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"This case study examined the implementation of the Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at a high school that was labeled as a turnaround school (overall academic achievement proficiency below 55%) in 2006-2007. The foundation of PLCs is built on a shared vision and mission. The PLC principles of learning for all students, a collaborative culture, and a focus on results were the components most identified in the literature review, which helped shape the design of the methodology. Under the leadership of a new principal and with the implementation and focus on PLCs, Ocean Breeze High School's (OBHS) academic achievement proficiency grew from 48.6% to 87.5% within a three-year period. Based on this phenomenal progress, this case study investigated the relationship between PLC characteristics and instructional practices at this school. The data sources included fourteen interviews with eleven teachers and three administrators, observations of two PLC meetings, fourteen classroom observations, and a document review. The data from the interviews were transcribed and themes were matched to reflect common perceptions from teachers and administrators on PLC practices. PLC meetings were observed to identify collaborative interactions between team members. A document review included any documents or artifacts that the school has used to implement PLC principles or similar practices. Classroom observations were conducted to compare if instructional practices correlate with interview responses, PLC meetings, and the documents reviewed. This study found that there is a relationship between PLCs and instructional practices. The findings included: (a) teachers ensure that all students learn by developing common instructional guides that support the state curriculum; (b) teachers meet to discuss the curriculum, pedagogical strategies, and assessments in PLC meetings; and (c) teachers and administrators analyze data to make instructional decisions to enhance teaching and learning. / Ed. D.

The purpose of this study was to generalize the findings about market orientation, learning orientation, innovation and performance to the textile and apparel context in South Korea, specifically to SMEs, and, in addition, to investigate the role of informal relationships in SMEs within the presence of these other variables. This study postulates that market orientation, learning orientation, and innovation are related to performance. This study conducted a survey in South Korea, using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire, to determine the relationship of various management related variables with the SMEs' performance. Of the 200 questionnaires that were distributed, 183 were returned and178 were completed and usable for the research. Results of this study showed that components of market orientation and learning orientation were both significantly related to innovation and some components along with innovation were significantly related to South Korean apparel SMEs' performance. The proposed relationship of these factors to performance could be generalized to SMEs in the apparel industry, within the context of South Korea. / Master of Science

Although most institutions offer a parent program option to the orientation program, there has been little formalized research into the quality, planning or programming of parent orientation. There has been very little research into the impact parent orientation has on parents and whether or not they feel that such programs have met their needs, particularly by gender, minority status, educational background, or by geographic distance from the institution. This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of the parent orientation program at the University of North Texas to the parents who participate in this program. The study attempts to measure whether parents feel that they have adequate information about the institution to adequately support their student through the college transition; if parents feel welcomed by the UNT campus community; and if they feel that they have developed resources and institutional contacts that may be useful in the future in assisting their child to have a successful college experience at UNT. The study, conducted in the summer of 2002, had 736 respondents. An instrument developed to determine parent's perceptions of the effectiveness of the parent orientation program consisted of 31 questions using a Likert scale. A t-Test was utilized to analyze the data because it is designed to compare the means of the same variable with two different groups. Generally, all aspects of the parent orientation program were found to be positive by each subgroup. Parents found value in the orientation program and how it prepared them to support their new college student. In all four components studied, women had a stronger feeling than the males. Minority status had no significant impact on the outcomes of orientation according to the participants. Educational background proved not to be a significant factor. Distance parents lived from UNT revealed significant difference in three of the four categories. The farther a parent resides from UNT, the more valuable the orientation experience was for them.

This thesis studies the impact of market orientation on the business performance of the Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing organizations in the post MFA environment. An attempt is made to enhance the existing market orientation theory by addressing a research gap and highlighting the importance of the relationship perspective in business to business marketing. A four dimensional market orientation construct is developed to overcome the limitations identified in the extant market orientation theories. The study also identifies resource availability as an antecedent of market orientation along with six other antecedents which are commonly discussed in literature. It further investigates whether the market orientation-business performance relationship is moderated by the prevailing business environment. The proposed modifications to the theory are empirically tested within the context of the apparel industry.

Aim: The purpose of the study is to understand how SME companies uses market orientation to target customers through Google AdWords.  Method: This study uses a qualitative method approach as the purpose of the study is to increase understanding. Furthermore, the empirical data used has been collected through eight semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted at eight SME companies in Stockholm, Gävle and Uppsala. The keywords identified in the analysis were created by setting theory and empirical elements against each other and thus creating a pattern. Result and Conclusion: The result shows that all companies use market orientation and Google AdWords to gather and disseminate information. However, the work of market orientation and Google AdWords varies in relation to the theory. All companies in the study find Google AdWords to be a profitable marketing tool. Suggestions for future research: Future studies can use the empirical model found in the study to see how companies work with market orientation and Google AdWords in a specific market where competing companies are investigated to try to find the best approach. Inter-functional coordination is also a topic that should be further studied since this study did not find a clear work on the design. Future research should have the new Data Protection Act (GDPR) in mind as the law changes a lot about how personal information can be saved and spread by companies, especially by Google. As well as a change of a Swedish game license that will be introduced. Contribution of the thesis:  The study has contributed in an increased understanding of how SMEs work with SEM tools, such as Google AdWords, to be market oriented from a practical and theoretical perspective. The contribution of the study has found that all companies use some form of market orientation when using Google AdWords. / Syfte:  Syftet med studien är att förstå hur SME:s marknadsorienterar sig mot kunder genom Google AdWords.   Metod: Studien använder en kvalitativ metod. Syftet med studien är att öka förståelse för fenomenet Google AdWords. Vidare har den empiriska data som används samlats in via åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer, dessa intervjuer utfördes på åtta SME:s i Stockholm, Gävle och Uppsala. De nyckelord som identifierats i analysen har skapats genom att teori och empiridel ställts mot varandra och skapat nyckelord för de iakttagelser som gjorts.   Resultat och slutsats: Resultatet visar att samtliga företag använder sig av marknadsorientering och Google AdWords. Dock varierar arbetet med marknadsorientering och Google AdWords i förhållande till teorin. Samtliga företag i studien finner Google AdWords att vara ett upplevt lönsamt marknadsföringsverktyg.   Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Framtida studier kan använda den empiriska modell som finns i studien för att se hur företag arbetar med marknadsorientering och Google AdWords inom en specifik marknad. Interfunktionell koordinering är också ett tema som bör studeras vidare eftersom studien inte fann ett uttalat arbete med konstruktionen. Framtida forskning bör ha nya personuppgiftslagen GDPR i åtanke eftersom lagen förändrar hur personuppgifter får sparas och spridas av företag. Samt att en förändring av svensk spellicens som kommer att införas.   Uppsatsens bidrag: Studien har bidragit med en ökad förståelse för hur SME:s arbetar med SEM-verktyget Google AdWords för att marknadsorientera sig ur ett praktiskt och teoretiskt perspektiv. Bidraget studien har kommit fram till är att samtliga företag använder någon form av marknadsorientering när de använder Google AdWords.

The relationships among self-labeled sexual orientation, sexual preferences, and sexual behaviors were examined in samples from Taiwan and the USA. Subsamples matched on gender, age, and marital status were created to reduce sexual orientation cell size discrepancies and demographic differences. Sexual orientation self-label, the Kinsey Scale of Sexual Orientation, and a modified version for preference were used to assess participants' sexual orientation, behavior, and preference, respectively. Additional measures included an adaptation of the Early Sexual Experiences Checklist, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for psychological distress. For both Taiwan and USA subsamples, heterosexual participants reported significantly greater congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference than did nonheterosexual participants. A high proportion of the Taiwan sample were celibate, precluding analyses of congruence between sexual orientation identity and sexual behavior. Congruence between sexual behavior and preference in the USA sample was negatively correlated with psychological distress. In a cross-cultural comparison between the Taiwan and USA women (n = 176), the two samples reported similar congruence between sexual orientation identity and preference. Exploratory analyses revealed that heterosexual participants' sexual orientation label was more “public, ” (more categories of people who knew the participants' sexual orientation), than was nonheterosexuals' in both Taiwan and the USA. In Taiwan, heterosexual and nonheterosexual participants reported similar proportions who were celibate. A gender difference within the USA subsample included that men reported significantly greater congruence than did women regarding sexual orientation identity and congruence between behavior and preference. Analyses comparing self-labeled sexual orientation groups on unwanted childhood sexual experiences and age of earliest voluntary sexual activity were not significant. This study's limitations included small numbers of bisexual (USA n = 27, Taiwan n = 17) or homosexual (USA n = 35, Taiwan n = 9) participants, prohibiting distinctions between them. Recommended future research includes examining the self-labeling process, Asian American student sexual behaviors, and incorporating frequency and intrusiveness when assessing unwanted childhood sexual experiences.

The purpose of this thesis is to determine the extent to which strategic communications is being practiced, and its implications on organizational performance in the Canadian arts sector. This thesis discusses the unique characteristics of not-for-profit charitable performing arts organizations within the context of strategic communications. As a mission-based field, the not-for-profit arts sector operates under the premise that it must find a market for its product, instead of finding a product for its market. Building on communication and arts marketing theories, this thesis posits that strategic communications management can contribute to the success of arts organizations and address the gap between arts products and its market. In particular, this thesis analyzes the following components of strategic communications management, in relation to the practices of the Canadian arts sector: relationship management/marketing, interpersonal relationship values, organization public relationship values, and market orientation. / Thesis / Master of Communications Management (MCM) / The purpose of this thesis is to determine the extent to which strategic communications is being practiced, and its implications for organizational performance in the Canadian arts sector. This thesis discusses the unique characteristics of not-for-profit charitable performing arts organizations within the context of strategic communications. Building on communication and arts marketing theories, this thesis posits that strategic communications management can contribute to the success of arts organizations and address the gap between arts products and patrons.