by Lee Sum Yiu, Raymond. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves B1-1-B1-2). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vii / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY / Chapter 2.1 --- Business problem defined --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2 --- Research objectives --- p.3 / Chapter 2.3 --- Research methodology --- p.4 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Research design --- p.6 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Sampling design --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 3.1 --- Definition of attitude --- p.9 / Chapter 3.2 --- Function of attitude --- p.10 / Chapter 3.3 --- Consumer research literature --- p.12 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND KEY SELLING POINT / Chapter 4.1 --- Key features of BMW Touring Car --- p.16 / Chapter 4.1.1. --- Practical and flexible design --- p.16 / Chapter 4.1.2. --- Performance --- p.17 / Chapter 4.2 --- Key selling points --- p.18 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- COMPETITIVE PROFILE / Chapter 5.1 --- Direct competitors --- p.21 / Chapter 5.2 --- Indirect competitors --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER VII --- QUESTIONAIRE DESIGN --- p.29 / Chapter 7.1 --- General question & product information --- p.30 / Chapter 7.1.1. --- Product usage --- p.30 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Lifestyle characteristics --- p.30 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Product functions and feature --- p.30 / Chapter 7.1.4 --- Product image and status --- p.31 / Chapter 7.1.5 --- Competitors --- p.31 / Chapter 7.1.6 --- Number of car owned --- p.31 / Chapter 7.2 --- Pricing --- p.31 / Chapter 7.3 --- Advertising and promotion --- p.32 / Chapter 7.4 --- Service provided by sales force --- p.32 / Chapter CHAPTER VIII --- LET THOSE WHO BOUGHT IT SAID SOMETHING --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER IX --- DISCUSSION ON RESEARCH FINDING / Chapter 9.1 --- Summary of sample achieved --- p.37 / Chapter 9.2 --- Interview procedures --- p.38 / Chapter 9.3 --- Result and Analysis / Chapter 9.3.1 --- Target customers --- p.40 / Chapter 9.3.2 --- Product image and impression --- p.41 / Chapter 9.3.3 --- Pricing of the product --- p.49 / Chapter 9.3.4 --- Advertising and promotion --- p.50 / Chapter 9.3.5 --- Sales force management --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER X --- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION / Chapter 10.1 --- Limitation of present research --- p.53 / Chapter 10.2 --- Conclusion / Chapter 10.2.1 --- Defining the target segment --- p.54 / Chapter 10.2.2 --- Product image and impression --- p.55 / Chapter 10.2.3 --- Pricing Strategy --- p.56 / Chapter 10.2.4 --- Advertising and Promotion --- p.56 / Chapter 10.2.5 --- Sales force management --- p.57 / Chapter 10.3 --- Recommendation --- p.57 / Chapter CHAPTER XI --- OVERALL REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH --- p.59 / Chapter APPENDIX I --- QUESTIONAIRE FOR DEPTH INTERVIEW --- p.A1-1 / Chapter APPENDIX II --- DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION OF INTERVIEWEES --- p.A2-1 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.B1-1

<p>Continuous improvement (CI) is a well-known approach within total quality management. Based on it, Continuous Improvement Behavior Model (CIBM) is a model that put behavioral patterns in work practice in focus, and is associated with learning process and routines across the whole organization. The purposes of this thesis are twofold: firstly, to analyse the differences in CI behavior between firms in Sweden and Hong Kong (HK); secondly, to analyse the reasons for these differences by using Hofstede’s culture theory. This study was based on data from the 2nd international CINet survey and IBM questionnaire survey, limited to the culture in Hong Kong (HK) and Sweden. The finding of this comparative study showed that there are significant differences in CI behavior in the following aspects:</p><p> The view in HK is that the interest of the group should prevail over the individual’s, because there has a proverb”unity is power” in Chinese culture. Firms in Sweden are more concerned with the interests of individual’s.</p><p> Employees in Hong Kong would like to use organizational formal tools and techniques to deal with a problem, although it is a society characterized by weak uncertainly avoidance. But firms in Swedish believe that problems can be solved without formal rules.</p><p> Employees in HK emphasizes cooperation and relationship in the process of working, while it is influenced by the culture of”guanxi” and collectivism. In comparison, Swedish employees care less about relationship.</p><p> People in HK pay much attention to the personal development, due to a competitive environment and a long-term orientated culture manifested as:”it is never too old to learn”. Swedes, however, want to study when it is necessary.</p><p> Managers in HK are willing to support CI activities by provide sufficient resources and self-discipline influenced by the Chinese culture of ”set an example”. Correspondingly, Swedish firms don't have the regulation about what manager necessary should do.</p><p>This is the first study that tries to explain the difference on CI behavior by using Hofstede’s culture theory in HK and Sweden, using a statistical method to test 34 behaviors in CI Behavior Model. It has to mention that there have 17 behaviors in the total behaviors which have been proved to be different, and 11 of these behaviors can be explained by Hofstede’s model in this thesis. There are also some other factors that can explain the differences in CI behaviors.</p><p>In this thesis, it is shown that size of company matters. Possible explanations provided by other cultural theories are also presented.</p>

Continuous improvement (CI) is a well-known approach within total quality management. Based on it, Continuous Improvement Behavior Model (CIBM) is a model that put behavioral patterns in work practice in focus, and is associated with learning process and routines across the whole organization. The purposes of this thesis are twofold: firstly, to analyse the differences in CI behavior between firms in Sweden and Hong Kong (HK); secondly, to analyse the reasons for these differences by using Hofstede’s culture theory. This study was based on data from the 2nd international CINet survey and IBM questionnaire survey, limited to the culture in Hong Kong (HK) and Sweden. The finding of this comparative study showed that there are significant differences in CI behavior in the following aspects:  The view in HK is that the interest of the group should prevail over the individual’s, because there has a proverb”unity is power” in Chinese culture. Firms in Sweden are more concerned with the interests of individual’s.  Employees in Hong Kong would like to use organizational formal tools and techniques to deal with a problem, although it is a society characterized by weak uncertainly avoidance. But firms in Swedish believe that problems can be solved without formal rules.  Employees in HK emphasizes cooperation and relationship in the process of working, while it is influenced by the culture of”guanxi” and collectivism. In comparison, Swedish employees care less about relationship.  People in HK pay much attention to the personal development, due to a competitive environment and a long-term orientated culture manifested as:”it is never too old to learn”. Swedes, however, want to study when it is necessary.  Managers in HK are willing to support CI activities by provide sufficient resources and self-discipline influenced by the Chinese culture of ”set an example”. Correspondingly, Swedish firms don't have the regulation about what manager necessary should do. This is the first study that tries to explain the difference on CI behavior by using Hofstede’s culture theory in HK and Sweden, using a statistical method to test 34 behaviors in CI Behavior Model. It has to mention that there have 17 behaviors in the total behaviors which have been proved to be different, and 11 of these behaviors can be explained by Hofstede’s model in this thesis. There are also some other factors that can explain the differences in CI behaviors. In this thesis, it is shown that size of company matters. Possible explanations provided by other cultural theories are also presented.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-98).

Denna studie har med hjälp av den nya nationella höjdmodellen (NNH), som bygger på LiDAR-teknik, försökt att i västra Gästrikland hitta och analysera de landskaps- och terrängformer som kallas för högsta kustlinjen (HK). Dessa forna strandlinjer efter den senaste istiden har undersökts tidigare i studieområdet med hjälp av avvägningsinstrument och genom jordprover på 11 lokaler åren 1925-1930 och på 8 lokaler åren 1954-1960. I studien har det undersökts hur väl det går att identifiera nya som äldre HK-lokaler, jämföra de äldre undersökningarna med resultatet från dagens moderna datorteknik. Genom att i ett GIS-program skapa en terrängskuggning av NNH, som innan leverans har särskilt mark- och vattenytan från vegetation och antropogena objekt, har höjder kunnat mätas längs HK-linjer med cirka 50 meters avstånd. På grund av den snabba landhöjningen de första 500 åren efter avsmältningen är de högst belägna spåren av stranderosion svårare att hitta än de lägre. Av de 25 lokaler som hittades och analyserades var 11 lokaler på platser som inte tidigare undersökts eller där HK tidigare inte har kunnat fastställas. Av de undersökta lokalerna klassades 10 som osäkra, 11 som halvskarpa, 3 som skarpa och 1 som ett HK-delta. Från söder mot norr i västra Gästrikland stiger HK med cirka 27 meter från 194 meter över havet till 221 meter över havet. Skillnaderna jämfört med de tidigare undersökningarna är cirka ±2 meter, med undantag för 4 lokaler med skillnader från cirka 4 meter över till cirka 10 meter under. Förutom de 25 lokalerna hittades 6 mycket osäkra lokaler där HK inte gick att fastställa. Av dessa ligger 5 i ett område nordost och öster om Hofors. LiDAR-tekniken ger kvantitativt fler lokaler i områden som eventuellt tidigare inte har kunnat besökas och är en mer tidseffektiv metod.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether the developing brain adapts at biochemical level against neonatal hypothyroidism, as it does so against a variety of physiological disturbances. A moderate hypothyroid state in mice neonates was induced by supplementing 0.05% methimazole in drinking water to the mothers up to suckling period, and its effect on concerted development of the enzymes regulating metabolic channeling of glucose vis a vis glucose phosphorylating activity were studied. In the brain of control mice, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), that channels glucose in biosynthetic route (Pentose phosphate pathway, PPP), increased slightly (∼ 1.3 times) from day1 to 10w age. However, glucose phosphorylating activity and the enzymes that commit glucose for energy production, viz phosphofructokinase1 (PFK1), pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) showed a progressive postnatal increase to attain their respective adult levels (∼ 5-10 times higher than 1day value) by 3-10w ages of mice. In comparison to the control, in the brain of age matched neonatal hypothyroid mice, glucose phosphorylating activity, G6PDH and PFK1 increased significantly (p<0.001) at day1. Thereafter, though, glucose phosphorylating activity continued to increase up to 1w age and remained static thereafter, G6PDH declined significantly (p<0.001) from 1w onward ages. On the other hand, as PFK1 activity increased significantly up to 10w age (p<0.001), the ratio of G6PDH/PFK1 showed a marked decline from 1w onward ages. PK and LDH also showed increasing trend up to 3w age in the brain of hypothyroid mice pups. The results suggest that a moderate hypothyroid state, during the period of rapid brain growth (day 1-1w age), stimulates all the enzymes that regulate channeling of glucose in both, the energy yielding and biosynthetic paths. However, the later postnatal ages, it modulates these enzymes in a metabolic path dependent manner.

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Les relais de phosphorylation de type histidine/aspartate constituent des voies de signalisation impliquées dans la perception et la transduction des signaux jusqu’à la mise en place de réponses spécifiques. Ils mettent en jeu un récepteur ou Histidine aspartate Kinase (HK), des protéines navettes en charge de la transmission du phosphate (HPt) et des Régulateurs de Réponse (RR). L’implication d’un tel système dans la transduction du signal de la contrainte osmotique est avérée chez la levure et fortement suspectée chez Arabidopsis. Ce travail de thèse visait d’une part à caractériser l’implication de cette voie de transduction de la contrainte osmotique chez le peuplier, avec l’identification de partenaires HPt et RR en aval du récepteur HK1 et d’autre part à caractériser le mode de fonctionnement d’un RR de type-B. HK1, un osmosenseur membranaire détecterait le signal et le transmettrait à trois HPt préférentielles. De plus, un partenariat d’interaction se dégagerait entre ces trois HPt et certains RR-B. La régulation transcriptionnelle observée lors d’une contrainte osmotique pour deux des représentants des RR-B témoigne d’une possible implication de ces RR dans cette voie. Ces protéines sont des facteurs de transcription dont la fonction a été confirmée in planta pour l’un d’entre eux. La dimérisation du domaine receveur du RR et son interaction avec le domaine de fixation à l’ADN ou domaine GARP apparaissent comme des points de contrôle clés dans la régulation de l’activité effectrice des RR-B. De plus, la capacité d’un RR-B à se fixer sur ses motifs de reconnaissance (boîtes AGAT) a pu être vérifiée in vitro et la présence de ces séquences a d’ailleurs été retrouvée dans des gènes régulés par la contrainte osmotique. Ce travail prospectif ouvre des perspectives concernant l’implication des RR-B dans la voie de transduction du signal de la contrainte osmotique, et propose notamment des mécanismes fins pour l’élaboration d’une réponse hautement spécifique. / Multistep His-to-Asp phosphorelay systems are signaling pathways devoted to signal perception and transduction for establishment of specific responses. These systems are composed of three successive partners: Histidine-aspartate Kinases (HKs), Histidine-containing Phosphotransfer proteins (HPts), and Response Regulators (RRs). One of the best characterized corresponding systems is the osmo-responsive pathway in yeast. Such systems are also suspected in Arabidopsis. This work aimed to characterize the involvement of an osmosensing pathway in Populus by identifying HPt and RR elements downstream of HK1 and to reveal the underlying mechanisms for the activity of a RR-B. HK1, membrane osmosensor, is expected to be responsible for signal detection and propagation by triggering the activation of three preferential HPt. Furthermore, an interacting partnership between those HPts and particular B-type RRs was observed. Two of them appear to be regulated by an osmotic stress, suggesting their possible involvement in this pathway. The B-type RR members, the final output elements of the pathway, act as transcription factors, as shown for at least for one of them in planta. Taken together, the dimerization of the RR receiver domain and its interaction with its DNA binding domain (GARP), are likely key checkpoints in the regulation of RR-B activity. Besides, the ability of one RR-B to bind its cognate specific DNA sequences (AGAT boxes) was confirmed in vitro and those were found in promoters of osmotic response genes. This work opens up prospects for the involvement of RR-B in the osmotic stress signaling pathway and suggests mechanisms tuning induction of specific responses.

Founded in 1991, HK Magazine was one of the major English-language publications on local affairs, social issues and entertainment listings published weekly in Hong Kong for a quarter of a century. Apart from providing local entertainment information, it also witnessed the rapid social and political changes of Hong Kong when Britain handed over sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997. In July 2013, HK Magazine was sold to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) Group which was subsequently purchased by Alibaba Group in December 2015. However, the SCMP Group announced on 28 September 2016 that the magazine's final issue would be released on 7 October 2016. The closure of the magazine was viewed by many as the loss of a “fun, independent and free-thinking' publication. In response to the huge reaction from the community, the SCMP Group agreed that the content of HK Magazine would be migrated to the SCMP website before the HK Magazine website was removed. It was however revealed that the SCMP website did not preserve the full archive of HK Magazine as promised. A public appeal was launched to help preserve the collective memory of Hong Kong by archiving the back issues of the magazine. Apart from reviewing the discussion arising from the close down of HK Magazine, this paper also addresses the critical role of the library in long term preserving HK Magazine on one hand and providing access to its digital content on the other.