This research was initiated due to the popularity brand community phenomenon is gaining among companies through last several years. Growing number of companies on the market and shortening of the life cycle of products, make companies work hard in order to retain existing customers and gain new ones. Brand communities may provide many benefits to companies such as ability to build customer loyalty, increase of the marketing efficiency and enhancement of a brand. We wish to explore brand communities from two perspectives: inside, factors that may influence brand community members in particular purchase of augmented products and word of mouth communication and outside, the perception of brand communities as a future value by prospective customers.Due to our philosophical considerations and non-geographical nature of brand communities, the research method that we have chosen is quantitative. In order to collect a large amount of primary raw data we have used a survey approach. Therefore the self-administered questionnaire was designed. Two sampling techniques were used in data collection process – convenience and snowball. The survey was distributed via e-mail and Internet. The predetermined respondents were asked to answer questionnaires and distribute them further. During the data collection period 258 respondents were surveyed.The findings of this research suggest that prospective customers, who have a favorite brand, see brand community as a future value, hence may have an incentive to buy products or services of a particular brand. A managerial implication in this case is that brand communities are a good opportunity for a company to build long term relations with existing customers by involving them in brand community activities. Brand community events such as meetings, festivals, and promotional activities also influence an incentive of consumers to buy augmented products or services of a company; hence giving a firm an opportunity to earn additional profits by selling more additional products, paid services or accessories. Word of mouth communication is another valuable asset that companies may use. In our research we have proved that word of mouth inside brand communities may influence its members to buy products or services of another brand under the influence of an opinion leader or the majority. So managers of companies that sell related or supplemented products may jointly organize events, and reach more consumers.

Analytical Model of Traffic Signal Structures (TSS) is developed based on a continuous system method to observe dynamic characteristics of the structures. Conventional and basic continuous system method can show the approximate dynamic characteristics of the TSS, but the discretized continuous analytical model is proposed to get more accurate and realistic results of the TSS. In addition, the discretized continuous model can alternatively analyze the effect of the tapered cross-sectional members which are real model of TSS. For the verification of the analytical model, the dynamic characteristics of the numerical solutions by modal analysis in ABAQUS and the results of experimental measurements are provided. Compared with the numerical solutions and the experimental results, the analytical solution for each member shows its considerable accuracy. In addition, it will be also able to accurately express the effects of the linearly tapered cross-sectional member with more discretized continuous structural system. Moreover, the discretized analytical model of the TSS has the usability to observe the effects of boundary flexibility.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-140).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Includes abstract and vita. "September 2002" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117).

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Thesis (Ed. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-209).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-140).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-160).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2002. / Includes abstract and vita. "September 2002" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-117).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-160).