Thesis (doctoral) - Universität, Tübingen, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 136-147). Also available online.

The thesis is devoted to the position of rating agencies in the financial markets. The main aim is to predict the position of these companies, which is currently mainly influenced by the European politicians. Politicians criticize them and try to limit their power. The essence of this thesis is to summarize the reasons for their criticism, focusing on reduction of sovereign ratings. Then it's discussed a downgrading the USA and France. For the first time in a history they lost their AAA rating. The last chapter is devoted to the possible position of rating agencies. The first option is the establishment of the European rating agency, the other one is tightening regulation and the last is a situation if the rating agencies were abolished.

This dissertation discusses the administrative mechanisms used to execute the president's federal interagency program for national security emergency preparedness (NSEP). The research examines NSEP organizational history starting with its formal creation in 1933, and focusing on its most recent structure, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (during the 1978-1990 period). The dissertation explores formal organizations as manifestations of public policy. The critical events of recent NSEP history resulting in the redefinition of the public policy are the focus of this case study. The findings are: (1) that reorganization has been a significant aspect of NSEP history; (2) that the formal and informal relationship of an organization and its leadership with the White House constitute a critical aspect of organizational design; (3) that the task of coordination is a murky one rife with hazards; and (4) that the effectiveness of a reorganization can be undermined by its implementation. / Ph. D.

No description available.

No description available.

Reklame-agentskappe in Suid-Afrika se hantering van posisioneringsdoelwitte en -beginsels asook oorredingsbeginsels by die formulering van 'n kreatiewe reklame­ strategie is in 'n sensus deur 'n posvraelys ondersoek. Produkposisionering behels die verbruikerspersepsie van 'n handelsmerk teenoor mededinging. Persepsie be·invloed die verbruiker se houding teenoor die handelsmerk asook aankoopbesluite. Reklame kan gebruik word om doelgerig 'n gunstige persepsie van die produk te skep. Die studie toon dat respondente die belangrikheid van produkposisionering en beeldoordrag deur reklame beset asook dat handelsmerklojaliteit normaalweg beteken dat produkposisionering suksesvol was. 'n Positiewe houding teenoor die produk berus op 'n positiewe produkbeeld, terwyl produkposisionering slegs suksesvol kan wees indien dit aan belangrike persoonlike motiewe van die verbruiker gekoppel kan word. Die handelsmerkbeeld is moeilik veranderbaar, maar word deur produkkennis bevorder. Die kreatiewe strategie behels besluite oar die oorredingsdoelwitte en boodskap­ konstruksie. Respondente gebruik byna altyd posisioneringsdoelwitte (oorredings­ doelwitte) by reklameveldtogte maar nie noodwendig as formele reklamedoelwitte nie. Die unieke verkoopsaanbod (USP) en die mededingende posisie word as belangrike kreatiewe riglyne beskou. Bevindinge toon dat boodskapkonstruksie by die doel­ gehoor aanklank moet vind deur dit aan die ontvanger se persoonlike ervaring of aan getuienisse te koppel wat, teen die agtergrond van 'n onkonvensionele maar geloofwaardige benadering, deurgaans die handelsnaam en uitmuntende kreatiwiteit beklemtoon. Emosionele sowel as feitelike inligting is, volgens reklame-agentskappe, vir die oorre­ ding van die verbruiker belangrik. Rasionele argumente moet egter deur bewyse en feitelike inligting ondersteun en met "warmte" gekombineer word. Humor en vrees word as minder belangrik vir oorreding beskou. Tekortkomings is bespeur in die evaluering van die kommunikasiesukses van reklame­ veldtogte, die monitor van veranderinge in handelsmerkpersepsies en be·invloeding van verbruikerspersepsies van die mededingers se handelsmerke. Dit word vererger deur leemtes in inligting oor die ideale handelsmerk (handelsmerkvoorkeur). Respondente onderskat dikwels verbruikers se leervermoe en persepsie van die aan­ kooprisiko. Dit belemmer die begrip van die koppeling tussen die handelsmerk­ persepsie, houding en aankoopvoornemens. Reklame-agentskappe behoort kliente meer te adviseer oor die sinergie van al die bemarkingsinstrumente by produkposisionering in plaas daarvan om uitsluitlik op die meer visuele elemente te fokus. / The handling, by South African advertising agencies, of positioning as well as persua­ sion objectives and principles in formulating creative advertising strategies was investi­ gated in a census by means of a postal survey. Product positioning entails the consumer's perception of a brand relative to competition. Perception influences the consumer's attitude towards brands and purchasing deci­ sions. Advertising can be used to create a favourable perception of the product. The study shows that the respondents understand the importance of product posi­ tioning and the transfer of image, and that brand loyalty normally reflects successful product positioning. A positive attitude towards the brand depends on a positive brand image, while product positioning can only be successful if linked to important personal consumer motives. Brand image is difficult to change, but is enhanced by product knowledge. The creative strategy comprises decisions about the persuasion objectives and message construction. Respondents nearly always use positioning objectives (persuasion objectives) in advertising campaigns but not necessarily as formal advertising objectives. The unique selling proposition (USP) and the competitive position are regarded as important creative guidelines. Findings show that message construction must be appealing to the target audience by involving the recipient's personal experience or testimonies, emphasising the brand name and displaying creative excellence against the background of an unconventional but credible approach. Emotional as well as factual information are, according to advertising agencies, important for persuading the consumer. Rational arguments must, however, be sub­ stantiated by factual information combined with "warmth". Humour and fear are regarded as minor contributors in persuasion. Shortcomings were detected in evaluating communication results of advertising cam­ paigns, monitoring of changes in brand perception and influencing the consumer's perception of competitors' brands. This is aggravated by a lack of information about the ideal brand (brand preference). Respondents frequently underestimate the consumer's learning ability and perception of purchase risks. This hampers the understanding of the link between brand percep­ tion, attitude and purchase intentions. Advertising agencies should offer more advice to clients regarding the synergy of all the marketing instruments in product positioning, instead of focusing exclusively on the more visual elements. / Business Management / DCom (Sakebesturr)

This thesis is a study of the attitude of the Canadian Government towards the organization and operation of international institutions rather than a study of the policies pursued in them. Special emphasis is laid, upon two basic problems: the broad institutional framework of international society, dealt with in Part I, and the relationship of great and small states, the theme of part II. Each Part is prefaced by a brief analytical chapter (Chapters IX and VIII). Apart from the introductory chapter, the thesis is almost entirely confined to the period from the outbreak of war in 1939 to the immediate aftermath of the invasion of South Korea in 1950. The opening chapter traces the development of Canadian policy towards international institutions from the early days after Confederation to the post- war period. During the inter-war years, the primary appeal of tie League of Nations to Canada was as a means of asserting her international status. At the same time, she was most reluctant to assume international responsibilities, particularly obligations to impose automatic military sanctions against an aggressor. Early in the Second World War, her attitude began to change, and she earns to accept not only the principle of collective security but also the need to play her full part in it. The Canadian Government was also determined to ensure that, in the reconstruction of international government, the fullest attention was paid to the question of removing the underlying economic and social causes of war.

This thesis examines the impact of colonial legal institutions planted by the British administration upon the working of local indigenous practices in Bengal from 1860 to 1914. The aim of the thesis is two-fold. Firstly, the aim is to highlight the constraints and limitations faced by institutions that were reorganised following the assumption of Crown control in 1858. Secondly, the purpose is to illustrate the ways in which these limitations allowed the native population to mould, and manipulate, state institutions according to local needs and expectations. By examining these issues the aim is to highlight the tenuous relationship between western methods and indigenous practices, at times complementing each other and at other times proving to be incompatible. Through an examination of the system of criminal administration, the thesis seeks to highlight the complexities of the interaction between the local populace and colonial law. Rather than representing rigid categories which highlighted the difference between coloniser and colonised, the system of criminal administration was often the site where boundaries would often become blurred. As the thesis will aim to demonstrate through specific scenarios and cases described both in private memoirs and official records, it was a site which would be shaped by a number of influences- from clashing interests and changing alliances amongst local groups to the conflicting objectives of the colonial rulers themselves. In the process individual agencies were asserted that confound simplistic characterisations of the impact of colonialism in this important region within the British Indian empire.

In the last thirty years, there has been a significant increase in the globalization process, or as other refer to it, the internationalization, free trade, or liberalization. This trend was reflected in the increasing number of newly formed international organization (economic and security) as well as in the increased membership in the already existing ones. The evidence of this trend has been particularly visible since the end of the Cold War, when the race of the Eastern European countries to enter international organizations has been as competitive as ever. Nonetheless, a number of countries, upon careful evaluation and consideration of membership, has opted out of the opportunity to enter such international agreements. The question that this paper addresses is how do countries decided whether to enter or not international organizations? In other words, what elements, processes, and motives lie behind the decision of countries to commit to a new membership? Most of the studies that have addressed this topic have done so from an international perspective as they addressed the politics between countries, as well as the costs and benefits in terms of power, sovereignty, and national income once in the organizations. This paper, on the other hand, approaches the issue from a comparative perspective, both economic and political. It attempts to answer the research question by looking at the domestic sources of decision -making and how they influence this decision. Namely, a decision to become more open to trade has several implications for a country, depending on its size, and already established trade openness, among other factors. The impact of increased openness will most seriously affect the domestic players, both negatively and positively. Thus, in considering the impact that the policy could have on their welfare, players align their interests in order to express their preferences on the issue to the decision makers. The ability of the domestic actors to have their preferences considered in turn depends on the structure of the institutions through which they can participate in the political process i.e. how are their votes turned into seats, and who has most impact in the policymaking. Thus, depending on the impact of globalization on a country's domestic welfare, as well as the composition of the domestic players (export versus import intensive), the decision of the country on whether to participate or not will finally depend on the preference filtering mechanism given by the electoral and representative systems a country has. Thus, the decisions to join or not to will sometime reflect a special interest, while at other times it will be the result of an agreement reached by all of the existing groups.