Thesis (Ph. D.)--New School for Social Research, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 272-282).

Thesis (doctoral)--Halle, 1701. / Reproduction of original from Harvard Law Library. Goldsmiths'-Kress no. 07734.1.

The initial idea for this research is based on the gap that I found in my company performance and specifically in the process of value offering and the relationship with customers. The company has recently faced the challenges of a loss of market share and competitive advantage. The aim of this study is to provide a validated value offering constructs for the company. That is, knowing the customers’ needs, value and preferences better; identifying what kind of value the customers are looking for and improving the value offerings of the company in order to raise customers´ satisfaction. Understanding the priority of value offering elements from customers’ perspective, the nature of customer satisfaction and the relationship between the elements of value offering and customers´ satisfaction are the main objectives. The relevant literature and research related to value offering including its elements, value, perceived value and customer satisfaction are reviewed comprehensively. The methodology used is a case study. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used for collecting and analysing the data. In qualitative phase, 16 customers were selected for in-depth interviews and for quantitative phase 268 customers who all are dentists responded a survey made up of 24 scales. The result showed that the highest significant element is Price value and also it was revealed in which important parts related to value offering and customer satisfaction the company is performing poorly.

The study identified various value configurations, namely the value chain, value shop and value networks, that could be applicable in understanding the value adding activities within a law firm. The aim of the study was to determine whether information systems could be utilised throughout the identified activities comprising the various value configurations. In the event that information systems were used throughout these activities it was sought to determine to what extent information systems were being used in the law firm and whether, from the user’s perspective, the systems facilitated better efficiency in the workplace, increased productivity and had a positive effect on the profitability of the law firm.

The study identified various value configurations, namely the value chain, value shop and value networks, that could be applicable in understanding the value adding activities within a law firm. The aim of the study was to determine whether information systems could be utilised throughout the identified activities comprising the various value configurations. In the event that information systems were used throughout these activities it was sought to determine to what extent information systems were being used in the law firm and whether, from the user’s perspective, the systems facilitated better efficiency in the workplace, increased productivity and had a positive effect on the profitability of the law firm.

The concept of a value chain has assumed a dominant position in the strategic analysis of industries. However, the concept of linear value chain has recently become unsuitable as a tool to analyze some industries and to uncover many sources of value. The value grid approach allows firms to identify opportunities and threats in a more explicit way than with the traditional value chain model. Until now, there are still not many researchers working on the concept of value grid. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to exemplify the value grid model in airline industry with a case study of Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and to illustrate its application, the provision of airline industry and content is explored to identify potential strategic implications for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

This thesis examines the concepts of value creation, capture and exchange in limiting the liability of newness for nonprofit museums entering the sector. There has been considerable examination of cultural value in relation to museums. However, little is known about how value is created, captured and exchanged for stakeholders in new museums. It is posited that value creation, capture and exchange constitute a value cycle. Through this value cycle management in new museums detects and limits the liability of newness. The ability to detect and limit the liability of newness enables the continuation of the museum. If the liability of newness is not limited, it may mean that a new museum exits the sector or is transformed. The concept of a value cycle is derived from an examination of the nonprofit management literature, aspects of the for-profit management literature and the arts and museum management literature. Value creation is a key concept in the three literature areas. Value creation in this context, is specifically defined as the worth of the physical manifestation of the museum. It resides in the building and the collection, services and programs within the building. It is suggested that this value needs to be transformed and consumed by a range of stakeholders. The transformation of value creation is denoted as value capture. Value capture is the appeal of programs, projects and activities. Value capture includes how well the products and services align with particular stakeholders, how accountable the managers are to stakeholders and how products and services are consumed by stakeholders. The measure of how managers have been able to capture value is in the realm of value exchange. Value exchange is the merit of programs, projects and activities. Value exchange is in the form of revenue raised through sponsorship; continuation of revenue investment by the principal stakeholder, the state; time and money transacted by visitors; and intangible exchange such as leadership and reputation enhancement through collaborations. A Value Cycle Framework of New Entrant Museums is then developed as a working analytical tool to assess how the value cycle operates and how the liability of newness is detected and limited by museum management. x The Value Cycle Framework is used to assess four cases. These case studies include the National Museum of Australia as a purpose built new entrant; the Australian National Maritime Museum as a purpose built new entrant; the Mint as a recycled new entrant; and the Earth Exchange as a refurbished new entrant. Each case is assessed discretely using secondary and primary source material and analysing qualitative data generated from interviews with key stakeholders. The cases are then compared in order to track similarities and differences in relation to value creation, capture and exchange. The research findings suggest that a value cycle is operating in relation to new entrant museums. This value cycle is dynamic and non-sequential. Until value creation is floated for a range of stakeholders it is difficult for managers to know the worth of their content, location or their building. Value creation is a nominal starting point, signifying the arrival of a new entrant in the museum marketplace. However, value capture is the zone that is the most vulnerable and volatile for managers of new museums. Typically in these case studies value capture includes a disruptive episode, such as a review process that indicates the liability of newness. Managers within the museum who can respond and resolve contradictions between museological beliefs and the demands of stakeholders (and in so doing limit the liability of newness) are likely to continue museum operations. Senior executives who find such reconciliation more difficult, jeopardize the future operations of the museum to such an extent that the museums close or are transformed within the museum sector. Through these four case studies a revised Value Cycle Framework is developed as an analytical device. This analytical framework can assist in understanding the processes involved in new entry for museums.

The development of internet is creating intense competition in social network sites nowadays. How to conduct users¡¦ loyalty to social network sites gradually becomes an important issue to operate long-term social network sites. The study attempts to examine how consumers¡¦ utilitarian value, hedonic value and social value affect their loyalty. Furthermore, this study examines whether the relationship is mediated by gender difference. The model and relationship are tested and validated by using PLS and data collected from 200 people having facebook accounts in Taiwan. The results shows that loyalty is strongly affected by utilitarian value, hedonic value and social value. We also find that the difference of gender has positive influence on hedonic value and loyalty and negative influence on social value and loyalty. The implication for research and practice are also discussed.

With the improvement of information technology, the environment of electronic commerce is shifting gradually from M-Commerce to U-Commerce. However, U-Commerce is still in its infancy for most enterprises although it extended from M-Commerce. The knowledge about how the business model and the enabling technology together create the business for inter and intra customers is till vague, while it is important for the success of U-Commerce. Therefore, in this study, we conduct the secondary data analysis and use a value shop model to analyze what determinates the value creation for the customers and what the enabling core components are. The findings of this study provide a great insight for better understanding the value configuration of U-commerce and a leading index for the enterprise to constructing business model and developing IT core components when implementing the U-commerce.

Value, a component of expectancy-value theory, has been shown to be predictive of task interest and choice. Attainment value, a component of value, has been defined as the degree to which a task affords the opportunity to confirm or disconfirm salient aspects of one’s self-conception. This paper presents a review of expectancy-value theory generally, and attainment value specifically. Additionally, given that attainment value has received relatively little research attention, the rationale, method, and results of a quantitative study of attainment value is presented. / text