The socio-economic changes and the population growth concentrated in cities in the U.S. have resulted in increasing interest in urban life that combines living, shopping and work in one centralized location. This type of area, called a mixed-use development, meets the needs of changing American lifestyles. To build successful retail businesses in the mixed-use developments, more information must be identified concerning key retail success factors. Based upon this need, this study examined the town center mixed-use development through case studies. The scope ofthe study included identifying successful town center mixed-use developments in the U.S., identifying locations for each case study analysis, conducting surveys of retailers, consumers and property managers, and analyzing results for consistent responses. The consistent responses by retailer, consumer, and property manager perceptions of store attributes and SWOT analyses were used to determine key success factors. These key success factors were separated into development attributes, store attributes, and target consumer attributes. Although the key success factors are simple in nature, the data from all three respondent groups unite to validate and add emphasis to the review of related literature. lltilizing these key success factors can assist in differentiating the town center and individual stores front the competition and in creating a desirable environment where customers return frequently. The model can be used in the development, planning and implementation strategies for future town center mixed-use developments.

The performance and operation of privatisation in the water sector in developing countries typically diverges from that proposed within the rationalising theoretical framework. There is a broad literature that considers the various aspects of such performance and operation, from the nature of outcomes typically characterised by dispute and renegotiation, to the implications for consumers. It is the purpose of this thesis to analyse the underlying factors that contribute to this typical dispute and renegotiation process, utilising the theoretical rationale for the programme, and its associated weakness and assumptions, as an explanatory framework. Through this analysis it is possible to expose and identify the particular aspects of private sector participation (PSP), the contracts established and administration thereof, which contribute to such problematic implementation. The utilisation of such a framework further permits the identification of likely implications for the functioning of PSP where implemented prospectively. The examination of these connections is performed in a case study environment, with privatisation of water services in Ghana providing the context. The Ghanaian experience shows significant deficiencies in contract design that entail considerable delays and disputes between parties, with contractual deficiencies intensifying the already inevitable role of institutional intervention. Conceptions of water as a merit good and human right, problematic commercial viability, and an incoherent implementation with local contextual variation all further contribute to the contradictory environment of the water sector in Ghana. Theoretical weaknesses, inconsistencies and problematic assumptions are manifest in the sector and contribute to divergence in performance, and where ideological commitment to the programme is evident, this divergence is exaggerated. Theoretical validity for sector policy is therefore questionable, with consequences of increased distortion in risk transfer, significant concessions to the private sector, and the increased role of institutions. This process, it is proposed, threatens the functioning of the programme where implemented, with regulation undermined, inherent and acknowledged renegotiation and dispute, paralleled by a failure to provide sufficient capacity and structure to sector institutions.

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Bibliography: leaves 134-145 and 157-158. / 158 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Evaluates an intervention in the marketplace. Examines the impact of a loyalty program on brand loyalty in a series of seven studies/replications across two countries and five product categories. Supports the use of Dirichlet norms to assess the impact of marketplace interventions, or at least loyalty initiatives. The comparisons against Dirichlet predictions seemed to work as expected in being able to show the impact, or lack of impact, of these marketing interventions. Provides a methodological and analytical framework for further studies of this kind. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Graduate School of Management, 2000?

Bibliography: leaves 134-145 and 157-158. / 158 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Evaluates an intervention in the marketplace. Examines the impact of a loyalty program on brand loyalty in a series of seven studies/replications across two countries and five product categories. Supports the use of Dirichlet norms to assess the impact of marketplace interventions, or at least loyalty initiatives. The comparisons against Dirichlet predictions seemed to work as expected in being able to show the impact, or lack of impact, of these marketing interventions. Provides a methodological and analytical framework for further studies of this kind. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Graduate School of Management, 2000?

This dissertation is based on the assumption that the Port Elizabeth Municipality should deliver essential services effectively, efficiently and economically so as to attain excellence in service delivery. The essential services dealt with in this study are electricity; refuse collection; sewerage; and water services. Attaining excellence in service delivery will lead the Port Elizabeth Municipality to improve and sustain the quality of life of the local inhabitants. The primary objectives of this dissertation include, inter alia: An historical analysis of delivery systems of the former government prior to 1994, which provides the primary reasons and purposes of delivery systems, and the effects on the Port Elizabeth Municipality. Reformation and transformation of South African local government since 1994, with particular reference to the Port Elizabeth Municipality. A normative model for service delivery, which is designed to accelerate service delivery in the local spheres of government, with special reference to the Port Elizabeth Municipality as the locus of this study. The nature, extent and evaluation of the existing service delivery by the Port Elizabeth Municipality from 1994 to 1999. An empirical survey is conducted in the form of questionnaires to the directors, heads of departments, senior managers, as well as councillors. Approaches and strategies for attaining excellence in service delivery, which include, inter alia: a government-business paradigm and an equilibrium approach. Lastly, a number of recommendations are made and conclusions are drawn based on the findings of the empirical survey in order to deliver essential services equitably, efficiently, effectively and economically to attain excellence in service delivery in the Port Elizabeth Municipality.

This thesis presents a structured approach to measure the performance of a shared services business unit. This approach links the activities in the areas at which a shared services business unit must excel to create sustainable value for the organisation to the organisational vision. The methodology developed can be used to measure the performance of a shared services business unit by all the stakeholders that have an interest in the organisation. The study concludes that measuring of the performance of a shared services business unit is dependent on the organisational vision and strategies as contained in a mission statement. The study further concludes that as the transformation of technology, business processes, people and customer satisfaction are required for continuous evolution of the shared services; the activities that make up these areas should form the basis of the performance measurement of shared services. These activities in the areas of technology, business processes, people and customer satisfaction should be derived from the organisational vision and mission, and be supportive of the organisational mission and vision. The author has studied shared services and performance measurement metatheories and has found that the principles applicable to measure the strategic performance of an organisation can be applied to a shared services business unit. Some of these principles are so straight forward that they are often overlooked and taken for granted. The empirical methodology in this thesis follows a structured approach where the sample framework was tested to determine if the sample elements comply with the requirements of shared services. Following on this the study had to determine if the remaining sample elements are measuring the performance of their respective organisations in a structured manner. Only once this has been established can the study determine the manner in which these sample elements measure the performance of their shared services. After this, the elements identified through the literature study and empirical research could be build into a hierarchy of performance measurement for a shared services business unit. In developing a hierarchy of performance measures for a shared services business unit, shared services organisations have been provided with a structured approach to measure the performance of their shared services business unit that will indicate the value created by the shared services to all stakeholders concerned. / Prof. A.L. Boessenkool

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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