This thesis focuses on the role of the advisors in the US foreign policy, especially in the decision-making process, which constitutes a part of presidential system in the United States of America. The methodology of the conceptual part is based on individual typologies of presidential control of the US administrations. The thesis also describes evolution of this discipline, which in the USA is studied in the field of Foreign Policy Analysis. The conceptual scheme of the presidential control is based on the models by Johnson, George and Mitchell. The theoretical approach to the roles of advisors is patterned on the models of Mulcahy, Crabb and Hönig. The thesis combines these theoretical bases to describe and explain the evolution of presidential control typologies. Some problematic particularities of the Mitchell typology are also reviewed in this part. The next part based on the theoretical models analyses empirical reality. The analytical part constitutes of two case studies, which describe the role of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs in the key deliberations of the presidential administrations of William J. Clinton (reaction to the conflict in Bosnia) and George W. Bush (preparation of the invasion in Iraq). The aim of this thesis is to applicate the typologies of...

The goal of this thesis is to examine the term of public interest within the framework of the 'shale gas' issue in the Czech Republic. The theoretical section is divided into two basic parts. The first part defines the term public interest from the point of view of political science, sociology and economy. The second one describes the issue of shale gas extraction in global context. The examination is focused on the context of administrative procedures defining the prospecting exploration area of unconventional hydrocarbon resources in the Trutnov region and around the Berounka River The intention of private companies to extract shale gas in the Czech Republic caused a big discussion. In its core there is the dispute between the economic development of the country connected with energy security on one hand and the environment protection on the other. Within this debate the term public interest appears in many different contexts. The way it is used by the people involved and their interests are described through interviews with them and analysis of the gained material.

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Le processus décisionnel est un évènement particulier qui confronte les soignants à leurs doutes et à leurs incertitudes. Chaque décision comporte inéluctablement une part de doute et d’incertitude, sinon elle ne mérite pas d’être appelée « décision », car elle ne serait que le résultat de l’application d’un savoir acquis à l’avance, à une situation connue. C’est cette part d’incertitude qui est le lieu de la réflexion et qui offre à chacun la possibilité de se questionner, c’est-à-dire de se mettre dans la situation où il faut vaincre l’indécidable pour pouvoir décider. Au cours de ce travail, j’aborde le rôle du médecin en tant qu’arbitre entre le certain et l’incertain en situation de fin de vie chez le nouveau-né. Afin de cerner cette problématique, je rapporte six observations cliniques, toutes tirées de ma propre expérience et qui illustrent mieux qu’un long discours les notions du certain et de l’incertain, et permettent de donner à chacune de ces notions son véritable sens pratique de manière concrète.Vouloir aborder la notion de l’incertain au cours du processus décisionnel en situation de fin de vie, consiste à accepter d’aller à l’encontre de la culture médicale dominante, qui valorise la certitude, car l’incertitude véhicule une image négative dans l’imaginaire des soignants. Pourtant, le doute peut avoir un effet salvateur sur le processus décisionnel, car il incite les soignants à se concerter avant de décider. Ainsi, celui qui doute n’est pas un ignorant, mais quelqu’un de prudent au sens aristotélicien, c’est-à-dire qui soumet son choix à la critique des autres, dans le cadre d’une procédure de délibération collégiale. Ainsi, l’incertitude met en tension les convictions qui relèvent de l’éthique déontologique, et la responsabilité qui relève de l’éthique téléologique. C’est la confrontation entre ces deux éthiques qui permet au soignant de décider en ayant la paix dans l’âme. / The end-of-life (EOL) decision-making process remains a particular event that confronts health care teams with their doubts and uncertainties. Indeed, for such a decision to made, there must be some doubt and uncertainty, otherwise, instead of being a conscious “decision”, it becomes a simple application of prior knowledge. EOL decisions are not simply a case of the decision-maker overcoming his or her indecisiveness. In this work, I examine the role of the doctor as an arbitrator in the conflict between the certain and the uncertain in EOL situations in the neonatal period. I have based my work on the analysis of the trajectories of six clinical observations drawn from my own experience, which illustrate, better than a long speech, the notion of the certain and the uncertain, and give these abstract concepts a concrete and practical meaning.To explore the notion of the uncertain during the decision-making process in EOL situations, is to accept to go against the dominant medical culture that values certainty, because uncertainty is negatively perceived amongst caregivers. However, doubt can have a beneficial effect on the decision-making process itself, and on the consequences of the decision taken, since it encourages discussion between caregivers and allows time for decision-making. Thus, he or she who doubts is not ignorant, but cautious in the Aristotelian sense, when trying to deliberate a choice by subjecting it to the criticism of others as part of a procedure of collegial reflection.In this work, I also show that doubt and uncertainty compel the decision-maker to confront his or her personal convictions, which constitutes ethical ethics, with his or her responsibility, which is teleological ethics. It is only in the tension between these two ethics that the caregiver can decide with peace of mind.

Mellanchefens roll inom organisationer är komplex. Som mellanchef förväntas du vara den som ska kontrollera den operativa verksamheten, samtidigt som du blir kontrollerad av toppcheferna. Inom managementlitteraturen används begreppet empowerment för att beskriva en individs inflytande inom en organisation. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka mellanchefens empowerment i relation till toppchefen. För att besvara frågeställningen har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ ansats. Intervjuer har genomförts med fyra mellanchefer samt fem toppchefer inom en organisation för att utröna mellanchefens empowerment. Studien visar att mellancheferna innehar ett illusoriskt empowerment då de har en låg grad av strukturellt empowerment trots en hög grad av psykologiskt empowerment. / The middle manager's role within organizations is complex. As a middle manager, you are expected to be the one to control the operational activities, at the same time as you are controlled by the top managers. In the management literature, the term empowerment is used to describe an individual's influence within an organization. This study aims to examine the middle manager's empowerment in relation to the top manager. To answer the question, we have used a qualitative approach. Interviews were conducted with four middle managers and five top managers within an organization to ascertain the middle manager's empowerment. The study showed that middle managers have an illusory empowerment as they have a low degree of structural empowerment despite a high degree of psychological empowerment.

In recent years there has been a remarkable distribution of the omnichannel environment, which has emerged as a significant factor in the fashion industry. Today's society is characterized by customers who possess extensive knowledge and easy access to information online, with the added convenience of constantly available e-commerce. As consumer awareness has escalated, it has become imperative for businesses to understand how customers' needs, pain points, and desires impact their customer journey in an omnichannel environment. Consequently, the aim of this research is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how Generation Z customers' needs, pain points, and desires influence their behavior throughout the customer journey within the fashion industry's omnichannel landscape. This study aims to contribute new and crucial insights to the existing body of knowledge, given the lack of recent research on this topic from the consumer perspective. To achieve these research objectives, empirical data was collected through a qualitative multi-method study comprising five focus groups and five semi-structured interviews, with a total of 25 participants. The participants consisted of individuals of Swedish origin who were born in, and belong to, Generation Z. The collected data was afterwards analyzed and discussed, which meant comparing and contrasting the results with previous research on the topic. The conclusion of this thesis reveals remarkable observations about Generation Z in Sweden, where this study has identified the most common combinations of different channels in omnichannel atmospheres. Overall, this study highlights a clear preference among female participants to use the services provided by e-commerce, while male participants show a propensity for physical, traditional commerce. In addition, this report sheds new light on the information search and evaluation process, which constitutes the initial stage of the consumer's decision-making process. Finally, needs, pain points and desires based on each step in the customer journey are identified, as well as how the problems can be resolved with initiatives from the companies.

Fast fashion brands provide consumers with constantly available opportunities to update,not only their wardrobes, but themselves. As our identities have become a constant projectto work on, consumption of fast fashion involves the possibilities of trial and error ofpersonal development. Consumers are predisposed to shape or change their personalities byusing brands as additional traits. This is conceptualized as Brand Engagement in SelfConcept (BESC) to explain how consumers build and express identities. Even if FastFashion is recognized to make trends available for a democratized audience who continuallyevolve temporary identities, it is a limited researched area where Brand Engagement in SelfConcept (BESC) is addressed. As this tendency to involve brands in consumers' self-concept(BESC) is defined as an individual trait to be measured, there is still no qualitative researchto our knowledge that provides deeper insights of how this subjective objective is displayedor affecting the pre-purchase stage within the context of fast fashion.The purpose of this degree project is to develop a deeper understanding of consumers'tendency to incorporate brands as a part of their self-concept and how brand engagement inself-concept (BESC) influences the pre-purchase stage in the decision-making process inthe context of fast fashion. In order to fulfil this purpose, a qualitative study wasimplemented by applying semi-structured interviews with six individuals with the propertyof being consumers of generation Z. Pursuant to previous research that states how thesegeneral tendencies of BESC varies amongst individuals, we were able to identify diversegeneral tendencies in the empirical findings of involving brands in self-concept.These various indications of involvements were represented by the identified themesreflecting how the consumers are applying the silent, but expressive languages of clothing,regarding their representation of themselves through what they wear, awareness of trendsand the extent of purchasing.With regard to these identified indications of involving brands in self-concept to differentextent, our empirical findings resulted in themes, addressing how the pre-purchase stagewas influenced in the context of fast fashion. Our results show how the pre-purchase stageis initiated by recognizing a need or opportunity congruent with the self-concept.Additionally, as information is searched, this stage is influenced by the involvement ofbrands in the self-concept by the identified themes: inspiration, coincidence and familiarity.As the evaluation of alternatives is made, the themes of “considerations to social context”and “the fit” are identified as being influenced by BESC. The consumers' self-concept hasbeen found to be defining the extent of influence, in terms of composing the reference tocompare fast fashion brand personalities with. Consequently, we draw the conclusion thatthe negative associations of fast fashion limited the involvement of fast fashion brands inthe self-concept as these personalities were considered unappealing by representing cheap,quick compliance, low quality and unethical values. Our results demonstrate how the needfor social consistency and approval motivates young consumers to involve fast fashionbrands in their self-concept. This is contradicting displayed in terms of buying the basicassortments with the absence of fast-moving trends.

In recent years, CSR has taken on great importance in the life of companies, which are much more aware of the existing social, economic and environmental problems. So, when Ecommerce has taken an important place in the life of different industries, these companies (especially in the world of textiles) have had to adapt and understand how to exist and use CSR to stand out and enter the market. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how companies that make online sales of clothing in France can create one or more competitive advantages by using CSR, and analyze the habits and behaviors of French consumers, understand in depth the standards to which French companies face to create a competitive advantage. The empirical results were obtained thanks to a quantitative study, and a questionnaire of ten questions that could meet the objective mentioned above. The results obtained were then collected and analyzed by the authors in order to find similarities or differences with the secondary data collected previously. The conclusion of this thesis shows that CSR can become a real competitive advantage, and give real opportunities to online fashion companies in France provided that their implementation is done in good conditions. Customers being more and more attentive to ecological, societal and ethical issues, companies are almost obliged to implement sustainable and ethical practices in their practices, from production to distribution in order to develop. In summary, the thesis identified consumer resentment towards these CSRs, and the benefits that French online fashion companies can derive from their implementation in the near future.

Title Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Decision-Making Process of Sneaker Purchase among Chinese Post 90s Consumers. Background Sneakers have become an essential part of the younger generation's wardrobe in today's society, reflecting the millennial drive for comfort and leisure. It ultimately portrays a playful and stylish image among post-90s consumers. In the colossal sneaker market, various factors influence consumers' purchasing decisions.  Purpose The study's objective is to analyse the factors affecting the decision making process of Chinese post-90s consumers in purchasing sneakers. It explores factors behind consumers' purchasing behaviors that are special and different from those of consumers in other parts of the world in the vast market of China. The study focuses on strengthening the knowledge on the topic. Additionally, the study will provide information on what drives China's post-90s consumers' buying decisions on sneakers. Marketers will be able to analyse the factors and come up with services or sneaker products that satisfy consumers. The paper will summarize the factors that influence consumers' purchasing decisions of sneakers by combining literature surveys and interviews.  Method Semi-structured interviews with 12 respondents were conducted. Through the analysis and coding of the interview, the key influencing factors in consumer decision-making are identified. The literature review analysed the five steps of consumer decision-making progress. Conclusion: Consumers make purchase decisions primarily based on their liking for products. Marketers should reasonably position the product range that consumers like and recommend them. Friends' recommendations and discussions influence consumers' purchasing behavior. Establishing good product experience and after-sales service in the marketing process affects brand reputation.

Previous research indicates that recommendations generally have a positive impact on consumer consumption, however, studies have primarily focused on industries such as film, dining and wine. This study examines the effects of various types of recommendations on consumer behavior within the food industry, where purchases tend to be routine and characterized by automated decision-making processes. The findings suggest that recommendations within the food sector have a positive impact on sales, regarding all selected products and different types of recommendations. The study confirms that expert recommendations, in this case from a chef, as well as sustainability-focused recommendations, influence consumer behavior. Consumers are more inclined to purchase a product with a recommendation compared to one without such an endorsement. This can be explained by consumers' trust in expert opinions and their appreciation of environmentally friendly attributes in consumption choices. This study also investigates the effects of green marketing, based on sustainability, on consumer behavior. The study confirms several hypotheses regarding the influence of recommendations on consumers, the effectiveness of different recommendations, and that recommendations for sustainable choices have a greater effect than expert recommendations. In summary, this study indicates that recommendations within the food industry influence consumer behavior, and both expert recommendations and sustainable recommendations are effective in increasing sales. This may have practical implications for the food industry and how they can market their products. To further increase the understanding of how recommendations affect consumers' decision-making processes and behavior, future research could be conducted on different recommendations. Their respective impacts, as well as factors that alter consumers' purchasing behavior, can be explored. / Tidigare forskning visar att rekommendationer generellt påverkar konsumenters konsumtion positivt, dessa studier har främst fokuserat på branscher och industrier såsom film, restaurang och vin. Denna studie undersöker effekterna av olika typer av rekommendationer på konsumentbeteende inom livsmedelsbranschen, där inköp tenderar att vara rutinartade och präglas av automatiserade beslutsprocesser. Resultaten indikerar att rekommendationer inom livsmedelssektorn har en positiv inverkan på försäljningen, gällande samtliga utvalda produkter och olika typer av rekommendationer. Studien bekräftar att expertrekommendationer, i detta fall från en kock, samt rekommendationer med fokus på hållbarhet, påverkar konsumentbeteendet. Konsumenter är mer benägna att köpa en produkt med en rekommendation jämfört med en som inte har en sådan. Detta kan förklaras av konsumenternas förtroende för expertutlåtanden och deras uppskattning av miljövänliga attribut i konsumtionsval. Denna studie undersöker även effekterna av grön marknadsföring, baserad på hållbarhet, på konsumentbeteendet. Studien bekräftar flera hypoteser angående rekommendationers inverkan på konsumenter, effektiviteten av olika rekommendationer samt att rekommendationer för hållbara val har större effekt än expertrekommendationer. Sammanfattningsvis indikerar denna studie att rekommendationer inom livsmedelsbranschen påverkar konsumentbeteendet och att både expertrekommendationer och hållbara rekommendationer är effektiva för att öka försäljningen. Detta kan ha praktiska implikationer för livsmedelsbranschen och hur de kan marknadsföra sina produkter. För att ytterligare öka förståelsen för hur rekommendationer påverkar konsumenternas beslutsprocesser och beteende, kan framtida forskning utföras på olika rekommendationer. Där deras respektive påverkan samt faktorer som ändrar konsumenternas köpbeteende undersöks.