頻繁的產品傷害危機（product-harm crisis）以及隨之而來的產品召回已經引起了公眾的廣泛關注。在此背景下，企業一方面應該有效的應對產品召回，另外一方面應該提高產品品質，從而避免產品傷害事件的發生。然而，由於品質問題已經超越了企業自身的範疇，傳統的以企業為中心的品質管理理論對管理供應鏈品質不具有指導意義。 / 在第一個研究中，我們通過深入案例研究來鑒別供應鏈品質管理體系的關鍵組成部分，在經過嚴格的案例對比分析後，我們識別出了供應鏈品質管理體系的6個重要組成部分，並提出了供應鏈質量管理的定義，以及一個完整的供應鏈品質管理模型。 / 第二個研究主要是分析在上一個研究中提出的供應鏈品質管理模型的有效性。通過實證的方法證明該模型的有效性對於該理論的發展具有重要的意義。通過分析400份基於中國製造商的問卷調查資料，我們發現供應鏈品質管理模型有助於提高企業的品質績效。 / 第三個研究主要側重于從消費者的角度探討不同產品召回策略的影響。具體來說，此研究在組織合法性理論（organizational legitimacy theory），服務主導邏輯（service-dominant logic）和雙因素理論（two-factor theory）的基礎上，探討產品召回主動性和補償策略如何影響消費者感知的組織合法性和再次購買傾向。通過實驗驗證，我們發現產品召回的主動性和補償策略對消費者感知的組織合法性及再次購買傾向具有顯著直接影響和交互作用影響。同時，消費者感知的組織合法性在召回策略（召回主動性和補償策略）和再次購買傾向關係中起到仲介作用。 / 總體上來說，本論文促進了供應鏈品質管理理論的發展，加深了對不同召回策略有效性的理解。同時，本論文也將為企業建立有效的供應鏈品質管理和產品召回系統提供指導。 / In the context of frequent product-harm crisis and product recalls, on the one hand, companies should make efforts to handle the recalls effectively; on the other hand, they should improve quality to prevent the recurrence of product-harm crises. However, as the quality issue goes beyond the scope of the organization, the traditional firm-centric quality management theory has limited implications for managing supply chain quality. / In the first study, we identified the six key components of SCQM and proposed a definition of SCQM and a holistic SCQM framework through in-depth case studies. The second study strived to empirically test the effectiveness of SCQM system that we proposed by analyzing the 400 survey samples collected from manufacturing companies in Mainland China. The results showed that SCQM system could help companies to achieve high quality performance. The third study investigated the effectiveness of different product recall strategies (recall proactiveness and compensation) from the consumers’ perspective, based on the organizational legitimacy theory, service-dominant logic and two-factor theory. Through the scenario experiment, we found significant main effect and interaction effect of recall proactiveness and compensation on consumers’ perception of organizational legitimacy and repurchase intention. Moreover, the perceived organizational legitimacy will mediate the relationship between recall strategies (proactiveness and compensation) and repurchase intention. / In summary, this dissertation will advance the development of supply chain quality management theory and enrich understanding of the effectiveness of different product recalls strategies. In addition, it will provide guidelines for companies to establish the supply chain quality management and product recalls system. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Hu, Haiju. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-140). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.III / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.VIII / LIST OF TABLES --- p.IX / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research Motivations and Research Questions --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Objectives --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of Dissertation --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Quality Management --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Product Recalls --- p.22 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Conceptualization of Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Methodology --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3 --- Within-case Analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4 --- Cross-case Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Definition of Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.60 / Chapter 3.6 --- Supply Chain Quality Management Framework --- p.61 / Chapter 3.7 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Effects of Supply Chain Quality Management on Quality Performance --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Research Hypotheses --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3 --- Research Methodology --- p.84 / Chapter 4.4 --- Analysis and Results --- p.88 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.99 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Effects of Different Recall Strategies on Consumer Reaction --- p.103 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.103 / Chapter 5.2 --- Theoretical Background and Research Hypotheses --- p.104 / Chapter 5.3 --- Research Methodology --- p.110 / Chapter 5.4 --- Analysis and Results --- p.112 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary --- p.119 / Chapter 6.1 --- Overview --- p.119 / Chapter 6.2 --- Theoretical Contributions --- p.120 / Chapter 6.3 --- Managerial Contributions --- p.121 / Chapter 6.4 --- Limitations and Future Research Directions --- p.121 / Chapter Appendix 1 --- Measurement Instrument for Chapter 4 --- p.123 / Chapter Appendix 2 --- Measurement Items for Chapter 5 --- p.127 / Reference --- p.129

Financial and industrial economists are increasingly recognising the interaction between capital structure and firms' strategies in the product market. A debate exists regarding the nature of the relationship between firms' product market power and financial leverage. Particularly, researchers have asked whether the relationship is positive, negative or non-linear. This thesis contributes to this research agenda by developing game-theoretic models, and conducting empirical tests. Specifically, the thesis examines the effects of market power on a firm's use of long-term debt.

All production machinery is designed with an inherent capability to handle slight variations in product. This is initially achieved by simply providing adjustments to allow, for example, changes that occur in pack sizes to be accommodated, through user settings or complete sets of change parts. By the appropriate use of these abilities most variations in product can be handled. However when extreme conditions of setups, major changes in product size and configuration, are considered there is no guarantee that the existing machines are able to cope. The problem is even more difficult to deal with when completely new product families are proposed to be made on an existing product line. Such changes in product range are becoming more common as producers respond to demands for ever increasing customization and product differentiation. An issue exists due to the lack of knowledge on the capabilities of the machines being employed. This often forces the producer to undertake a series of practical product trials. These however can only be undertaken once the product form has been decided and produced in sufficient numbers. There is then little opportunity to make changes that could greatly improve the potential output of the line and reduce waste. There is thus a need for a supportive modelling approach that allows the effect of variation in products to be analyzed together with an understanding of the manufacturing machine capability. Only through their analysis and interaction can the capabilities be fully understood and refined to make production possible. This thesis presents a constraint-based approach that offers a solution to the problems above. While employing this approach it has been shown that, a generic process can be formed to identify the limiting factors (constraints) of variant products to be processed. These identified constraints can be mapped to form the potential limits of performance for the machine. The limits of performance of a system (performance envelopes) can be employed to assess the design capability to cope with product variation. The approach is successfully demonstrated on three industrial case studies.

This research investigates three approaches to new product sales forecasting: statistical, judgmental and the integration of these two approaches. The aim of the research is to find a simple, easy-to-use, low cost and accurate tool which can be used by managers to forecast the sales of new products. A review of the literature suggested that the Bass diffusion model was an appropriate statistical method for new product sales forecasting. For the judgmental approach, after considering different methods and constraints, such as bias, complexity, lack of accuracy, high cost and time involvement, the Delphi method was identified from the literature as a method, which has the potential to mitigate bias and produces accurate predictions at a low cost in a relatively short time. However, the literature also revealed that neither of the methods: statistical or judgmental, can be guaranteed to give the best forecasts independently, and a combination of them is the often best approach to obtaining the most accurate predictions. The study aims to compare these three approaches by applying them to actual sales data. To forecast the sales of new products, the Bass diffusion model was fitted to the sales history of similar (analogous) products that had been launched in the past and the resulting model was used to produce forecasts for the new products at the time of their launch. These forecasts were compared with forecasts produced through the Delphi method and also through a combination of statistical and judgmental methods. All results were also compared to the benchmark levels of accuracy, based on previous research and forecasts based on various combinations of the analogous products’ historic sales data. Although no statistically significant difference was found in the accuracy of forecasts, produced by the three approaches, the results were more accurate than those obtained using parameters suggested by previous researchers. The limitations of the research are discussed at the end of the thesis, together with suggestions for future research.

The aim of this research was to determine if strategic marketing options will grow the sales of finer grade vermiculite.

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Product placement je nový fenomén marketingové komunikace. Tato práce přináší analýzu product placementu a principů, na nichž je založen. Definuje placement. Popisuje jeho historický vývoj a současnou situaci. Zkoumá, zda je tento nástroj efektivní z hlediska marketingu. Pozastavuje se také nad rozdílným přístupem k regulaci placementu v USA a v Evropě. Zkoumá etiku placementu a odhaduje jeho budoucí vývoj na globálním trhu a v ČR.

The objective of this thesis is to verify the business model of a new product introduced by a newly founded company named Lifelink s.r.o. and its product of the same name. The thesis is conceived as a recommendation for the investor whether to accept or decline an investment in the project. The paper should also serve as an estimate of the profitability of the project and its value to the investor. The thesis is based on utilization of theoretical and practical knowledge gained during my studies and its application in introduction of a new product. The thesis is divided into four parts, where the first part represents the introduction containing the description, objectives and methods of the thesis. The second part contains the methodology which is going to be used in the third part. This part represents the application of the methodoly presented earlier and its core is a feasibility study expended by the specifics of a business model evaluation. The conclusion contains the recommendation for the investor based on calculated net present value and economic value of the project which incorporate all findings from the third part of the thesis.

O presente trabalho analisa a importância da determinação de preços para a competitividade do varejo supermercadista. Após uma revisão da literatura sobre as diversas definições de preços e as formas de estabelecê-los, são analisadas as seis etapas propostas por especialistas de marketing para o apreçamento estratégico de produtos. Nessas seis etapas são discutidas a influência da demanda e a importância dos custos, os métodos de estabelecimento mais utilizados, descrevendo-se suas características e limitações, as técnicas de adequação à diversas situações, bem como a seleção do preço final. Os passos adotados pelos varejistas são também abordados, assim como outras variáveis que têm impacto na estratégia escolhida para se fixar os preços nos supermercados, além da demanda, dos custos e dos concorrentes. Por fim, as estratégias de apreçamento são estudadas empiricamente, por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com gerentes de três redes de varejo de grande porte que atuam no mercado nacional, onde é verificada a utilização das técnicas de apreçamento, como instrumento de auxílio na tomada de decisões relacionadas aos programas de preço da empresa. Em conclusão, verifica-se que à medida que os especialistas em varejo buscam mais bases científicas e confiáveis para auxiliar na tomada de decisões quanto à definição de políticas de preços, é essencial que possuam uma compreensão clara dos conceitos e das variáveis da que influenciam na determinação dos preços dos produtos que comercializam, assim como o conhecimento das diversas técnicas de apreçamento, além do mark-up. / The present paper analyses the importance of pricing for the competitiveness of the retail sector (supermarkets). After a bibliographic survey on the several definitions concerning price and how it is determinate, six steps, proposed by marketing experts, to products strategic pricing are analyzed. In these steps, the demand influence, the costs importance and the most important pricing methods are discussed, describing their characteristics and limitations, the techniques to adequate it to different situations, as so as the final price selection. The steps that are adopted by supermarket retail are also outlined, thus as the variables that have some influence on its chosen pricing strategy. Demand and competitors costs are also analyzed. Finally, pricing strategies are empirically studied through multicases study on three large retail chains. In this part, the use by these companies of pricing methods as a tool to assist decision making related to the long-run pricing programs is verified. In conclusion, it is seen that, while retail specialists seek more scientific and reliable bases for aiding the decisions regarding the price strategies, it is essential that they posses a clear comprehension of the concepts and the variables that have influence on products price determination that are commercialized by themselves, as well as the technical skills to pricing, besides the mark-up method.

Structure-activity relationships (SARs) in the disorazole family have been revealed through the biological testing of natural disorazoles and their synthetic analogues, but little is known about the contribution of the oxazole to the anti-tubulin activity of disorazole C1 I. The development of a novel Evans-Tishchenko/alkyne metathesis (ET-AM) route towards the synthesis of disorazole C1 will provide straightforward access to disorazole C1 and its heterocyclic analogues, thus allowing the contribution of the oxazole to the natural product's bioactivity to be elucidated. Our ET-AM approach offers a highly diastereoselective and convergent means of constructing heterocyclic analogues of the disorazole C1 scaffold Het-II. It is envisaged that ET coupling of C(1)-C(9) aldehydes Het-IV to the C(10)-C(19) β-hydroxyketone V will give the key, requisite, 1,3-anti diol monoester bis-alkynes Het-III for dimerisation via an alkyne cross-metathesis/ring-closing alkyne metathesis (ACM-RCAM) reaction. Further diversification may be achieved through the synthesis of C(6)-heteroatom analogues of the C(1)-C(9) fragment Het-IV. Chapter 2 outlines efforts towards the synthesis of C(6)-amino analogues Het-VI of the C(1)-C(9) fragment IV. Elaboration of Garner's aldehyde VIII allowed the synthesis of the N-protected C(5)-C(9) mesylate VII; an analogue of an advanced C(1)-C(9) fragment intermediate. A scalable route towards the synthesis of the C(10)-C(19) fragment V and investigations into its reactivity under ET coupling conditions are critical to the success of our ET-AM approach. Chapter 3 details convergent approaches towards the synthesis of the C(10)-C(19) β-hydroxyketone V, which centred around: (i) an olefin cross-metathesis reaction [C(11)-C(12) disconnection]; (ii) an epoxide ringopening reaction [C(12)-C(13) disconnection]; and (iii) a Mukaiyama aldol reaction [C(14)-C(15) disconnection]. Chapter 4 describes our successful linear synthesis of the β-hydroxyketone V. Gram-scale preparation of the C(10)-C(19) fragment V permitted investigation into the viability of the ET reaction as a fragment coupling strategy, the results of which are reported in Chapter 5. Although many (hetero)aryl aldehydes failed to react, the successful coupling of electron-deficient substrates allowed a contingency strategy to be explored through preparation of the mono-protected diol IX. Esterification of IX with the carboxylic acid derivative of the C(1)-C(9) oxazole has allowed generation of the C(1)-C(9)/C(10')-C(19') bis-alkyne X required for future AM investigations.