The aim of this thesis is to analyze the communication of a certain company, to identify its weaknesses and to suggest improvements of the current state. To analyze the communication, standardized dialogues with kingpins in the firm, questionnaire research and a study of the company documentation were used. Owing to talks to one of the employees, after familiarization with the operating and fundamental processes of the company, all employees were sent an online questionnaire, which was answered by 21 of the complete number of 24. Simultaneously, dialogues with other four persons were made. Results of the dialogues and questionnaire research were analyzed and the state of communication inside and outside the firm was described. The communication inside the firm is not on a low level, but there are significant reserves in some areas conducive to improvement. Recommendations for improving the situation are described in a separate chapter.

Many owners of small business restaurants lack financial strategies for successful business recovery following a disaster. The purpose of this qualitative, multiple case study was to explore the financial strategies 3 owners of small business restaurants used for successful business recovery following a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conceptual framework for this study included theories of reasoned action, planned behavior, and vested interest. Historical evidence of past practices supported semistructured interviews with 3 owners of small restaurant businesses. Yin's 5-step analysis guided transcribing and coding of the participants' responses. The major themes of this study revealed that strategies such as communication, having funds on-hand, flood deterrents, and disaster planning helped owners prepare for a natural disaster. The owners' actions related to preventing restaurant closures and unemployment, and to supporting community stability, family unity, job opportunities, and economic growth. All owners of small restaurant businesses were successful in planning after disaster created opportunities for increased employment for those who wished to return and rebuild. The findings from this study may contribute to positive social change by supporting strategies including positive attitudes and disaster preparedness to prevent business closing and contribute to the local economy.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 74626.pdf.jpg: 20607 bytes, checksum: 09d0d80bb47e48ff5df012d331120e3b (MD5) 74626.pdf: 450083 bytes, checksum: 3b0f91904eb90de92ae9ac4f8e8368d1 (MD5) 74626.pdf.txt: 200416 bytes, checksum: b86a7c3ab28b48a8b25f0e114a73a81f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-03-15T00:00:00Z / This thesis, entitled "Calculation of retail price as an important factor of competitive advantage for manufactured products by small business", will present a mathematical model for product price calculation in small business. These model are founded in the Accountant Theory and in the way that prices are calculated by these industries. These retail prices, calculated by this model, must be seen by the companies as the smallest possible prices able to lead them to their planned targets, since the products made by them are manufactures and sold according to a deadline and quantity previously considered at the moment of prices arrangements, and not further investments will be needed. Therefore, these prices are classified as competitive for some products, regarding the real competition. / Esta tese de conclusão do curso de doutoramento em Administração de Empresas, a qual tem por título Cálculo do preço de venda como fator de competitividade para produtos fabricados por micro e pequenas indústrias, tem como objetivo apresentar e validar um modelo, o qual consiste em uma equação matemática. O referido modelo está fundamentado na teoria contábil e os preços de venda dos produtos, através dele calculados, deverão ser interpretados pelas empresas, suas fabricantes, como sendo os menores possíveis de serem praticados, capazes de conduzi-las aos seus objetivos de resultados previamente estabelecidos, desde que esses produtos sejam fabricados e vendidos por essas indústrias dentro dos padrões de tempos de produção e em quantidades periódicas previamente orçadas e consideradas no modelo no momento das suas precificações, bem como sem investimentos adicionais aos já estabelecidos. Portanto, esses preços são classificados como sendo os competitivos desses produtos, em vista da realidade competitiva.