Thesis (EdD)--Open University.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Rothstein, Hy. Second Reader: Blanken, Leo. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 26, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Strategy, asymmetric warfare, unconventional warfare, Arreguin-Toft, probability of victory, institutional predisposition, Afghanistan. Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-82). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gregg, Heather S. Second Reader: Freeman, Michael. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 27, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Internal war, Civil War, Insurgency, Revolution, Counterinsurgency, Conflict duration, Stalemate, Conflict resolution, Negotiated settlement, Political will, Philippines, New People's Army (NPA), Sri Lanka, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Colombia, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-85). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A.)--Kutztown State College. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2925. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [284]-291).

Information Technology (IT) systems have greatly impacted organizations and HumanResource Management (HRM) is no exception. In this context, IT is often introduced withthe rationale that it could offer benefits such as cost reduction, time savings and strategictransformation. Many organizations have invested in e-HRM systems in hope oftransforming the Human Resource department (HR) into a strategic ally. Extant research,however, shows that many organizations fail to achieve intended effects from their ITinvestments and as result beliefs around the strategic value of e-HRM vary. This thesisaims to critically examine the link between e-HRM investments and strategic value. To thisend, we ask the following research question: “why does E-HRM systems fail to effectuate astrategic transformation of the HR department given their perceived capabilities to thecontrary? “. To answer this question we conducted a systematic literature review of e-HRMresearch published between 2009-2014. The review focused on perceptions about e-HRMsystems within organizations and sought to unearth how perceptions shape the route of ITimplementation towards a strategy outcome. Our findings indicate that the majority of thestudies are not guided by a leading theoretical paradigm. Furthermore strategic barrierssuch as implementation problems and limited use of the system that does not reflect itspotential are identified and discussed. By examining some common factors that have beenidentified to shape the translation of e-HRM systems from initial perception to actualizeduse we lay the foundation for more nuanced theorizing of HRM use within contemporaryorganizations.

Since the late 1980s, pronunciation has played a prominent role in the foreign/ second language classroom. Recently, under the influence of the growing attention to language learning strategies and instruction, pronunciation instructors have devoted more attention to teaching learners the strategies that can contribute to their improvement in pronunciation. The purpose of this Report is to examine the literature on language learning strategies and strategy training, with a specific focus on pronunciation. This Report concludes with a pedagogical lesson grounded on the literature reviewed. The main goal of the lesson is to facilitate students’ pronunciation learning through strategy training and practice. / text

Business leaders increasingly face pressure from stakeholders to be transparent. There appears however little consensus on the risks and payoffs of disclosing vital information such as corporate strategy. To fill this gap, this study analyzes firm-specific determinants and organisational outcomes of voluntary disclosure of corporate strategy. Stakeholder theory and agency theory help to understand whether companies serve their interest to engage with stakeholders and overcome information asymmetries. I connect these theories and propose a comprehensive approach to measure voluntary disclosure of corporate strategy. Hypotheses from the theoretical framework are empirically tested through panel regression of data on identified determinants and outcomes and of disclosed strategy through annual reports, corporate social responsibility reports, corporate websites and corporate press releases by the 70 largest publicly listed companies in the Netherlands from 2003 through 2008. I found that industry, profitability, dual-listing status, national ranking status and listing age have significant effects on voluntary disclosure of corporate strategy. No significant effects are found for size, leverage and ownership concentration. On outcomes, I found that liquidity of stock and corporate reputation are significantly influenced by voluntary disclosure of corporate strategy. No significant effect is found for volatility of stock. My contributions to theory, methodology and empirics offers a stepping-stone for further research into understanding how companies can use transparency to manage stakeholder relations.

No description available.

Commodity markets are characterised by declining growth rates, depressed prices, intensified competition and the evolution of standard and fixed specifications. These lead to an increasingly severe squeeze on profits. The commodity sector of the chemical industry is no exception to this, it is notorious for its fiercely competitive nature and its increasingly severe squeeze on profit margins. Past research suggests that companies will compete primarily on price (Wei et a1. 1979, Emerson 1983, Stobaugh 1988, Quintella 1993, and Black 1994), with relatively little technical service required. However, as the commodity sector of the chemical industry continues to see its margins squeezed, companies are finding that the ability to constantly reduce production costs is limited and no longer offers a total solution. The research examined how a relationship marketing approach could contributed to UK commodity chemical companies' competitiveness. However, the current literature on relationship marketing has not referred specifically to commodities and arguably leaves a gap in this research area. It has been suggested that relationship marketing is not a 'universal panacea' with several authors that believe there are situations, usually involving lowinvolvement or commodity products, when a swift and simple transactional approach is more appropriate and preferred by the 'customer compared to a relational approach (Gronroos 1990; Mattyssens and Van den Bulte 1994; Peck 1996). The research shows this is generally not the case in commodity chemicals. The research investigated, through a multi-method research approach using both case studies and a survey, the relevance and use of a relationship marketing approach in commodity chemicals. The research developed, from a convergence of current ideas and theories, a relationship marketing framework that shows a firm's culture (based on seven marketing arrangements constructs) for establishing, developing, maintaining relationships and the selective termination of relationships with multiple exchange partners (i.e. customers, supplier, communities, authorities). The seven 'marketing arrangements' constructs are: the role of marketing management and planning; multiple exchange partners; responsibility; long-term focus; interaction; management orientation and portfolio planning; trust, commitment and promises. The research provides evidence, from three case studies, that supports the framework's constructs within UK commodity chemical companies across customer, supplier, internal and external relationships. Regression analysis of the survey data shows a positive link between a relationship marketing approach and the business performance of UK commodity chemical companies. The basis of this analysis used REMARKOR, an instrument for measuring relationship marketing orientation developed for this research. It follows a similar procedure to MARKOR, an instrument for measuring marketing orientation, developed by Kohli et al's (1993). However, REMARKOR uses constructs examined in the cases studies, based on current relationship marketing literature.

No description available.