The present master thesis has its start point on Nicklas Luhmann's system theory and political science in David Easton to demonstrate that the legal system interacts with society through structural couplings, creating binding precedents through existing normative consolidation or, alternatively, from current legal system. One of the key points of the thesis is the participation of the amicus curiae as a legitimizing element of the binding precedents policy. Although they interpret the law in very open interpretation, we defend the thesis that this interpretation can not have the breadth defendend by Peter Häberle in the sense of being greatly enlarged, but the interpretations outside the legal system are realized through codes because a fundamental characteristic of any sound social system – including law system - is open cognitiveness and closed operability according to Luhmann's theory, creating rules and these same rules return to the environment. In the formation of the precedent, we analyzed the participation of the amicus curiae as an element of cognitive openness. In its application, we understand that the integrity of the system should not be understood only in its Dworkian principle theory, defended by Lenio Streck, but rather that it should be understood as a system, in the light of Luhmann's theory. The preservation of the internal operability of the subsystem of binding precedents is one of the means to avoiding systemic corruption - this defies the integrity of any kind of system. With regard to the application of the precedents, there is a need for a more detailed study of the ratio decidendi and the obiter dictum, in order to correct the innumerable imperfetcions of judicial decisions in Brazil, especially those coming from the Federal Supreme Court. When studying the precedents, it is discovered that frozen view of jurisprudence is more typical of the English system than the American system, which makes predict that the Brazilian system will also be more flexible than the two systems under study. In the Constitutional Court, we analyze the main arguments for and against the constitutionality of the binding precedents system and we conclude by its constitutionality. Finally, after the extensive study, it competed to frame the binding precedent - and not the jurisprudence - as a formal source of Brazilian law. / A presente dissertação parte da teoria sistêmica de Nicklas Luhmann e da ciência política em David Easton para demonstrar que o sistema jurídico interage com a sociedade, através dos acoplamentos estruturais, criando precedentes vinculantes através do adensamento normativo até então existente ou, alternativamente, extraindo normas do atual sistema jurídico. Um dos pontos chaves da tese é a participação do amicus curiae como elemento legitimador da política de precedentes vinculantes. Apesar dos mesmos interpretarem o ordenamento em uma possível interpretação aberta do ordenamento, defende-se a tese de que esta interpretação não pode ter o elastério emprestado por Peter Häberle no sentido de ser excessivamente ampliada, mas sim as interpretações advindas de fora do sistema jurídico são metabolizadas através de códigos próprios deste sistema, pois uma característica fundamental de qualquer sistema social íntegro é a cognitividade aberta e a operacionalidade fechada, na teoria de Luhmann, criando regras gerais e estas mesmas regras retornam ao meio ambiente. Na formação do precedente, é analisada a participação do amicus curiae como elemento da abertura cognitiva. Em sua aplicação, entende-se que a integridade do sistema não deve ser compreendida apenas em sua acepção dworkiana da teoria dos princípios, defendida por Lenio Streck, mas sim que ela deve ser compreendida como um sistema, à luz dos ensinamentos de Luhmann, ou seja, a preservação da operatividade interna do subsistema dos precedentes vinculantes é um dos meios de se evitar a corrupção sistêmica – esta sim desafiadora da integridade de quaisquer sistemas. No que se refere à aplicação dos precedentes, há a necessidade de um estudo mais aprofundado da ratio decidendi e do obiter dictum, de forma a se corrigir os inúmeros vícios das decisões judiciais Brasil afora, em especial daquelas oriundas do Supremo Tribunal Federal. Ao se estudar os precedentes, descobre-se que aquela visão engessadora da jurisprudência é mais típica do sistema inglês que do norte-americano, o que gera uma previsão de que o sistema brasileiro será, também, mais flexível que os dois sistemas em estudo. Na seara constitucional, são analisados os principais argumentos a favor e contrário à constitucionalidade do sistema dos precedentes vinculantes e conclui-se pela sua constitucionalidade. Por fim, após o amplo estudo, competiu enquadrar o precedente vinculante – e não a jurisprudência - como fonte formal do direito brasileiro.

M.A. / Dependency affects the family as a whole and forms part of the transactional patterns that regulates the behaviour of the family members. Seeing that the family and dependent person has a mutual effect on each other relapse prevention is also influenced by the family system. Therefore it is essential that social work intervention with the chemical dependant person focuses on the family as a whole. Relapses seems to be a factor that needs to be taken in to account in the field of chemical dependency because of the very high relapse rates. The dependant behaviour is altered through the anticipation and management of relapses. Through viewing relapse prevention from the systemic context the family system as a whole can be focused on relapse prevention and not just the individual. This study aimed at exploring the role of the family in relapse prevention, thus identifying family factors which are of importance in relapse prevention of the chemical dependent person. A Qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse experiences of families regarding relapse prevention. The focus of this research is therefore on the family processes through which families create, maintain and discuss their own reality thus was family context, interaction and dynamics studied. The theoretical basis for the intervention with the chemical dependant person is established in the discussion of the relapse prevention model as well as the general systems theory. From this theoretical basis a work protocol was compiled to which data that was gathered and analysed. For the aim of this study a nonpiobability purposive sample was used in the compiling of the two focus groups. The focus groups lend itself to interviewing with small groups where the respondents explore their own reality. The data was gathered by means of field notes and audio tapes which were transcribed. Analysis of data was.done according to schedules and these schedules were compiled according to the literature. The schedules were divided in to the family and relapse prevention categories. Coding was done by the researcher and a co-coder in order to compare the results. In the coding process the researcher and co-coder utilised the schedules to code the transcribed audio tapes and field notes. The information gleaned form the data gathering and analysis was used to identify central themes. These themes were offered as results. The results obtained were compared to relevant literature in order to further the reliability of the research. The reliability of the study was examined in the light of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. From the study methodological and theoretical conclusions could be drawn. The methodological conclusions have to do with the method of research which was utilised in this study. Regarding the contextual aims and context of the empirical study certain theoretical conclusions were drawn. The results and conclusions indicated certain family factors that play a role in relapse prevention in the family system. Recommendations were offered on the basis of the study and the conclusions drawn. The methodology and context of the empirical study directs the recomMendations drawn thus ensuring the practice orientation of the results and the connection of the results to the goal of this study. This, research indicates that the family plays an important role in relapse prevention of the chemical dependant person as well as the value of the application of the relapse prevention model with a systemic application in the social work intervention with the chemical dependant person.

Dans le contexte des systèmes commandés, l’effort de recherche est principalement porté sur la reconfiguration d’une loi de commande à l’apparition d’une situation de défaut. La reconfiguration a pour objectif de pallier au défaut et donc de maintenir les performances du système. La problématique principale de nos travaux est d’étudier ces systèmes du point de vue de leur sûreté de fonctionnement en s’interrogeant sur les causes qui engendrent une situation de défaut. Pour cela, il est supposé l’existence d’une relation étroite entre la commande d’un système, sa dégradation et ses défauts. Un cadre de modélisation stochastique de la dégradation est proposé intégrant l’usage du système ainsi que les différents modes de détérioration. Le pronostic de la durée de vie résiduelle RUL de l’actionneur -élément critique de ces systèmes- est dérivé de l’ensemble des modèles. La RUL est alors utilisée comme un outil de reconfiguration de la loi LQR (Linear Quadratic Regulator) d’un système mono-actionné dans le cadre d’une maintenance prédictive. L’impact de cette nouvelle politique de maintenance sur les performances statiques et dynamiques du système est évalué. Enfin, le comportement stochastique d’un système tolérant aux fautes basé sur une redondance d’actionneurs est étudié au travers des modèles développés / In the context of control systems, the research effort is focused on how to reconfigure the control law upon the occurrence of a faulty situation. The reconfiguration procedure aims to overcome the fault and thus to maintain system performances. The main issue of this thesis is to study these systems in terms of their dependability by questioning the causes that generate a fault. Then it is assumed a close relationship between the control of a system, its degradation and its faults. A stochastic modelling framework is proposed combining the use of the system and the various modes of deterioration. The actuator is assumed to be the most critical part of a system. The prognosis of its remaining life RUL is derived from these models. This RUL is then used as a tool for reconfiguring the LQR law (Linear Quadratic Regulator) of a system with a single actuator in the context of a predictive maintenance. The impact of this new maintenance policy on static and dynamic performances is assessed. Finally the stochastic behavior of a fault tolerant control system is studied by means of the achieved models

This thesis tries to evaluate the very large question of how globalization can be said to have an effect on democracy by reducing both concepts to a more usable format. In doing so it tries to evaluate how a special theory of democracy put forward by Robert Dahl in 1971 – polyarchy – could be said to be affected by the workings of contemporary globalization. When assessing the variables of the investigation, globalization is being represented by two constructed ideal images that are later measured against a set of seven variables extracted from Dahl’s theory. By the use of qualitative text analysis the constructed ideal types help provide a framework for how one can measure the effects of globalization on polyarchy. The analysis ends in a result where it is clear that if globalization is understood as a neo-liberal ideal image it is making the circumstances for the creation of polyarchies in the future more favorable. However, if globalization is understood as an ideal image of world-system theory explanations then the circumstances for future polyarchies are less favorable. In a concluding discussion important implications of the results are highlighted when the thesis concludes that regardless of ideological starting point globalization can be said to affect the theory of polyarchy in such a way that it is in dire need of reevaluation. At the same time the essay concludes that whenever the concept of globalization is being used with scientific ambitions by politicians, they need to be aware of, and reflect, the different results that it brings depending on how it is explained.

The aim of this study has been to develop a model from the attributes of existing management teams within a financial organisation, which can be used as a selection strategy to select more effective management teams in future. The observed attributes were linked to the managers’ work performance and behaviour. It is imperative to continuously search for valid and reliable methods to establish and improve effective combinations of selection instruments and criteria for best employment practices. Systems theory is used as a framework for this study to analyse and describe middle management teams as sub-systems of the financial organisation as a larger system. The identification of effective management teams is an attempt to combat entropy in a search for order, and to support the organisation’s survival during a period of transformation and disorder. The independent variables for the purpose of this study are divided in three themes, namely demographic attributes (job experience and academic qualifications), work performance, and personality and competencies. Work performance is described as the outcome of two measurements, namely the performance management evaluation, as well as an evaluation of their behaviour by their superiors using the Inventory of Management Competencies. Their personality and competencies were evaluated by means of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Occupational Personality Questionnaire Concept Model 4.2. Their team role preferences, as identified by Belbin, were calculated using the results of the Occupational Personality Questionnaire. The requirements of the managers’ positions were obtained by means of the Work Profiling System. The match of the profiles of the managers to the requirements of their positions was obtained by means of a computerized fit between their Occupational Personality Questionnaire profiles and the desired personality profiles as a product of the Work Profiling System. The success criteria of the research design are based on the employee-client-profit-chain model. The amount of job satisfaction experienced by employees, the satisfaction which clients experience with regard to the service they received, as well as the extent of financial growth, is identified as the dependent variables. Descriptive statistics revealed certain patterns in the data. Principal component analysis was used to condense the number of independent variables in the study. Canonical correlations were executed to determine which combinations of independent variables were associated with the dependent variables, but the correlations tended to be low. Multiple regression analysis was then utilised with respect to the three distinct dependent variables. The results culminated in the four selection models for the four manager positions in the team. / Thesis (PhD (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted

The arrest of Meng Wanzhou and the Huawei prosecution have revealed a mounting battle for high-tech supremacy between the United States and China. The ongoing technology war and the trade war are merely one dimension of a far-reaching and accelerating imperialist rivalry. The changing reality on the world stage has urged a reconsideration of the thesis of transnational capitalist class (TCC) and theory of globalization in general. By reviewing the historical debate between the globalist and critical realist schools, I argue that William Carroll’s theoretical frame of global capitalism grounded in corporate network research through emphasizing a dialectical process of the ‘making’ of the TCC is better equipped to explain the unfolding Sino-U.S. conflict. Following Carroll’s multilayered approach to corporate network research, I conduct a corporate network analysis to examine the directorate interlocks of 40 Chinese transnational corporations (TNCs) selected from the Fortune Global 500 list. My study has found that the transnational networks of Chinese TNCs have remained considerably sparse, contained within condensed national networks. The globalization of Chinese TNCs and Chinese corporate elite has been modest and has not undermined or replaced the national base. This is due to two crucial reasons: the statist character of Chinese capitalist class and the regionalized development of global capitalism and class formation. In concordance with Carroll’s network research of Western companies, my study of corporate China reaffirms the fragility of the TCC, its internal friction, and potential decomposition. It also provides a material ground for analyzing the Sino-U.S. inter-imperialist rivalry as a structural development out of global capitalism and its class relations. My thesis study, therefore, offers the first attempt to draw a direct linkage between corporate network formation and geopolitical conflict. / Graduate

Skollagen (SFS 2010:800) slår fast att elever som riskerar att inte nå målen ska ges den ledning och stimulans som behövs för att utvecklas i riktning mot målen. Studiens syfte är att beskriva specialpedagogens roll i arbetet med stödinsatser för de elever som riskerar att inte nå målen. Studiens tre teman är Stödinsatser, Specialpedagogens roll och Främjande och förebyggande arbete. En kvalitativ metod har använts med semistrukturerade intervjuer med nio specialpedagoger. För att bearbeta intervjumaterialet har kvalitativ innehållsanalys använts. Analysen har gjorts utifrån systemteori och de specialpedagogiska perspektiven relationellt perspektiv, kategoriskt perspektiv och dilemmaperspektiv. Resultatet visar att specialpedagogens roll i arbetet med stödinsatser är komplex. Dels handlar det om att i samråd med läraren identifiera elever, att välja adekvat anpassning eller stödinsats och att utvärdera dessa. Resultatet visar också att alla specialpedagogernas arbetsuppgifter ryms inom ramen för examensordningen men att de inbördes kan skilja sig åt i det att vissa arbetar mer elevfokuserat medan andra arbetar mer på organisationsnivå (SFS 2017:1111). Det skiljer sig också åt i hur mycket specialpedagogerna är involverade i systematiskt kvalitetsarbete och att utveckla undervisningen på skolan. En slutsats som dras är att specialpedagogerna till stor del använder samma typ av extra anpassningar och stödinsatser, men att det skiljer sig mycket i vilka stödinsatser som förespråkas mest och i hur specialpedagogerna motiverar användandet av dem med utgångspunkt i användbarhet. En annan slutsats är att dokumentation av extra anpassningar är en förutsättning för att kunna utvärdera hur de har fungerat, och att många skolor gör detta trots de motsatta intentionerna i reformen kring extra anpassningar som kom 2014 (Skolinspektionen, 2016; Skolverket, 2014). / The Education Act (SFS 2010:800) states that students who are at risk of not reaching the minimum standards are entitled to support. The aim of this study is to describe the role of the Special Education Coordinator (SENCo) regarding the support given to students who risk not receiving a passing grade in at least one subject. The study has three parts: Support, The role of the SENCo, Promotion and prevention. The study has been conducted using a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews and qualitative analysis with nine SENCos. The analysis has been made using system theory and three perspectives: the relational perspective, the categorical perspective and the dilemma perspective. The result shows that the role of the SENCo regarding support is complex. The role includes cooperation with teachers in identifying students, in choosing the correct supplemental support and in evaluating the support given. The result also shows that the roles of the SENCo are included in the System of Qualifications (SFS 2017:1111), but that the SENCOs that were interviewed have different perspectives where some are more inclined to work close to the students whereas others operate on an organizational level. There is also a clear difference between how involved the SENCos are in the systematic quality work and in developing the teaching methods in order to reduce the amount of support provided to individual students. One conclusion is that the SENCos use the same types of supplemental support but that they motivate their use in different ways. Another conclusion is that documentation of supplemental support is necessary to be able to evaluate them and that many schools do this despite the intention in the reform from 2014 (Swedish Schools Inspectorate 2016; Swedish National Agency for Education, 2014).

The business model concept was first introduced in the early 1990s alongside the boom of the Internet. Although the Internet bubble has burst, the popularity of the business model concept continues to increase. It is being used more and more often by not just people in business management, but also the general population, as people, for example, talk about a successful start-up. Although it has become part of the vernacular today, the business model concept itself is lacking in theoretical roots. Thus, a gap exists regarding the business model concept. Its usefulness in practice has been proven in numerous business cases, yet academia remains divided on the definition and appropriate means to use the concept. A thorough literature review reveals that the concept of a business model has been framed in various ways, ranging from the strategic logic of a company to the activities a company performs. This misalignment creates barriers for the advancement of this body of knowledge in both research and practice. Researchers have thus called for a clearer and more operational definition of the concept.<br> With this goal in mind, this qualitative study sought to advance business model understanding by proposing a business model conceptualization that: <br> 1) Is robust in its theoretical roots and informs the critical characteristics of a business model, <br> 2) Highlights potential means to resolve the debate over the definition of a business model through examination of its broad range of conceptualizations and uses, and,<br> 3) Guides business model design through a robust exploration of design options for users interested in business model development. <br> To achieve this goal, a three-stream study was conducted.<br> The first stream focused on creating a business model construct that is rooted in advanced system theory and on proposing a related business model framework. This objective was achieved through a combination of scholarship of integration and thematic analysis. A resilient complex adaptive system (RCAS) perspective was taken to proactively construct a business model conceptualization. To fully understand an RCAS, a literature review was carried out on the notion of systems. Theories from general system theory (GST) to an RCAS were examined to form a full understanding of these foundational concepts. The resulting construct was employed as the underlying structure of a business model framework. To create a set of functions that a business model should include, an extensive literature review was conducted on 150 business model research articles. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze words and phrases used by authors to describe the critical components of a business model, and then aggregate these views into a set of mutually supportive functions that represent the essence of a business model. Eight functions, termed “elemental functions”, centered on value were defined. These elemental functions are able to capture all components identified in the studied literature and collectively display required RCAS characteristics. This RCAS business model framework lays the foundation for a unified landscape of business model conceptualization and acts as a potential universal language in this body of knowledge. The developed framework also serves as the basis for the subsequent lines of work detailed below, and grounds both further research and application.<br> The second stream is based on the RCAS framework and draws on its ability to facilitate abstraction. The work stream focuses on outlining a knowledge space for business models utilizing three variables that are closely tied to abstraction in the business model context, namely: elemental functions, purposes, and levels of abstraction. These variables were identified as critical factors influencing business model variation from both a literature perspective and observations. A thematic analysis was conducted on the same 150 articles as in the first stream to extract the potential states of these variables. Eleven purposes and five levels of abstraction were identified; and these two variables act as the axes of the knowledge space. Elemental functions were incorporated in the knowledge space to illustrate the frequency with which each elemental function is used for specific purposes and specific levels of abstraction. This knowledge space, herein termed the business model knowledge map, can be used to position existing work and identify future opportunities for research. The 150 articles were positioned in this space to outline a grander picture of the business model concept. It highlights that previous authors in the business model area have worked on abstractions of the same concept. This stream is another step towards a universal landscape of business model conceptualization that could help unify previously diverse views of business models.<br> The last work stream contributes to the design of business models – one of the key purposes for which business model constructs are employed as highlighted in the knowledge map described above. Specifically, this work stream puts forward a system-inspired business model design method. Building directly on the RCAS framework, this stream employs combinatorial design thinking from engineering and design to create a design method. One of the most critical aspects of this design method is its emphasis on creating a complete, to the extent possible, set of design options for each elemental function that composes a business model. To achieve this, an extensive review of over 200 company annual reports was conducted to generate design options for each elemental function. This design method focuses on raising awareness of one’s design options thereby enhancing the potential for business model innovation.<br> Collectively, this study advances the business model body of knowledge in both research and practice. The study is unique in its proactive employment of the RCAS construct to define a business model, its focus on abstraction to form a theoretically robust and potentially universal landscape for knowledge and research on business models, and its proposition of a structured approach to complete business model design. It is hoped that the developments outlined herein help pave a path to a more unified view of business model concepts that can foster connections between the work of researchers who employ business model constructs and further advance the state of knowledge in this arena.<br><br>

In light of the emerging consequences of climate change, there is a need for a sustainable transition of the marine sector, including waterborne transport systems, towards implementation of fossil free fuels and technologies. The thesis limits its scope to solely include passenger ferries that are suitable for calm waters and often operates on shorter distances, which are often incorporated in a public transport system and/or archipelago traffic. As there is limited literature available on the subject, this thesis aims to contribute to a wider knowledge of what is required to enable a sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system. Moreover, due to high investment costs and risks associated with low- and zero emission vessels, waterborne transport is often not prioritized when transitioning a public transport system. Thus, the following research questions were answered: Which aspects are vital to enable a sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system? Which actors influence and play a crucial role in the sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system? To answer the research questions, a literature review and an interviewstudy was conducted. The results present seven major aspects, with related sub aspects, and fourteen actors were identified. The results uncover that there is a need for collaborations, clear division of roles along with responsibilities, renewed perception of waterborne transport’s possible adaptations and allocation of funding in order to enable a widespread sustainable transition of a waterborne transport system. Moreover, the thesis presents a matrix that can be used to uncover potential power and knowledge imbalances between the actors within the system. Lastly, the results of the thesis contributes to the field by allowing actors to gain insight of what is vital for a transition from a system perspective. / Med anledning av de rådande och växande konsekvenserna av klimatförändringar existerar det ett behov av en hållbar omställning av den marina sektorn, som inkluderar vattenburna transportsystem, mot implementering av fossilfria bränslen och teknologier. Examensarbetet avgränsar uppsatsens omfattning till att enbart inkludera passagerarfärjor som är lämpliga för lugna vatten och som ofta trafikerar kortare sträckor, samt där de ofta är en del av ett kollektivtrafiksystem och/eller skärgårdstrafik. Eftersom det finns begränsad litteratur tillgänglig kring ämnet, syftar denna masteruppsats till att bidra till en bredare kunskap om vad som krävs för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem. Dessutom, på grund av höga investeringskostnader och risker förknippade med låg- och nollutsläppsfartyg, är vattenburna transporter ofta inte prioriterade vid en hållbar omställning av ett kollektivtrafiksystem. Med avseende på detta ämnar uppsatsen att besvara följande frågor: Vilka aspekter är avgörande för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem? Vilka aktörer påverkar och besitter en avgörande roll för att nå en hållbar omställning av ett vattenburet transportsystem? För att besvara frågorna genomfördes en litteraturstudie och en intervjustudie. Resultatet presenterar sju aspekter, med tillhörande underkategorier, och fjorton aktörer som har identifierats genom arbetet. Resultatet antyder att det finns behov av samarbeten, tydlig roll- och ansvarsfördelning, förnyad uppfattning av den vattenburna trafikens möjliga anpassningar och tilldelning av bidrag och monetärt stöd för att möjliggöra en hållbar omställning av det vattenburna transportsystemet. Utöver resultatet presenteras även en matris som kan användas för att belysa potentiella obalanser mellan makt och kunskap hos aktörer som verkar inom systemet. Slutligen så bidrar avhandlingens resultat till området genom att låta aktörer få insikt om vad som är avgörande för en omställning ur ett systemperspektiv.

This thesis presents a general description of approaches to energy efficient building development under Chinese contexts. The purpose of the work is to discuss how Chinese building development can be approved from an energy saving perspective. Building development is a complicated process that relates to many stakeholders’ interests. The developed countries have studied in this field extensively for several decades. Generally, the approaches to energy saving can be set at three levels: administration, construction industry and architectural design. More new strict codes for energy efficient buildings are being issued for enforcement. At the same time, many research institutes have developed Building Environmental Assessment (BEA) methods, where energy efficiency is an important factor in the models. Various technical solutions for energy efficiency are developed as well. The administrative approaches are not the main objective discussed in the thesis, though the importance of them is undeniable. BEA systems are not only assessment methods, but also market-based stimulating approaches for sustainability of construction market. Technical methods have been developed for a long period. Passive House and Low Exergy (LowEx) Systems are two representative examples in European countries. All of these approaches are relatively unfamiliar to Chinese architects and developers, let alone their effect and applicability. The thesis tries to analyse this situation and their applicability within Chinese context. In China to a certain project, the importance of technical issues is relatively recognized. However, a few successful individual cases in technique can not change the reality that most of new building development has failed in energy efficiency in China. This is a serious situation when China is in an enormous expansion phase in building new houses. The thesis tries to discuss the reasons for this phenomenon. One reason could be that the stakeholders in the developing process are not aware of the importance of collaboration which is the only method to get “Both Win” according to Game theory. The thesis discusses a paradigm to replace two traditional linear paradigms in building developing process. Architects should act as coordinators of different stakeholders rather than technical supporters. The thesis tries to discuss the propositional route of developing energy efficient buildings. Technical approaches are basic research, which presents the concepts that have been proved realizable; BEA encourages developers to develop more energy efficient buildings for economic benefit, which will make good demonstrations for whole market; national laws and policies are final approaches, which ensure that every project will have good performance of energy efficiency. When the old standardization and legislation are finished, a new cycle will begin with more advanced techniques. China government has started the progress to enhance energy efficiency. However, this process will be tough and slow. The thesis discusses Chinese special conditions and the problems that cry out for solution in the future. / QC 20101105