As rápidas e abrangentes mudanças nos mercados mundiais e regionais de vinhos, com significativos impactos sobre algumas vinícolas, estimularam a realização deste estudo. O objetivo central é analisar as exportações de vinhos brasileiros pós-plano real, a atuação das empresas vinícolas no mercado internacional de vinhos bem como as estratégias e perspectivas do setor. A globalização e a formação de novos mercados como o Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul), União Européia e ALCA, afetaram, de forma direta ou indireta, as estratégias do setor. As ações estratégicas também foram moldadas e seus retornos influenciados pelo ambiente e cultura do país. Com relação ao conteúdo das estratégias, cabe ressaltar que as estratégias de produtos e produção tiveram comportamento semelhante em todas as vinícolas participantes da pesquisa; quanto às alianças estratégicas, constata-se que oito delas realizaram algum tipo de aliança. Também foi possível detectar que todas as estratégias estão inter-relacionadas, tendo em vista os objetivos do setor de vinhos. Pôde-se concluir que, o setor está em processo de implementação do Plano de Desenvolvimento Estratégico “Visão 2025”. / The fast and wide-ranging changes in wine local and world market as well as its significant impact on some wineries, have encouraged this study. The main objective is the analysis on exports of Brazilian wines after the so called ‘Plano Real’, the government’s economical-financial plan, the analysis of performances on international wine markets, strategies and perspectives for the sector. Globalization and formation of new markets as the Mercosul - Southern Common Market, EU - European Union and, FTTS, Free Trade Area of Americas have directly or indirectly affected strategies on the sector. Strategical actions have also been adapted and its incomes influenced by the environment and culture of the country. About the contents of strategies it is worth mentioning that strategies for products and production were similar in all wineries. As for strategical alliances, eight of the wineries have taken part on any. It was also possible to detect that all the strategies are inter-related, given the objectives of the wine sector. We could conclude that the sector is implementing the Strategical Development Plan ‘Visão 2025’ which is being elaborated by the winery sector.

Perspective-taking, the ability to understand and be aware of information states in oneself and others has recently become an important topic in examining complex behavior and cognition. Previous research has developed a behavioral protocol for assessing perspective-taking skills and has indicated that there are perspective-taking deficits in populations diagnosed with autism. This research has also indicated that the lack of perspective-taking could be the basis for social deficits observed in these populations. Populations that display similar social deficits (i.e. learning disabilities) have not been examined, nor has prior research examined perspective-taking in adolescent populations. The present paper reports the findings of examining the perspective-taking skills in adolescents diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome or a specific learning disability. Participants were tested using a perspective-taking protocol created using therapy cards designed for teaching social skills to adolescents with autism. The protocol included a number of questions testing both deictic frames (I-You, Here-There, Now-Then) and frames of relation (simple, reversed, double reversed). Results indicate that there are similarities in the perspective-taking abilities of adolescents diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, and those diagnosed with learning disabilities.

The goal of this study was to explore how the contact making process influence the awareness level of primary school teachers. The study was mainly explorative with elements of a descriptive study. With a qualitative study the researcher explored how awareness influenced primary school teachers‟ experiences of wellness. The theoretical point of view of this study is the Gestalt therapeutically philosophy with phenomenology as base. Perls, the father of Gestalt psychology saw Gestalt as the only psychotherapy that is exclusively based on phenomenology. The central Phenomenology principal is that a person is free with the responsibility to influence his/her own environment. Data for this study was collected through a focus group consisting of seven people, (teachers of Gauteng) with whom semi structured interviews were conducted and open-ended questions were asked. This is only an explorative study and therefore the researcher is not really looking for a representative sampling. Findings of this study include that sensory awareness can be used to change wellbeing. Age played a role in resistance and even though the teachers knew about wellbeing it became clear that they were not aware of how to create wellness in their own lives. It came about that some of the participants had to deal with contact boundary disturbances. The study also showed that burned out people operates automatically. The researcher makes the statement that contact boundary disturbances lead to auto actions as in the case of burned-out people. The study showed that awareness makes a shift on the continuum of burnout and wellbeing. In this study it was not always a positive shift, but the researcher feels that the people who had a negative experience will be more secure if this research is conducted in a therapeutic environment. The study also indicated that it is necessary for teachers to learn skills to be good for them selves without feeling guilty.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Human Ecology-Personal Financial Planning / Sonya L. Lutter / This study explored the influence of present-fatalism, present-hedonism, and future time perspectives on financial net worth. Time perspective has been shown to influence many behaviors, both non-financial and financial, but this is the first study that evaluated the relationship between time perspective and net worth. Net worth was divided into two variables, a dichotomous variable indicating those who had a negative net worth (defined as a net worth less than or equal to zero) and a continuous variable of the actual dollars of net worth of those who had a positive net worth (defined as a net worth greater than zero). Developing a separate negative net worth variable allowed this study to expand on prior research that focused solely on that aspect of net worth (Chen & Finke, 1996; Mountain & Hanna, 2012). Data was taken from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79), using results primarily from the 2014 survey. A logistic regression was used to evaluate the negative net worth variable (Model 1) while an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to analyze the influence on positive net worth (Model 2). This study found that present-fatalism increased the odds that an individual would have a negative net worth, while a future-orientation would decrease those odds. It found that present hedonism and future-orientation contributed to having a positive net worth. Model 1 had a Nagelkerke R Square of .367 and was able correctly to classify 77.2% of those who had a negative net worth (compared to 67.6% using only the intercept). In addition to time perspective findings, several control variables were incorporated into the study. Those who had a higher current income, who were male, who were married, and who owned a home had lower odds of having a negative net worth. Those who had a college education had lower odds of having a negative net worth compared to those with a high school diploma, while those who only attended grade school had greater odds of having a negative net worth compared to high school graduates. Blacks and Hispanics had greater odds of having a negative net worth compared to Whites. Risk tolerance, parent socio-economic status, and age were not significant predictors of negative net worth. Model 2 was significant, with an R² of .419. Risk tolerance, current income, parent socio-economic status, gender, age, marital status, and homeownership all contributed to a positive net worth. Compared to high school graduates, having a college education contributed to a positive net worth while having only a grade school education detracted from having a positive net worth. Being Black or Hispanic, as compared to being White, detracted from positive net worth. The results of this study must be juxtaposed against the limitations, which include the use of proxy variables for time perspective (which may not accurately reflect the constructs), erosion of the longitudinal sample over time, the use of a variable (risk tolerance) from a different year, non-normal distribution of some control variables, and potential endogeneity caused by the inclusion of homeownership as a control variable. Those limitations having been noted, this study found that the strong influence of future-orientation on reducing the odds of having a negative net worth and contributing to positive net worth is significant because it validates the entire concept of financial planning, which proposes that having a future financial path will help clients achieve financial success. It also opens up new possibilities in financial counseling, in that clients may benefit from time-perspective therapy and coaching. In addition, the findings of this study emphasize the positive influence of homeownership on net worth.

Background: Time Perspective is an individual difference variable that is believed to underpin ‘virtually all aspects of human functioning’ (Boniwell & Zimbardo, 2010). Indeed, it has so far predicted a large variety of outcome variables in previous research, including behaviours, attitudes, values, habits and decision-making. However, it has never been tested as a predictor of mood, or in psychiatric disorders. Time perspective theory posits that a balanced time perspective is necessary for healthy functioning. Time Perspective biases, on the other hand, are believed to lead to maladaptive functioning. This thesis investigates whether time perspective does also underpin and predict the most extreme ends of the mood spectrum in bipolar disorder. Participants: Three online studies were conducted with two samples of adults with bipolar disorders and one sample of adults with no mental health diagnosis. Setting: All samples were collected online, from across the world. Objectives: A series of studies investigated various aspects of time perspective theory to establish the relationship between mood and time perspective. Ten research questions were designed to answer questions on time perspective’s ability to differentiate and predict mood, and to find out whether or not it functions differently in normal and abnormal mood. It was also established whether time perspective predicts mood states differentially. Methodology: Regression analyses, MANOVAs, ANOVA and t-tests were performed to answer the research questions. Results: Our time perspective profile does indeed appear to underpin bipolar mood states. All five time perspectives were able to differentiate between four bipolar mood states. When considered separately, the five time perspectives did appear to predict mood states differentially, i.e. different time perspectives were predictors for separate bipolar mood states. Moreover, time perspective does appear to function significantly different in adults with no mental health diagnosis. Conclusions: The results of this series of studies suggests that time perspective indeed also underpins mood and can differentiate between normal and abnormal bipolar mood states. Compared to impulsiveness and BIS/BAS sensitivity, time perspective was able to explain more variance in these samples when used as a predictor.

I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Professor Bowman, for providing valuable input as I pursued this important topic. I would also like to thank Professor Krauss, my unofficial Psychology advisor. I would like to thank my parents who raised me to value empathy. Our family-dinner conversations weren’t always pretty, but they served me well as I made the trek from Cincinnati, Ohio to Claremont, California. As we were encouraged to speak, we were required to listen and to try to understand different viewpoints. We didn’t always agree, but the confinements of our home forced us to understand not only other beliefs, but the reasons behind those beliefs. Finally, this thesis and my experience at Claremont McKenna College taught me that empathy for most humans is a choice. This choice can mean the world to both the recipient and the provider.

As rápidas e abrangentes mudanças nos mercados mundiais e regionais de vinhos, com significativos impactos sobre algumas vinícolas, estimularam a realização deste estudo. O objetivo central é analisar as exportações de vinhos brasileiros pós-plano real, a atuação das empresas vinícolas no mercado internacional de vinhos bem como as estratégias e perspectivas do setor. A globalização e a formação de novos mercados como o Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul), União Européia e ALCA, afetaram, de forma direta ou indireta, as estratégias do setor. As ações estratégicas também foram moldadas e seus retornos influenciados pelo ambiente e cultura do país. Com relação ao conteúdo das estratégias, cabe ressaltar que as estratégias de produtos e produção tiveram comportamento semelhante em todas as vinícolas participantes da pesquisa; quanto às alianças estratégicas, constata-se que oito delas realizaram algum tipo de aliança. Também foi possível detectar que todas as estratégias estão inter-relacionadas, tendo em vista os objetivos do setor de vinhos. Pôde-se concluir que, o setor está em processo de implementação do Plano de Desenvolvimento Estratégico “Visão 2025”. / The fast and wide-ranging changes in wine local and world market as well as its significant impact on some wineries, have encouraged this study. The main objective is the analysis on exports of Brazilian wines after the so called ‘Plano Real’, the government’s economical-financial plan, the analysis of performances on international wine markets, strategies and perspectives for the sector. Globalization and formation of new markets as the Mercosul - Southern Common Market, EU - European Union and, FTTS, Free Trade Area of Americas have directly or indirectly affected strategies on the sector. Strategical actions have also been adapted and its incomes influenced by the environment and culture of the country. About the contents of strategies it is worth mentioning that strategies for products and production were similar in all wineries. As for strategical alliances, eight of the wineries have taken part on any. It was also possible to detect that all the strategies are inter-related, given the objectives of the wine sector. We could conclude that the sector is implementing the Strategical Development Plan ‘Visão 2025’ which is being elaborated by the winery sector.

As rápidas e abrangentes mudanças nos mercados mundiais e regionais de vinhos, com significativos impactos sobre algumas vinícolas, estimularam a realização deste estudo. O objetivo central é analisar as exportações de vinhos brasileiros pós-plano real, a atuação das empresas vinícolas no mercado internacional de vinhos bem como as estratégias e perspectivas do setor. A globalização e a formação de novos mercados como o Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul), União Européia e ALCA, afetaram, de forma direta ou indireta, as estratégias do setor. As ações estratégicas também foram moldadas e seus retornos influenciados pelo ambiente e cultura do país. Com relação ao conteúdo das estratégias, cabe ressaltar que as estratégias de produtos e produção tiveram comportamento semelhante em todas as vinícolas participantes da pesquisa; quanto às alianças estratégicas, constata-se que oito delas realizaram algum tipo de aliança. Também foi possível detectar que todas as estratégias estão inter-relacionadas, tendo em vista os objetivos do setor de vinhos. Pôde-se concluir que, o setor está em processo de implementação do Plano de Desenvolvimento Estratégico “Visão 2025”. / The fast and wide-ranging changes in wine local and world market as well as its significant impact on some wineries, have encouraged this study. The main objective is the analysis on exports of Brazilian wines after the so called ‘Plano Real’, the government’s economical-financial plan, the analysis of performances on international wine markets, strategies and perspectives for the sector. Globalization and formation of new markets as the Mercosul - Southern Common Market, EU - European Union and, FTTS, Free Trade Area of Americas have directly or indirectly affected strategies on the sector. Strategical actions have also been adapted and its incomes influenced by the environment and culture of the country. About the contents of strategies it is worth mentioning that strategies for products and production were similar in all wineries. As for strategical alliances, eight of the wineries have taken part on any. It was also possible to detect that all the strategies are inter-related, given the objectives of the wine sector. We could conclude that the sector is implementing the Strategical Development Plan ‘Visão 2025’ which is being elaborated by the winery sector.

This research elaborates the concept of Resource Recombination in firms from a Dynamic Capability perspective. With the investigation of the role of Dynamic Capabilities in the process of Resource Recombination, this research addresses some existing shortcomings in the Dynamic Capability literature, where there is a crucial need to better understand the interrelationship between Dynamic Capabilities, the firm`s resource base, and innovation in form of Resource Recombinations. Examining the effect of a specific set of Dynamic Capabilities - namely the firm`s Sensing Capacity, Learning Capacity, Integrating Capacity and Coordinating Capacity - on Resource Recombination in firms, this research sheds light on what it is that explains the competitive heterogeneity and variance in resource value creation across firms. Addressing this issue, this research contributes to the resource and competence based research by presenting and empirically testing a conceptual model of factors influencing Resource Recombination in firms. The conceptual model is developed based on a thorough literature review, before being further tested, refined and validated using a mixed method research approach, entailing both qualitative and quantitative research steps. Hereto, empirical data from 208 target respondents is analysed applying structural equation modelling (SEM) principles, including structural path analysis and hypothesis testing, model re-specification, as well as mediation and moderation analyses. In line with the resource based view (RBV), empirical findings confirm that the firm`s resource endowments explain - in part - value creation in firms. But moreover this study found that the effectiveness of those resource endowments to provide productive performance outcomes depends on the extent to which firms possess specific Dynamic Capabilities: Sensing and Learning capacities are important for building the potential value of resources for Resource Recombination, while Integrating and Coordinating capacities are necessary for realising the value creation potential of those resources by developing new Resource Recombinations. Accordingly, regarding their role and effects towards Resource Recombination, two different types of Dynamic Capabilities can be distinguished: Potential Building Dynamic Capabilities and Value Realizing Dynamic Capabilities, whereby both capacity modes have complementary roles and are critical to the achievement of superior performance. Moreover, empirical evidence is given that the firm`s Entrepreneurial Orientation and Networking Orientation are important antecedents for the development of Dynamic Capabilities, and consequently Resource Recombinations. The principal aim of this research was to bring clarity to the notion of Dynamic Capabilities, their role and effects towards building Resource Recombinations in firms. With the Dynamic Capability framework and conceptual model presented, this research offers a more precise definition of the firm`s Dynamic Capabilities, shedding light on their role and effects towards developing new Resource Recombinations and separating them from their antecedents and consequences. Therewith, this research not only contributes towards opening up the black box of Resource Recombination in firms, but moreover helps to establish Dynamic Capabilities as a theoretically, well-founded and useful construct for strategic management. By explicitly embedding the Dynamic Capability perspective in resource based explanations for value creation, this research extends the traditional focus of the RBV, working towards a more dynamic interpretation of the RBV. It thereby tries to overcome the identified limitations of past research in this field.

Magister Legum - LLM