Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-114). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1986.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985. / Xeroc copy of typescript.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1981.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

The study aimed to investigate and critically analyze claims management, an ethical issue in insurance companies in Nigeria, to find out if these insurance companies recognize it to be an ethical issue and also to find out how they handle insured’s claims. A qualitative research method was used in carrying out this study; data was sourced through interviews and by secondary data using literatures from books, journals, articles, and electronic websites. The researchers used purposive sampling to select some top insurance companies in Nigeria; in these insurance companies basically personnel working in the claims department were interviewed, also sales agents from two of these insurance companies were interviewed. Data was sourced from two insurance broking firms in Nigeria by interviewing their top personnel, and also some of the insuring public with and without insurance policies was interviewed. The analytical strategy adopted in this research work was to rely on theoretical propositions. This study made use of Jones (1991) moral intensity model. Based on the analysis of data collected during the interview, the study revealed that insurance personnel in claims administration who take decision on insured’ claims in Nigeria recognize that there is a moral dilemma in their act and they discharge this responsibility professionally and ethically sticking to the rules of the business. Also the characteristics that constitute moral intensity model; proximity, social context, probability of effect, concentration of effect and magnitude of consequence offered by Jones (1991) influence the moral decision making process and moral behavior of claims personnel in Nigeria insurance companies. But due to some challenges faced by these personnel in discharging their duty and some lapses from their side and the insured’s there have always been complaint on claims. However they acknowledge that no one is perfect therefore they are open to getting feedbacks from their clients on the way they feel about their claims which they look into and make necessary amendments where needed. This study concluded with proposition for future researchers to look into how the challenges encountered by personnel managing insured’s’ claims in insurance companies in Nigeria can be dealt with and to find out how insurance companies in Nigeria can gain the awareness of the insuring public and make them understand the terms and conditions of insurance service. / kemi987@yahoo.co.uk, +46760825772

The study aimed to investigate and critically analyze claims management, an ethical issue in insurance companies in Nigeria, to find out if these insurance companies recognize it to be an ethical issue and also to find out how they handle insured’s claims. A qualitative research method was used in carrying out this study; data was sourced through interviews and by secondary data using literatures from books, journals, articles, and electronic websites. The researchers used purposive sampling to select some top insurance companies in Nigeria; in these insurance companies basically personnel working in the claims department were interviewed, also sales agents from two of these insurance companies were interviewed. Data was sourced from two insurance broking firms in Nigeria by interviewing their top personnel, and also some of the insuring public with and without insurance policies was interviewed. The analytical strategy adopted in this research work was to rely on theoretical propositions. This study made use of Jones (1991) moral intensity model. Based on the analysis of data collected during the interview, the study revealed that insurance personnel in claims administration who take decision on insured’ claims in Nigeria recognize that there is a moral dilemma in their act and they discharge this responsibility professionally and ethically sticking to the rules of the business. Also the characteristics that constitute moral intensity model; proximity, social context, probability of effect, concentration of effect and magnitude of consequence offered by Jones (1991) influence the moral decision making process and moral behavior of claims personnel in Nigeria insurance companies. But due to some challenges faced by these personnel in discharging their duty and some lapses from their side and the insured’s there have always been complaint on claims. However they acknowledge that no one is perfect therefore they are open to getting feedbacks from their clients on the way they feel about their claims which they look into and make necessary amendments where needed. This study concluded with proposition for future researchers to look into how the challenges encountered by personnel managing insured’s’ claims in insurance companies in Nigeria can be dealt with and to find out how insurance companies in Nigeria can gain the awareness of the insuring public and make them understand the terms and conditions of insurance service.

Software plays an important role in making products usable. We couldn’t imagine a laptop without software that run it making the things it does possible with the laptop hardware. Software has penetrated into several industries making significant contribution in how the products are designed and to make them more usable. This thesis focuses on semiconductor industry and analyzes the role played by software to enhance their products and differentiate them from competition. In this context, the thesis looks at acquisition of software companies by chip companies and analyzes them to determine the benefits and how it changed the market space. In a semiconductor company, the focus is predominantly on hardware. Although software is equally crucial to the success of the product, not much focus is placed on it in terms of innovation and building sustained software IP portfolio. One of the questions that this thesis tries to answer is how to build a robust software IP portfolio in a chip company. Case studies of different products were conducted to analyze their IP building strategies in general and focusing specifically on software patenting in terms number of patents filed and procedures adopted to encourage it. It looks closely at the best and not-so-best practices adopted by the teams and analyzing them to determine why certain initiatives succeeded while others failed. A crucial aspect of building software IP pipeline is to involve junior level engineers in this process. The thesis looks at some of the strategies companies could use to bring the culture of patents to the lowest levels of engineers. Typically the senior engineers are well tuned in to the process and regularly file patents while the junior engineers don’t. This is crucial to the company since today’s junior engineer is tomorrow’s senior engineer leading technology initiatives. The thesis concludes by putting forward recommendations to encourage software patenting. / text

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Denna studie är ämnad att utreda hur samåkningsföretag kan arbeta medvarumärkesprofilering för att stärka sitt varumärkeskapital. Detta har undersökts genom attstudera vilka faktorer som är viktiga för kunder vid valet att samåka med fokus på densvenska marknaden. Dessa undersökningar har baserat sig på intervjuer med företagenSkjutsgruppen och GoMore samt deras kunder. Studien visar att de viktigaste faktorerna förkunder vid valet att samåka på den svenska marknaden är ekonomiska incitament, miljö,trygghet och säkerhet, flexibilitet samt social interaktion. Av dessa är de ekonomiskaincitamenten viktigast för valet att samåka. Studien har sedan undersökt hursamåkningsföretag, baserat på dessa identifierade faktorer, kan arbeta med sinvarumärkesprofilering för att stärka företagets varumärkeskapital. Studien resulterar i en modell enligt vilken samåkningsföretag kan arbeta med sinvarumärkesprofilering för att stärka sitt varumärkeskapital. Modellen föreslår attsamåkningsföretagen skapar kännedom om varumärket genom marknadsföringsåtgärder somuppmärksammar kunderna på varumärket. Detta ökar varumärkets relevans, det vill sägavarumärket finns med i kundernas minne då de väljer tjänst. Marknadsföringen syftar ocksåtill att profilera företagets varumärke genom att förbättra kundernas inställning till varumärket.Målet med detta är att etablera en emotionell relation mellan kund och företag genom attfokusera på en faktor som lyfts fram som extra betydelsefull. Modellen föreslår också attföretagen samtidigt kan differentiera sig inom flera faktorer i att syfta att erbjuda en bättretjänst än konkurrenterna.