Many features of the making of major managerial decisions have been covered by research - complexity, politicality, innovations, and so forth. Yet one - to which all others may be subject - remains almost untouched by research. It is the effects of societal culture on the way managers from different nations make, and implement, such decisions. This study compares the effects of a New World Latin dominated culture with those of an Old World Anglo-Saxon dominated culture, namely in Brazil and England respectively. It arises from the proposition that decision making, as well as other managerial practices, must be shaped by the cultures of the societies of which senior executives are part, in ways of which they themselves may be unaware. Methodologically, in response to the criticisms of earlier research which often attributed managerial and organizational differences to culture without direct evidence for that, this study began by composing portrayals of both cultures. The purpose of the portraits was to enable predictions of culturally affected elements in decision making, prior to empirical investigation. Data was collected by interview on twenty Brazilian and twenty English decisions in sixteen Brazilian and seventeen English organizations, ranging through a variety of manufacturing and service industries as well as universities. The examination of the results confirmed most of the predicted cultural characteristics. Differences although small on each variable were remarkably consistent across all variables. Brazilian strategic decision making was found to be dominated by a clique around the chief executive, who make fast decisions in a process strongly based on the social relationships between the participants. This style of decision making leads, in Brazil, to very informal processes, with little or no delays and, relatively speaking, less search for information. English decisions were found to be more consultative with more interests being involved in different stages of the process. Decisions in this country were characterized by caution and conservatism with some tendency to postpone decisions. Methodologically, the value of the prior conceptualization and description of societal culture is demonstrated since this gives meaning to the extensive differences found in all aspects of decision making. Theoretically, an attempt is made to elucidate the interconnectedness of societal culture and managerial behaviour.

In recent years, virtual communities have become increasingly popular among online users and businesses. Public press has shown a strong interest in virtual communities and announced their informational value. The explosive growth of virtual communities has aroused tremendous interest among academic researchers as well. Academic researchers have noticed that participation dynamics of virtual communities among online users create valuable information that influences subsequent economic outcome. However, relatively little research has explored the underlying motives of passive and active participation in virtual communities. In particular, research explicating how the information created by user participation influences users’ economic decisions has not been investigated. To investigate user participation dynamics and the resulting informational value of virtual communities, I explore three major issues in my dissertation. First, I investigate the determinants of passive and active users of virtual communities using survey data from 502 online investors. The results indicate that social, psychological, and community factors influence two different behavioral intentions – the intention to share and the intention to seek. For instance, social factors such as reputation seeking increase the intention to share in virtual communities, whereas psychological factors such as perceived knowledge deteriorate the intention to seek. Second, I explore how an online investor processes information posted on virtual communities and its subsequent economic outcomes by conducting a field experiment. I find that psychological bias (e.g., confirmation bias) influences investors’ information processing behaviors, which ultimately leads to a low return of investment as compared to economic rationales. Following this line of exploration, I empirically examine the relative informational impact of virtual communities on users’ decisions and market performance in the context of electronic markets. Using customer review data from a well-known online retailer and from three third-party customer review websites, I find that consumers obtain product information from external information sources during the information search stage for high involvement products and are thus less influenced by retailer-hosted information. All in all, my dissertation contributes to the understanding of user participation dynamics and informational value of virtual communities by investigating users’ information processing behavior and the subsequent economic outcomes and performance. / text

This dissertation examines the forces that drive organizational structure and boundary decisions. Using theoretical concepts drawn from transaction cost theory and agency theory, this dissertation develops a model that draws attention to behavioral and outcome distinctions in information flow. Specifically it examines how characteristics of these different types of management information alter the organizational design outcomes predicted by the two theory bases above. The foundational arguments regarding firm boundaries and structure are based on the two contracting modes of agency theory, behavioral and outcome. The construct of information localization (IL), defined as theneed to use information within its immediate context (or conversely, the difficulty of transferring and utilizing information outside of its immediate context), is introduced and used to predict organizational design decisions. This construct represents a synthesis of prior conceptions of information characteristics and is used both to capture salient characteristics of management information and to facilitate an examination of the impacts of different information technology (IT) applications. The relationship between information localization and firm boundaries and structure is tested at the task level. The relationship of information technology with boundary and structure decisions is explained using the model and tested concurrently with the test of the information localization hypotheses. A comprehensive model is proposed and propositions to guide future research are developed. The distinction between outcome and behavioral information localization allows a more nuanced assessment of the impacts of information and information technology on the organization of work. The empirical results suggest that the impact of IT on outcome information localization is negligible for tasks with low outcome IL but increases the likelihood of outsourcing for tasks with high outcome IL. Contrary to prior findings utilizing different conceptualizations of information flow, the impact of technology on behavioral IL on autonomy showed that applications of IT may increase autonomy (decentralization of decision-making) rather than decrease it. / text

Making decisions about whom to admit to medical school and how to create diversity in the process has come under increased scrutiny. An additional layer of complexity is introduced when committees utilize the AAMC's prescribed holistic review in addition to their institutional diversity policies. This comparative case study explores how two medical schools (one public and one private) are charged with implementing holistic review when challenged by the institutional culture which may resist a holistic approach. Through interviews, meeting observations, and document analysis, the study examines how and when diversity is introduced into the admissions process, and how diversity policies function in the overall medical school environment. Applying a framework of institutional isomorphism (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983), the study found that medical schools are highly concerned about a decrease in MCAT scores and coursework grades, which could negatively impact medical school rankings. It could also contribute to institutional inertia when introducing a new review process, causing resistance by admissions committee members. Additionally, admissions committees and leadership may differ regarding philosophical and historical factors that create bias within the process resulting in isomorphic change. Isomorphic change is a result of the ambiguity and the lack of institutional buy-in on various levels (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983). Virtual adoption (Birnbaum, 2000) is a result of an increased focus emulating processes of peer medical schools that misalign the school's priorities, creating confusion about how to address the national shortage of diverse physicians. Future research needs to account for additional influences on admissions decisions, including the impact of the current Fisher v. University of Texas case that may redefine how diversity is measured in medical school admissions.

The purpose of this research is to quantify how macro-scale factors such as weather, crop prices, and land conversion affect agricultural water use at the irrigation district level in central Arizona and to understand what constraints and considerations district managers face when making water-sourcing decisions. A conceptual model is developed and econometrically estimated finding that much of the annual variation in total water use for agriculture can be explained by differences in precipitation, cotton prices, and alfalfa prices. Further, results from empirical analysis support the notion that total water use for agriculture has been greatly affected by land conversion from agriculture to other uses. Irrigation district manager interviews indicate that the water sourcing process is very similar across districts in central Arizona and has varied little since 1995, due to common constraints. This research lays an important foundation for future models designed to forecast agricultural water use in central Arizona.

Magistro darbe teoriniu požiūriu nagrinėjama sprendimų priėmimo samprata, sprendimų vieta valdyme, sprendimų priėmimo proceso turinys, darbuotojų dalyvavimo sprendimų priėmime samprata, darbuotojų dalyvavimo sprendimų priėmime lygiai, darbuotojų įgalinimo strategijos. Naudojant veiklos tyrimo, kaip praktinio pobūdžio, ugdomąją, konstruojančią metodologiją, tyrėjas atlieka praktinį eksperimentą įmonėje. Tyrimo metu tiria, kokia yra darbuotojų dalyvavimo sprendimų priėmime struktūra ir dinamika bei kokie yra darbuotojų dalyvavimo sprendimų priėmime rezultatai. Magistro darbo autorius, pats būdamas įmonės darbuotoju, tampa tyrėju-praktiku, dalyvaujančiu įmonės realiuose sprendimų priėmimuose ir skatinančiu, kitus įmonės darbuotojus aktyviai dalyvauti tyrime. Tyrimo metu konstruojamas darbuotojų dalyvavimo sprendimų priėmime modelis. / This master‘s final paper formulates problems in theoretical background of: conception of decisions making, position of decisions making in management, process of decisions making, stuff’s participation in decisions making, levels of stuff’s participation in decisions making, stuff’s empowerment strategies. Action research as a qualitative research method was used by the author for practical, educational, constructible experiment, which accomplished in private company. By experiment was researched structure and course of stuff’s participation in decisions making and followed up participation’s results. In that case, author becomes practical researcher, involved in real decisions making and stimulated the active participation of other participants. Hereupon, researcher builds up the model of stuff’s participation in decisions making.

Problems: How would a decision model that takes into account more aspects and dimensions than just the financial aspect look for smaller service compa-nies? What aspects are important to consider in such a decision model? Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is to develop a decision model based on previous research, to improve decision making in smaller service com-panies – by considering perspectives that traditional investment calcula-tions ignore. Method: The study was qualitative and was based on both primary and secondary data. As data collection method for the development of the model we used literature search on previous research. The study’s primary data consisted of responses from five smaller service companies. The model was evaluated empirically by five smaller service companies to explore the model’s practical relevance and applicability. Conclusions: The study confirmed the need for a comprehensive investment decision model, since it has been clearly shown that aspects other than the tradi-tional calculation methods could have big impact on an investment deci-sion. The key factors for small service companies has shown to be cus-tomer relationships, previous experience, competitors and corporate strategy. The developed model was based on these factors and was con-sidered as useful and interesting by the responded companies. / Problemformuleringar: Hur kan en beslutsmodell som tar hänsyn till fler aspekter och dimens-ioner än enbart det finansiella se ut för mindre tjänsteföretag? Vilka aspekter är viktiga beakta i en sådan beslutsmodell? Syfte: Syftet med denna magisteruppsats är att med utgångspunkt i tidigare forskning utveckla en modell för att förbättra beslutsfattandet i mindre tjänsteföretag, genom att beakta perspektiv som traditionella investe-ringskalkyler förbiser. Metod: Studien var av kvalitativ karaktär och baserades på såväl primärdata som sekundärdata. Som datainsamlingsmetod för framtagandet av investe-ringsmodellen användes till störst del litteratursökning om tidigare forskning. Studiens primärdata utgjordes av responsen från fem mindre tjänsteföretag, som utvärderade den framtagna modellens praktiska rele-vans och applicerbarhet. Slutsats: Studien bekräftade att ett behov av en heltäckande modell för investe-ringsbeslut finns eftersom det tydligt har visat sig att andra aspekter än de traditionella kalkylmetoderna kan ha minst lika stor inverkan på ett investeringsbeslut. De viktigaste faktorerna för mindre tjänsteföretag har utöver det finansiella visat sig vara företagets anställda, kundrelationer, tidigare erfarenheter, konkurrenter och företagets strategi. Den framtagna modellen som bygger på dessa faktorer ansågs av de responderade före-tagen som användbar och intressant.

Magistro darbe, remiantis Lietuvos ir užsienio autorių darbais, išanalizuota vartotojų elgsenos objektas kitų mokslų atžvilgiu, išsiaiškinti vartotojų elgsenai įtaką darantys išoriniai ir vidiniai veiksniai, bei vartotojų sprendimo priėmimo etapai. Išanalizuota automobilių rinka ir automobilių rinkos vartotojų pasirinkimą lemiantys veiksniai. Esantys vartotojų elgsenos tipų modeliai, tinka ne visose vartotojų elgsenos tyrimo situacijose. Tyrime figūruoja ne būtinosios reikmės prekė, o greičiau prabangos elementas, t.y. automobilis. Vartotojų elgsena šiuo klausimu, neatitinka tradicinio apklausos metodo modelio, todėl buvo pasirinkta kiek kitokia anketos modeliavimo sistema, leidusi, atpažinti vartotoją, pagal jo pasirinktus poreikius, kuriuos jis įvardijo kaip būtiniausius. Atlikus išsamią tyrimo duomenų analizę, darbo pabaigoje pateiktos apibendrintos išvados ir rekomendacijos, kurios gali būti naudingos ne tik naujų automobilių centrų vadovams, bet ir kitiems asmenims, susijusiems su automobilių rinka bei siekiantiems geriau pažinti automobilių rinkos vartotojų elgseną. / According to the Lithuanian and foreign authors‘ works, the master‘s paper analyzes the object of the line of purchasers, clears the external and internal factors‘ influence on consumers and the stages of purchasers‘ decisions. Also, this research analyses the market of cars and the factors that have the influence on the interests of purchasers. The existing types of the line of consumers are suitable not for all research situations. The paper includes cars not only as the necessaries but as luxury elements. The position of purchasers doesn‘t suit the traditional research model. Therefore, it was chosen another system of questionnaire that lets to know the consumers better according to their demands. According to the comprehensive reasearch analysis the paper gives summarized conclusions and recommendations which could be useful not for only the directors of new cars‘ centres but for other persons that are related with the car markets and want to know the attitude of purchasers better.

Bakalauro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjami ekonominiai sprendimai Lietuvoje prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais. Pateikiama fundamentalių ekonominių sprendimų ir jų poveikio aspektų šalies ūkio cikliškumo kontekste teorinė traktuotė: pagrindiniai šalies ūkio situacijos ir jo raidos indikatoriai, ekonominių ciklų teorijos, ekonominės krizės samprata, priežastys ir padariniai, makroekonominiai sprendimai prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais: konceptualus požiūris. Darbe taip pat nustatomi ekonominiai sprendimai ir analizuojamas jų poveikis prieškriziniu (2004-2007 m.) ir kriziniu (2008-2009 m.) laikotarpiais Lietuvoje: pateikiami tyrimo organizavimo metodologiniai pagrindai, analizuojama Lietuvos ekonominė raida 2004-2009 m., rodikliai (BVP, infliacijos lygis, nedarbo lygis, vartojimo lygis, valstybės biudžeto deficitas, nekilnojamojo turto kainos, išduotos paskolos ir kt.), leidžiantys identifikuoti prieškrizinę situaciją ir ekonominės krizės požymius Lietuvoje, pagrindiniai ekonominiai sprendimai prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais Lietuvoje. Įvertinamos prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais priimtų ekonominių sprendimų Lietuvoje pasekmės. Pateikiama Lafero kreivė – PVM ir pelno mokesčio pajamų priklausomybė nuo mokesčio tarifo. / The thesis examines the economic decisions in Lithuania which were taken before and during the economic crisis. It presents the theoretical treatment of fundamental economic decisions and their impact on the economy of the country, i.e. the key indicators of the economic situation in Lithuania and their development, the concept of economic crisis, its causes and consequences, as well as and the macroeconomic decisions taken before and during the economic crisis from the conceptual point of view. The thesis also determines the economic decisions and analyzes their impact before the economic crisis (from 2004 to 2007) and during it (from 2008 to 2009) in Lithuania. It presents the methodological fundamentals of the research organization, the analysis of the development of economics in Lithuania from 2004 to 2009, fundamental economic decisions before crisis and during it in Lithuania, and the indicators (GDP, inflation, the level of unemployment and consumption, the state budget deficit, real estate prices, loans, etc..) which help to identify the economic situation before crisis and the characteristics of the economic crisis in Lithuania. Moreover, the consequences of the economic decisions of these periods are evaluated as well as the Laffer Curve explaining how the VAT and income tax revenue are dependent on the tax rate is presented.

Strategic decisions evaluation model is based on complex strategic decisions evaluation and scenarios methods’ synthesis. Using methods synthesis the evaluation becomes exhaustive, complex and is executed regarding environment changeability of business subject. The results of the study, conclusions and suggestions are useful for solving strategic problems of enterprises, for choosing the most suitable strategic decisions in enterprises paying attention to results of complex evaluation and environment conditions of business subject.