The researcher establishes, through review of literature on the theory of the firm, that the firm operates as a complex adaptive system, consisting of interdependent tangible activity indicators and intangible capabilities. These interdependent capabilities are ultimately the drivers for creating competitive advantage, which is made observable as the value of the firm. When evaluating firm value, experts in the field of capital appraisal make use of the standard DCF method that, however, accounts only for tangible activity indicators and does not explicitly examine the intangible capabilities of the firm. In an attempt to address the above limitation, the researcher develops a methodology aimed at explicitly evaluating firm capabilities in the context of firm valuation. In an effort to accomplish this task, the researcher adopts a qualitative and quantitative approach to identify and analyse the underlying constituents of firm capabilities. Through a series of discussions and group sessions with experts, the research identified 127 intangible activity indicators, which are summarised under eight higher order factors (capabilities). This structure is confirmed through PLS analysis that indicates the existence of the following eight intangible capabilities: (1) value for money, (2) product complexity, (3) distribution, (4) culture, (5) competition, (6) asset management, (7) environment and (8) market equity. Regression analysis confirms that intangible capabilities represent a better predictor for firm value than thangible activity indicators. The researcher also carries out bivariate correlation analyses in order to examine the interrelationship between tangible activity indicators and intangible capabilities. The results confirm that the tangible activity indicators are indeed embedded in the firm's intangible capabilities. Overall, the research adds knowledge in three areas. First, it extends the literature on capabilities and firm valuation by providing a superior way to DCF of evaluating firm value as a function of the firm's capabilities. Second, the research contributes to business practice by offering a step-wise procedure for explicitly evaluating firm capabilities. Third, the research adds knowledge to methods by identifying the intangible activity indicators through interviews and surveys with experts in the field of capital appraisal and reducing these activity indicators into capabilities using focus groups and PLS analysis.

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This research sets out to assess if the PHC system in rural Nigeria is effective by testing the research hypothesis: 'PHC can be effective if and only if the Health Care Delivery System matches the attitudes and expectations of the Community'. The field surveys to accomplish this task were carried out in IBO, YORUBA, and HAUSA rural communities. A variety of techniques have been used as Research Methodology and these include questionnaires, interviews and personal observations of events in the rural community. This thesis embraces three main parts. Part I traces the socio-cultural aspects of PHC in rural Nigeria, describes PHC management activities in Nigeria and the practical problems inherent in the system. Part II describes various theoretical and practical research techniques used for the study and concentrates on the field work programme, data analysis and the research hypothesis-testing. Part III focusses on general strategies to improve PHC system in Nigeria to make it more effective. The research contributions to knowledge and the summary of main conclusions of the study are highlighted in this part also. Based on testing and exploring the research hypothesis as stated above, some conclusions have been arrived at, which suggested that PHC in rural Nigeria is ineffective as revealed in people's low opinions of the system and dissatisfaction with PHC services. Many people had expressed the view that they could not obtain health care services in time, at a cost they could afford and in a manner acceptable to them. Following the conclusions, some alternative ways to implement PHC programmes in rural Nigeria have been put forward to improve and make the Nigerian PHC system more effective.

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No description available.

No description available.

This thesis is concerned with those factors influencing the present perfoTI11ance of Greek manufacturing industry and the ways in which improvements could be realized after Greece joins European Communities. Detailed examination is made of the Greek footwear industry and its problems as the country emerges from a semi developed state to a position approaching parity with Western European countries. Particular attention is paid to the technology employed, capital deployment, industrial structure and managerial performance. In order to illustrate the path of development of the Greek footwear industry a comparison is undertaken with the British footwear industry which has a longer history and has employed larger scale methods since the 19th century. This comparison illustrates the opportunities and pitfalls likely to face the Greek industry in coming years. One section of the thesis is also concerned with trading relationships between the U.K. and Greece and identifies the market opportunities available to Greek industrialists. A detailed analysis is undertaken of the available secondary sources of information particularly official statistical data relating to production, capital expenditure, imports and exports, employment and consumption. Use is also made of various surveys of trade and production in footwear undertaken by trade associations and other bodies. The field research study has been largely directed towards practicing managers in companies of various size and is concerned with exposing standards of management and of relating efficiency to organization structure. The thesis is also concerned with the many wide issues affecting the development of manufacturing industry in Greece including the influence of social structure and social institutions, the values of modern Greek society and the complex organizational problems which Greece needs to overcome in order to take its place amongst the more established states of Europe.

The thesis provides an analysis of an occupation in the process of making itself a profession. The solicitors' profession in Birmingham underwent a great many changes during the 19th century against a background of industrialisation and urbanisation. The solicitors' conception of their status and role, in the face of these challenges, had implications for successful strategies of professionalisation. The increased prestige and power of the profession, and especially its elite, are examined in their social context rather than in terms of a technical process, or educational and organisational change. The thesis argues that -the profession's social relationships and broad concerns were significant in establishing solicitors as "professional men". In particular these are related to the profession's efforts to gain control of markets for legal services and increase social status. In the course of achieving these aims a concept of profession and a self-image were articulated by solicitors in order to persuade society and the state of the legitimacy of their claims. The concept of the gentlemanly professional was of critical importance in this instance. The successful creation of a provincial professional "community" by the end of the 19th century rested principally on a social and moral conception of professionalism rather than one which stressed specialised training and knowledge, professional organisations and credentials.

Two primary issues are examined ln this study. Firstly, which financial variables are associated with the success of a rights issue. The results suggested that the market capitalisation, rela­tive size of the issue and the return on capital employed were of importance. The statistical significance of the discount, measured as the difference between the current market price and the subscrip­ tion price and the importance of the pre-issue share price was difficult to explain. Secondly, a postal questionnaire (n = 110) was used to determine private shareholders' knowledge of rights issues with particular reference to the importance of the issue price. The respondents were randomly chosen from two public companies and the data did not exhibit a statistically significant difference between the two groups Over half of the respondents showed an ill-informed view and were classed as naive. The naive view was independent of the shareholders' characteristics. We have strong evidence to argue that the sample is representative of private shareholders as a population. The respondents' attitude towards the new issue was in accord with the perfect market model. Three supplementary topics were examined. A superior method to measure the discount offered in a rights issue showed that the subscription price chosen by a sample of the rights issues in 1976 was not inconsistent with that expected from perfect market theory. Theoretical evaluation of The Stock Exchange's procedure to adjust traded call option contracts when the underlying security is subject to a rights issue argued that an inconsistent method was used. The examination of the equilibrium between the direct and indirect routes of equity purchase during the subscription period of a rights issue produced re ults that were not inconsistent with the mooted option characteristic of a right.