Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the comprehensive process of developing a computer model of a building project in the phases of designing, analyzing, building, managing, refurbishing and even demolishing the building. Applying BIM to public construction has become an obligation in South Korea. According to the Public Procurement Service in South Korea, the use of BIM has been compulsory on all government projects over $44M since 2012. Moreover, from 2013, the application of BIM will be expanded to all public construction projects over $27.6M. Finally, beginning in 2016, all public construction projects will be required to use BIM. Most research on BIM in South Korea has been focused on developing regulations and policies, application of BIM, solving technical problems, and searching for the value of BIM. However, the use of BIM in Korea during construction for decision-making has not been thoroughly reported in Korea yet. One may be wondering then if BIM is indeed well utilized in Korea during construction for practical decision-making. The objective of this research centers on investigating how a construction company in South Korea is using BIM for its decision making process during ongoing construction phases. For this investigation, a case study method was used. The construction operations on a jobsite in South Korea were monitored June to August in 2012. Field notes were taken to document the decision-making process and information used during field coordination meetings. A total of 36 cases were monitored and recorded. The use of BIM on field was then compared to the industry expectations indicated in the literature. Specifically, the use of BIM for scheduling, estimating, coordination, review of drawings, and tracking for change orders were carefully monitored and compared with the industry expectations as they were addressed in the literature. The results of this research study were mixed. That is, there are not only similarities, but also differences between BIM’s role used for decision making at the construction site, and its expected role described in previous research. The similarities were regarded as minimizing reworking. This factor came to fruition at a construction site by minimizing error, omission in design phases, or congruence in design and construction tasks. These factors could have a positive effect on estimating and scheduling at a construction site. However, use of BIM at a construction site was still limited in reducing repetitive work when 2D drawings were not able to provide enough information to conduct construction. Additionally, even though this study was successful in revealing the connection between the decision making process and the application of BIM at a construction site, the results of the study may not be generalizable to the construction industry as a whole in South Korea. Therefore, further research is needed to ensure its applicability to other construction projects.

Title: Consumers’ perception of Traditional vs. Non-traditional Advertising in Bulgaria.A case of Kaufland BulgariaLevel: Master Thesis in International MarketingAuthors: Simeon Kovachki and Ventsislav MarinovTutor: Sarah WiknerDate: 21st of May, 2018Keywords: Advertising, Marketing, Traditional Advertising, Non-Traditional Advertising, Communication Process, Decision-Making Process, PerceptionsBackground: There are different ways to promote a brand, products or services. The researchers attempted to understand the traditional and non-traditional messages of different types of advertisements. The focus of this research is on print advertising, billboards, TV commercials and online advertisement.The purpose of this study is to better understand the perceptions that the Bulgarian customers have towards the advertising messages that are sent on traditional and non-traditional channels by one of the hypermarkets in Bulgaria.Method: In order to answer the research questions and fulfill the purpose the researchers conducted qualitative and quantitative research. The primary data was collected by carrying out a semi-structured interview with one of the Kauflands’ managers in Bulgaria and an online survey that was distributed through one of the social media channels. The secondary data was collected by using online sources such as websites that are considered trustworthy and also companies annual reports which have been reviewed in order to better understand the position of Kaufland on the Bulgarian market.Conclusion: The authors found that both traditional and non-traditional advertising plays a major role. However, traditional advertising is still a big convincer towards a purchase. The merge between traditional and non-traditional advertising elevates classic advertising into the “new classic advertising”. The perception towards both ways of advertising is relatively positive, where brochures are the most preferred way when talking about hypermarkets.

Background Country of origin (COO) has developed over the years and so has the definition, from the manufacturing COO and has now developed more into the COO of the brand. This development has led to a gap in research surrounding COO effects in combination with the decision-making process. Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand and explore which product information cues COO effects, along with how these cues influence the consumer's cognitive decision-making process. Leading to recommendations for companies, of how they can then use these effects in their favour. Method An interpretivism philosophy was used as part of this study, along with an inductive approach. Exploratory research was conducted to analyse the qualitative data during the experimental setting within three focus groups to gather in-depth views and opinions of participants. The research was gathered using convenience sampling, with limitations including the pre-bias participants had surrounding a COO. Findings The three most important information cues were quality, price and brand when it comes to what information consumers need to make a purchase. There is a difference in willingness to pay, perceived brand image and value surrounding COO from the COO experiment conducted between Germany and Poland. Research participants would pay on average 104 Euros more for the same product if it was a German brand over a Polish one. COO effects consumers in both a direct and indirect way, the subliminal use of COO, suggesting that the decision-making process is not completely cognitive. Similarly, consumers do not initially perceive COO as an important factor until it is brought up. However it can be said to be at the back of their minds at all times. It was also suggested that consumers have a ranking of countries within their minds and use it to aid their decision-making process. Consumers want to use the rational (intrinsic) cues (quality, design), however the extrinsic cues (brand, price) were identified as being more important. Conclusion In conclusion it can be said that COO is an important influencing factor on the consumers' decision-making process. COO is a factor effecting and influencing the different information cues which consumers identify as being important to their purchase. COO is seen as an influencing factor continuously effecting information cues, but more specifically price, brand and quality. Brands with 'higher' perceived COO's can thrive under their competitive advantage, whilst brands with a 'lower' perceived COO do not do as well.

The findings of this study show that packaging and labeling are not decisive for women’s final purchase-decision. Instead, they rely on recommendations from friends and family. The study further shows that sponsoring local beer events hosted by opinion leaders will have the most impact on women’s attitude to beer

A terceirização logística é uma prática empresarial adotada por um número cada vez maior de organizações dos mais diversos setores. A opção pela terceirização logística costuma ser respaldada pela literatura. Porém, uma escolha errada pode se tornar uma fonte de insatisfação e falhas corporativas, acarretando na elevação do custo logístico, além de afetar a competitividade e a imagem da empresa. São inúmeros os casos de insucesso nos acordos de terceirização, sendo a maioria atribuída a deficiências no processo decisório. Desta forma, fica evidente a complexidade da decisão de terceirização logística, que envolve um grande número e diversidade de atributos interdependentes entre si, e a falta de compreensão, por parte dos executivos e das organizações, dos fatores que realmente afetam o processo decisório. Neste contexto, esta tese relata um estudo desenvolvido no cenário brasileiro sobre a decisão de terceirização logística sob o enfoque da organização contratante. Optou-se por analisar o processo de terceirização para operadores 3PL porque esta ainda é a tendência do mercado. O foco da pesquisa consiste em identificar os principais fatores que as organizações devem analisar em seu processo decisório de terceirização logística. Assim, as questões de pesquisa são: quais são os fatores envolvidos no processo decisório de terceirização logística e como eles impactam esta decisão? Portanto, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, em um procedimento exploratório, e uma abordagem quantitativa, como um procedimento para confirmação de hipóteses. Inicialmente, foram realizadas entrevistas com executivos da área com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dos fatores selecionados para o modelo pesquisa. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos com empresas líderes de diferentes mercados que terceirizam atividades logísticas. Essa etapa da pesquisa ratificou e acrescentou fatores às hipóteses propostas com base na literatura. Enfim, a pesquisa survey confirmou o conjunto de fatores de decisão de terceirização. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento de pesquisa, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise de Item-Total Corrigido (CITC), Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória de Ordem Superior. Como resultado desse refinamento, emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo quatro fatores, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, características do Ambiente, Características do Processo Logístico a ser terceirizado e características dos Operadores Logísticos disponíveis no mercado, dispostos em quinze itens. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é fornecer aos executivos da área um conjunto dos fatores determinantes para a decisão de terceirização logística, no contexto brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista do contratante, de modo a lhes auxiliar na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades logísticas. / Logistics outsourcing is a business practice adopted by a growing number of organizations from a large variety of sectors. The logistics outsourcing process is heavily supported by the literature. Nonetheless, a wrong decision can be a source of corporate problems that may lead to the increase of logistics costs, affecting the company's competitiveness and image. There is a high incidence of unsuccessful cases in outsourcing agreements, mostly due to failures in the decision making process. This fact highlights the complex nature of the logistics outsourcing decision, which involves a large number and a great variety of interdependent criteria, and the lack of understanding, on the part of executives and organizations, concerning the variables that affect the decision process. In this context, the present research reports on a study developed in the Brazilian scene on logistics outsourcing according to the perspective of the hiring company. It is important to mention that the research analyses the outsourcing process to third-party logistics service providers (3PL) because this is still the market tendency. The focus of the thesis consists in identifying the main factors which the organizations should analyze in the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Hence this research aims to answer the following questions: which are the determinant variables in the decision process of logistics outsourcing and how do they impact on this decision? Thus, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, respectively in an exploratory and a confirmatory approach. Initially, interviews were held with logistics executives with the purpose of examining the applicability of the variables selected for the hypothetical model. A multiple case study was also developed in three leading organizations from different sectors that have their logistics activities outsourced. With the case study methodology, the factors were ratified and some variables were added to the hypotheses. Eventually, a survey research confirmed the set of the determinant variables for the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Different quantitative procedures were used to refine the research instrument, such as Reliability Analysis, Corrected Item-Total Correlation (CITC) Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The structural model confirmed 20 hypotheses. The result was a model with five factors - Strategy, Costs, Environmental characteristics, Characteristics of the Logistics Process and characteristics of the 3PL providers available in the market - and fifteen variables. The main contribution of this research to the business practice is the development of a set of the main variables that logistics managers may analyze in the decision making process of whether to outsource their logistics activities or not.

Submitted by Estagiário SPT BMHS (spt@fgv.br) on 2011-11-18T11:40:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 1418400.pdf: 4816691 bytes, checksum: b9ba7b48d63b9b3c2759556585249b50 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Estagiário SPT BMHS (spt@fgv.br) on 2011-11-18T11:41:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1418400.pdf: 4816691 bytes, checksum: b9ba7b48d63b9b3c2759556585249b50 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Estagiário SPT BMHS (spt@fgv.br) on 2011-11-18T11:41:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1418400.pdf: 4816691 bytes, checksum: b9ba7b48d63b9b3c2759556585249b50 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-11-18T11:41:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1418400.pdf: 4816691 bytes, checksum: b9ba7b48d63b9b3c2759556585249b50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / A pesquisa aqui representada teve por objetivo identificar quais vieses podem influenciar os tomadores de decisões estratégicas de organizações brasileiras localizadas no estado do Rio de Janeiro. O trabalho realizado apoiou-se em questionário adaptado de Bazerman (2004). A partir de estudos sobre o cognitivo, este autor apresenta as heurísticas e respectivos vieses, objetos desta dissertação. Os tipos de pesquisas utilizados foram a bibliográfica e a de campo. Esta pesquisa de campo foi realizada com presidentes e diretores executivos do ambiente corporativo. Em suas funções, são eles os responsáveis por decisões estratégicas de empresas brasileiras localizadas no Brasil. A pesquisa revelou que os vieses apresentados por Bazerman (2004) foram identificados nos executivos entrevistados. / The objective of this investigation was to identify the biases that can influence strategic decision makers in Brazilian organizations located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The investigation was based on a questionnaire adapted from Bazerman (2004). Based on studies on cognition, this author presents the heuristics and respective biases, which are the object of this dissertation. Chairmen and CEOs who are responsible for the strategic decisions of Brazilian corporations in Brazil were the objects of the field research. The investigation revealed that the biases pointed out by Bazerman (2004) were identified in the executives that were interviewed.

Este trabalho consiste de um portfólio de composição documentado com partituras e gravações, e de um memorial que apresenta uma autoanálise do processo de tomada de decisões empreendido na composição da obra Duo para Flauta e Piano. Apoiado na delimitação de autoanálise conceituada por Donin (2015c), e nas definições de Chaves (2010) que explicam a composição musical como um processo de tomada de decisões em três territórios, objetivou-se investigar os traços decisórios contidos no dossiê genético da obra autoanalisada, que incluiu também documentos relativos a outros processos, para identificar decorrências decisórias e aspectos da dinâmica de idas e vindas do processo composicional. O dossiê genético, com seus traços diretos e indiretos, foi autoanalisado a partir de uma metodologia que combina os pressupostos da crítica genética com estudos sobre a atividade cognitiva do compositor durante o processo composicional. Neste sentido, a autoanálise foi realizada a partir da investigação específica do processo de tomada de decisões, em cada um dos seus três territórios: ideológico, estético e pontual. Assim, foi possível constatar aspectos relevantes do estilo decisório individual deste compositor, bem como observar e refletir sobre processos de recomposição e replanejamento, que se referem também a questões gerais envolvendo a composição musical e seus desafios. / This thesis consists of a portfolio of compositions and a self-analysis of the decision-making process in the composition of Duo para Flauta e Piano [Duo for Flute and Piano]. The concept of self-analysis in music composition is taken from Donin (2015c), and the concept of music composition as a decision-making process is based on Chaves (2010). The main goal of the thesis is the investigation of decision-making features as featured by direct and indirect traces. These traces are comprised in the genetic dossier of the Duo. The methodology of the thesis is referential to genetic criticism in its approach to the cognitive activity of the composer during the compositional process. In the course of this thesis, it became possible to verify relevant aspects of individual decision-making processes in the work of this composer, which also refer to broader issues of music composition and its challenges.

This thesis analyses behaviour of consumers within the South Bohemian food market. First part theoretically describes basic concepts concerning this topic. Next part consists of research regarding South Bohemian merchant chains, primarily focussed on the number of them. Following section consists of a questionnaire. The aim of the research is to define consumers' behaviour in the food market. All data gathered and recommendations for change are summarized at the end in discussion and summary.

This is a study of a group of young people that explores their journeys into, and experiences within, the informal economy. Evidence has shown that young people have always been more disadvantaged in a context of high levels of unemployment, limited job opportunities and entitlement to welfare benefits. As an alternative to low paying jobs with poor working conditions, and in addition to strict conditions for claiming benefits, some young people are making the decision to engage in criminal ways of generating income. This study examines the experiences of twenty-six young people from Luton and Cambridge who had engaged in begging, drug dealing and sex work as alternative forms of ‘work’ in their transitions to adulthood. It explores the structural, cultural and biographical factors that influence their informal career decision-making processes, by drawing on Bourdieu’s social field theory. By examining the lived experiences of these young people, the study throws more light on the role of structure and personal agency in the decisions the young people made in engaging in the informal economy. These young people wanted to be seen as ‘normal’ young people. Most were hardworking, and ambitious, and their engagement in informal economic activities was often a ‘means to an end’. This study also identifies strategies that were employed by the young people for their successful navigating of the economy, and highlights the importance of elements like trust, respect and knowledge in their negotiations. It assesses how the issue of risk was managed with the help of what was seen to be an unwritten code of conduct in the field. The study also identified a hierarchy within the field, which was determined by the individual participants, depending on their personal perceptions and perspectives. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews, over a period of a year. The process of collecting data was long and difficult, highlighting the ethical and methodological challenges of conducting research with a ‘hidden’ population. The findings throw new light on the unique challenges young people face both in the formal job market, and in accessing welfare support, in light of the significant changes to social policy in the UK.

A terceirização logística é uma prática empresarial adotada por um número cada vez maior de organizações dos mais diversos setores. A opção pela terceirização logística costuma ser respaldada pela literatura. Porém, uma escolha errada pode se tornar uma fonte de insatisfação e falhas corporativas, acarretando na elevação do custo logístico, além de afetar a competitividade e a imagem da empresa. São inúmeros os casos de insucesso nos acordos de terceirização, sendo a maioria atribuída a deficiências no processo decisório. Desta forma, fica evidente a complexidade da decisão de terceirização logística, que envolve um grande número e diversidade de atributos interdependentes entre si, e a falta de compreensão, por parte dos executivos e das organizações, dos fatores que realmente afetam o processo decisório. Neste contexto, esta tese relata um estudo desenvolvido no cenário brasileiro sobre a decisão de terceirização logística sob o enfoque da organização contratante. Optou-se por analisar o processo de terceirização para operadores 3PL porque esta ainda é a tendência do mercado. O foco da pesquisa consiste em identificar os principais fatores que as organizações devem analisar em seu processo decisório de terceirização logística. Assim, as questões de pesquisa são: quais são os fatores envolvidos no processo decisório de terceirização logística e como eles impactam esta decisão? Portanto, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, em um procedimento exploratório, e uma abordagem quantitativa, como um procedimento para confirmação de hipóteses. Inicialmente, foram realizadas entrevistas com executivos da área com o objetivo de verificar a aplicabilidade dos fatores selecionados para o modelo pesquisa. Em seguida, foi realizado um estudo de casos múltiplos com empresas líderes de diferentes mercados que terceirizam atividades logísticas. Essa etapa da pesquisa ratificou e acrescentou fatores às hipóteses propostas com base na literatura. Enfim, a pesquisa survey confirmou o conjunto de fatores de decisão de terceirização. Diferentes técnicas estatísticas foram empregadas para refinar o instrumento de pesquisa, como Análise de Confiabilidade, Análise de Item-Total Corrigido (CITC), Análise Fatorial Exploratória e Análise Fatorial Confirmatória de Ordem Superior. Como resultado desse refinamento, emergiu um modelo teórico de pesquisa final contendo quatro fatores, sendo as dimensões de Estratégia, Custos, características do Ambiente, Características do Processo Logístico a ser terceirizado e características dos Operadores Logísticos disponíveis no mercado, dispostos em quinze itens. A principal contribuição da pesquisa para a prática gerencial é fornecer aos executivos da área um conjunto dos fatores determinantes para a decisão de terceirização logística, no contexto brasileiro, sob o ponto de vista do contratante, de modo a lhes auxiliar na decisão de terceirizar ou não suas atividades logísticas. / Logistics outsourcing is a business practice adopted by a growing number of organizations from a large variety of sectors. The logistics outsourcing process is heavily supported by the literature. Nonetheless, a wrong decision can be a source of corporate problems that may lead to the increase of logistics costs, affecting the company's competitiveness and image. There is a high incidence of unsuccessful cases in outsourcing agreements, mostly due to failures in the decision making process. This fact highlights the complex nature of the logistics outsourcing decision, which involves a large number and a great variety of interdependent criteria, and the lack of understanding, on the part of executives and organizations, concerning the variables that affect the decision process. In this context, the present research reports on a study developed in the Brazilian scene on logistics outsourcing according to the perspective of the hiring company. It is important to mention that the research analyses the outsourcing process to third-party logistics service providers (3PL) because this is still the market tendency. The focus of the thesis consists in identifying the main factors which the organizations should analyze in the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Hence this research aims to answer the following questions: which are the determinant variables in the decision process of logistics outsourcing and how do they impact on this decision? Thus, both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used, respectively in an exploratory and a confirmatory approach. Initially, interviews were held with logistics executives with the purpose of examining the applicability of the variables selected for the hypothetical model. A multiple case study was also developed in three leading organizations from different sectors that have their logistics activities outsourced. With the case study methodology, the factors were ratified and some variables were added to the hypotheses. Eventually, a survey research confirmed the set of the determinant variables for the decision making process of logistics outsourcing. Different quantitative procedures were used to refine the research instrument, such as Reliability Analysis, Corrected Item-Total Correlation (CITC) Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The structural model confirmed 20 hypotheses. The result was a model with five factors - Strategy, Costs, Environmental characteristics, Characteristics of the Logistics Process and characteristics of the 3PL providers available in the market - and fifteen variables. The main contribution of this research to the business practice is the development of a set of the main variables that logistics managers may analyze in the decision making process of whether to outsource their logistics activities or not.