: Craft, a Swedish sport textile company, uses synergies of its parent company New Wave Group through common merchandise offices in Vietnam and China. As the relationship to the merchandise office creates a complex situation, the two research questions were elaborated of how the interactions in terms of information flow and collaboration influence the flow of the sampling process and how the situation could be improved. A qualitative case study design gives a deep insight in the specific situation of Craft. Information is gathered through company visits, a survey, internal documents and open interviews. The information flow influences the sampling process, in terms of late information, word-by-word translations and mismatches in terms of educations. This causes not-proper decision-making. The collaboration is mainly evaluated as satisfying. Adapting Christopher’s (2000) agility concept to Craft’s situation, issues as supplier relations, information sharing and the de-coupling point can be addressed. Practically joint product development, free information flow is important. Further collaboration within the supplier choice, more frequent and longer visits from both sides could improve the situation, as well as long-term-employments. / Program: Master programme in Applied Textile Management

Les entreprises affrontent des conditions difficiles liées au rythme des changements observés en ce début de XXIème siècle et ont du mal à susciter l’engagement des salariés. L’objet de cette recherche a été d’investir de nouvelles réflexions managériales en s’interrogeant sur la contribution de la spiritualité au travail à l’engagement affectif des salariés. Pour vérifier l’existence de ce lien, une étude du cas « Sodexo Tunisie » a été réalisée à travers des entretiens semi-directifs. Ces entretiens ont fait l’objet d’un double traitement, statistique, à l’aide du logiciel Alceste, puis qualitatif par le biais d’une analyse de contenu thématique. Il a été conclu, d’un côté, que les formes de base de l’engagement affectif des salariés, à savoir leur attachement émotionnel, leur désir de rester et de réaliser des efforts particuliers, sont favorisées par la dimension spirituelle « esprit de survie » reliée à la présence et le « partage de valeurs communes » de l’entreprise. De l’autre côté, les formes corrélées d’engagement affectif interprétées par «l’identification psychologique au travail » et «l’identification psychologique au groupe » sont associées aux dimensions spirituelles « gouvernement de soi » et « vie intérieure » pour la première, et « esprit de corps » pour la deuxième. Exploitées dans une optique managériale, ces dimensions spirituelles favorisent la reconnaissance des individualités (révélateur de potentiel et de capital intellectuel), le développement de l’esprit de corps (ciment de l’engagement durable) et permettent d’entretenir l’esprit de survie de l’entreprise (fondement de l’attachement émotionnel des salariés). Cet « état d’esprit » constitue un modèle d’entreprise ayant la capacité de résilience et ce, grâce à la cohérence entre les parties et le tout. / Enterprises face difficult conditions related to the pace of the observed changes at the beginning of XXIst century and are struggling to raise employee commitment. The purpose of this research was to invest new managerial thoughts by questioning the contribution of spirituality at work to the affective commitment of employees. To verify the existence of this link, a case study “Sodexo Tunisia” was conducted through semi-structured interviews. These interviews have been twice analyzed, statistically using the Alceste software and qualitatively through a thematic content analysis. It was concluded, on one side, that basic forms of the affective commitment of employees, namely their emotional attachment, their desire to stay and make special efforts, are favored by the spiritual dimension “spirit of survival” related to the presence and the “shared values” of the enterprise. On the other side, correlated forms of affective commitment interpreted as “psychological identification to the job” and "psychological identification to the group” are associated with the spiritual dimensions “self-government” and “inner life” for the former, and “esprit de corps” for the latter. In a managerial perspective, these spiritual dimensions favor the recognition of individuals (stimulus to potential and intellectual capital), the development of “esprit de corps” (glue of lasting commitment) and help maintain the “spirit of survival” of the enterprise (basis of the emotional attachment of employees). This “mind-state” provides an enterprise model with a resilience capacity, due to the consistency between the parts and the whole.

Strategic planning is a critical issue for higher education academic libraries, especially in developing countries like Ghana, due to limited financial resources and the rapid change in the information environment during the last several decades. Theory-testing case study methodology was used in this thesis to examine strategy formulation and implementation in building the digital collections of the University of Cape Coast Library (UCCL) in Ghana. The main question the study attempted to answer was how did the DL strategic formulation and implementation processes used by the UCC in building its digital collections compare with the Mintzberg’s strategic formulation and implementation framework? The instruments used for data collection were the key informant interview technique and document reviews. The results showed that, during the formulation phase, two aspects (resources and aspirations of senior management) were emergent. During the implementation phase, five aspects (achieving results, processes and behaviour, standards, motivation, and personal) were emergent. All other elements of building the UCC digital collections were planned during both the formulation and implementation phases. Although the basic technical architecture for the digital library is in place, inconsistency between organizational objectives and the values of the management group was identified as a problem in strategy formulation. Digital library staff reported that cost of using Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities, frequency of power outage, obsolete digitization equipment, interconnectivity problems, and high cost of internet connectivity inhibited their work and regular student access to digital collections. Although the emphasis on students and learning is laudable and apt, there seems to be lack of focus on research support beyond digital collection building, despite the fact that research excellence is one of the UCC’s key priorities. Opportunities exist for improving feedback mechanisms between the users, digital library staff and the university management; and inclusion of social media tools in the digital library project. / Program: Masterprogram: Biblioteks- och informationsvetenskap, Digitala bibliotek och informationstjänster

Motivated by IT evaluation problems identified in a large public sector organization, we propose how evaluation requirements can be supported by a framework combining different models and methods from IS evaluation theory. The article extends the content, context, process (CCP) perspectives of organizational change with operations research techniques and demonstrates the approach in practice for an Enterprise Resource Planning evaluation.

Dumping, no sentido técnico-jurídico do termo, vem a ser, segundo definição encontrada no próprio Acordo Antidumping, da OMC Organização Mundial do Comércio (artigo VI, GATT 1994), a exportação de um produto por valor inferior ao preço que ele normalmente seria vendido no mercado exportador. Como se pode vislumbrar a partir desta definição, é uma prática que ocorre em razão de uma operação de comércio internacional. O processo de investigação do dumping, que poderá resultar na adoção de direitos antidumping, normalmente é complexo, sendo um dos mais instigantes e atuais temas relacionados ao direito econômico internacional e ao direito do comércio internacional. A aplicação de direitos antidumping, ao mesmo tempo que deve buscar a anulação dos efeitos danosos causados pela prática do dumping, deve ser utilizada de forma comedida pelo país lesado, ou seja, não podem tais direitos significar uma barreira injusta ao livre comércio, sob pena de restar violado e desvirtuado um dos principais fins do sistema OMC, qual seja, a busca de um comércio internacional livre, isto é, isento de quaisquer espécies de barreiras, sejam elas tarifárias, ou não tarifárias. Por derradeiro, cabe dizer ainda, que esta dissertação de Mestrado será dividida em duas partes: a primeira, na qual se abordará os principais aspectos relacionados ao dumping e aos direitos antidumping; e, a segunda, onde será analisado o caso WT/DS141/R Comunidades Européias vs. Índia Direitos antidumping sobre importações de roupa de cama. / Dumping, in its technical-judicial meaning, is the exportation of a product at a price lower than the one at which it usually would be sold in the exporting market, as defined by the WTO World Trade Organization Anti-Dumping Agreement itself (Article VI, GATT 1994). As we can see, based on this definition, dumping is a practice that necessarily occurs as the result of an international trade operation. The dumping investigation process, which may lead to anti-dumping duties, is often complex, and it is one of the most provocative and present subjects related to the International Economic Law and to the International Trade Law. The application of anti-dumping duties, while one must seek to nullify the damaging effects caused by dumping imports, on the other hand, one can not forget that the anti-dumping duties must be reasonably utilized by the injured country, that means, such duties can not lead to an unfair barrier to the free trade, otherwise one the WTO systems main goals, which is the search for free international trade exempt from any kind of barrier, be they tariff or non-tariff barriers, may be violated and disparaged. Finally, this thesis for the Master Degree at USP, will be divided in two parts: the first one will discuss the main aspects of dumping and the anti-dumping duties; and the second one, where the author will analyse, in a deep approach, a specific case decided in the scope of the dispute settlement body (DSB), where the occurrence of dumping and the application of anti-dumping duties was discussed (WT/DS141/R European Communities vs Índia cotton-type bed linen).

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo, conceitual e empírico, objetivando examinar a gestão da marca do produto ao longo da cadeia, desde o fabricante até o consumidor final, sob a intermediação do canal varejista. A revisão da literatura abordando os conceitos relevantes à estratégia de marketing do fabricante e do varejista permitiu um melhor entendimento sobre os aspectos que interferem na gestão da marca. A pesquisa empírica exploratória, estudo de caso, investigou a marca Votomassa da Votorantim Cimentos por meio de vinte e sete entrevistas pessoais, com executivos do fabricante, varejistas, balconistas e clientes dos lojistas e, através da observação nos pontos de venda. Foram identificados pontos estudados na literatura, principalmente no que se refere ao desenvolvimento de relacionamentos, a gestão de canais e a venda ao consumidor final, todos com possíveis interferências na gestão da marca. Particularmente, foram identificadas as implicações que percepções dos atores que integram os vários elos da cadeia podem gerar. O trabalho contribui para avançar nos conceitos e processos pertinentes ao tema em estudo, tendo por foco a cadeia fabricante ? intermediário ? comprador no ramo de material de construção, a partir de uma perspectiva consolidada e holística, evidenciando uma série de ferramentas de marketing que permitem aprimorar o processo estratégico da gestão da marca pelo fabricante. / The study presents a conceptual and empiric vision examining the product brand management throughout the value chain, from the manufacturer to the end consumer, with the intermediation of the retail channel. The theory that supported the study was based on manufacturer and retailer marketing strategy concepts, leading to a better understanding of aspects that may interfere on brand management. An exploratory research was made, as a case study on Votomassa from Votorantim Cimentos, using twenty seven personal interviews with manufacturers\' executives, retailers and their employees, consumers and point of sale observations. This research resulted in the identification of some aspects studied on the literature review, mainly referring to relationship development, marketing channels management, and selling to final consumers, all with possible effects on brand management. It pointed out particularly the implications that perceptions from players on different links of the chain can generate. The main contribution of the present study is the improvement of the concepts and processes related to the theme, focusing on the chain manufacturer ? intermediate ? buyer in the building industry, from a consolidated and holistic perspective, highlighting the marketing tools that can make the strategic brand management process more efficient for the manufacturer.

A Terapia Analítico-Comportamental Infantil (TACI) fundamenta-se na análise do comportamento e no behaviorismo radical para o trabalho na clínica psicológica da infância. A modelagem de repertórios é um dos processos pelo qual se assume promover as mudanças esperadas e a probabilidade de transição é uma estratégia para o estudo de processo em psicoterapia. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever o processo de modelagem direta de repertórios em dois casos de Terapia Analítico Comportamental Infantil (TACI) com um procedimento de determinação da probabilidade de transição. A Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Ratting Scale (FAPRS) foi utilizada para categorizar os comportamentos dos clientes e o Sistema Multidimensional de Categorização de Comportamentos da Interação Terapêutica (SiMCCIT) para categorizar os comportamentos das terapeutas, com o software The Observer Pro. A duração dos comportamentos e a probabilidade de transição foram calculadas com a observação de 10 sessões amostrais de duas terapias TACI realizadas por terapeutas em estágio supervisionado com duas crianças, uma menina de 10 anos e um menino de sete anos, que apresentavam dificuldades escolares. A primeira terapia foi bem-sucedida e teve duração de 18 sessões. A segunda terapia continuou, sendo que foram realizadas observações do primeiro ano de tratamento. Foi observado que os Comportamentos Problema (CCR1) diminuíram, os Comportamentos de Melhora (CCR2) aumentaram e Descrições de Variáveis de Controle (CCR3) surgiram no primeiro caso. No segundo caso, houve predominância de CCR1 em sete sessões, sendo que os CCR2 e os CCR3 não apresentaram estabilidade. A determinação da probabilidade de transição indicou regularidades no responder das terapeutas após os comportamentos clinicamente relevantes, principalmente aprovação após CCR2. Esses resultados sugerem que a modelagem pelo responder diferencial do terapeuta é um mecanismo de mudança presente na TACI e ainda sustentam as vantagens da utilização da determinação da probabilidade de transição de comportamentos categorizados para explorar os eventos próprios da interação terapêutica / Child Behavior-Analytic Therapy (CBAT) is based in behavior analysis and radical behaviorism to deal with children in clinical psychotherapy. Shaping is a process which is assumed to promote expected changes and transition probability is a strategy to study process in psychotherapy research. The objective of this study is to describe the process of directly shaping repertoires in two cases of Child Behavior-Analytic Therapy (CBAT) through a transitional probability procedure. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy Rating Scale (FAPRS) was used to code clients behaviors and Multidimensional System for Coding Behaviors in Therapist-Client Interaction (SiMCCIT) to code therapists ones, with The Observer Pro software. Measures of behavior duration and transitional probability were taken from two samples of 10 sessions each, of two CBAT treatments conducted by undergraduate therapists under clinical practicum supervision with two children, a 10-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, both with learning difficulties. The first treatment was successful and lasted 18 sessions. The second one continued but only observations of the first year of treatment were carried out. Problem behavior (CRB1) decreased, Improvement behavior (CRB2) and Descriptions of Controlling Variables (CRB3) increased in the first case. In the second case, CCR1 predominated through seven sessions, and CCR2 and CCR3 did not show stability. Transitional probabilities indicated regularities in therapists responding to the clients clinically relevant behavior, particularly Approvals after CCR2. These results suggests that shaping repertories by differential therapists responding is a mechanism of change in CBAT and supports the advantages of determining transitional probabilities from coded behaviors to explore the particular events that occur in therapeutic interaction

Este estudo tem como objetivo principal identificar se, no varejo de eletrodomésticos, o marketing de relacionamento é utilizado como ferramenta para gerir segmentos de baixa renda da população. O objetivo secundário é investigar em quais parâmetros ocorrem as ações de relacionamento nesse setor: como é feita a segmentação da base de clientes; a ativação desses segmentos por meio de ações dirigidas; o papel do banco de dados; a gestão das informações sobre os clientes e das ações de relacionamento. O trabalho se inicia pela apresentação e justificativa do tema e do problema de pesquisa; discorre acerca da relevância acadêmica e dos desafios de compreender o consumo da população de baixa renda; apresenta a importância do mercado de eletrodomésticos como elemento do objeto de pesquisa e comenta as práticas do marketing de relacionamento (MR) como diferencial competitivo. Ainda a respeito do MR, apresenta o desafio de implantar programas do CRM para abordar as camadas populares. No capítulo seguinte, discorre sobre os conceitos de canais de marketing e varejo, estrutura dos canais de marketing, a liderança do canal, o varejo de eletrodomésticos no Brasil e o poder conferido pelo relacionamento com os clientes. Na seção que se segue, descreve a evolução do contexto que propiciou o surgimento do MR, conceitos do MR e CRM, modelos de implantação e definições como valor do cliente, segmentação da base de clientes, satisfação, lealdade. No terceiro capítulo, discorre sobre o mercado de baixa renda, conceitos de baixa renda na literatura de demografia e de pesquisa, comenta a pesquisa em administração desse segmento no Brasil, apresenta orientações de marketing para esse segmento e a problemática de implantação do MR no mercado de baixa renda. No quarto capítulo, trata do método adotado na pesquisa de campo, a natureza exploratória do estudo, a técnica de estudo de caso e o desenho do plano de pesquisa. No quinto capítulo, apresenta os achados da pesquisa de campo. Nas considerações finais, aponta as barreiras de implantar o MR na abordagem da baixa renda e indica que, nas empresas pesquisadas, o MR ainda se encontra em um estágio inicial devido às dificuldades de microssegmentação, contatos pontuais e abordagens pouco personalizadas tanto na ativação dos segmentos, quanto nos canais de resposta. / The main objective of this study is to identify whether relationship marketing is used as tool to manage the low-income segments among the electronic retail industry. The secondary objective is to investigate the parameter of relationship actions in this industry: how the clients are segmented; the activation of those segments throughout direct actions; the database role; and relationship actions management. This study begins with the presentation of the theme and research problem; indicates the academic relevance and the challenges for understanding the low-income population consumption; presents the importance of electronic goods retail market for this study and points the role of relationship marketing (RM) as a differentiation tool; it also presents the challenge to implement CRM programs to approach this target. The next chapter talks about the concepts of marketing channels, retail, marketing channel structure, channel leadership, electronic goods retail in Brazil and the power provided by the relationship with the clients. In the next chapter there is a literature review about RM which describes the context evolution that enabled the birth of RM, it also shows concepts of RM and CRM, implementation models and definitions such as client value, segmentation, satisfaction and loyalty. The third chapter tells about the low-income market, low-income concepts in the demography and research literatures, comments about the research made in this field in Brazil, presents marketing approaches to target this segment and concludes with the problems to implement RM to deal with low-income consumers. The fourth chapter tells about the research method used in field investigation. Fifth chapter presents the research findings. The final considerations section points the barriers and gaps to implement RM to approach this target and indicates that among the companies researched RM still in its basic stage due to difficulty in establishing micro segmentation, spare contacts with the consumer, low customized approaches in the segments activation and in the feedback channels.

With the assumptions that we are all for social justice and that early childhood teacher education programmes need to take a stand on social justice and provide prospective teachers with the practical tools to work with children in early childhood settings, the author of this thesis conducted an instrumental case study aimed to illuminate a process of critical thinking towards conceptualising professional knowledge in teaching for social justice in pre-service early childhood teacher education in Colombia. The purpose of the research was to bring insights into how teacher educators’ views and understandings of social justice influence their pedagogical and practical knowledge with regard to preparing prospective teachers to work with children in Colombian early childhood settings. The inquiry was developed in three stages (an internet-based survey, focus groups and written accounts) and thirty teacher educators working in a university based pre-service early childhood teacher education programme, participated in the study. The findings showed that teacher educators’ views and understandings of social justice in early childhood teacher education were associated with global discourses of inclusion, child rights, equity and equal opportunities for All. These understandings were identified in explicit actions regarding equality, diversity and respect in early childhood education. The findings also showed that other views of social justice appeared to be embedded in local and particular understandings of equity and equality that revealed a dual perception of social justice manifested through implicit and silenced actions with regard to preparing prospective early childhood educators. These particular views which exposed intentions and sensitivity towards teaching for social justice revealed generative forces and synergies in the early childhood teacher education programme. Implications of this study suggest the influence of teacher educators’ views and understanding of social justice in their political, pedagogical and practical professional knowledge with regard to preparing early childhood educators to live on co-existence as ‘vivencialistas’ committed to be citizens in social justice working with children in early childhood settings.

ICT4D champions are individuals who make a decisive contribution to an ICT4D initiative by actively and enthusiastically promoting its progress through critical stages in order to mobilise resources and/or active support and cooperation from all stakeholders. Mindful of the poor performance of development projects generally, and ICT4D projects in particular, the thesis argues that the seemingly important role of key individuals, such as champions, lacks research. Based on the repeated calls for research to better understand champion-type individuals and their roles in ICT4D initiatives, the thesis claims to have identified an original and significant knowledge gap towards which it contributes. Extant literature on champions of information systems innovations shows that champions can be conceptualised in terms of three core orientations: towards results, relationships and resources. This body of literature and conceptualisations has been used in the thesis as the starting point for exploring and describing the champion phenomenon in an as yet unexplored context - ICT4D initiatives. Critical realism is the assumed philosophical position for the research undertaken in the thesis. Theoretical constructs from the model of Transformational and Transactional Leadership and Social Capital Theory are combined in a conceptual framework to guide the empirical investigations and analysis. The research draws on three ICT4D champion cases in South Africa; case data was collected through the careful combination and sequencing of multiple mixed methods: in-depth interviews, a social network analysis (SNA) survey, and semi-structured interviews with the ICT4D champions and other key initiative stakeholders. A literal replication design was followed whereby the case studies explored and described the individual champion cases and subsequently synthesised findings across the three cases. The main contribution of the thesis is a knowledge contribution; the thesis contributes fifteen empirical findings to our conceptual understanding of ICT4D champions - their origins, competencies, characteristics and motivations, and their orientations towards results, relationships and resources. The analysis has shown how ICT4D champions are similar to champions of IS innovation in some ways, but has also revealed unique aspects, such as the importance they ascribe to addressing social concerns. This, in turn, led to a number of theoretical and practical contributions, as well as a methodological and a research contribution, all emanating from the three case studies. Firstly, two inductively generated theoretical contributions are offered: i) a conceptual framework for analysing and describing the origins of ICT4D champions; ii) a hybrid and contextual model of ICT4D champions that combines a complex set of factors (personal, organisational, and external) and the orientations of champions as a means to account for the complexity of these key individuals and their roles in ICT4D initiatives. The thesis contributes to ICT4D practice by suggesting ways to identify, develop, deploy and support champions; in so doing it offers actionable guidance on how to harness the potential positive contributions of these key individuals. Furthermore, a network-based approach - such as SNA used in the thesis - are rarely, if ever, followed in conducting champion research and this is offered as a methodological contribution. Finally, ICT4D champion research is in its infancy; the exploratory approach followed in the thesis draws on literature, the empirical findings and the theoretical contributions to offer an extensive agenda for future champion research in general, and ICT4D champion research in particular.