This thesis deals with the research of consumer behavior and specifics of buyer decision-making process of Czechs during booking of their foreign holidays and methodology of market segmentation in tourism, or in the segment of cruises. Analysis of current trends and determinants on the supply and demand helps to build a competitive marketing strategy emerging of travel agency in the segment of cruises.

This study examines whether discounts affect the behavior of fashion consumers during the different parts of the buying decision process and in what ways. It also examines if and how this is different between men and women. The study is of qualitative form and the data collection has been done through semi-structured interviews. The purpose is to increase the understanding of whether discounts have an impact on the consumer behavior of fashion consumers in the different parts of the buying decision process and how this is different between men and women. The analysis is based on previous research on fashion consumption, discounts and male and female consumption, as well as a theoretical framework containing the buying decision process and emotional decision making. The results of the study show that discounts have an impact on the consumer behavior. The results confirm that the effect of discounts varies depending on when in the buying decision process they are offered. The study also identified differences between men and women’s attitudes and behaviors when they are offered discounts during the buying decision process. We can confirm that there are differences and that the differences depend on which part of the buying decision process the consumer is in. This study contributes to increase the understanding of the effects of discounts on male and female fashion consumers and when they are most effective. In future research, it would be appropriate to examine this in another area of consumption. Further on the study will be written in Swedish. / I denna studie undersöks om rabatter påverkar modekonsumenters beteende underköpbeslutsprocessens olika delar och på vilka sätt. Den undersöker också hur detta skiljer sig åt mellan män och kvinnor. Studien är av kvalitativ form och datainsamlingen har skett genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Syftet är att öka förståelsen kring huruvida rabatter harpåverkan på modekonsumenters konsumentbeteende i köpbeslutsprocessens olika delar samt hur detta skiljer sig åt mellan män och kvinnor. Analysen baseras på tidigare forskning kring modekonsumtion, rabatter och kvinnlig och manlig konsumtion, samt ett teoretiskt ramverk i form av modellen över köpbeslutsprocessen och emotionellt beslutsfattande. Studiens resultat visar att rabatter har påverkan på konsumentbeteende. Genom resultatet bekräftar studien att rabatters påverkan skiljer sig åt beroende på när i köpbeslutsprocessen de erbjuds. Resultatet tar även upp de identifierade skillnader som uppstått mellan män och kvinnors attityder och beteende kopplat till rabatter under köpbeslutsprocessen. Även här kan vi bekräfta att det finns skillnader och att det skiljer sig åt beroende på del avköpbeslutsprocessen. Denna undersökning bidrar till att öka förståelsen kring rabatters påverkan på manliga och kvinnliga modekonsumenter samt hur påverkan skiljer sig i köpbeslutsprocessen. I framtida forskning skulle det vara lämpligt att undersöka detta inom ett annat konsumtionsområde

Traveling around the world is a highly appreciated phenomenon globally. In recent years, backpacking has grown in popularity. Characterised by simplicity and adventurousness, it is especially frequent within a young demographic. However, these types of trips produce certain risks to consider, with women being subject to greater risks in the society in large. This study aims to examine risk perception amongst young female backpackers. It was performed using a qualitative method based on 15 semi-structured interviews. Results showed that risk perception has a large impact on women’s chosen destination, with certain destinations subsequently being deselected. Moreover, variable risk perception can be observed over time, in response to the decision process. At commencement, high perception of risk was exhibited, yet later shown to gradually decrease as the trip progressed. Finally, an increased perception of risk was noted post returning from the journey. / Intresset för resor har ökat i stor omfattning. En växande trend under den senaste tiden är backpackerresor. Dessa resor karaktäriseras av en enklare reseform där äventyr står i fokus. Backpackerresor är förekommande speciellt hos unga resenärer. Dessa resor medför olika typer av risker för resenären att ta i beaktande, dessutom kan det uppmärksammas att kvinnor generellt sett utsätts för många risker. Målet med denna studie var därför att undersöka riskuppfattningen hos unga kvinnliga backpackers. Denna studie genomfördes med en kvalitativ metod baserad på 15 semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultaten antyder att riskuppfattning har en stor påverkan på valet av destination hos kvinnliga resenärer. Till följd av detta tenderar vissa destinationer att väljas bort på grund av de höga uppfattade riskerna. Dessutom kan en variation inom riskuppfattningen noteras över tid i samband med beslutsprocessen. Inför resan uppfattades en hög riskuppfattning som sedan minskade under resan. Följaktligen uppmärksammades återigen en ökad riskuppfattning efter resan.

The purpose of this study is to investigate what effect COVID-19 has had on the buyer-supplier relationship (BSR) in the ready-made garment (RMG) supply chain (SC) - focusing mainly on the Bangladeshi supplier point of view, but with a complementary perspective of the buyer. As the area is new and relatively unexplored, there is a gap in previous literature and research. It has not previously been studied how COVID-19 affected the relationship between buyer and supplier in the RMG SC. This study aims to narrow this gap. In this study, a qualitative research strategy was adopted, emphasizing words rather than quantification in the data collection and analysis. An inductive approach was used, starting from collecting data, where theories and literature are proposed towards the end of the research process as a result of interviews. A narrative state of the art review of literature was conducted to provide a comprehensive and unbiased review. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with Bangladeshi supplier managers were conducted over Zoom or Teams. The empirical data were coded in first-order concepts, second-order concepts, and aggregate level through the qualitative research program Nvivo. Four main second-order concepts could be identified from the interviews with the supplier side. The codes and empirical data were then analyzed through a developed analysis model based on the Conceptual Model of Social Capital. The effects that COVID-19 has had on BSR from a Bangladeshi supplier perspective are discussed and presented.

This thesis describes the reconstruction network 10 kV HV networks in a teaching hospital in the transition to a new 22 kV voltage level according to valid regulations. The paper describes the current state of technological equipment and its gradual replacement with new technology at 22 kV voltage level in each power units so as not to limit the operation of the hospital. For this purpose, the new backup system for rotating spare resources. The thesis deals with new input distribution, which will serve as a transfer point between the customer and distributor of electricity as well as advance the existing technological equipment.

This master thesis is concerned with the risks associated with the process of selling and buying real estate. Lists of potential risks followed by a critical analysis which describes not only the risks but also will solve their minimization or complete removal. Risks will be monitored in terms owners and buyers of the properties.

No description available.

D. Tech. (Logistics, Faculty of Management Science), Vaal University of Technology / The strategic importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their role in stimulating economic growth and competitiveness in many countries are well documented in literature. The same applies to South Africa, where the SME sector has grown tremendously to become an important contributor to social and economic development through employment creation and constant input to the gross domestic product. However, in spite of these contributions, South African SMEs face numerous challenges, which negatively impact their prospects for growth and success. Some of these challenges include the limited access to financial capital, the lack of infrastructure and the lack of skills, which play a significant role in the high mortality rate of SMEs. One of the proposed solutions to address these operational challenges is the adoption of supply chain management strategies to strengthen the operational and long-term capabilities of SMEs. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between supply chain management best practices, supply chain agility, risk management and supply chain performance in South African SMEs. The study applied a quantitative approach in which a cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data to test direct and indirect relationships between different constructs (buyer-supplier collaboration, supply chain integration, total quality management, IT adoption, supply chain agility, supply chain risk management and supply chain performance). A structured survey questionnaire was developed using adapted measurement scales and administered to 407 randomly selected SME owners, managers and professional employees who had some knowledge about supply chain management. The collected quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0) and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS version 24.0) statistical software. The actual data analyses techniques applied included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using structural equation modelling. The latter included a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the psychometric properties of measurement scales and the testing of the six hypotheses using the path analyses technique. The results of the study showed positive and significant relationships between all supply chain management practices and supply chain agility. Specifically, buyer-supplier collaboration and total quality management exerted a moderate and significant influence on supply chain agility. Moreover, IT adoption had a strong positive and significant relationship with supply chain agility iv while supply chain integration had a weak but significant relationship with the same factor. More results provided from the analysis confirmed the existence of a very strong and significant relationship between supply chain agility and supply chain risk management. In turn, supply chain risk management had a strong positive relationship with supply chain performance. The study also takes note of its contributions to highlight its merits. From a theoretical perspective, it provides an in-depth examination of some driving factors to supply chain agility, supply chain risk management and supply chain performance within SMEs. Given that a study of this nature has not been performed before amongst South African SMEs, the results are an essential addition to the existing body of literature within the area of supply chain management within SMEs in developing countries such as South Africa. From a management perspective, the study suggests that specific attention should be directed to all of the four supply chain management practices (buyer-supplier collaboration, supply chain integration, IT adoption and total quality management) considered as possible avenues to address operational challenges in SMEs.

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has increased of importance and customers today are more aware of the implications of not being sustainable. As of the increased awareness, customers are demanding more sustainable practices from retailers, which leads to them communicating this further down the supply chain. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis has been to examine and understand how retailers together with their suppliers in the furniture and interior retail industry co-create a more sustainable supply chain through the Corporate Social Responsibility framework, and to identify what kind of facilitators and barriers that appear in co-creation of CSR between buyers and suppliers. The empirical findings were obtained using a qualitative multiple case study of seven furniture and interior retailers originated from Sweden through semi-structured interviews. The findings were then analyzed and discussed with the presented literature to identify how they were similar or different. The conclusion of this thesis shows that buyers somewhat are engaged in co-creation with their suppliers, although there is no unified answer for how, as the level of involvement, why involved and in which function they are involved are highly different among the cases. A common theme throughout the findings indicated that the more responsible the company is, the more developed they are in their buyer-supplier relationships. Although, the co-creation level of a relationship was found to be ambiguous due to its unexplored nature of the B2B market. Furthermore, the thesis identified both some general and more specific facilitators and barriers that could be used as a guide for future co-creating activities for the implemewntation of CSR in the retail supply chain.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur kundernas förväntningar på användarvänlighet på bankers produktutbud och förväntningar på byteskostnader har påverkats av ett bankbyte eller komplettering av en bank till. Det är av vikt för banker att förstå kunders förväntningar då kundrörligheten har ökat de senaste åren, därav är det fler kunder som genomgår bankbyte eller kompletterar med en bank till. Därmed har det blivit alltmer viktigt för bankerna att differentiera sig med sitt produktutbud och den aspekt som tas upp i studien vilket är användarvänlighet. Vidare associerar många kunder ett bankbyte med byteskostnader vilket gör att det är av intresse att förstå om de ändras efter ett bankbyte jämfört med ett tidigare bankbyte.   Studien stadgat sig på tidigare forskning som har utgjort grunden för undersökningen, däremot uppmärksammades det ingen modell som mäter förväntningar på det sätt som studien avser att göra. Det har gjort att studien har utgått från uppfattad användarvänligheten i Teknologi acceptans modellen och Byteskostnader för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Då studien har försökt dra generella slutsatser har det använts en kvantitativ enkät som utgjorde grunden för statistiska tester. Däremot är det viktigt att påpeka studiens generaliserbarhet då studien inte lyckades uppnå ett urval som kan representera alla svenska bankkunder. De resultat som studien fick fram visar att kunders förväntningar på användarvänlighet på bankers produktutbud inte har realiserats efter bankbytet eller kompletteringen. Det kunde inte heller påvisa någon skillnad på hur kunders förväntningar på byteskostnader har ändrats efter bankbytet eller kompletteringen. / The purpose of this study is examined how customer expectations on perceived ease of use of the supply of banks products and the expectations on switch cost is affected by a switch or to complement with one bank more. It´s important for banks to understand the customer´s expectations due to the overall increase in customer mobility, where more customers undergo a switch or to complement with one bank more. Therefor it is importance for banks to differentiate their perceived ease of use of the supply of products with is the aspect with is addressed in this study. Furthermore, many customers associate a bank switch with switching costs and therefore it´s a subject that that is important to understand if the expectation have changed after they undergo a switch. This study foundation is based on previous research however it´s have not been found a model how to the measure the expectations in the manner that this study attempt to do. Instead this study has used perceived ease of use from the Technology acceptance model and the theories of switching cost to answer these study questions. Because this study has tried to draw general assumptions from the result, it has been used a quantitative survey as a base for statistical tests. Therefor it´s important to acknowledge the generalizability in the study have failed to generate a sample with can represent the Swedish bank customers. However, the resultant in the study indicates that customers’ expectations regarding customer perceived ease of use of the supply of products have not been fulfilled after a switch of bank or to complement with one bank more. It could neither detect any difference in expectations of switching cost after a switch or to complement with one bank more.