This thesis assesses the impact of the Jepara Furniture Value Chain (FVC) project, which was conducted by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) to address challenges faced by small-scale furniture producers in Jepara, Indonesia. This assessment focuses on the effect of membership in the APKJ, a producer association started as part of the project. The propensity score for association membership was estimated using unchanging firm and owner characteristics, as well as information recalled about firm operations in 2009 (before the association was formed). Propensity score matching was used to compare outcome variables of association members and non-members. Results suggest that membership in the APKJ does not have a significant effect on profit levels. Using differenced current and recalled marketing and production behaviors as outcome variables with propensity score matching indicates that members have improved their bargaining position and marketing behaviors more than non-members since 2009. Additionally, APKJ members are more likely to have obtained certificates of timber legality / Master of Science

Much effort of reservoir engineers is devoted to the time-consuming process of history matching in a simulator to understand the reservoir complexity. Its accuracy is debatable because only a few inputs are known. Several analytical tools have been developed to investigate reservoir heterogeneity. The reciprocal productivity index (RPI) is a tool to measure the pressure support observed at a producer. The log (water-oil ratio or WOR) plot can be used to indicate the presence of a channel. A capacitance-resistance model (CRM) is a simple tool to estimate the connectivity between a producer-injector pair from the production/injection and pressure data. Generally field operators implement an improved recovery plan such as water-alternating-gas (WAG) flood to improve displacement efficiency. However, the existence of heterogeneity compromises its performance. The first objective of this study is to improve the assessment of tertiary flood performance by integrating the CRM with other analytical tools. The integrated method was applied to a miscible flood field in West Texas. The results suggest strong interwell connectivity found more frequently in the NE-SW direction and the different preferential flow paths of injected CO2 and water. Overall, the results provide insights into the current flood status. The operating conditions of a producer dynamically change because of well/field constraints. These changes can induce significant interference in other wells, which cannot be captured by CRM. The second objective of this study is to develop a capacitance-resistance model with producer-producer interaction (CRMP-P). The CRMP-P, derived from the continuity and Darcy’s equations, accounts for producer-producer interactions. The CRMP-P was applied to data from three different reservoir models. The results suggest that the CRMP-P could fit the data with higher precision than CRM. Consequently, the CRMP-P estimates of reservoir properties are more accurate. Moreover, the estimated transmissibility between producers is in agreement with the reservoir models. The CRMP-P was also applied to Omani field data. The transmissibility results are consistent with previous study and the drilling information. The more accurate information on producer-producer interactions and reservoir properties can assist in history-matching, locating infill wells, and reservoir management planning. / text

Resume The thesis is focused mainly on the rights of phonogram and audiovisual fixation producers. Choosing this topic came as a result of my own personal interest in music, as well as the constantly active public debate regarding the protection of rights of the producers in relation to the expantion of internet and related transmission of digital data. Part one is followed by establishing main terms, specifically the phonograms and their producers, and audiovisual fixations and their producers. The history of copyright protection and related rights is discussed in the third part. Despite the long history of intelectual property protection, copyright and related rights were not included into the Czech legal system until 1953. The historical excursion into copyright and related rights leads to exploration of the rights of phonograms and audiovisual fixations producers, especially in the light of how easy their worldwide distribution in today`s world is. Copyright is based on the quasidual concept of personal and property rights. Producers of phonograms or audiovisual fixations are granted solely property rights. The last two chapters are devoted to the explanation of individual rights and their potential civil or public protection under the valid Czech legal system.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / The purpose of the thesis is to assess the level of strategic planning that farm managers utilize within their business and determine if it is a factor of performance. Through the use of an interview questionnaire, combined with current financial data, the study was conducted on an established client base from a banking institution. All of the participants are actively involved in primary production agriculture in Ontario, Canada. Significant variation identified through the development of a planning index, confirmed that manager’s use planning in their farm businesses. The primary goal of determining the relationship between planning and farm profits, measured through Net Income, is positive. Further to this, farmers seek profit maximization and efficiency through planning. Factors affecting planning most notably include the manager’s age—indicating the role of experience in influencing planning—and the number of people involved in the operation. The results of this research provide input into increasing bankers’ understanding of how farmers plan and how to help them make stronger connections between their production planning effort and their financial planning efforts.

The aim of this research is to develop, examine and validate a conceptual framework, which explains factors of the export supply chain relationship focusing on information sharing in export supply chain management field. This research seeks to understand the dyadic exporter-producer relationship in the export industry of fresh fruit and vegetables from Jordan to the European Union. Jordan supplies very limited fresh fruit and vegetable exports to the European market and the exporter-producer relationships are still weak, which impedes the emergence of a high performance supply chain within this promising market. There has been a lack of conceptual and empirical research on information sharing, which limits the understanding of the business relationship and there is no theoretical framework analysing export supply chain relationships. Therefore, this research examines the possible association between the following factors: relationship, network and transaction dimensions; information sharing; and export performance. A framework for the influence of information sharing on a dyadic exporter-producer relationship of supply chain management guiding this research is developed initially, based on three perspectives: relationship marketing theory, network theory and transaction cost theory. Qualitative methodology is used to achieve the research aim and objectives in Jordan. The research is comprised of two phases. In phase one, seven interviews with experts are conducted to refine the initial framework for key propositions and propose a framework for supply chain management. In phase two, there are ten multiple-case studies, which contain 40 semi-structured interviews, 40 hours of observations and archival records. These cases are primarily conducted with the selected exporter and producer firms in the export industry of fresh fruit and vegetables. Data are collected and analysed, based on key themes and a case study protocol, which individually explore each exporter-producer relationship ―case‖ in order to examine the proposed framework. Finally, the ten cases are cross-analysed to explain the key findings and to match them to the framework in order to validate it as the final conceptual framework for supply chain management. The research findings support the central premise that specific dimensions of relationships, networks and transactions are the key antecedents of information sharing, which in turn influences export performance. The findings confirm that the exporters and the producers are able to support their relationships through the benefits gained from these dimensions at the relationship, network and transaction levels of the export III Information Sharing in an Export Supply Chain Relationship Luai Jraisat supply chain. It is through this alignment that firms create better information sharing between them. Likewise, the findings suggest that firms will be able to gain strategic advantages from supply chain management based on information sharing and its components, namely content, sharing methods, sources and value, thus suggesting that the firms should apply information sharing to improve financial and non-financial export performance. The research makes key contributions to theory and methodology, and has policy and managerial implications. Theoretical contributions are made to the supply chain management literature by providing a holistic framework for supply chain management to understand the exporter-producer relationship. The research expands on the applications of the three perspectives combined and focuses on information sharing as a key factor. Methodological contributions are offered as this research connects the qualitative methodology to the theory, enabling an analytical generalisation of supply chain management relationships by examining both sides of the dyadic relationship to guide their information sharing. This research expands more on the validity and reliability aspects to ensure the strength of this qualitative empirical research. Policy and managerial implications are addressed for managers and policy-makers. The research limitations and guidelines for future research are discussed.

The main goal of my thesis is to map the legal regulation of municipal waste management in the Czech Republic. The reason for the study of the legal regulation is to establish whether the regulation has sufficient instruments to treat the municipal waste in compliance of the waste management hierarchy that is grounded in the European Union's Waste Framework Directive. The thesis also deals with the different concept of the municipal waste in Czech and European legislation. It mentions the differences that would be carried out to the field of municipal waste by the planned legislation.

Daniel Conk 5 January 2012 Thesis Abstract This thesis is an empirical research on the impact that preferential trade agreements have on the welfare of individuals and nation-states. As the number of preferential trade agreements has been growing steadily, the on-going clash between regionalism and multilateralism will be a key topic throughout the research. Fair trade movements have been becoming more popular over the fast few years as some organizations have strived to raise consumers awareness regarding the great disparities among the profit margins of the producers or farmers in developing countries in comparison to those of the merchants and distributors in developed countries. Even though quantitative data will be used in order to portray the growing economic inequalities present in today s world, arguments will also be supported on grounds of ethics and morals relating to social justice.

Essa pesquisa objetiva compreender a dinâmica espacial do Sudoeste Paulista, através de abordagem econômica e social do espaço rural, analisando e refletindo sobre o universo da produção agrícola familiar e as possibilidades futuras deste setor frente às políticas públicas, as possíveis mudanças no dinamismo regional, e os limites que os mesmos têm enfrentado com relação à estrutura fundiária, à produção, à comercialização, aos recursos financeiros, ao acesso à tecnologia, à assistência técnica, sua representação e atuação em associações, cooperativas, sindicatos e outras entidades. As áreas pesquisadas fazem parte do Escritório de Desenvolvimento Rural de Presidente Prudente, composto de 21 municípios, entre os estratos de área de até 100 hectares. No levantamento de campo foram entrevistados produtores rurais, destacando-se questões ligadas à unidade de produção, bem como à unidade social dos agricultores familiares. A região estudada, embora apresente, desde sua formação histórica, alta concentração fundiária de caráter capitalista, com predomínio da atividade pecuária de corte extensiva, não levou, necessariamente, ao desaparecimento das unidades de produção familiares, fossem elas pequenas ou médias. Tampouco levou a uma homogeneização da produção; antes, observa-se uma dinâmica que muitas vezes inclui múltiplos caminhos, os quais proporcionam uma adaptação contraditória frente às novas circunstâncias sociais e de produção. Com relação às políticas públicas para o setor destacado neste estudo, verifica-se que o Programa Nacional de Fortalecimento da Agricultura Familiar não foi, até agora, suficiente para atender, de forma eficaz, os produtores familiares. A comercialização indireta da produção e a insegurança com relação aos preços foram fatores destacados, entre outros aspectos, como limitantes para o produtor familiar, que mostrou resistência em adotar formas de organização social que pudessem protegê-lo. Entretanto, através de estratégias, esses produtores têm sido os responsáveis por parte significativa da produção agropecuária regional, bem como da absorção de mão-de-obra no campo. Neste sentido, analisando-se processos sociais concretos, apreendem-se a diversidade e a complexidade de possibilidades neles contidas, podendo, então, apontar caminhos que possam trazer transformações ao dinamismo regional. / This study aims to understand the space dynamics of the Paulista Southwestern region, through the economic and social approach of the rural, analyzing and reflecting on the overall family agricultural production and its future possibilities before public policies, the possible shifts in the regional dynamics, and the limits that they have faced in relation to land structure production, trade, financial resources, access to technology, and technical assistance, its representation and performance in associations, cooperatives, unions and other entities. The areas researched are parts of the Presidente Prudente Rural Development Office, formed by 21 counties, in up-to-100-hectare area levels. During the field survey, rural producers were interviewed, emphasizing matters connected to the production unit, as well as to the social unit of the family farmers. The region considered, although it has presented a high-level land concentration of capitalist character since its historical formation, and in which the animal husbandry activity of extensive slaughter has been predominant, has necessarily led neither to the disappearance of the little or large family production units, nor to a production homogenity; instead, I have observed a dynamics that has often included multiple ways, which have provided a contradictory adaptation before the new social and production circumstances. In relation to public policies for the field focused in this study, I have verified that the Family Agriculture Development National Program has not been enough to assist the family producers efficiently up to now. The indirect commercialization of the production and the insecurity in relation to prices were the main aspects in focus, among others, as limits for the family producer, who has showed resistance in adapting ways of social organization which could protect them. Nevertheless, through strategies, these very producers have been responsible for a meaningful part of the regional agricultural and animal husbandry production, as well as for labour absorption in the country. Therefore, in analyzing concrete social processes, I have realized the diversity and complexity of possibilities within them, so that, I believe it is able to indicate ways that could bring changes to the regional dynamics.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of how multisided platforms (MSP) could retain different user groups on their platform. To fulfill the purpose, the following research questions (RQ) were derived: RQ 1: How could MSPs design their activities to retain users on the producer side(s)? and RQ 2: How could MSPs design their activities to retain users on the consumer side(s)? Method – This study was conducted as an abductive single case study based on a multisided platform developed within the health sector. In addition, complimentary interviews were conducted to validate and expand the result from the case study. In total, 15 interviews were conducted and analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings – The findings are presented in a framework showing what activities to conduct in certain stages of platform development and is divided between two distinct platform sides, producers and consumers. The different stages are relative to critical mass i.e. how many users the MSP has and shows which activities that is necessary in these stages. Theoretical implication and Practical implication – The study suggests activities necessary for retaining users on MSPs seen to certain stages of development. Additional contributions are (1) in the beginning, MSPs should initially focus on the platform side who provides the most viable product, (2) mass in users is a prerequisite for finding the right matches, and (3) “super-platforms” with many value offerings will be key for retaining users and long-term success. The practical implications are (1) which activities that are necessary on a certain side of the MSP, (2) guiding managers with which activities that are suitable in a certain stage of platform development, and (3) provide managers with the ability to plan future activities. Limitations and Future Research – This study is conducted in South-east Asia which implies that a similar study should be conducted in a western context. Furthermore, it is limited to a single-case study of an MSP, although there were exploratory and confirmative interviews with other companies. Future research should therefore include a multiple-case study to compare how different MSPs work with retention. Lastly, further studies into what critical mass is and how to estimate that, should be considered.

The word ‘co-operative’ means to work together for a common goal. A co-operative is a group of people who together own and control an organisation or a business for the benefit of its members. A co-operative is democratic, and so the members of the co-operative are responsible to each other. They work for themselves; and together they decide how to run the co-operative and how to share the profits. / This booklet was put together by members of Cope, with the help of Paul Crankshaw (editing and layout), Leslie Lawson (photographs and interviews) and Sue Beattie (drawings)