This research study aims to obtain a holistic view of the area of store atmospherics, which forms part of the retail industry. A consumer-centred response approach was followed. Store atmospherics and its influence on consumers’ buying behaviour has received very little attention in the literature to date. Consumers’ views on in-store atmospheric elements and the influence of these elements on their buying behaviour were obtained. The primary research aim that was derived from the preliminary literature was therefore to explore the influence of store atmospherics on consumers’ buying behaviour in apparel retail stores in the Tshwane region. The type of research design used in this study was exploratory, making use of a qualitative approach and a communicative technique of interviews. The selected method was focus group interviews and naïve sketches. The data gathered was analysed by means of Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. It was found that atmospheric elements have the ability to influence consumers in either a subconscious or a conscious way. This has a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers will spend in-store and ultimately influences their buying decisions and behaviour either positively or negatively. This had a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers will spend instore and ultimately influences their buying decisions and behaviours either positively or negatively, meaning that the consumers’ will display either an approach- or avoidance behaviour. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

No description available.

Venture Capitals and early stage companies are of fundamental importance for how the market operates and develops. In the last decade more focus has been put on the ESG strategies and governance of organizations. However, ESG is a relatively new and complex research area in which ignorance and measurement problems have led to inconsistency in applications of ESG concepts and strategies. Based on empirical data consisting of qualitative document analysis and interviews with Swedish Venture Capitals this thesis aims, from theoretical perspectives within decision-making and ESG strategies, to investigate which ESG strategies are used among Swedish Venture Capitals investing in tech, and how these are applied in, are weighted and impact the decision-making process. The result shows that the decision making process can be assumed to be based on bounded rationality tinged by fragmented application of ESG concepts and strategies in which diversity and CO2 impact are prioritized focus areas. The common perception was also that investing in tech created a natural aligning to ESG. Active Ownership, Positive- and Negative screening are the central strategies that were applied with the aim to develop and manage the lack of information and the risks that follows with early stage investing. / Venture Capitals och early stage bolag är av fundamental betydelse för hur marknaden fungerar och utvecklas och under det senaste årtiondet har större fokus riktats mot organisationers ESG strategier och styrning. ESG är dock ett relativt nytt och komplext forskningsområde där okunskap och mätningsproblematik har lett till att begrepp och strategier tillämpas inkonsekvent. Utifrån empiri baserad på kvalitativ dokumentanalys och intervjuer från svenska Venture Capitals avser denna studie, utifrån teoretiska perspektiv inom beslutsfattande och ESG strategi, att undersöka vilka ESG strategier som används bland svenska Venture Capitals och hur de tillämpas, viktas och påverkar beslutsfattandet vid investeringar i tech. Resultatet visade att beslutsprocessen kan antas baseras på begränsad rationalitet präglad av fragmenterad tillämpning av ESG begrepp och strategier där jämställdhet och CO2 påverkan var prioriterade fokusområden. Den gemensamma bilden var även att investering i tech skapade en naturlig förankring till ESG. Active ownership, Positive- och Negative screening var de centrala strategierna som tillämpades i syfte att utveckla och hantera den informationsbrist och de risker som medföljde early stage investering.

Decisions made by social workers during the rendering of services play a crucial role in foster care. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the factors that influence the decisions made by social workers when rendering foster care services, and to develop a matrix to guide decision-making. A collective case study design, informed by the explorative, descriptive and contextual designs, was used. The intuitive, analytic and mixed theories of decision-making served as the conceptual framework of the study. The populations of the study were social workers rendering foster care services in government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their supervisors. One case file of each social worker sampled, was consulted as an additional data source. The sampling technique was purposively sampling with a set of criteria to enable data optimisation. Triangulation of data collection methods was utilised, namely, case file analysis and semi-structured interviews with social workers and supervisors. Case studies are context-based and the data collection occurred in the natural settings of the participants. Ethical clearance was obtained for the study and before the commencement of data collection participants were fully briefed about the study and informed consent was obtained. The data collection instruments, a guide of case file analysis and two interview guides, were piloted twice in both government and NGOs. The data collection was audio recorded and an independent transcriber was used to transcribe the data to control for researcher-influence on the manipulation of the data. Trustworthiness was addressed by ensuring credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability of the data collected. Both the top down or deductive data analysis approach, and the bottom up or inductive approach were adopted to analyse the data. Findings on the social workers’ decision-making processes, decisions made, factors influencing decision-making and the nature of decisions were explored and described in the assessment phase (including the intake, prevention and early intervention, as well as the investigation stages), the placement phase and the supervision phase of foster care services. These findings and the participants’ suggestions on what a decision-making matrix should address, were synthesised and the matrix to guide the decision-making of social workers rendering foster care services was developed. / Social Work / D. Phil (Social Work)

The dissertation has the basic concepts, analysis of factors affecting management decision-making, current approaches to the classification of information sources, methodology for assessing sources of information. Based on the theoretical analysis and analysis of the investigated enterprise’s information system, summary classification of information sources, general principles, and system of information sources selection was developed. The dissertation introduces practical recommendations for the implementation of information sources selection process into the development of management decisions process. The developed system was tested on three information sources for industrial enterprise. / В диссертации исследован понятийный аппарат, проанализированы факторы, влияющие на принятие управленческого решения, существующие подходы к классификации источников информации, современные методики оценки источников информации. На основе проведенного теоретического анализа и анализа системы информации исследуемого предприятия была разработана сводная классификация источников информации для принятия управленческих решений, общие принципы и система отбора источников информации. Даны практические рекомендации по внедрению процесса отбора источников информации в процесс разработки управленческого решения. Разработанная система апробирована на примере источников информации для промышленного предприятия.

Au Canada, les enfants autochtones sont surreprésentés dans les services de protection de l’enfance ainsi que dans les différents types de placement. En ce sens, le but de ce projet était de mieux comprendre la pratique des intervenants oeuvrant en centre jeunesse relativement aux décisions de compromission, de retrait du milieu familial et de placement (interethnique ou culturellement jumelé) des jeunes Autochtones. Les objectifs spécifiques qui découlaient de cet objectif général étaient au nombre de trois : 1. explorer, à travers le point de vue des intervenants oeuvrant à l’étape de l’évaluation/orientation, le processus de prise de décision en ce qui a trait à la compromission, ou non, de la sécurité ou du développement des jeunes autochtones; 2. explorer, à travers le point de vue des intervenants oeuvrant à l’étape de l’évaluation/orientation et de l’application des mesures (prise en charge), le processus de prise de décision en lien au retrait des jeunes autochtones de leur milieu familial et à leur orientation vers un placement en ressource de type familial (RTF) interethnique ou culturellement jumelé; 3. comprendre quels sont les facteurs qui influencent la prise de décision des intervenants dans les différentes étapes du processus de signalement et de prise en charge par rapport au placement des jeunes autochtones. Pour mener à bien ce projet, l’étudiante-chercheure a réalisé une première vague de cueillette de données, soit sept groupes de discussion composés d’intervenantes oeuvrant au sein d’un centre jeunesse situé en zone périphérique des grands centres et desservant plusieurs communautés autochtones. Puis, à partir des éléments ayant émergé de ce matériau, a procédé à une seconde vague, composée cette fois de seize entretiens individuels menés également auprès d’intervenantes oeuvrant à ce même centre jeunesse. La méthodologie utilisée était la théorisation ancrée, ce qui est cohérent avec le cadre théorique (ou concepts sensibilisateurs) utilisé, qui réfère pour sa part à l’interactionnisme symbolique (Blumer, 1969) de même qu’à la pratique réflexive et la construction des savoirs (Schön, 1994; Racine, 1995). Les résultats obtenus de ces deux phases ont permis de faire ressortir que le processus des intervenantes en ce qui concerne les décisions de compromission, de retrait et de placement des jeunes autochtones est hautement subjectif, dynamique et systémique. Il réfère aux caractéristiques intrinsèques des intervenantes (le Soi et le Savoir), à travers lesquels elles portent en fait un regard sur une multitude de contraintes (l’Autre et le Résultat des processus antérieurs et à venir) et parmi lesquelles on note, entre autres, le contexte de vie particulier des communautés autochtones, les caractéristiques liées aux dossiers des jeunes, les partenaires légaux, etc. Aussi, au fil de leurs interactions avec les contextes, les choses et les différents « autruis » auprès desquels elles oeuvrent ou avec qui elles collaborent (interactionnisme symbolique), de même qu’au gré des savoirs construits (Schön, 1994; Racine, 1995) qu’elles développent à mesure qu’elles gagnent en expérience, les intervenantes en sont venues à développer une façon particulière de prendre leurs décisions, façon qui, en fait, découle de pratiques silencieuses qui, ultimement, leur permettent de maintenir un certain équilibre au sein d’un système de protection peu adapté à la clientèle autochtone. À cet égard, plusieurs recommandations ont été formulées, dont des recommandations pour les centres jeunesse, ceci dans le but de favoriser une pratique qui soit davantage adaptée aux jeunes Autochtones vivant des situations de compromission, de retrait et de placement ainsi qu’à leur famille. / In Canada, Aboriginal children are over-represented in child welfare services as well as in different types of substitute care. In this sense, the goal of this project was the better understand the practice of child protection services workers in relation to decisions of compromise, family withdrawal from the family and placement (inter-ethnic or culturally matched) of Aboriginal youth. The specific objectives which flowed from this general objective were three in number: 1. explore, through the point of view of stakeholders working at the assessment/orientation stage, the decision-making process with regard to the compromise, or not, of the security or development of Aboriginal youth; 2. explore, through the point of view of stakeholders working at the assessment/orientation stage and application of measures stage, the decision-making process related to the withdrawal of Aboriginal youth from their family and their orientation towards an inter-ethnic or culturally matched foster family; 3. understand what are the factors which influence the decision-making of the interveners in the different stages of the process of reporting and application of measures in relation to the placement of Aboriginal youth. To carry out this project, the student-researcher carried out a first wave of data collection (seven focus groups made up of woman workers working in a child protection services located on the outskirts of major centres and providing services to several Aboriginal communities). Then, based on the elements that emerged from this material, a second wave proceeded, this time made up of sixteen one-on-one interviews, also carried out with workers working at the same child protection service. The methodology used is grounded theory, which is consistent with the theoretical framework (or sensitizing concepts) used, which refers to symbolic interactionism (Blumer, 1969) as well as reflective practice and the construction of knowledge (Schön, 1994; Racine, 1995). The results obtained from these two phases have shown that the workers’ process has to the decisions concerning the situation of endangerment, withdrawal and placement of Aboriginal youth is highly subjective, dynamic and systemic. It refers to the intrinsic characteristics of the workers (the Self and Knowledge), through which they actually examine a multitude of constraints (the Other and the Result of past and future processes) and among which we note, among other things, the particular life context of Aboriginal communities, characteristics related to youth files, legal partners, etc. Also, throughout their interactions with contexts, things and different “others” with whom they work or with whom they collaborate (symbolic interactionism), as well as the knowledge they build (Schön, 1994; Racine, 1995) that they develop as they gain experience, they have come to develop a particular way of making their decisions, a way that, in fact, stems from silent practices that, ultimately, allow them to maintain a certain balance within a protection system that is unsuitable for Aboriginal clients. In this regard, a number of recommendations were made, including recommendations for youth centres, with a view to promoting a practice that is more adapted to Aboriginal youth in endangered situations, withdrawal and placement and to their families.

The thesis deals with the decision-making of the expert in real estate valuation. Due to the complexity of the process and the difficulties of valuation it can be assumed that the decision will be an arduous process. It is obvious that the choice of an expert is crucial to the result of the valuation process. This topic is currently relatively little explored, and therefore the work will deal with the analysis and formulation of decision problems expert in real estate valuation. The thesis analyses the current status of forensic engineering and decision-making regarding to real estate valuation. The general decision-making process, divided into seven steps, is adapted to the requirements of expert decision-making in real estate valuation. As in the managerial decision-making process, property valuation is also divided into three levels. These three levels considered the described fundamental decision problems that lead to the formulation of the expert decision-making principles in real estate valuation. For better understanding the extensiveness of the decision-making process in the valuation of real estate the author created a decision tree respectively schemes whose functionality has been verified at the end of the thesis, exemplified with the help of a specific case study of the determined price in real estate valuation.

I takt med att allt fler kulturhistoriskt värdefulla byggnader rivs i landets kommuner utarmas Sveriges kulturarv enligt Riksantikvarieämbetet. Vilken betydelse har då en kulturhistorisk värdebeskrivning i den kommunala beslutsprocessen? Lidingö stad valdes som fallstudie eftersom man där beslutat att riva öns landmärke, en fackverksbro av järn och nitad stål, Gamla Lidingöbron, invigd 1925. Bron är med sin karaktäristiska konstruktion och stora bågspann ett starkt etablerat signum vid öns infart. Den har flera likheter med Gamla Årstabron i Stockholm som till skillnad från Gamla Lidingöbron är statligt ägd, utsedd till byggnadsminne och därmed skyddad. Det framkom i denna studie att Gamla Lidingöbrons kulturhistoriska värde inte hade diskuterats inför rivningsbeslutet 2012 samt att en för ändamålet beställd värderingen saknades i beslutsunderlaget. Planarbetet för en ny bro, ”Lilla Lidingöbron”, som senare lades fram fick kritik från alla remissinstanser som yttrade sig om kulturmiljö eftersom de ansåg att den äldre stålbron borde bevaras. Kommunen uppmanades att ta fram ett bevarandealternativ. Kritiken ledde inte till någon omprövning trots existerande alternativa förslag.  Det enda som skedde var att beskrivningen av brons värde till slut skrevs in i den nya detaljplanen med ordalag tagna ur värderapporten. På vissa ställen dock vända till sin motsats (sid 20-25). Det tillades även där att den kulturhistoriska värderapporten hade använts inför inriktningsbeslutet 2012 trots att det inte var så. Beslutet visade sig ha rötter till tidigt 2000-tal vilket beskrivs i en bilaga.  En utblick görs mot beslutsprocessen för Gamla Danviksbron i Stockholm, byggd 1922, i syfte att exemplifiera hur ett redan taget rivningsbeslut faktiskt kan ändras efter att kulturvärdet åberopats av remissinstans. Till skillnad från Lidingö kommun samarbetade man därefter med de sakkunniga i byggnadsvård för att bevara Gamla Danviksbron.  Slutsatsen är att en kulturhistorisk värdebeskrivning är viktig då den informerar och vägleder om vad som är värdefullt, vad man bör bevara och varför. Dock kan en sådan rapport förlora sin mening när det finns politiska intressen som favoriserar andra lösningar. Likaså när tjänstemän och politiker helt enkelt inte har kunskap om kulturhistoriska värden eller saknar kompetens att samordna olika aktörers intressen när det kommer till att integrera kulturvärden, miljö och innovativa lösningar (bevara och förnya) – med ekonomi och funktion. / As more buildings with established cultural-historical value are being demolished around the country, Sweden's cultural heritage risks being depleted according to The Swedish National Heritage Board. What then is the impact of a cultural-historical value report in the municipal decision-making process? The municipality of Lidingö was chosen as an example because of its decision to demolish the island's landmark bridge; the Old Lidingö bridge (Gamla Lidingöbron), an iron and steel truss bridge from 1925. This bridge, with its characteristic construction, and large arched span, is a strongly established symbol for the island. It has several similarities with the protected state-owned Old Årsta bridge in Stockholm. In this study, it emerged that an existing cultural-historical report, describing the bridge’s high value, was not taken into consideration as a basis for the decision made by the municipality in 2012. During the planning work for a new bridge, Little Lidingö bridge, the municipality received criticism from concerned parties (e.g. Stockholm County Administrative Board) that commented on the cultural value, because they felt that the bridge should be preserved. The municipality was encouraged to develop a conservation-focused alternative. In response to the criticism, the officials did not reconsider the decision. They merely included more of the content of the cultural-historical value report in the detailed development plan. In some of the added paragraphs the meaning of the words was reversed (page 20-25). The development plan also states that the report had been considered prior to the demolition decision, although it had not been. Indications that the 2012 decision had its roots in the early 2000s are included in the appendix. To compare with similar decisions, a brief look is also taken at Stockholm municipality, where the decision-making process regarding the Old Danvik Bridge, built in 1922, is given as an example of how they instead changed direction, and collaborated with experts in cultural conservation.In conclusion, a cultural-historical value description is extremely important. It provides a basic description of what is valuable, what should be preserved and why. However, such a report may lose its impact if there is a political agenda moving in another direction. Another reason that this type of document might be devalued is if officials and politicians lack knowledge of cultural history, or the skills to coordinate the interests of different actors; integrating cultural values, the environment, and innovative solutions (preserving and innovating) – with economics and function.