbe rappresentare un limite per gli smartphone che hanno potenza computazionale ridotta.

Les amplificateurs optiques à semi-conducteurs (SOA) sont des composants multifonctionnels utilisables dans des applications de plus en plus variées, notamment dans les réseaux multiplexés en longueur d'onde. Ce travail est consacré à la modélisation large-bande du comportement statique et dynamique des SOA. Le terme large-bande couvre une large plage de variation de la longueur d'onde des signaux optiques incidents, de leur puissance, ainsi qu'une large plage de variation du courant d'alimentation électrique des SOA. Cette modélisation large-bande a été validée pour plusieurs SOA, à la fois pour le gain, l'émission spontanée ampliée (ASE) et le facteur de bruit (NF). Notre modélisation s'est de plus avérée cascadable puisqu'elle a permis de simuler le comportement de deux SOA en série. Notre modélisation a ensuite été étendue à la prise en compte de l'ondulation du gain et de l'ASE, à la prise en compte de l'état de polarisation des signaux et de l'ASE, du mélange à quatre ondes (FWM), des SOA à gain bloqué (GC-SOA) et à celle des SOA à gain élargi par l'insertion d'un filtre coupe-bande. Nous nous sommes aussi attachés à la modélisation dynamique du comportement des SOA en prenant en compte la compression du gain. Nous avons pour cela développé une écriture sous forme de retard complexe de l'équation de propagation facilement intégrable. Notre modèle permet ainsi de simuler le comportement des SOA jusqu'au régime picoseconde. Enn, nous avons mis en place la prise en compte des formats de modulation complexes an de pouvoir insérer notre modèle dans un environnement système.

The purpose of this two-phase, sequential mixed method study is to examine the impact of shopping motivations (utilitarian motivation and hedonic motivation), retail format attributes and demographics on the retail format choice of either a supermarket or a traditional market in a transitional Vietnamese economy. The first phase was a qualitative study which explored the link between shopping motivations and retail format attributes, using in-depth interviews with sixteenth shoppers in Hochiminh city. The reason for gathering qualitative data is to enable the researcher to develop the scale of shopping motivation constructs that is contextually relevant to Vietnam, taking into consideration its cultural backdrop and pace of economic development. This is because similar scales developed in a Western context might not be suitable in measuring and determining motivation constructs in Vietnam. The qualitative study aims to adjust and modify these scales as well as assist in discovering retail format attributes and determining demographics variables that might impact on Vietnamese shoppers’ choice retail format. Based on the findings from this qualitative study, combined with extensive, extant literature reviews, a second phase study was undertaken to develop two instruments. These instruments were used to survey consumers shopping mainly for two kinds of products for their households: non-food products and processed food products. The sample size for the non-food products study was 276 shoppers, and the sample size of the processed-food products study was 301 shoppers. The surveys were conducted in 24 districts of Hochiminh city. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze the data. Results from the study indicated that shopping motivations (utilitarian motivation and hedonic motivation) impact significantly on retail format choice in a transitional, Vietnamese economy. In addition, “location” and “time convenience” were traditional market attributes that were strong predictors in shoppers’ choice of traditional markets. “Merchandise selection” was an important supermarket attribute in predicting shoppers’ choice of supermarkets. Finally, age and the average household income monthly of Vietnamese were found to be important predictors of retail format choice for only processed food products but not for non-food products.

M.Com. (Financial Management)
The growth in the retail sector has forced property management teams to start focusing on financial benchmarking of formats when expanding operations. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the profitability of three different retail formats, with specific focus on the occupancy cost components. Size was identified as an important determinant of rent and this relationship is also investigated. Data from a large South African retailer, with stores in various formats was obtained. The profitability was calculated - using an adjusted profitability model - for three retail formats; large shopping centres, small shopping centres and stand-alone outlets. All data, including size details were obtained for a period of five years. The expectation of a negative relationship between store size and rent was rejected for individual stores as well as format groupings. The profitability analyses delivered mixed results between „rand value‟ and „percentage to sales‟ outcomes, but concluded that large shopping centres were the least profitable of the retail formats under review.

碩士
國立政治大學
經營管理碩士學程(EMBA)
95
While retail business development in Taiwan has reached mature stage for many retail formats, it is still in the rapid growth stage in China. Consumer shopping behavior in Taiwan and China might be different given different economic and retail development progress. The findings of this research support two hypotheses. First the retail format development is different in Taiwan and China. Second the consumer shopping behavior is different in Taiwan and China. All retail formats were developed ahead in Taiwan by around 15-20 years. It took around 35 years in Taiwan to develop up to current status. However, it took a much shorter time for China to catch up. The development was much more concentrated and intensive. The development order is also different. In Taiwan, the order is department store, supermarket, convenience store then hypermarket. In China, however, hypermarket development advances convenience store. Convenience store is still in an early development stage. Shopping behavior in different channel is also different. Taiwan shoppers visit convenience store most often while China shoppers patronize supermarket and hypermarket most frequent. In Taiwan, except household products, most packaged food or beverage are purchased most often from convenience store. In China, most are from supermarket and hypermarket. Moreover, Taiwan consumers are more particular, demanding and sophisticated. If any manufactures would like to enter China market, modern trade is suggested to the most important channel. It is easier for quick distribution, lower risk and more similar practice to Taiwan retail environment. If any retailers would like to enter China market, it is wiser to have international alliances. The retail business now in China plays with big economic scale. Without advanced knowledge, technology as well as rich working capital, it is very challenging to compete in China market. For research in the future, it is recommended to include village information. Under China government policy, village should be upgraded with strong government support. It will provide a more comprehensive pictures if village is included.

碩士
輔仁大學
織品服裝學系
90
ABSTRACT Study On the Retail Format and Anticipated Performance of the Clothing Flagship Store. [Total pages: 158] STUDENT : Lin, Ya-Yun SUPERVISOR : Dr. Ta-Kuang Hsu DEGREE : Master of Science Graduate Institute of Textiles and Clothing: Textiles / Fashion Business and Consumer Studies Section Fu Jen Catholic University GRADUATION DATE: June 7, 2002 KEY WORD: Clothing Flagship store, Retail Format Due to the factors of more dynamic internationalization, market opening and liberalization over the recent years, consumers’ clothing-purchasing behavior has been changing greatly compared that of the past. In addition, with the increase of consumers going abroad and gaining access to fashion information, they have begun to go in for the clothing trend of the world. Thus, lately, the clothing flagship store has been introduced to Taiwan from abroad and been booming into a new type of store in the clothing industry. This thesis applies a study of the clothing flagship store, in order to realize why a clothing company wants to open a flagship store, what retail format it is of, what performance it could be anticipated toward the opening of that store, as well as the connection between the retail format and anticipated performance. In terms of research method, a series of in-depth interviews with the companies that have opened the flagship store are firstly conducted through qualitative measurement, so as to find out the purpose and effect of opening a flagship store. Then, based on the results of those in-depth interviews and archival surveys, six elements of the retail format can be deduced for consideration of opening a flagship store: location selection, cost & profit, merchandise structure, store atmosphere, marketing and service. And from the same resource, anticipated performance can be assumed and integrated into three parts: channel effect, inter-company effect, and market effect. Finally, a questionnaire survey is performed with the subject of the companies that operate a clothing booth in leading department stores in Taipei, and then data analysis is processed through statistic method. The findings of the study are worked out as follows: 1. The elements of “marketing” and “service” of the retail format affect the “market effect” of anticipated performance. 2. When it comes to the selection of a flagship store’s location, companies with such a store emphasize more on frequent crowd flow and commercial attribution suitable for fashion brand image than those without that store. 3. Companies with a flagship store stress more a high number of employees assigned to it than those without such a store. 4. Companies planning to open a flagship store are more interested in holding fashion shows than those with such a store, and the later ones more interested in the shows than those without that store. 5. Companies with a flagship store emphasize more on a special advertising for the inauguration of such a store than those without that store. 6. Companies that have operated a flagship store place a higher priority on the invitation of journalists to the opening ceremony than those without such a store. 7. Companies that have operated a flagship store give higher evaluation on a department store’s intention of initiatively offering them a booth after the opening of such a store than those without that store. 8. Companies without a flagship store give higher evaluation on its appeal to other ones for alliance than those planning to open such a store. 9. Before the opening of a flagship store, companies should consider well the merchandise structure of a brand, location of the store, and standard of store service. After it opens, they should work hard for the attractive performance of marketing activities (opening promotion in particular) as well as quality store service. With the combination of fully supplied merchandise, well-performed marketing activities and quality services, the flagship store can thus create a win-win situation for both the company and consumer.

by Yiu Chuen-lai.
Spine title: Deciphering small business owner's strategies.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-161).
Abstract
Acknowledgment
Table of Contents
Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1
Chapter Chapter Two --- Small business characteristics --- p.11
Chapter Chapter Three --- Franchisees' knowledge about franchise relation --- p.49
Chapter Chapter Four --- Why and how franchisees join the franchises ？ A study of franchisees' working histories --- p.80
Chapter Chapter Five --- What do franchisees do ？ In quest of their work and their role in the operation --- p.104
Chapter Chapter Six --- Conclusion --- p.140
Bibliography

碩士
逢甲大學
國際貿易所
94
In the past few years, the growth of Internet causes the tremendous evolution in the retailing industry. Consumers now face with various ways of shopping, such as brick-and-mortars, online retailer, TV shopping channels and so on. However, what is the most important factor except convenience that consumers concern most. The answer without question is the price of the product. 　　Some researchers had discussed about the price difference between brick-and-mortars and online retailers. But there are few researches had compared more retail formats. This study discusses the price differences in different retail format in Taiwan. Two experiments were tested in this study. Both experiments targeted on three retail formats, brick-and-mortars, TV shopping channel and online retailers. First experiment tested thirty-eight different 3C products. Second experiment tested forty-five different cell phones. 　　This study uses two-way RBD ANOVA analysis method to exam the samples and finds out that two experiments had came to three same conclusions. First, the price of the same product in different retail formats is not the same. Second, the price of the same product in different stores is not the same. Third, in online retailer format, the price of the same product has no significant difference. However, in testing the price difference in brick-and-mortar format, two experiments had came to different outcomes. In first experiment, the result showed that in brick-and-mortar format, there is no significant price difference. In second experiment, the outcome was that there is a significant price difference in brick-and-mortar format.

博士
國立交通大學
工業工程與管理系所
105
his research develops a sales forecasting model that can analyze the interaction effects of two retail competing formats (Convenience-oriented vs. Budget-oriented formats). A traditional approach to making such a forecast is based on the Lotka–Volterra equations (also called the LV-model). The LV-model assumes that the population of each species is affected by its self-growth, internal interaction within the species, and external interaction with other species. Most prior studies in business applications directly use sales data as input to the LV-model. The prior approach may result in misleading conclusions when sales data are embedded with seasonal variation, because this variation is not addressed in the original development of the LV-model. Therefore, this study proposes a forecasting framework (an enhanced application of the LV-model). The sales data of each retail format is considered as a compound data, which is decomposed into three individual components: (1) aggregate, (2) competition, and (3) seasonal components. The LV-model is used to forecast the competition component；the other two components are forecasted by typical time series methods；and the data of three components are finally combined into one. Empirical study indicates that the proposed method substantially outperforms the prior approach in terms of forecasting errors (4.4% vs.16.7% for Convenience-oriented and 5.8% vs. 16.2% for Budget-oriented). In addition, the proposed method reveals a more convincing predator-prey relationship between the two retail formats, which concludes that the Convenience-oriented is the predator. To the opposite, the prior approach, concluding that the Budget-oriented is the predator, is quite doubtful because the Convenience-oriented shall be preferred while the GDP grows over time. This research makes a contribution in how to appropriately apply the LV-model in forecasting revenue and analyzing the interaction effects of two competing business species. Keywords : Lotka–Volterra model ; Forecasting ; Retail formats

博士
國立交通大學
工業工程與管理系所
104
The retail industry is an important component of the supply chain of the goods and services that are consumed daily and competition has been increasing among retailers worldwide. Thus, forecasting the degree of retail competition has become an important issue. However, economic growth and seasonal patterns in the level of retail activity dramatically reduce forecasting accuracy. This paper attempts to develop a forecasting methodology based on the Lotka–Volterra model for retail format competition subject to economic growth and seasonal patterns. A modified Lotka–Volterra model with an additional constraint on the summation of market share is proposed. In addition, the mean absolute error is used to measure the forecasting accuracy of the market share. Real-world Taiwanese retail data from 2000 is used to validate the proposed forecasting methods. Our methodology successfully indicates the importance of data pre-processing when using the Lotka–Volterra model. For revenue data of the retail format, out of the three signals (growth, competition and seasonal signals), the competition signal should be the only signal that is contained for the best Lotka–Volterra forecasting. Our methodology assists the retail format in the development of management strategies and the decision of investment timing. We also demonstrate how the Lotka–Volterra model can be used to forecast the degree of industry competition.

The subject of this dissertation is the architectural history of big-box stores on Southern Vancouver Island since their arrival in 1992. It examines the architecture and cultural significance of stores located in the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley Regional District, and the Capital Regional District. This study hypothesizes that big-box stores are, in terms of their architecture, retailing formats, and consumption practices, central locations and vehicles for the reproduction of capitalist social relations. In the postmodern or Late Capitalist era. these relations have emphasized consumption over production, and have exerted a deep influence on everyday life and political economy in urban Canada. This study interprets the architectural and social spaces of New Retail Formats (NRFs) through a Marxist perspective, and uses the inter-disciplinary methods of vernacular architecture studies and architectural-geography. I have evaluated the big-box store in terms of typology, distribution, and social operation. I have also placed them in the context of North American architectural history, especially in relation to shopping centres. I argue that big-box stores produce, consume, and reproduce distinctive forms of social space, which I have named "value space". Value space is the set of social and spatial relationships found within big-box stores that are shaped by both retailers and consumers, and which are focused on low-priced commodities. Value space is a contemporary and clear example of what Karl Marx and Henri Lefebvre each identified as key to capitalism's survival: the reproduction of the relations of production and consumption. In the same way that factory relationships also shape life beyond the factory, the value space of big-box stores is also produced, consumed, and reproduced in other social and professional practices, such as urban planning and municipal politics. The aims of my study were: to document the history of this new architectural type; to explain the place of big-box store development in municipal political economy; and, to examine the role of big-box stores in the reproduction of capitalist urban space on Southern Vancouver Island. In doing so, I argue that big-box stores are engines and symbols of urban development that foster increased consumption, support the socio-economic status quo, and refashion natural and social environments in accordance with the values of capitalism. I believe big-box stores are the architectural subject of greatest contemporary importance on Southern Vancouver Island. Few other buildings types today generate similar feelings - for and against - as do big-box stores. They are at once a building type, a retail format, and a symbol of contemporary urban development. Their importance comes from their size, from the scale of their operations, and from their impacts on municipal politics, urban planning, transportation infrastructure, regional ecosystems, and community life. The retailing and consumption practices they house, facilitate and manage contain the seeds of, or needs for, future consumption. This makes NRFs economic and symbolic centres for the reproduction of the relations of production and consumption.

Text in English with abstracts in Zulu and Afrikaans
Despite its substantial growth and contribution to the economy of the country, the South African retail industry is faced with various challenges, including customers’ changing buying habits and expectations, the evolution of e-commerce, the entry of giant retailers into the retail market, and the growing importance of the urbanised middle class and its potential purchasing power. This creates risks that are mostly beyond retailers’ control. Therefore, there is a general drive among retail brands to build customer loyalty in order to respond to these contemporary dynamics within the industry and, ultimately, enhance sustainability. It is noted from literature that current understanding of customer behaviour in the South African retail space is largely the result of rational behavioural measurement, while the subconscious behaviour of customers is often neglected. The study on which this thesis reports attempted to address this gap in the current knowledge base. The current study makes a novel contribution to knowledge in using complementary traditional and neuromarketing instruments in a sequential mixed method research design to measure verbal, non-verbal and physiological emotions, which indicate the key influential cognitive and emotive factors shaping shopping decisions. For a comprehensive understanding of customer behaviour, the study primarily explored the emotional antecedents of customer loyalty in the formal retail industry of South Africa. In order to explore and describe both retail brands and customers’ experiences regarding the drivers of retail brand loyalty, the empirical phase of the study adopted a sequential mixed method research design. This design comprised eight individual semi-structured interviews, which focused on and explored the fundamentals of behavioural and attitudinal loyalty within the context of a customer relationship management strategy. x Based on the findings emerging from the quantitative mall intercept survey with 300 retail customers, the study identified the motivating factors of greatest likelihood among customers that best explain retail brand loyalty, namely product quality, convenience of location, customer care, product variety and availability, as well as fair pricing. Furthermore, findings emerging from the inferential analysis (structural equation modelling, two-step cluster analysis, optimal scaling and multivariate binary regression analysis) showed that brand trust, brand affect and attitudinal loyalty are key predictors of behavioural loyalty. Additionally, customer loyalty differs depending on customer predisposition towards the major retail brands tested. In this regard, Pick n Pay, Massmart and Shoprite/Checkers recorded the most favourable perceptions among customers. As Despite its substantial growth and contribution to the economy of the country, the South African retail industry is faced with various challenges, including customers’ changing buying habits and expectations, the evolution of e-commerce, the entry of giant retailers into the retail market, and the growing importance of the urbanised middle class and its potential purchasing power. This creates risks that are mostly beyond retailers’ control. Therefore, there is a general drive among retail brands to build customer loyalty in order to respond to these contemporary dynamics within the industry and, ultimately, enhance sustainability. It is noted from literature that current understanding of customer behaviour in the South African retail space is largely the result of rational behavioural measurement, while the subconscious behaviour of customers is often neglected. The study on which this thesis reports attempted to address this gap in the current knowledge base. The current study makes a novel contribution to knowledge in using complementary traditional and neuromarketing instruments in a sequential mixed method research design to measure verbal, non-verbal and physiological emotions, which indicate the key influential cognitive and emotive factors shaping shopping decisions. For a comprehensive understanding of customer behaviour, the study primarily explored the emotional antecedents of customer loyalty in the formal retail industry of South Africa. In order to explore and describe both retail brands and customers’ experiences regarding the drivers of retail brand loyalty, the empirical phase of the study adopted a sequential mixed method research design. This design comprised eight individual semi-structured interviews, which focused on and explored the fundamentals of behavioural and attitudinal loyalty within the context of a customer relationship management strategy. x Based on the findings emerging from the quantitative mall intercept survey with 300 retail customers, the study identified the motivating factors of greatest likelihood among customers that best explain retail brand loyalty, namely product quality, convenience of location, customer care, product variety and availability, as well as fair pricing. Furthermore, findings emerging from the inferential analysis (structural equation modelling, two-step cluster analysis, optimal scaling and multivariate binary regression analysis) showed that brand trust, brand affect and attitudinal loyalty are key predictors of behavioural loyalty. Additionally, customer loyalty differs depending on customer predisposition towards the major retail brands tested. In this regard, Pick n Pay, Massmart and Shoprite/Checkers recorded the most favourable perceptions among customers. As a complement to the quantitative research phase of the study, a Self-Assessment Manikin attitude measure was applied to a sample of 120 customers. This phase of the study highlighted pertinent emotional elements as key mediators in securing sustainable retail brand loyalty. In this regard, Woolworths and Pick n Pay recorded the most favourable perceptions on four stimuli, namely quality, customer rewards, customer care and brand logos. The study also applied eye tracking and galvanic skin response techniques to a sample of 10 participants to determine customers’ psychophysiological reaction to the four stimuli. Galvanic skin response findings showed that customers were especially engaged with Spar, Shoprite/Checkers and Pick n Pay, while eye tracking findings showed customers’ higher visual engagement with Shoprite/Checkers, Pick n Pay and Spar. A key overall finding of this study was the significant role of feelings and emotions in driving customer loyalty. Retail brands lose relevance when they fail to connect emotionally with customers, and without that emotional attachment, brands can easily be replaced by generic imposters. A comprehensive understanding of customer behaviour remains a quandary for marketing and business practitioners. In an attempt to address this limitation, the current study used insights from non-verbal attitudinal and psychophysiological measures to obtain a more comprehensive behavioural understanding of retail customers.
Nakuba imboni yezitolo ezihwebayo yaseNingizimu Afrika ibonise ukukhula nokudlondlobala okukhulu futhi idlala indima esemqoka emnothweni wezwe, ibhekene nezinselelo eziningana futhi ezihlukahlukene, kubandakanya indlelakuthenga yamakhasimende eguquguqukayo kanye nalokho okulindelwe ngamakhasimende nezimfuno zawo, ukungenisa ngezinkani kwemboni yokuhweba nge-intanethi nobuxhakaxhaka bobuchwepheshe besimanjemanje, ukungena kwezitolo eziyizikhondlakhondla emakethe yezitolo ezihwebayo, kanye nokukhula kokubaluleka kwabantu abahlala emadolobheni abasesigabeni sempilo esimaphakathi kanye namandla abo okuthenga. Lokhu kudala ubungozi obuvamise ukuba ngaphezu kwamandla nolawulo lwezitolo ezihwebayo. Ngakho-ke, kunomkhankaso oqhutshwa yizitolo zonkana ezihlose ngawo ukwakha ubudlelwano namakhasimende kanye nokuqinisekisa ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende ukuze zikwazi ukumelana nezimo ezikhona esikhathini samanje embonini yezitolo ezihwebayo, futhi ekugcineni, ukuze zikwazi ukusimamisa ibhizinisi lazo liqhubeke njalo futhi likhule lidlondlobale. Kuphawulekile emibhalweni efundiwe ukuthi ukuqonda kanye nolwazi olujulile olukhona njengamanje mayelana nokuziphatha kwamakhasimende eNingizimu Afrika emkhakheni wezitolo ezihwebayo ikakhulukazi kuwumphumela wokukalwa kwezinga lokuthatha izinqumo ngobuhlakani nokwenza izinto emva kokucabangisisa, kepha-ke ngakolunye uhlangothi kuvamise ukushaywa indiva ukwenza izinto kwamakhasimende ngaphandle kokuqaphela nokucophelela futhi ngokuthathela izinto phezulu noma ngaphandle kokucabangisisa ngalokho akwenzayo. Lolu cwaningo okubikwa ngalo kulo mbiko wocwaningo luzamile ukubhekana naleli gebe elikhona njengamanje eliphathelene nokuntuleka kolwazi. Lolu cwaningo lwamanje lufaka isandla esinohlonze kanye nemibono ephusile olwazini olukhona, ngokusebenzisa amathuluzi asekelayo ajwayelekile kanye nalawo asebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bokukala ukusebenza kwengqondo, ngaphansi kwedizayini yocwaningo egxile kwindlela-kusebenza exubile yokwenza izinto ngokulandelana kwazo, ngenhloso yokukala imizwa ezwakaliswa ngomlomo, ngezenzo noma ngeminyakazo yomzimba, okuyinto ebonisa izimo nezici-bunjalo ezisemqoka futhi ezinomthelela omkhulu eziphathelene nokusebenza kwengqondo kanye nemizwa, okuyizona ezilawula izinqumo zamakhasimende eziphathelene nokuthenga. Ngenhloso yokuqonda ngokuphelele ukuziphatha kwamakhasimende, lolu cwaningo lwacubungula futhi lwahlaziya ikakhulukazi izici-bunjalo zemizwa elawula ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende embonini yezitolo ehlelekile yaseNingizimu Afrika. Ukuze kucutshungulwe futhi kuchazwe kokubili izinhlobo zezitolo kanye nezimo ahlangabezane nazo amakhasimende mayelana nezici-bunjalo ezenza amakhasimende athembeke esitolo esithile futhi athenge kusona ngaso sonke isikhathi, isigaba socwaningo esiphathelene nolwazi oluphathekayo nolubonakalayo sasebenzisa idizayini yocwaningo egxile kwindlela-kusebenza exubile yokwenza izinto ngokulandelana kwazo. Le dizayini beyibandakanya ama-semi-structured interviews enziwa nababambiqhaza bocwaningo abayisishiyagalombili, okuyizingxoxo ezabe zigxile ekucubunguleni ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende okuphathelene nokuziphatha kwawo kanye nendlela abuka ngayo izinto ngaphansi kwesimo seqhingasu lokuphathwa kobudlelwano namakhasimende. Ngokususela kwimiphumela eyatholakala kwinhlolovo ebandakanya abathengi abangama-300 okwaxoxiswana nabo ezikhungweni ezinenxanxathela yezitolo, ucwaningo lwahlonza izimo nezi-bunjalo ezikhuthaza futhi zihehe amakhasimende okuyizona ezingasetshenziswa ukuchaza kangcono ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende ezitolo ezithile, okuyikhwalithi yomkhiqizo, ukufinyeleleka kalula kwendawo lapho kutholakala khona isitolo, ukunakekelwa kwamakhasimende, imikhiqizo ehlukahlukene kanye nokutholakala kwayo, ngokunjalo namanani-ntengo angambi eqolo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imiphumela eyatholakala ohlaziyweni lwezinqumo ezithathwe ngokubheka ubufakazi kanye nokuqonda okujulile (structural equation modelling, two-step cluster analysis, optimal scaling kanye ne-multivariate binary regression analysis) yabonisa ukuthi ukwethenjwa kohlobo lomkhiqizo, ukukhanga nokuthandeka komkhiqizo kanye nokwethembeka okuphathelene nendlela-kubuka kuyizibikezeli ezisemqoka zokuziphatha kwamakhasimende okuhambisana nokwethembeka emikhiqizweni ethile. Futhi ngaphezu kwalokho, ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende kuyehluka, futhi lokhu kuncike ekuhehelekeleni kwamakhasimende ezitolo enkulu ezihloliwe. Mayelana nalokhu-ke, abakwa-Pick n Pay, Massmart kanye nabakwa-Shoprite/Checkers yizona zitolo ezibonise ukuthandwa kakhulu ngamakhasimende. Njengendlela yokweseka nokunezezela phezu kwesigaba socwaningo olukhwantithethivu olwenziwe, kwasetshenziswa isikali sendlela-kubuka esibizwa nge-Self-Assessment Manikin kwisampula yamakhasimende ayi-120. Lesi sigaba socwaningo saqhakambisa izimo nezici-bunjalo eziphathelene nemizwa ezifanelekile njengezinto ezisemqoka kakhulu ekuqinisekiseni ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende esitolo esithile ngokuqhubekayo. Mayelana nalokhu, abakwa-Woolworths kanye nabakwa-Pick n Pay babonisa ukuthandwa kakhulu ngamakhasimende mayelana nezici-bunjalo ezihehayo futhi ezikhuthazayo ezine, okuyikhwalithi, imivuzo yamakhasimende, ukunakekelwa kwamakhasimende kanye nemibala egqamile, igama elidumile nezimpawu zesitolo. Ucwaningo lwasebenzisa futhi nezindlela zokucwaninga eziphathelene nokulandela umkhondo wamehlo amakhasimende kanye nezimpawu zemizwa yamakhasimende ezibonakala esikhumbeni semizimba yawo, okuyizindlela zocwaningo ezasetshenziswa kubabambiqhaza bocwaningo abayi-10 ngenhloso yokuhlonza indlela-kusabela kwamakhasimende ephathelene nengqondo nomzimba kulezi zicibunjalo ezikhuthazayo futhi ezihehayo ezine ezishiwo ngenhla. Imiphumela yendlela yocwaningo ebheka izimpawu zemizwa yamakhasimende ezibonakala esikhumbeni semizimba yawo yabonisa ukuthi amakhasimende ahehelekela ikakhulukazi kwabakwa-Spar, Shoprite/Checkers kanye nabakwa-Pick n Pay, kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi imiphumela yendlela yocwaningo ebheka futhi ilandele umkhondo wamehlo amakhasimende yabonisa ukuheheka kwamehlo okuphakeme ezitolo zabakwa-Shoprite/Checkers, Pick n Pay kanye nabakwa-Spar. Umphumela omkhulu futhi osemqoka otholakale kulolu cwaningo yindima ebaluleke kakhulu edlalwa yimizwa ekukhuthazeni ukwethembeka kwamakhasimende. Izitolo zilahlekelwa yiwozawoza yazo kumakhasimende uma zihluleka ukuxhumana namakhasimende ngokwemizwa, futhi ngaphandle kwalokho kuxhumana ngokwemizwa nokuzwana, izitolo zingazithola kalula zisesimweni lapho indawo yazo isithathwe yizitolo-mbumbulu ezingosandanezwe. Ukuqondakala okuphelele kwendlela aziphatha ngayo amakhasimende futhi enza ngayo izinto kusalokhu kuyinkinga nesithiyo esikhulu kwizazi nezisebenzi ezenza umsebenzi wokukhangisa nokuqhuba ibhizinisi. Njengomzamo wokubhekana nalesi sithiyo, lolu cwaningo lusebenzise ulwazi nokuqonda okujulile okutholakale kwizikali zendlela-kubuka yamakhasimende kanye nezikali zesimo sengqondo nesomzimba samakhasimende ukuze kutholakale ukuqonda okuphelele futhi okujulile okuphathelene nokuziphatha kwamakhasimende athenga ezitolo kanye nendlela enza ngayo izinto.
Ondanks sy stewige groei en aansienlike bydrae tot die landsekonomie, het die Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelsbedryf met verskeie uitdagings te kampe. Veranderinge in kliënte se koopgewoontes en verwagtings, groeiende e-handel, reusekleinhandelaars wat die kleinhandelsmark betree, die toenemende invloed van die verstedelikte middelklas en sy potensiële koopkrag is enkele hiervan. Dit gee aanleiding tot risiko’s wat grotendeels buite die beheer van kleinhandelaars is. As gevolg van die hedendaagse dinamiek in die bedryf, poog kleinhandelsmerke om kliëntlojaliteit te verstewig en hulle eie volhoubaarheid te verseker. Dit blyk uit die literatuur dat die kleinhandelsektor se siening van kliëntgedrag in Suid-Afrika op die meting van rasionele gedrag berus, en dat die onbewuste gedrag van kliënte verontagsaam word. Hierdie tesis doen verslag van ʼn studie om hierdie leemte in die huidige kennis te probeer aanvul. Dit lewer ʼn bydrae deur aanvullende tradisionele en neurobemarkingsinstrumente in ʼn opeenvolgende gemengde metode as navorsingsbenadering te gebruik. Verbale, nieverbale en fisiologiese emosies is gemeet aangesien hulle die kognitiewe en emotiewe faktore is wat inkopiebesluite bepaal. Hierdie studie het hoofsaaklik die emosionele antesedente van kliëntlojaliteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse formele kleinhandelsbedryf verken om ʼn grondige begrip van kliëntgedrag te kry. Ten einde kleinhandelsmerke en kliënte se ervarings van die drywers van kleinhandelsmerklojaliteit te beskryf en te verken, is ʼn opeenvolgende gemengdemetode-navorsingsontwerp gevolg. Dit het uit agt halfgestruktureerde, private onderhoude bestaan. Hierin is gekonsentreer op die grondslae van gedragsen houdingslojaliteit teen die agtergrond van ʼn kliënteverhoudingsbestuurstrategie. Op grond van die bevindings van ʼn kwantitatiewe winkelsentrumopname onder 300 kleinhandelskliënte, is die motiveringsfaktore met die grootste waarskynlikheid aangetoon. Hulle is produkgehalte, ʼn gerieflike ligging, kliëntesorg, produkverskeidenheid, beskikbaarheid en billike pryse, en bied die aanneemlikste verklaring vir kleinhandelsmerklojaliteit. Volgens die bevindings van die inferensiële ontleding (struktuurvergelykingmodellering, tweestaptrosontleding, optimale skalering en meerveranderlike binêre regressieanalise) is merkvertroue, merkaffek en houdingslojaliteit betroubare aanwysers van bedragslojaliteit. Afgesien hiervan verskil kliëntlojaliteit na gelang van kliëntpredisposisie jeens kleinhandelsmerke wat getoets is. Kliënte was vir vier stimuli (naamlik gehalte, kliëntbelonings, kliëntesorg en merklogo’s) die ontvanklikste vir Pick n Pay, Massmart en Shoprite/Checkers. Aanvullend tot die kwalitatiewe navorsingsfase van hierdie studie is ʼn selfasseringsmodelhoudingmeting op ʼn steekproef van 120 kliënte toegepas. Hierdie fase het die aandag gevestig op pertinente emosionele elemente as sleuteltussengangers in die opwekking van volhoubare kleinhandelsmerklojaliteit. Vir die vier stimuli (naamlik gehalte, kliëntbelonings, kliëntesorg en merklogo’s) was kliënte se persepsies van Woolworths en Pick n Pay die gunstigste. Hierbenewens is oogvolg- en galvaniese velreaksietegnieke op ʼn steekproef van 10 deelnemers toegepas om hulle psigofisiologiese reaksie op die vier stimuli te bepaal. Die galvaniese velreaksietoetse het aangedui dat kliënte besonder ontvanklik was vir Spar, Shoprite/Checkers en Pick n Pay, en volgens die oogvolgtoetse visueel meer aangetrokke tot Spar, Shoprite/Checkers en Pick n Pay was. Hierdie studie het bevind dat emosies in die algemeen ʼn deurslaggewende rol in kliëntlojaliteit speel. Kleinhandelsmerke raak irrelevant as hulle nie ʼn emosionele band met kliënte smee nie. Sonder hierdie emosionele verbintenis kan generiese bedrieërs maklik die plek van kleinhandelsmerke inneem. Bemarkings- en sakepraktisyns het nie ʼn deeglike begrip van kliëntgedrag nie. Om dit reg te stel, het hierdie studie nieverbale houdings- en psigofisiologiese toetse toegepas om die gedrag van kleinhandelskliënte beter te begryp.
Business Management
D. Com. (Business Management)

碩士
國立中興大學
行銷學系所
97
Retail format evolution is affected by a combination of local and global pressures. In Taiwan, some new formats are often perceived by Western observers as modern or global retail formats. Yet closer examination shows a strong local influence as successful retailers take advantage of their understanding of local consumer values. The purpose of this study is to describe the attributes of retailers that draw on local values through a combination of deep psychological interviews and actual observation of retail locations. Preliminary research examined the perceptions, from a consumer psychology perspective, of consumers toward common retail settings that have local cultural relevance. Two retail orientations were uncovered in the psychological stage: renao (熱鬧) and xianjing (閑靜). These two orientations represented very different, yet linked and complementary retail experiences closely linked with self identification. The current research used direct retail observations in order to confirm which psychological attributes actually exist across Taiwan retailers in order to generate a better description of how localized is constructed in the Taiwan setting, and within the Chinese cultural diasporas more generally. Using a grounded theory approach, attributes found at retail locations were recorded and analyzed, describing a common servicescape and two very different orientations aligning with renao and xianjing. The qualitative software package NVivo was used to explore common servicescape attributes for the two orientations. The resulting rich data shows respondents'' perceptions of two contrasting value sets are mirrored in the surrounding retail reality and that physical servicescapes employ a few core attributes that signal membership in one or the other orientations. Results describe a set of attributes that are common across retailers and can thus be labeled as modern retail requirements. Employing Chi-squared, attributes were tested for uniqueness and the most important attributes for both the renao and xianjing orientations drawn out. These results where then used to place attributes within conceptual consensus models derived from the psychological studies. These findings were then used in a model that includes values of consumption as well as retailers attempts to tap into those values. The orientations of renao and xianjing describe consumption values that have deep psychological importance for Consumers within Chinese cultural settings.

碩士
元智大學
管理研究所
97
The survey released by a market research organization, E-ICP, shows that in 2007, the market scale of hair-rinse products in Taiwan values about 8.5 to 9.2 billion NT dollars. However, only a scarce number of academic papers researched on topics related to hair-rinse products, such as the product involvement, perceived risk and purchase intention of consumers. This study, being supported by an objective market survey of 500 valid questionnaires on randomly selected interviewees, will provide more comprehensive information on hair-rinse products. The study aims to construct and verify a pattern of causality concerning consumer’s product involvement, perceived risk and purchase intention on hair-rinse products. To further ascertain the study results, the researchers also took into account of interfering variables, states of favor with retail formats, and cross-checked the results with structural equation model (SEM) in their analysis. The results of this study show as follows: 1. Product involvement influences perceived risk in negative: the subjective recognition of product involvement affects the perceived risk. The more the product involvement, the less the perceived risk. 2. Product involvement influences purchase intention in positive: the positive causality between perceived risk and purchase intention. 3. Perceived risk has an obvious negative influence on purchase intention: perceived risk affects consumer’s purchase intention – the higher the consumer’s perceived risk, the lower the consumer’s purchase intention. The lower the consumer’s perceived risk, the higher the consumer’s purchase intention. 4. States of favor with retail formats interfere with product involvement and perceived risk. 5. States of favor with retail formats relate to purchase intention is off obvious.

Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão
O presente trabalho, sob o título "Reconfiguração Organizacional e Novas Formas de Emprego na Banca", incide sobre o tema da flexibilidade de emprego, em específico, na importância e implicação deste fenómeno sobre as organizações, e em particular, sobre os trabalhadores. Saber em que medida as novas formas de emprego interferem nos percursos profissionais dos trabalhadores, e em particular, nas suas percepções e perspectivas de futuro, constitui a questão central do estudo que aqui se apresenta. A revisão da literatura centrou-se em tomo da evolução do trabalho e do emprego, sem privilegiar uma orientação em particular, mas antes, com a preocupação de efectuar o levantamento das principais abordagens no âmbito desta temática. Particularizando a questão das novas formas - flexíveis - de emprego, em contraposição à forma de emprego 'rígido' tradicional, foi dada uma particular atenção ao trabalho temporário. A partir da questão levantada e das opções teóricas, o presente trabalho consubstancia-se na realização de um estudo de caso num grupo bancário nacional de capital privado, mais precisamente, na área de Cali Center - área onde é dominante a introdução de novas formas de emprego - com a utilização das técnicas de inquérito por questionário e entrevistas semi-directivas.
The present work entitled "Organisational Arrangements and New forms of employment in the retail banking" deals specifically with employment flexibility, and the importance this phenomenon has on both organisations and on workers, specially. The central question of this study is finding out in what ways the new employment possibilities affect the professional careers of employees, particularly when dealing with expectations and íliture perspectives. A literature survey was performed with the objective of finding out work and employment development, without placing any constraints in its search. It was performed rather to find out possible trends in the matter. Temporary work was studied in depth as a possible framework available for the new flexible forms of employment. Given the theoretical questions found and developed through the literature survey and developed, the study includes the results of research based case study of an existing "Cali Center" ífom a privately owned group of banks in Portugal, where the main form of employment is flexible and temporary. The methodology used in the research was based on questionnaires and interviews.
N/A

碩士
元智大學
管理碩士在職專班
97
The survey released by a market research organization, E-ICP, shows that in 2007, the market scale of hair-rinse products in Taiwan values about 8.5 to 9.2 billion NT dollars. However, only a scarce number of academic papers researched on topics related to hair-rinse products, such as the product involvement, perceived risk and purchase intention of consumers. This study, being supported by an objective market survey of 500 valid questionnaires on randomly selected interviewees, will provide more comprehensive information on hair-rinse products. The study aims to construct and verify a pattern of causality concerning consumer’s product involvement, perceived risk and purchase intention on hair-rinse products. To further ascertain the study results, the researchers also took into account of interfering variables, states of favor with retail formats, and cross-checked the results with structural equation model (SEM) in their analysis. The results of this study show as follows: 1. Product involvement influences perceived risk in negative: the subjective recognition of product involvement affects the perceived risk. The more the product involvement, the less the perceived risk. 2. Product involvement influences purchase intention in positive: the positive causality between perceived risk and purchase intention. 3. Perceived risk has an obvious negative influence on purchase intention: perceived risk affects consumer’s purchase intention – the higher the consumer’s perceived risk, the lower the consumer’s purchase intention. The lower the consumer’s perceived risk, the higher the consumer’s purchase intention. 4. States of favor with retail formats interfere with product involvement and perceived risk. 5. States of favor with retail formats relate to purchase intention is off obvious.

碩士
國立高雄科技大學
行銷與流通管理系
107
Since 2002, Taiwan has considered cultural and creative industries as part of its national key development plan, systematically arranged a series of development mechanisms, that stimulated private owned enterprises to invest in cultural and creative industries. In 2012, Taiwan Ministry of Culture was established, it’s the power of government to guide the companies and promote Taiwanese culture to the world. As the interest of Taiwanese people towards culture, leisure and experiential offerings are on the rise, more and more cultural creative parks are built and people are willing to patronize and consume. However, there is a lack of academic research about cultural and creative industries, and also there is no clear definition about this term. The role of customer loyalty in the cultural and creative industry remains a challenge difficult to tackle. Therefore, this study examines two different types retail format of cultural creative parks: Single brand format and multiple brand format. It was tested whether there are significant differences regarding brand image, perceived value, loyalty intention when comparing the two retail formats. A survey collected 222 valid questionnaires. SEM was used to test the hypotheses. The findings show that consumer perception of brand image in single brand format culture parks is significantly higher than with consumers from multi brand format culture parks. Further, perceived value plays a mediating role in both types of culture parks. Furthermore, this study concludes with suggestions for practitioners in the cultural and creative industries.

碩士
中國文化大學
觀光事業研究所
96
Volunteer interpreter is an important part of interpretations and is the best way to help visitors to touch and realize the natural environment. Both visitors and management institutions of recreation areas appreciate volunteer interpreters’ efforts. However, the turnover problem of volunteer interpreters is serious to many management institutions for a long time. When a volunteer turnover, management institutions not only need to retrain a new volunteer interpreter, but also affect the emotions and feelings of retained volunteers. For solving the turnover problem of volunteer interpreters, it is necessarily to realize the reasons why a person would like to be a volunteer interpreter, the factors make he or she decides to retain or turnover, and the role that a management institution should be to face volunteer interpreters. The National Forest Volunteers of Taiwan Forest Bureau in Taiwan were use as case in this study. The qualitative in-depth interview had applied to 10 national forest volunteers and 5 government officers. All the interviews were tape-recorded and were transformed to paper records after interviews. The inductive method was used to analyze the obtain information. The initial motives that people would like to be national forest volunteers include: love the nature, hope more people could pay attention to the natural environment, and believe themselves have the ability to do the job well. The reasons encourage volunteers to continue the interpretation job include: the happiness that make the world better, personal fulfillment, the respect from the management institution, the appreciation from families and visitors, the healthy from often touch the natural, the satisfaction that do change visitors’ behavior, as well as making new friends. Five factors were found to be able to help volunteers decided to retain. They are the happiness that makes the world better, the appreciation from visitors, the respect from management institutions, the opportunity to further-realize the natural, as well as their time and economic situation do support them to continue the volunteer service. In contrast, the factors that can influence the turnover of volunteers include: tired-feeling of always do the same jobs, pressures from both visitors and families, bad relationship with other volunteers, disrespect from management institutions, as well as personal situation cannot support them to continue the volunteer service. For solving the turnover problem of volunteer interpreters, the management institutions should give respect to volunteers, provide enough mental and materials support to volunteers’, and give more trainings and new information to help volunteer interpreters to have personal fulfillment and satisfaction.