The work presented in this thesis was undertaken as part of the three-year ‘Jigless Aerospace Manufacture’ (JAM) project which was set-up to investigate and address the significant scientific, technological and economic issues to enable a new design, manufacture and assembly philosophy based on minimising product specific jigs, fixtures and tooling. The main goal of the JAM project at Cranfield was the development of appropriate jigless methods and principles, and the subsequent redesign of the JAM project demonstrator structure – a section of the Airbus A320 aircraft Fixed Leading Edge – to fully investigate and realise the capabilities of jigless methodologies and principles. The particular focus of research activity described in this thesis was the development of a methodology to design for jigless assembly and a process of selecting assembly features to enable jigless assembly. A review of the literature has shown that no methodologies exist to specifically design for jigless assembly; however, previous relevant research has been built upon and extended with the incorporation of novel tools and techniques. To facilitate the assembly feature selection process for jigless assembly, an Assembly Feature Library was created that broadened and expanded the conventional definition and use of assembly features. The developed methodology, assembly feature selection process and Feature Library have been applied and validated on the JAM project demonstrator structure to serve as a Case Study for the tools and techniques developed by the research. Additionally, a Costing Analysis was carried out which suggests that the use of the tools and techniques to enable jigless assembly could have a large and considerable impact on both the Non-Recurring and Recurring costs associated with the design, manufacture and assembly of aircraft.

This thesis presents a method of analyzing jazz improvisation and jazz style by using a voice-leading model called “Top Lines.” It compares three separate performances of Thelonious Monk’s “’Round Midnight” by Monk, Gerry Mulligan, and Wes Montgomery. The term Top Lines refers to a voice-leading procedure created by moving as little as possible between chords tones (roots, thirds, fifths, sevenths, and upper functions) of a chordal progression. Top Lines are potential voice-leading lines in the uppermost register and follow the “Law of the Shortest Way.” The thesis defines Top Lines, shows how they interconnect, and ultimately how the improvisor navigates through and manipulates them. Jazz harmony and improvisation have been explored by scholars such as Mark Levine (1989, 1995), Steve Larson (2005), Henry Martin (1988, 1996), and Steven Strunk (1996). Although many scholars deal with coherence and structure in the improvisation, their discussions focus on voice leading coherence and structure in improvisations, where this thesis differs is it provides a voice-leading model on a small scale within the improvisation itself. The model presented in this thesis raises the notion of describing jazz improvisation not simply as a motion from one chord tone to another, but instead as motion between voice leading Top Lines. These motions between Top Lines create coherence and motives—called “Particles”— in one’s improvisation. Particles ultimately demonstrate stylistic features in one’s improvisation, motivic connections, and coherence. The thesis concludes by describing how the Top Line model can be applied to jazz performance and jazz pedagogy. The thesis will be of interest to scholars of jazz theory, musicology, pedagogy, and jazz performance.

In my diploma thesis I am going to focus on motivation and satisfaction of employees. In the first part I will describe in theory what motivation and satisfaction of employees include. In the second part I want to outline the procedure which I employed to collect information. In the following part I will define services provided for employees in company ABC. I made questionnaire analysis, which was an important source of information for me. At the end of my diploma thesis I will propose the solution for a better satisfaction of all employees in company.

The essay is about appropriate leading of people. The aim of this essay is following: to define some facts that have influence on stimulation and motivation, to carry out research of stimulation in one nameless middle-sized firm.

The aim of my master thesis is the research and comparison of knowledge level of the Czech and British managers and also the research of an influence of British managers on the organizational structure in the Czech company. I tried to find some recommendations for both Czech and British managers how to improve the relationship between them, and how to help British managers to join the Czech company and how to better adapt themselves on the Czech culture. The first part of my master thesis is only theoretical. In the following part I focus on evaluation of the questionnaires. In conclusion I summarize the obtaited data and information.

Despite numerous successes and appreciable advantages of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, the reputation of the MBA has deteriorated in the eyes of businesses, as its relevance has been questioned and businesses often fail to see students applying acquired skills practically back at work.While previous research has focussed on the experience and opinions of MBA students themselves, this research sought insights of businesses and business schools, specifically considering the value of collaborative relationships for strengthening the MBA’s impact.This research aimed to understand how collaboration can improve the impact of the MBA, first by affirming the successes of the MBA, confirming its importance to business and then exploring current challenges. Previous initiatives have been unsuccessful in reviving the MBA’s ailing reputation, as they were isolated initiatives, lacking the support and involvement of other MBA stakeholders.<p/>This research, therefore, investigated the requirements for a collaborative relationship to be willingly entered into and sustained, looking particularly at in-house programmes which were successful in encouraging collaboration and involvement of stakeholders.From the research findings, the Collaborative Impact Model was designed to set out how a collaborative relationship can be established and maintained, optimising the impact of the MBA while also minimising its many challenges. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Real estate is believed to have oscillational patterns and lags from business fluctuation. Leading indicators and certain lags of each cycle enable some degree of forecasting possibility but in the same time increase risk of irrational expectation among real estate companies. Not only the risks from fluctuation and expectation, but also risks from business operation and services should be considered in their risk management. Real estate management company may have different types and degree of risk compared to individual investors. The management of risk of this business operation is also different between sizes of firms, scope of services, geographical location, etc. We hereby examined the risk management of small real estate management companies, operating and servicing in residential property market within Zurich, Switzerland. These specific investment and geographical areas are distinctive in terms of risk exposure and solutions as they have continuously strong demand, various attractive features and distinctive behaviors. Unlike a real estate investor, the real estate development company emerging within these compelling economic attributes is believed to have very low risk. After the semi-structured interview with some executive representatives of these small firms, the results have revealed high level of risk awareness and actively participation to mitigate all possible risks, notwithstanding low level. Even without a person who is specifically responsible for risk management, risk assessment and evaluation have been done exclusively by their executives facilitated by personal contacts and associated institutions.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to analyze and record the characteristics of grandparents who are raising school-aged children as they relate to how the United States is responding to their needs and the needs of their grandchildren. The researcher sought to determine the characteristics of grandparent-headed households with no parent present in regards to housing, nutritional assistance, transportation, employment, age of children in the household, language spoken in the home, and family type, as measured by the 2010 United States Census Bureau. This study was conducted using a quantitative, descriptive research design. The data used for this study were indirect estimates produced by statistical model-based methods using sample survey, decennial census, and administrative data sources compiled by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau collects data about American families for the nation, states and communities, and data related to socioeconomic status, family composition, and language spoken were used to more fully understand characteristics of households where grandparents are raising grandchildren outside of the traditional 1-2 parent American households. Participants included the 92 grandparent-headed households from among the 15,482 participants in the American Community Survey, which included 556 households where grandparents were living with grandchildren. To address the research questions, descriptive statistics were used, including frequencies and percentages. The statistical package SPSS was used to analyze the data. The results of this study revealed that of the grandparents who lived with their grandchildren where there was no parent present, 100% lived in housing units, 75% participated in the yearly food stamp/supplemental nutrition assistance program, 36% had no transportation, 26% were female householders who were unemployed and did not have a husband living in the household, 74% had related children who were 6-17 years old in the household, 51% lived in homes where only English was spoken, and 53% resided in homes where there was a married couple, while 39% of them were in homes with female householders with no husband present.

The role of the non-traditional leading man has painted a strong image which mirrors the cultural development of our identities; we turn to these men/characters to understand who, or why, we are. Their contributions require acknowledgement. This thesis is a study of the vital role the non-traditional leading man has played in the evolution of twentieth-century theatre. It will examine, through the use of ten plays, one from every decade of the twentieth century, and twelve male roles, the theory that some of the greatest leading male characters in modern theatre are not epitomized by the qualities identified with the stereotypical, romantic leading man, but instead by characters who serve as a representative of the evolution of man, and his everchanging role in history.