Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1999. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-260). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ67931.

A survey was undertaken for a contract cleaning company in Durban. In order to preserve the confidentiality of the information contained in this dissertation, a fictitious name, Kleen Co, has been used. The aim of the survey was to find further similarities within the existing segments. At present, the traditional geographic and industry-type bases of segmentation (namely healthcare, hospitality, offices and shopping centres in various regions) are used. Recent literature suggests that similarities can be sought in three areas: 1. expectations of service; 2. perceptions of service; 3. unique benefits of the service. In the survey, clients were asked to rate their expectations and perceptions for six attributes (price of the cleaning service, customer service, quality of cleaning, innovativeness of cleaning methods, assessment of cleaning requirements, and consistency of the cleaning service) . They were also asked to rate the relevance of four reasons for outsourcing (cheaper to outsource, need for specialised cleaning, company policy to outsource, and labour problems). The results indicate that price and innovation can be used as further bases for segmentation for the following segments: • offices and healthcare have the same high expectation for price; healthcare and hospitality have the same high expectation for innovation; • shopping centres and hospitality have the same low expectation for price; • offices and shopping centres have the same low expectation for innovativeness; • healthcare and hospitality have the same high perceptions for price and innovation; • offices and shopping centres have the same low perceptions for price and innovation. For outsourcing are concerned, the following reasons were found: • offices: all reasons are relevant except for price of service. • healthcare: need for specialised cleaning and labour problems are relevant; price of service and company policy are irrelevant; • shopping centres: price of service and company policy are relevant; need for specialised cleaning and labour problems are irrelevant. • hospitals: all reasons are relevant except company policy to outsource. Although the main aim of the survey was to identify new segments, client satisfaction was also measured. Clients were asked whether they had raised a complaint with the company and, if so, how satisfied they were with the outcome. This was done in order to test the loyalty of clients, the hypothesis being that the longer the client had been with Kleen Co, the more satisfied they would be with the outcome of their complaints - and more loyal. However, the data reflect that clients who have been with the company for more than four years are no more satisfied in this regard than clients who have been with the company for shorter periods of time. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 642-654).

The cleaning industry plays a vital role in ensuring clean environments for individuals, businesses, and communities. However, in recent years, the industry has undergone significant transformations driven by neoliberal policies, and there is no exception in the cleaning system in Sweden. The cleaning system in Sweden has been marketized in Sweden, affecting mostly the one who works as cleaners, particularly female immigrants who dominated the industry in recent years. This study focuses on exploring the experiences of female immigrant cleaners in the Swedish cleaning industry, specifically emphasizing the challenges they face in terms of intersectional identities and transportation. It investigates the connection between the two experiences and how individual’ s work efficiency and life have been affected by them. The study engages in in-depth interviews with female immigrant cleaners in Sweden, drawing upon the qualitative research method. By employing an intersectional lens, the study examines how factors such as gender, ethnicity, and immigration status shape the experiences of these cleaners within the industry. It also explores the role of transportation in influencing their access to their overall mobility and employment opportunities. The results of this study reveal that female immigrant cleaners’ experience at the workplace based on their intersectional identities did not uniformly lead to negative insights. Also suggests that power relations are formed in a broader social and economic structures and may not be visible in individuals’ interactions. However, investigating female immigrant cleaners’ transportation-related issues, such as limited access to reliable transportation options and long commuting distances, is associated with limiting their mobility and decreasing their job opportunities. The study underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the power dynamics embedded in broader social and economic structures. Acknowledging the unique challenges female immigrant cleaners face in terms of their intersectional identities and transportation, and taking concrete actions to address these challenges, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and society can contribute to the successful integration of these individuals into Swedish society. Ensuring their access to adequate working conditions and transportation enhances the overall inclusivity of female immigrant cleaners in the whole society.

New technological innovations are considered as one of the major drivers of economic growth. However, in order to be able to achieve this growth, the diffusion of these new technologies is essential. The large number of factors that influence the diffusion process makes it rather difficult to make estimations, before the realization of the process. Especially emerging technologies, such as 5G technology, can considerably benefit from a better analysis of the diffusion process in order to fully realize their potential. Based on this shortcoming in the existing literature, this study aims to determine the possible impacts of adoption of 5G technology on business models within the cleaning industry. As it is implied in the objective, these impacts of adoption of 5G technology on business models are enabled by the adoption of 5G technology. Therefore, the constraints which influence the adoption of 5G technology are researched initially, as it is a prerequisite to identify potential modifications on business models.    A qualitative research methodology was deemed appropriate after the investigation of previous research within the field and to complement the case study design which this thesis internalizes. In addition to the review of relevant academic literature, twelve semi-structured interviews have been conducted as another data source. The qualitative data obtained from these interviews are analyzed using the thematic analysis method and themes are identified after the coding and categorization process. After the analysis, three areas of interest, which are Revenue Models, Logistics Operations and Automation for Individualization, have been identified according to the similarities of results, anticipated opportunities and observed challenges within the cleaning industry. Within these areas, the effects of adopting 5G technology on the value proposition of the business model are examined while considering the drawbacks of the cleaning industry through the collaboration with an external company called L2GO. The study concludes by proposing four potential implications of 5G adoption on business models within the identified areas and identifying the possible changes in their value propositions.