We investigate the relationship between advertising and research and development (R&D) expenditures with the firm¡¦s systematic and unsystematic risks. Our data covers from January 1981 to December 2007 with more than two thousand publicly listed firms in the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to classical least squares approach, we utilize quantile regression model to examine whether the estimated slope parameters vary across different quantiles of the conditional distribution of the firm¡¦s systematic risk and unsystematic risk. We generate six empirical generalizations. (1) Advertising is significantly associated with lower systematic risk for firms with lower, median and higher systematic risk, but with no significant effects on the firms with extremely low systematic risk. (2) R&D is significantly associated with higher systematic risk for firms with median and higher systematic risk, with no significant effect for those with lower systematic risk. (3) Advertising is significantly associated with lower unsystematic risk for firms with higher unsystematic risk, but with no significant effects for those with median and lower unsystematic risk. (4) R&D is significantly associated with higher unsystematic risk for firms with median and higher unsystematic risk, with no significant effect for those with lower unsystematic risk. (5) Our evidence shows that both advertising and R&D have a stronger effect on firms with higher systematic risk (unsystematic risk) than on those with lower systematic risk (unsystematic risk). (6) Moreover, our evidence suggests that advertising and R&D tests resoundingly support our hypothesis that the coefficients vary across the quantiles.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-133). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-133). Also available on the Internet.

Software Research and Development Organizations (or SRDs) have unique goals that differ from the goals of Production Software Organizations. SRDs focus on exploring the unknown, while Production Software Organizations focus on implementing solutions to known problems. These unique goals call for reevaluating the role of Software Engineering Process for SRDs. This paper presents six common Software Engineering Processes then analyzes their strengths and weaknesses for SRDs. The processes presented include: Waterfall, Rational Unified Process (RUP), Evolutionary Delivery Cycle (EDLC), Team Software Process (TSP), Agile Development and Extreme Programming (XP). The results indicate that an ideal software process for SRDs is iterative, emphasizes visual models, uses a simple organization structure, produces working software (with limited functionality) early in the lifecycle, exploits individual capabilities, minimizes artifacts, adapts to new discoveries and requirements, and utilizes collective code ownership among developers. The results also indicate that an ideal software process for SRDs does NOT define rigid personnel roles or rigid artifacts, is NOT metric-driven and does NOT implement pair programming. This paper justifies why SRDs require a unique software process, outlines the ideal SRD software process, and shows how to tailor existing software processes to meet the unique needs of SRDs. / text

Η παρούσα εργασία σκοπό έχει να συμβάλει στην αποτύπωση της διαφορετικότητας των περιφερειών και να αξιολογηθούν ως προς τον βαθμό αποτελεσματικότητας των διαδικασιών R&D μέσω των πατεντών. Επιπλέον, μέσα από την αξιολόγηση των περιφερειών επιδιώκεται να εξαχθούν συμπεράσματα ως προς τις βέλτιστες πολιτικές που πρέπει να ασκηθούν ώστε κάθε περιφέρεια να χαρακτηρίζεται πλήρως αποτελεσματική. Για τον σκοπό αυτό μελετήθηκαν 186 περιφέρειες της Ευρώπης. Χρησιμοποιήθηκε η μη παραμετρική μέθοδος DEA για υπολογισμό των τιμών Τεχνική Αποτελεσματικότητας καθώς και της Αποτελεσματικότητας Κλίμακας χρησιμοποιώντας ως εισροή μεταξύ άλλων τις δαπάνες σε έρευνα και ανάπτυξη. Να σημειωθεί πως στην παρούσα ανάλυση χρησιμοποιήθηκε η προσέγγιση πολλαπλών εκροών. Είναι κοινά αποδεκτό πως η Έρευνα και Ανάπτυξη δεν επιφέρει μόνο πατέντες αλλά επιδρά και στην οικονομία. Επομένως ως εκροές, ελήφθησαν υπόψη ο αριθμός πατεντών και το ακαθάριστο προϊόν των περιφερειών. / -

Over the past 30 years, there has been a marked proliferation of the use of public–private partnerships (P3s) for the management of agricultural innovation systems. This is part of a larger worldwide trend of using P3s in the provision of public goods and services. Despite the large number of agricultural P3s in operation, a literature review demonstrated paucity of both case studies and of theory, meaning that the study of these emerging business models has not kept pace with practice. Over the last 30 years, only 38 peer-reviewed articles have been published. The objective of this dissertation is to advance the theory, analysis, and policy review of agricultural P3s. There are four independent investigations in this dissertation that advance the knowledge of agricultural P3s in seven specific ways. First, these investigations introduce two quantitative methodologies to empirically demonstrate the critical role P3s occupy in research and development (R&D) innovation networks and in the development, dissemination and commercialization of new technologies that enhance global food security. Second, this analysis suggests that the key variable influencing the formation of these organizations is people, rather than public policy or market incentives. Third, agricultural P3s require large up-front investments and they have extended gestation periods; therefore, they are dependent upon public support. Fourth, P3s are not a means of privatizing public functions; rather, they represent a new and emerging process of collaboration that transcends the public–private dichotomy. Fifth, agricultural P3s appear to operate in “orphan spaces,” sectors that, for a variety of reasons, are ignored by the public and private sectors. Sixth, there is evidence to suggest that many P3s require the services of P3 experts of which there is a shortage, particularly in the developing world. Seventh, each agricultural P3 is novel because each is the result of sector-specific challenges and has a structure that is dependent upon the types and number of partners and their objectives, limiting the ability to transfer explicit lessons from existing models to new P3s.

No description available.

This is a study of teacher professional development at the school level using teacher research as a strategy for both teacher professional learning and school change. A qualitative study was conducted to determine the conditions that would develop and sustain teachers researching their own practice in a culture of inquiry. Participant observation in one school over a two year period was used to investigate the issue of how to embed teacher research as a central feature of teachers� work. As a result of working with teachers as they researched their practice I have developed a model to explain and understand the complexities of schools and their cultures. Teachers researching their practice provided the driving force in the interplay of the elements of the model and had the potential to change school culture. Relationships, structures and processes are central to this model. Social and professional relationships between the teachers and the university partner developed and were supported by structures and processes. As the research continued these relationships changed and evolved. These relationships help develop a culture of inquiry in schools. The school/university partnership in this study evolved from an initial symbiotic�cooperative partnership (in which I shared my expertise and supported the work of teachers) into a later organic�collaborative partnership (one based on mutual and shared goals and benefits). The existing team of four teachers and the allocation of time for them to meet provided the essential structures for the teachers to research their practice. The collective leadership style instigated by the school Principal provided important human and financial support for the development of inquiry cultures. Collaboration and collegiality as forms of association enabled teachers to conduct research which challenged their individual and collective beliefs and assumptions about students� learning and their classroom practice. The content and form of teacher culture mediated the effects of teachers researching their practice. There are critical and transformational effects when teachers research their practice as part of their core work. Introducing these teachers to research was not without its difficulties. There were events and factors in the school relating to relationships, structures and processes which hindered the development of teacher research in a culture of inquiry. Because of the time frame of this study there is no evidence that school culture change is permanent. This could be the subject of future research.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-115).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1995. / "March 1995, minor revision and correction December 1996." Includes bibliographical references (p. 327-346).