Fire plays an important role in forest ecosystem management depending on the dual character of it. It should be managed and supervised effectively. In this particular study, the study area was located in the north part of Gävleborg County in Sweden, which is in a high- latitude region. Seven factors, divided into natural factors and human caused factors, were extracted from digital elevation model (DEM), classified land use map and feature shape files provided by National Land Survey of Sweden (Lantmäteriet). Two different weighting schemes for the factors were determined by the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. With the help of ArcGIS 9.3 and Erdas 9.3, two classified result maps were obtained, where forest fire risk ranks were shown as five classes, very low, low, moderate, high and very high. The 43 fire incidents in the year 2007 and 2008 recorded by Global Fire Management System were used to evaluate the results. The results show that the higher rank the region is, the larger is the probability for forest fire risk and higher the risk to spread the fire. Furthermore, according to the occurrence time of the fire incidents, the period of time from end of May to beginning of June was generalized as a dangerous period for forest fire risk in this study area. After analyzing and discussing, even if there might be some uncertainties caused by variable selection, resolution problem and weighting schemes, the results were generally reliable.

Virtual Enterprise (VE) is an organizational business concept. Its key ingredients are collaboration among a set of member companies and integration of their competencies, which are needed for developing a new product or service. This concept is in response to the ever-increasing demand on the manufacturing enterprise to react quickly to changes in the market conditions and become agile enterprises. This thesis presents a quantitative study on the life cycle of Virtual Enterprises. Specifically, it covers the design and management phases. These two phases are modeled using system engineering as a foundation. This has led to the development of two new methods for designing and managing Virtual Enterprises. The design method uses Axiomatic Design Theory and a methodology for complex large systems. The management method is based on the Robust Design principles.

Purpose – The purpose of our thesis is to introduce a new approach to help small and medium third party logistics service providers (3PLs) to develop and improve their Reverse logistics.   Design/methodology/approach – A case study was adopted, and a qualitative questionnaire and face-to-face interview were used to collect the fundamental data. In addition, the multi-criteria decision-making tool-AHP and the Reverse Logistics audit model were used to analyze the case and to solve the problem of 3PLs in Reverse Logistics improvement.   Findings – Under the fierce competition and in today’s volatile market, the Reverse Logistics is considered as a new competitive advantage to many 3PLs. However, the effective solutions in instructing 3PLs how to develop and improve their Reverse Logistics competence are still very scarce. Based on these, a new approach will be presented in this thesis to help 3PLs to solve problem.   Limitations – There are two main limitations in our paper, which emerge in the two models we adopted. Regarding the Reverse Logistics audit model, we need more data of the case company to support our research. For the AHP method, the limitation is:  the fact that general assumptions were used to provide correlative data in computation, and complex computation was simplified in order to show calculative processes clearly.   Practical implications – FLB, the case company will be researched to verify the practical implication of our new approach. We believe through our approach, lots of small and medium size 3PLs will find it easier to get a holistic view of their RL competence, and know how to develop or improve it.   Originality/value – How to evaluate and assess the RL competence will be presented separately from inside view of 3PLs and outside view of their customers. AHP and self-made RL audit model will be used to achieve then respectively.   Keywords Reverse logistics, Analytic hierarchy process, Assessment tool, and 3PLs    Paper type Case study/ Research paper

In response to recent economic downturn and its turmoil impact, semiconductor distributors begin to take on a customer relationship management approaches in hoping to find critical success factors. Additionally, they hope to actively strengthen internal competitiveness so that market advantage can be gained, and therefore leading to a better industry position. therefore, it is very different to establish noticeable product differentiation within this limited environment, as well as maximizing any profit gain. By emphasizing Customer Relationship development, semiconductor distributors can maintain a more long-term relationship and stay competitive. The purpose of this study is therefore listed as follows: 1.To explore the effect of industrial environment on customer relationship and the associating key factors. 2.To explore the attributes of successful business strategy, its critical factors and their effects on successful customer relationship management. 3.To evaluate on financial capability and its influence on the success of Customer Relationship Management. 4.To explore the relationship between supplier relationship management on customer relation and other critical factors. In this study, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) will be used to divide the topic into two levels. First thru the use of general discussion and review on focus group, a structuralized second level, including the associating four dimensions, along with each dimension¡¦s relevance towards the success factors will be drafted. By synchronizing both AHP qualitative and quantitative data, it is then possible to establish an in-depth understanding on Customer Relationship Management in semiconductor distributors. Through this example, it is then possible to understand the critical importance behind these key factors: customization on product capabilities, ability to improve inventory turnover, and lastly, financial control capabilities.

Abstract Due to the recent financial crisis, global economy downturn forces corporate to downsize, shut down unprofitable plants and layoff which have increased unemployment rate dramatically. Franchising creates a lot of employment opportunities as well as dream come true for many people who dream of becoming a boss. For those reasons, franchising operation model is one of the quickest ways to increase business scale and conquer market share in both Mainland China and Taiwan in a short time. In a value chain, a franchising system not only can increase economy of scale and operation efficiency through ship in/out logistic, production process, marketing, after sale service but also through supporting activities such as infrastructure, human resource, training, purchasing, research and development. However, how to survive or even stand out in such a competitive market, key successful factors plays a very important role. This research paper focuses on beverage franchising chain policy, aiming at understanding key factors which effect a franchisee to choose best fit franchiser and to understand beverage market trend in both mainland China and Taiwan. This research paper chooses a couple franchising policy factors among mainland China and Taiwan and uses analytical hierarchy process to understand franchisee¡¦s decision making process. The interviewees include industrial experts among mainland China and Taiwan, academic representatives and franchisees from both mainland China and Taiwan (9each). By having in depth discussion with each interviewee, qualitative and quantitative AHP survey data was collected for analysis in order to understand franchising industry development trend in mainland China and Taiwan. This research paper further understands the relationship between franchising key policies and future development trend in mainland China and Taiwan through collecting qualitative and quantitative AHP survey data at the same time. By comparing perception differences between the 3 types of interviewees through ANOVA analysis, a more specific proposal can be provided for franchisee, franchiser and related government department for reference. Keyword: Franchising, Chain, beverage market , human resource, analytical hierarchy process, AHP, ANOVA statistic analysis

Abstract Background: Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has become a significant problem throughout the large medical centers, leading to possible threatened medical quality, causing raised stress levels among staff and patients in EDs, and most importantly, adversely affecting patient outcomes. Due to its complexity, a large concerted group effort will be needed to increase awareness, implement proposed solutions, and make a change. ED overcrowding is a multifaceted problem that will require a multifaceted solution. Methods: We set up the "Input-Throughput-Output" model provides a structure for examining the factors that affect ED access, quality and outcomes. Using this model, we clarify the issues of ED overcrowding into three stages, propose ways to obtain needed information in each stage, test the strategies and then evaluate their outcomes. We utilized the analytic hierarchy process (APH) method to measure the weights of the physician¡¦s stress and arrange more efficacious and flexible duties accordingly. Results: This is a prospective study investigating ED overcrowding at this medical center from January 2008 through December 2009. Hospitals developed and implemented a number of best practices revolved around patient flow initiatives, specifically looking to improve input, throughput, and output. Conclusion: This study suggests that a decrease in ED overcrowding can be achieved through ongoing collaboration of the indicators and the implementation of best practices via the Input-Throughput-Output model.

This study aims to probe into the key to success of Internet user¡¦s usage of virtual community websites. The craze of Internet community has swept the market since 2009 as it innovates by combining functional application programs and becomes very popular. With the development of Internet mobility and mobile technology service, the concept of multiple devices and mobility sharing rises, showing Internet community¡¦s ability to integrate different websites. By literature review, the content of evaluation is prepared in order to list six major factors of success and the subordinate 37 items of evaluation are also found. ¡@¡@By Analytic Hierarchy Process, the first-stage questionnaire takes domestic users of Internet community as subject and the first half subordinate items are selected. In the second stage, six professionals in relevant fields and three severely-addicted Internet community users are interviewed. The interview is analyzed by matrix to decide the sequence of importance of major content of evaluation. ¡@¡@The research result shows that the most important key to the success of using virtual community websites is private information confidential system. With the progress of technology service, there should be complete protection offered by the community website for the purpose of providing uses a safe Internet environment. Then, innovative function and cross-website system can bring the website more attention. When the user interface is easy to learn, the website would be more practical. With users¡¦ work published on the website and interactive activities held by members, the user¡¦s loyalty and stickiness would also increase. Furthermore, a vivid image of the website and the ability to create talking topics are factors influencing Internet users. ¡@¡@The result may work as reference for domestic social network users and be adopted by the operator for establishment or marketing as feedback with a view to satisfying Internet user¡¦s need and expectation.

The function of human resource in business is changing. For this reason, the tasks of human resource top managers become much more complicated as well. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to seek and rank the roles of the human resource top manager. In this study, the framework of human resource top manager¡¦s roles is adapted from Schuler(1990). It becomes a five-role framework of the human resource top manager¡G business person, shaper of change, partner to line, strategy formulator and implementer, and talent manager. In order to elaborate the five roles, each role has added three to four particular activities. Through applying the Analytical Hierarchy Process to gather the opinions of 19 human resource top managers and analyzing the data, it can rank the five roles as below¡G strategy formulator and implementer, partner to line, talent manager, shaper of change, and business person. Furthermore, the ranks will change depends on the different of industries, business scales, and the ownership. From this study, it suggests that the human resource top manager should adjust his/ her roles according to the scenarios. Also, the chef of the business can peek the human resource top manager by evaluating the candidates¡¦ ability to play these five roles.

Subject to the impact of the overall economic environment, aging population and the national health insurance system, competitive medical market becomes much more volatile. If hospital wants to survive, it must enhance business performance , improve medical quality, and pay more attention to customer-oriented hospital marketing, therefore understanding medical habits of outpatient customers is a prerequisite for hospital marketing. Medical habits of outpatient customers have significant provincialism, so outpatient customers in different regions have different criteria to select the ideal hospital in their minds. Therefore this thesis is to investigate the priority of the key decision-making factors of outpatient customers medical choice in Zuo-Nan area and the ideal hospital in their minds, as a reference for hospital marketing. It is also to understand the development trend of medical market in the area, as a reference for strategic management for hospitals. This research selects three different level of hospitals (local hospital, regional hospital, and medical center) in the Zuo-Nan area and six decision-making factors (doctor¡¦s reputation, home distance, diagnostic time, medical ethics, service attitude, and registered fee ) of outpatient customer, then proceeds to level mode analysis ( Analytic Hierarchy Process ; AHP ) for learning about the priority of the key decision-making factors of outpatient customers medical choice in Zuo-Nan area and the ideal hospital in their minds. This thesis uses depth-interview for each of the respondents (include outpatient customers, hospital staff , official experts , and experts in the field) , then collects questionnaire data of qualitative and quantitative AHP to proceed analysis. Results show that the priority of the six key decision-making factors of outpatient customers medical choice for the three different groups of respondents is not the same, but a consistent top three list : medical ethics, doctor's reputation, service attitude. Local hospital, regional hospital, and medical center respectively has advantage of " good doctor¡¦s reputation", " good doctor's reputation, good service attitude", and " good doctor's reputation, medical ethics" to be reference of external marketing. As to the ranking of hospitals choice under the key decision-making factors, different groups of respondents have different results. All groups of respondents think : medical center > regional hospital > local hospital. Apparently the preference in the minds of the outpatient customers for hospital is medical center, followed by regional hospital, and finally to local hospital. As for the medical market trends in Zuo-Nan area, most respondents think short-term trend was optimistic ; while the medium-term, long-term trends are balanced. Strategic management of regional hospital should strengthen service of royal customers and develop aging medical outpatient department, long-term care service, and community health education. In addition, by entering into strategic alliances with medical center and clinics to become regional integration models, hospitals can cope with the future of the health insurance system - "on the paid plans by human " .

A global outbreak of a new strain of H1N1 influenza virus caused the 2009 flu pandemic. Taiwan was one of the 12 countries in the world capable of producing H1N1 vaccine domestically. The domestic vaccine manufactured by Adimmune Corporation proved to be safe and effective. However, the public opinion generally criticized negatively toward this H1N1 prevention work. This study explored the various entities and relations surrounding the prevention. The first experiment looked into people¡¦s recall toward government¡¦s promotion. This experiment used EyeLink to track subjects¡¦ eye movements on the promotional posters. The data showed the correlation between eye movement and recall, as well as the amount of information received by the subjects. The second experiment looked into people¡¦s decision toward H1N1 prevention. This experiment constructed an AHP model to study the problem. The subjects from various fields answered their view toward H1N1 prevention alternatives, and reported the actual inoculation rate of H1N1 vaccine. The goal aimed to choose a prevention method. The criteria included convenience, confidence, safety, and comfort. The alternatives included vaccination, medication, and sanitation. The experiment outcome summarized the inoculation statistics, attention distribution, involvement correlations, and decision priorities. The experiment result shows the subjects do not receive government¡¦s promotion well. The result also shows the subjects prefer sanitation for prevention. In addition, this study investigates Taiwan¡¦s vaccine and disease prevention development status. The analysis examines Adimmune Corporation and the vaccine market from different aspects. Finally, the conclusion provides recommendations for the people, the vaccine factory, and the government.