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The Federal Executive Institute (FEI) was created in 1968 by Executive Order from President Johnson, stating the need for establishing "a center for advanced study for executives in the upper echelons of the Civil Service." It was common in the early years for FEI to provide life changing, "rocky top" experiences. Since that time, the FEI has traveled down a rocky road, through efforts to disband, attempts to privatize, and flurries of criticism. It has emerged with a "back to basics curriculum" and a mission founded on what is seen as the solid rock of the Constitution and an emphasis of each executive's role within that Constitutional system. The intellectual history of FEI, including its creation, curriculum, and leadership and how they have developed and changed over time, suggests this key question: how does FEI decide to teach what (and how) it teaches? This answer has varied; at times, the institution was shaped by strong directors; at other times, key political actors and faculty members. There were times of great environmental turbulence and threat, when the very existence of the FEI was in jeopardy. Although the intellectual streams may have diverged, the FEI community rallied to ensure survival. They have indeed survived, and while not the same institution founded in 1968, still maintain their niche for educating "the best of the best." / Ph. D.

This thesis analyzes the failures, achievements, and some of the possible political ramifications of the reform movement in Iran since the Islamic Revolution. It focuses on religious intellectual discourses in the context of the intellectual trajectory of Islamic thought from the revolutionary period to the post-revolutionary reformist phase. This thesis examines the role of the post-revolutionary intellectuals after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. For reaching this goal, this research presents an analysis of the historical processes which resulted in the formation and growth of the religious intellectuals in Iran. The thesis begins by explaining the basis of Shia political thought and its growth trend which leads to the theory of velayate faqih as the main response to the question of the political legitimacy in Shia doctrine. I argue that the emergence of the reformist ideas related to the decline of the revolutionary model of the Islamic government, which dominated the decade after the revolution. I discuss how the reformists and the religious intellectuals challenge the socio-economic and the political hegemony of the Islamic government. Finally, I explore the politics of the reform movement after the election of President Khatami in 1997, and consider the failures and achievements of the reformist government in the socio-political sphere. The thesis explores the reformists victory was the first step for reforming the power structure which might lead to the transformation of the socio-political and economic liberalization, and which combines modern political thought with a religious framework in the power structure in Iran. / Master of Arts

No / This article illustrates the causes of piracy and pinpoints piracy associated with registrations and with production and distribution. Based on interviews with British and American multinational managers working in China, the authors elaborate 10 corporate actions to counter the spread of the `inevitable curse¿. In order to implement these 10 strategies, the authors recommend that firms treat piracy as a challenge, be corporately proactive, be aware of the repertoire of possible strategies, investigate co-operative action with other companies, agencies and government and be continuously alert to the dynamic nature of piracy. The problems reflected here are common to multinationals operating businesses around the world, and the destructive nature of piracy is likely to encourage more academic study to yield further insights for practice.

Yes / Intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) in corporate annual reports has received growing European attention. To date, few studies have undertaken systematic analysis of the factors influencing the decision to disclose Intellectual Capital (IC) related information in annual reports. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the level of hidden value (market-to-book ratio), share price volatility, listing age, board composition, ownership structure, audit committee size and directors’ shareholding, in addition to other firm specific factors influence ICD in 100 UK listed knowledge-rich firms. The dependent variable is measured by a 183 item index score, supported by word count and percentage of IC word count metrics to assess the extent, volume and focus of ICD respectively. Results of the analysis based on the three measures indicate significant association with hidden value, using market-to-book ratio as a proxy, and listing age. We further find firm size, share price volatility, director shareholding, audit committee size, and ownership concentration to be associated with ICD in a manner consistent with theoretical expectations. The implications of these findings, hitherto largely untested, are explored from a number of theoretical perspectives.

Global socioeconomic trends are changing the nature of the American workplace. To address the challenges brought about by these changes, American engineering education must focus on developing students into future professionals, equipped to thrive in the fast-paced, technologically intense, globally competitive workplace of the future. One of the most effective ways to prepare students to face the future is by teaching them to innovate. This thesis presents the "Creative Entrepreneurs Organization: Developing Innovative Products and Businesses" (CEO) concept as a method by which Virginia Tech could help students learn innovation. The CEO concept is a student-involvement program intended to develop students into successful entrepreneurs as they work together in small teams to develop and market intellectual property. This Program is intended to produce revenue for the University by virtue of the successful commercialization of the intellectual properties it generates. Additionally, the CEO Program will allow faculty and students to share in the financial rewards associated with the intellectual properties they generate. The CEO Program concept is presented in light of current trends in the business and academic worlds. Various issues related to its implementation are addressed. The Program is evaluated for its expected value to students, to the University, to the State, and to the Nation. A survey is presented by which the success of the Program can be measured. For the CEO concept to be successfully realized, several challenges must be overcome. First, the University must embrace this somewhat unorthodox Program in which both educational and financial motives play significant roles. Second, there must be a Program Advocate who will be able to effectively communicate the value and feasibility of the Program. Third, fiscal and physical resources must be available to ensure the successful start-up and operation of the CEO Program. Finally, the Program must find ways to nurture creativity in its participants. I conclude that the effort required to implement the CEO Program is outweighed by its potential benefits to students, to the University, to the State of Virginia, and to the Nation. Therefore, I recommend that the Virginia Tech College of Engineering consider the CEO Program for implementation. / Master of Science

People with intellectual disabilities (ID) face a high risk of experiencing adverse events including abuse, neglect, and serious medical issues. Access to effective interventions for people with moderate to severe ID is limited because of communication deficits that are characteristic of this population. Some of the negative effects of exposure to trauma for people with ID can include increases in problem behaviors. Behavior analysts have developed robust assessments and treatments to address these problem behaviors for people with ID; however, when these behaviors arise after a traumatic event, specialized assessments may be necessary to ensure effective treatment and decreased risk of re-traumatization. Specifically, if trauma-related stimuli (TRS) differentially affect preferences and functions of behavior, assessments of the effects of these stimuli may be critical to mitigate those effects. In my first experiment I found that TRS differentially affected behavior (including heartrate) during preferences assessments. In my second experiment I found that TRS differentially affected heartrate and the function of problem behavior for two of three participants. I discuss implications of these findings, including 1) that measuring some of the physiological effects of TRS using commercially available heart rate monitors could improve behavior analytic assessments for people with potential trauma histories; and 2) the presence of TRS can differentially affect the function of problem behavior in such a way that treatment plans developed and evaluated in either the presence or absence of TRS may be ineffective in the alternate setting.

Thesis submitted in fulfillment for the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the low rate of registration of IP rights such as patents, trademark and design rights at the DUT, through a survey conducted with the academic research staff. Managing IP at a University of Technology today has new dimensions with the implementation of the IP Act 51 of 2008. Stimulation of the development and commercialization of technology within South Africa may benefit the country and its citizens. The knowledge economy indicates that research, development and innovation are fundamental prerequisites for achieving and maintaining competitiveness and sustained growth. The researcher undertook to explore reasons for low IP registration as a means to increase such activity at the DUT. This study adopted both the qualitative and quantitative methodologies with questionnaires distributed to full-time academic staff in selected departments. Factors that contributed to the gap between academic research and intellectual property registration were examined. This study investigates activities relating to patent registration, as well as the academic performance of researchers at DUT. The literature reviewed indicated that factors affecting low intellectual property right activities at the DUT may be a lack of awareness, implications of the ownership provisions, funding and an effective institutional arrangement for the management of intellectual property. This study identified strengths and weakness of DUT‟s IP management system. It is envisaged that the findings of the study will contribute to increasing IP registration at the DUT, in particular, and other UoT‟s in general. Low IP registration can be attributed to lack of understanding and awareness of the ownership provisions of the IP Act. The study highlighted lessons to be learned from universities in other countries and how the DUT‟s system can grow into an efficient and effective means of promoting national innovation and economic growth. In an increasingly global world, the ability to invent, design and manufacture goods and services that people want is more vital to our future prosperity than ever.

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